Paying cash for an older semi tractor vs. financing a new one

i dont know sometimes i miss my 08 Columbia, atleast it didnt have a def light that acted all screwey every 2 days.


Sometimes i even wonder if i should just get a Pete with a s60,

 

I've had 5 trucks. And while my 5th is probably the least "lovable" it's by far the best moneymaker. I bought a 12 Columbia glider kit from Schneider. Rolled the dice a little as you are limited in what you can do/inspect when you look at their trucks but I am pretty good mechanically and spent a ton of time looking at what they had for sale and did a couple oil samples and picked one.
I had financing on my own and put down a BIG down, kept a little for expenses and headed out. I started making money with it from day one. All their trucks are inspected and ready for the road. I have had lots of repairs to do but the astounding part of this truck is just how f#@$£¥& cheap it is to fix. Junkyards are FULL of Columbia's and shops that can service it are everywhere. No more dealers. My maintenance is so low my accountant is telling me to spend some on it next year or I will get dinged at year end.
I needed a new hip so I'm taking most of this year off to get it done a recoup, and when I get back I'm doing a new lease on a brand new tripac.
MONEY MAKER. Is all I can say. Gets awesome fuel mileage, I sample EVERY change and all are stellar. I may buy a new stainless bumper this year.....

 

If you drive the truck I'm in. You have a payment either way.

Your choices are sitting home and spending money or working and spending money.

I get that old trucks are the way to go but let's be realistic. Them old trucks get more rare every year. And I'm sure parts get harder to find also.

When you're working on your second new truck payment and still have a truck worth nothing.

I was spoiled with the last company. Driving new FLs. And making money. The owner makes more money leasing new and trading them every 3 years. Then keeping his aging fleet. He also didn't have a choice since only runs to Cali

 

What scares me the most is an owner who has little knowledge of the mechianics but willing to buy marginal junk and constantly dump money into it because they don't know when they are getting ripped off.

This is the type of owner who needs to focus on business and not the tool, buy relatively knew, leverage the lack of a money pit by making it up on the business end.

 

If you spend $20,000 you can get a top shape Freightliner pre emissions. A classic may run a bit more cause they are cooler than a FLD 120, Century, Columbia, etc. I know a man who bought 2 FLD's for $13,000 and sold them years later for more than he paid for them. That's hard to beat.

 

I run a private carrier business and own two trucks, thinking about getting a third one since we now have three CDL holders.

We have some home grown mechanics and can solve simple problems, like replacing valves, air bags, hoses, etc. Very rarely we need to invite an outside person and that was for emissions/DPF problems and blown head gasket on a 2009 Columbia. The FLD is fully serviced by us and everything that we had to do to it was very simple stuff. Air bags, door locks, dash, etc.

If I can find another one like this FLD I would be extremely happy.

I do overweight loads with the FLD also, regularly 97,000 gross and there are no problems.

 

I'll try to answer a few of your questions.

The 12.7 Detroit is plenty of engine to pull whatever you're pulling wherever you are going. It is known as a very economical engine- easy on fuel and not expensive to repair and very dependable. Around 800,000 miles or preferably before that the bull gear needs to be serviced, but aside from that they run excellent. The n14 is a similar story. Both of those engines are known to go well over a million miles if they are taken care of. Bear in mind they are computerized and sometimes computer trucks have problems that cost you money, sometimes a lot of money, vs a mechanical engine. Problems can be much harder to diagnose then a mechanical engine. I would advise you to read through the heavy duty mechanics forum and you'll see what I'm talking about. You should anyway to learn more about problems people have with their trucks.

Engine transplants depends on what you would want to do. I believe it was 2003 when EGR came out and I think from that point on you can't swap an older engine. The way that I understand it up until 2002 you can replace an electronic Engine with mechanical one if so desired or with an older electronic one. Bear in mind that there are difficulties to switch say from a 12.7 to an n14 because the wiring is different, and that makes it more complex and costly.

There are a lot of disagreements about gear ratio pulling power overdrive direct drive etc etc. The best that I can tell you is whatever engine you are looking at check with the manufacturer to find out where the best sweet spot RPM is for cruising. Then go to the road ranger website and they have a road speed calculator it will show you what different rear ratios with direct or overdrive Transmissions will be turning for RPMs at different speeds. Then just figure the speed that you want to cruise at. I myself prefer a reasonable rear end ratio like 390 or 370 with an overdrive transmission.

If you buy a truck that has a 70 inch sleeper, I would imagine whatever wheelbase that is would be fine for Flatbed. Ask your question in the flatbed section because I'm not familiar with how much room you need for the headache rack Etc. But if you are going to pull a flatbed, a flat top or mid roof is best.

$20,000 can probably buy a decent truck. Best to buy from a private owner and that truck should come with a long laundry list of recent repairs. Bear in mind it's nothing, NOTHING to spend $20,000 on a truck and have to put another 10 or 15 into it. Be ready and prepared to do that.

Sometimes trucks are like women. It is always an adventure but the surprises are not always good. A bad one will cost you more money, headache, and heartache than you could ever imagine.

Choose carefully.