buying a tractor

Getting there. Cab is pretty much gutted out. New frame rails are in and I've started drilling and re-installing the crossmembers.

 

Alright friend, I don't mean to sound like a buster, but I am trying to understand what it is that you want to hear. Do you want to know if we think that you can buy a $1000 Volvo, go trucking and make money? Nope. Like @NorthernMechanic said, if you're planning to run a truck offroad, youd better start with a pretty stout truck. Theres a colossal difference between STOUT and RUNS. With a POS truck offroad, the very best you're going to do is break even. That means you will never be able to put money back for a rainy day fund.

"But Six, I can turn wrenches...."

Time is more important than money. You're going to lose both.

 

They should not allow anyone to buy junk and put it on the road. There is enough crap driving down the road with marginal safety putting us all in danger and causing those idiots who are afaid to leave their house in the morning all th more reason to tighten regulations against those dangerous trucks on the road.

So do all of us a favor, get a good truck fix it right and don't be cheap. This is a business, not a hobby or something that should be easy to just get a truck and make money with no matter what.

 

As others have said, you'll likely not find anything worthwhile for under $10k.....That said, there are good deals out there to be had though, particularly right now, and I predict in the future....You'll need to do your homework on what you're looking to do with it, spec it accordingly, and take a few hours to really go over it well before you buy it.....Even though I'm mechanically inclined, I always try to take another mechanic friend with me as two eyes are better than one, and you won't be blinded by the trucks initial bling you might say....Some older trucks, if maintained and repaired well throughout it's life can be an asset, while some newer trucks are beat into the ground....There are many different factors that come into play, it just all depends.....But bottom line question, can you get a descent older truck for a good price, yes, but you gotta know what to look for and really work at it....It likely aint gonna happen quick, good luck....

 

Whatever you do, if you buy an inexpensive older truck make #### sure you have enough money in reserve to keep it maintained and set aside money every settlement for maintenance. If you are over the road set aside at LEAST $0.20 per mile for maintenance. Have at least $5-10K in your maintenance account to start AFTER you do your initial "getting it road ready" work done.

If you are going off road plan on much higher maintenance costs.

 

Great another "business owner" with no business plan, no contracts, no sense of value, and no mechanical skills, and $1000 bucks burning a hole is his pocket.

If you think a $1000 truck is going to do it, if you think just getting a truck is going to start your business, by all means why are you wasting you time discussing this with us here.

 

OK ...

Buying a junk truck, one that is ready to be scrapped is one issue, you can't predict what happens by trying to have an inspections done or fixing things you think are irritative.

Have an issue with an axle, or a rim coming off, or break down in the middle of the road. All of that matters and thinking that you can start a career where you are going to spend money on junk to just keep it running isn't a way to start.

DOT Inspections are crap, they tell you just enough to get passed and that's it. Having a truck checked by a good mechanic costs money, I have mine checked and it costs me a lot more than the $75 for the inspection but I tell those guys find things wrong so I can fix them.

When I was on the road, I had an inspection done and the very next day I was put OOS and had to get towed, not because I missed something but because the inspector just passed me and failed to see the brake issues I had, I was not just pissed, I told them the company they pay for the expenses or I will see them in court, my lawyer actually to the company he will work for free to mess with them.

See the problem you don't see is the problems we see, the accidents that can be prevented, the crap that falls off the truck, and the public who gets mad at us for the few can haulers who act as if they own the road.

Take my advice seriously, buy something in the $35k range, do your due diligence and tell the mechanic to find problems before they are serious.