Money making trucks

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by akfisher, Jan 16, 2016.

  1. akfisher

    akfisher Road Train Member

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    I know this topic has probably been brought up here a hundred times but here we go. Buying a 2012ish truck. Which one? I have been off OTR for 5 years and been driving local. Got offered a good oppurtunity so going to jump. I drove for one of mid size fleets and we changed tractors often. I think it was 7 in 3 years. Every truck was a Freightliner. I have been reading about serious problems with the 2012 Cascadias. Whats the story? Whats truly the best moneymaker?
     
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  3. Flipflops

    Flipflops Heavy Load Member

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    Depends IMO. You going back OTR? Find something reliable. I would look at 2013 Cascadia. For some reason every mechanic or dealer I've talked to told me trucks between 2009-2012 have been the worst.
     
  4. daf105paccar

    daf105paccar Road Train Member

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    1° i wouldn't worry to much about then brand ,i would look for the best local dealer. 2° get one that has at least 1y factory warranty left on it.
     
  5. akfisher

    akfisher Road Train Member

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    I read about the Cascadias having bad regen issues in those years stated by FlipFlops but all the one I drove in the 2006-2008 range were great.
     
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  6. Flipflops

    Flipflops Heavy Load Member

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    It wasn't just Cascadia. It was almost any truck. Stay away from maxxforce or w.e. That engine is just horrible it can't keep cool no matter how many fans it has.

    Look for a 2007 Freightliner Century with a detroit engine, should be able to get a good one for 23-24k tops with about 500-600k miles. Remember posting prices you see are not the negotiated prices you speak. At this time how prices are going down, you can easily find a good truck. That 2007 century is a great truck from what I've seen. Stay away from any cummins engine between the same time frame posted above. Just head a guy that bought a second truck with 600k volvo cummin, 2 months, overhaul. Don't look too much into power. If you're heavy and on the hill unless you have 800 HP it's going to be the same crap. There are prostars, with a 435 hp cummin that aren't too bad and go for cheap. If you go on a RPMM group on FB there is a guy giving his up for about 35k with 500-600k miles on it. The 35k is 25 payments. He just doesn't have a use for it. Look for deals like that. Stay away from the truckpaper.com. It's over priced. If you are looking to spend more than 50k on the truck, and don't want to wait for prices to fall a bit more, then at that point you might as well go brand new. 50k truck and over will still have repairs like older trucks, plus high payments.
     
  7. Flipflops

    Flipflops Heavy Load Member

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    Also, if you want to spend like 20-25 grand. Find cummins engine truck 2006-2007. Chances are if it's a legit under 650k milage, you will need a turbo any day which can cost at a local place $4,000 and on the road $6,000 easily average. If it's a bit more and turbo has been replaced, you are good to go, just make sure no oil leaks. That was the biggest problem cummins engines had on those years. Second biggest problem was the EGR's. But you can have them shut off, and if hooked to a computer by DOT they will pass, but you won't have to worry about EGRs. This will throw a little more black smoke out the pipe, but nothing more than usual. You'll have more power and better MPG. Just stay away from the years I told you, and stay away from the maxxforce engine. Any truck you buy, call the dealer with the VIN # to make sure you check the mileage, because a lot of guys are putting in "new ECM" and changing the odometer to lower miles and charge more $$$. But if they went to a dealer even for a light bulb change, the dealer recorded the right mileage if it entered the shop.

    Bottom line is. Either a truck in cash, or really low payments and repairs, or a brand new truck with higher payments but no repairs.

    Don't get in between with repairs, and close to high payments.

    Anyways goodluck and remember, any truck you get, it's all about how you treat it!
     
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  8. truckthatpassesyouby

    truckthatpassesyouby Road Train Member

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    When these guys say trucks 2009-2012 vs trucks from 05-08 vs 01-04, it makes no sense to me. Trucks of the same model and year could have different engine brands of varied models. I do understand how a mechanic or an experienced owner might say that Problem "X" typically occurs with model "y" over a period of "z" miles due to a component(s) in part A from reason B.

    But that level of response is rarely seen on here

    Point is.. the cost of labor is going to be your biggest expense for any issue so perhaps finding a mechanic around your area with the most knowledge on a certain specific brand will help you in the long run
     
    MrEd Thanks this.
  9. Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

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    Do your due diligence for the purchase, like checking the truck out properly.

    Don't worry about brands, they are all the same. worry about the drive train that will suit your needs.
     
  10. Flipflops

    Flipflops Heavy Load Member

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    No it depends on a lot. For example a brand new thermo king reefer. I guess they didn't do something right, and the O Rings had a problem.Which the mechanic themo king explained to me about. Also with that 2014-2015 they use really cheap parts for axles and what not so the alignment is always off. I dont know if you ever noticed a truck with the trailer crooked a bit. That's why. There are a lot of factors in years, and for trucks between the time frame above is when they started using that DEF junk, and so on while trying to compete and rushing truck cause market was going up. They're junk. Any brand.
     
  11. EMCO_Trans

    EMCO_Trans Light Load Member

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    Just go with an older truck you can buy for cash. In 2 years it will be like a brand new truck since u will repair most things on it.
     
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