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

Regarding the Freightliner hood v Peterbilt hood debate............

Let me be the first to admit that I like the look of a Classic XL. I trained in a FLD 120 "hood" and I had no problem with. However, except for very cool looking Freightliner cabovers, I don't thing I have ever seen a 25+ year old Freightliner on the road but I see many 379's and even 359's. To me, that speaks to build quality.

IME, higher parts costs and initial purchase cost of the truck is easier to take if you're not buying new parts and new trucks all the time.

 

A quick release valve by the suspension dump, it even helps quite a bit on an 8 bag kw.

 

Interesting. I'm going to need to get more info on this....part number?

 

There is a ton of old classics on the road.
Not as many flds but thats more to do with human emotions than build quality (basically the same truck, different hood and drill the frame in a different spot to mount the front axle). A truck is only worth what people are willing to pay. If an fld gets damaged the insurance confidant is more likely to total it due to lower value and the value is determined by human emotions.

 

After owning a slope nose Century I assure you I will only buy a hood truck after this. It took me a day and a half to replace a water pump that takes 2 hours on a Pete or KW W900. The motor sits low in the frame and half buried below firewall. Not a good owner operator truck. FYI makes no better fuel mileage either.

 

You hit the nail.
But 2k heavier? My Classic weighs 18400 loaded with tools. Most Pete’s have Cats, heavier than Detroit’s. I thought 379s pushed 19000? Wrong? Don’t forget the doors, Lol. Most sagging fenders are due to bad repairs. Bent steel cross beam. But every Pete I see has a kink on the fender, around the wheel well, from a fender bender. Also. The main reason I like mine, having had back surgery, is the room inside. My Old WS. Was so tight, Sometimes it was all I could do to fall hunched over into the bunk. The dash on mine is literally in pieces. It’s pretty junky. Not worth replacing with new junk. Hopefully I can reinforce it and get it all straightened out. Doors are being rebuilt and improved currently. No hurry, though, as it’s not the first time in 11 yrs.. The biggest problem with dash is how they integrate everything for ease of assembly,3 or 4 parts come together, held by 1 bolt. Lol. They need a lot of re inforcement. And some improving for sure. Corvette dash? Maybe a Dodge Dart dash, to go with the 12.7 slant six. Lol. Depends what you like. I like old Mopars. Great engines. Crappy interiors. Kinda like a Freightliner. The Classic is designed well, as far as the platform goes. Simple and easy to work on. The interiors, need to be customized. That’s the goal on mine. One things for sure, I won’t spend much doing it. It meets my needs. Makes Me money, And let’s Me keep it.

 

Not sure where you got a pete weighs 19k. My 95 came in at under 16500 before my gear.

Also you are right that a lot of petes had cats back then. But just as many had cummins and even detroits. No different than classics, lots of them got big heavy cats.

 

I have no idea. My memory’s half gone and half wrong lately. No ones mentioned the idea of a second life as a daycab vs integral cab/ sleeper designs. Originally one of the main reason Volvo’s and Freightliners resale suffered

 

Was talking to a driver from my town today, has a 1987 Pete ( forget model number ), he turns Florida to Philly every week, is on 3rd Cat engine in truck. He claims trucks do not wear out, they simply need TLC and re-building from time to time.