Yet Another Which Truck Should I Buy Post

I thought those 90's, early 2000's ch613's pre Volvo Macks were well regarded among o/o and mechanics.

 

Mid roof makes more sense for flatbed and should increase your MPGs, but if you ever switch to a dry van or reefer, it will reduce your MPGs.

I would recommend to get a truck with an APU as it means the truck has less engine hours, and it will save you money by not needing to idle (as much). This is particularly important if you plan to run the truck over a million miles. A truck that idles every day for 10 hours may not easily make it past 1 million miles without an overhaul.

 

I would never again buy used truck with automatic transmission, made this costly mistake once. Yes, comfortable in traffic ,helps with fuel efficiency but are sophisticated computer controlled, as the warranty expires truck gets older vibration corrosion they start throwing glitches faults, I wasted lot of time in shops abandoned loads and tens of thousands of $. I would look for a simple reliable Eaton 13 or 18 for hilly west coast, and you are in control going downhill on Cabage Hill not the computer, a transmission failure going heavy downhill is dangerous .

 

Prices of trucks aren't down. They're more expensive then buying a much newer with much less miles.

I'm not finding a lot of o/o ads these days like their used to be. And what little is advertised. Wants 12 or newer.

Really doesn't make sense to spend more for older if the options are going to be limited.

 

Neither. Both may have a catastrophic failure waiting to happen on first trip.
N14, or series 60 or nothing.