Paid off

I would stick with the paid off truck. At least until after the election.

 

I'll try to find the website he put up , he's got ten trucks of his own . Young guy , his dad passed away and he took over the company , met him at FedEx. He was in a suit , maybe 29 years old but very sharp with a lot of out of the box ideas. He's from Texas and I do know he has his own shop and mechanics

 

It's a great feeling me too!!

 

Keep what ya got. It's paid for, keep up with the soft touch and she should go awhile yet. Get a year of no truck payments under you, then re-evaluate. Or, that's what I'd do anyway.

 

Congratulations! I would run the paint off of it, repaint and repair as I go , all the while depositing the payment you were making to the finance company, into your bank monthly. Do this for a few years and then when it's on its last leg, trade it in plus cash on a new one. I did this, so can you! Save your money! And by last leg, I mean a total rebuild, engine, trans ,rears. Maintenance should give you close to another million.

 

Atta boy StarboyJim!!!

Driving Habits play a HUGE role in the life of vital drivetrain parts...

Keep the truck If you like it. Now it's time for you to save some money for the finer things in life, Relax a bit, Work at your own Pace, But be Smart with your Money..

And as for Drivetrain Parts..Not the end of the World... U-joints and Yokes are nickel dimes.. Both Rears replaced for under 5k. Reman 10 speed $2500 plus labor

Here's What I did back in 2010- I started from the Front of the truck and worked my way Back....

Averaged me out @ $1500 per axle on "Fresh" items (Plus labor if you don't do it yourself)

(Brakes-Drums-bearings-seals-shocks-chambers-slacks-spring bushings-and a few other things a couple dry rotted bags and a few bushings here n there....

Now, You have basically a Fresh DOT'd Truck And its Not gonna Break the bank.

 

My Columbia has been a very good truck as well. Everything that broke on it and left me on the side of the road, were things that could have been avoided had I given some more attention or due diligence.

Somethings to look out for that at the mileage you are at, I'd like to pass along that should help. The bushing for the clutch arm wears out,.. when it does,.. it comes apart at the 'hinge' and your pedal will sit on the floor. I was turning around at a shipper when mine broke. Cheap fix.

Battery box wires,.. particularly the ground. My batteries were relocated to a side box from the catwalk area because the headache rack covered access to the batteries. Wasnt long after that the ground for the ECM corroded shutting the truck off,.. then caused ECM damage. I redid the ground wires from the box,.. added another ground source from the Alternator. I have a CAT C15,.. so if you have the more common Detroit,.. I am not sure how thats set up.

The bottom of the Radiator and the CAC corrode and rub where the bushings are and that will create leaks. I just replaced my radiator on Thrusday and the CAC yesterday,.. 1.3 million on the clock.

Fuel lines. I had one burst on me right after I fueled. Luckily I was across the street from a Petro and bought new fuel line there. Had my Davco and all fuel lines replaced when I got home. A year later I had my tanks dropped and flushed out. The amount of gook that was in the bottom of the tanks was an eye opener.

Muffler/s. I have 2 stacks. At 1.1 million mine were choked up with soot. I went with the Walker MegaFlow stock replacements. I am seriously considering going with straight stacks next time I come home.

The rest is just hoses and wires. I got mine up to 5.5 - 5.9 mpg before my inframe last summer. Now seeing consistent 5.5 as a low,.. to 6 - 6.5 as average,.. and thats doing flatbed work. Much is from tender footing it as I drive,.. the rest is from not idling over night. I save an average of $200 a week in fuel from not idling. I went with a generator instead of going the APU route. Much quieter,.. I carry two 2 gallon cans. Lasts 2 days. I will admit,.. needing to fill the cans back up when its snowing or raining kinda sucks. But small concession to make in my opinion.

Hope any of this helps.

I'm married to this truck right now. I have too much money in it to try to sell it knowing I would take a bath. I am on target to take this summer off and go on a hunt for a truck that I really want. Not sure if I put a driver in this truck or just sell it and take the loss.My reasons have nothing to do with the truck itself. More to do with the up coming ELD rules.

Congrats on the pay off. Not owing anyone gives you a lot more leverage.

Hurst