The Trucker Chick..

What kinda work are you planning on doing with it?

Sounds like not a lot of motor on a less than desirable truck. Not putting you down-saying you ought to be able to get a real good price to get into it.

 

Not trying to be negative...


If you were looking for a pickup truck, and found a half ton with a v6 motor for a good price, I would say buy it. But if you told me that you wanted to use this truck to hotshot and haul cars...I would be less than enthusiastic.

You run a lot of miles for a regional. They want $8500 for a truck with a small motor that's probably had to struggle. Something tells me that the way you run may make the engine go before you get a year in. Then what do you do? It would work for local. Regional...I don't know. To be honest, I don't know anything about that motor, but I can't see that old of a motor, that small of a motor, standing up for long behind a hard charger.

For what you're wanting to do, I would recommend the old school 12.7 Detroit 60 series. 430-470 horse.

 

They are VERY rebuildable and VERY reliable, BUT I would limit my gross weight to about 50,000 or less, we have had a bunch of them over the years, IF you rebuild it you can go to about 400 hp, different inj, turbo etc. They will pull more weight, but be #### slow, esp. if you are in the hills/mountains.

It is a #### good motor if it hasn't been already beat to death and when used WITHIN it's parameters.

If you are over 50,000 I would hold out for a 12.7 or an N14.

JMHO

 

From what I've seen and been witness to: the dry van market really requires some minimizing of costs to be profitable.

I can't say dollar for dollar if a small motor with (I'd hope) slightly better fuel mileage would be more economical than a larger engine that wouldn't have to work as hard n would hopefully last longer.

*pat on the back tho for running a 325horse motor. Last time I ran something in that power arena it was a single screw with a 18' box on it. I thought she was a screamer Til I actually ran big power.

 

Driving 3,000 miles/week as an independent would be like 3500-4000 as a company driver -- You've got a lot more duties on top of driving, so it is unrealistic to expect the same production from a combination driver/dispatcher/accountant/mechanic.

Also, there is a hell of a lot more that can go wrong besides needing an inframe. I've spent well over $50k in maintenance/repairs/reconditioning over the first 2 years with my 9400i -- only $14k of that was from the inframe. And I still have the original transmission and one original rear end...

Radiator
oil cooler
charge air cooler
a/c compressor
a/c dryer
a/c condensor
evap switches
air compressor
air dryer
power steering pump
steering gearbox
radiator overflow
coolant sensor
boost sensor
heater core
all new hoses
king pins
suspension bushings
cab bushings
shocks
cab shocks
exhaust manifold
turbo-back exhaust
5th wheel
injectors
injector harness
engine harness
clutch
6 new brakes (cam bushings, drums, linings)
new tires
brake switch
clutch switch
turn signal switch

and that's just from memory. Running locally, you can probably get by on worn out stuff longer, especially if you know the scales, but my definition of reliable is being able to take 80,000 lbs from Denver to Phoenix (using Wolf Creek Pass) on a holiday weekend, confidently prebooking a follow-up load to Seattle, WA or Miami, FL, and being able to pass a level 1 anywhere along the way...

 

If it were me, I would go for a truck with an N14. What is a must have in the truck? Remember that regardless what people are asking, you can offer anything. The worst they can say is no. Especially right now, if you have cash, you could run away with a deal.

Are you dead set on your own authority or would you entertain leasing on with a company (big or small)?

 

I would be concerned about the suspension work also. I have repaired more than one stretch job that was done poorly the first time.

 

Id be looking for a Freightliner with a Detroit....pre 2003...cheaper to run, cheaper to maintain....you WILL have to put money into ANY used truck in your first year of operation. Limit your downside on the first one, make some money and in 3 - 5 years, buy whatever you want....