Which trans?

Who previously owned them??? A large fleet or a small one.
What lanes you going to run??
How many miles are on the engine?
How many hours are on the engine????
What rearends do they have??
Going to be used as local, regional, or long haul???

All this need to be considered.

 

But the trucks are nit the same... One has an apu... One has less miles... Do they have the same rear ends? And I'm sure one has had more hours idling. These would play a bigger role in my choice than which transmission they have... As both transmissions will do the job just fine with little performance difference pulling a van.

 

For an OTR van operation it wouldn't matter to me

 

With the info you have provided... I would choose the 10 speed... Because it has less miles, and an APU so it probably has WAY less hours on the engine, which means way less idling.

In the long run it will probably cost you less in repairs and maintenance.

 

In general, the 13 is more desirable. The 10-speed is more of a fleet spec transmission.

But I have to absolutely agree with
@Cattleman84.

The transmission is probably the least important part of that decision. It is easy to swap a transmission after you get a little money under your belt.

You can never go back to buy a lower mileage truck that's in better shape, if that's even the case. And the Apu is not cheap to purchase and install. A truck with more miles on it without an APU probably did a lot of idling.

Could cost you multiples of $9,000. And then some.

The transmission is almost meaningless unless it's an automatic that's going to cost you even more money and headaches.

It sounds like your mind is closed off to any other point of view, so I guess you feel like you have it all figured out.

Good luck.

 

The question really is. Which one will make more money? APU used a lot, will return more than $9 k. 10 spd if replaced will cost $1000 less than 13, and probably last longer than 13. Condition of Truck I’m my experience is a mirror of how it’s been driven. If the interiors been abused, So has the trans. 9 k less is deceptive, as you don’t post the cost of each. If One 30 k and others 21 k that’s a no brainer pay cash for the 21 k Truck. 90 k vs 81 k, finance the extra 9 k and get real fuel savings, adding up to more than additional payment amount.

 

13 is preferable IMO. But should not be the end all b all.