What condition of truck to buy

A couple of years ago, he had his old truck in the shop again under warranty for a new tranny, they kept it way longer than they should have for what ever reason, and when it all shook out, peterbuilt gave him a brand new spare 18 spd, he still has it in his shop. lol

 

At one time there was a 90 day wait on automatic tranny computers. My brother had to go to Oklahoma & get another truck while his truck was in shop. Company truck under warranty.

 

Why that new head honcho went to automatics 3 years ago nobody knows.
Oilfield trucks.

 

I see a lot of cleaned up shiny trucks on the TruckPapers for $30-40K range and just imagining the problems these dealerships are hiding.

I'd personally never purchase a used truck where the engine bay has been cleaned. I'd also personally just keep window shopping until I see a truck for sale in my price range by an original owner O/O, not some dealership.

 

I'm the same way with my personal vehicle. Week wait to get in to replace 2 leaking axle seals. Paid $70 out of pocket for the pair of seals plus a few bucks for new gear oil and did it in the driveway in 3 hours. Factor in a 2.5 hour round trip to the dealer, $50 in gas and then waiting 4 hours in the service lounge with my thumb up my butt I was far ahead money and time wise doing it myself.

 

I have been looking and have almost pulled the plug on a couple of different trucks. I think I only really need a truck for a couple of months, but finding what I want has not happened yet. I am looking at one now that is actually speced right or at least close enough.
The problem is it is a 2006, so we may have to start running e logs the first of the year, at least that is the rumor. I am not playing that game, but the truck should pay out by then or extremely close and I can run 4 trips a month and be elog exempt. I could live on that, but not what I want to do.
The other problem is it has an ixs, and I am scared to death it would not last till the first of the year, and I do not want to tie up the money to put a new one in.
The option there would be turn it yellow with a 99 or older engine and be elog exempt anyway.
The other thing as the style dash in those model KWs, have a bad track record on the haul road, and have a hard time staying together.
The plus side is it does have nuway suspention, and they are pretty hard to find in KW's, so decisions decisions. lol
I have put quite a bit of thought in it and if I don't go for it the boss is, I told him while ago, it would really make more sense for him to grab it as he has a big new hunk of yellow iron sitting there ready to double it's value in a week if the motor doesn't hold up anyway. lol

The only thing else I have found and had any interest in is a star, not a big fan of stars, but it is a lighter truck with a detroit, and would at the most, just be something to get by till I get mine settled and back together, then flip it or hang on for a backup, but there is still that e log thing.
Anything I have found that is elog exempt is either not in the shape I want, or at least twice the money, and I am not going in debt at this stage of the game.

 

I’d say you’ve hit 5 snags. IMO, best way to go, is find something that’s either already been OH. Or an original, that shouldn’t need one for at least 3 yrs. keep $10 k minimum, for repairs, more if possible, even if it means borrowing $20k for the purchase. build it up to as much as possible ASAP. It will be easier to get a small loan for the purchase, than it is to get money for a major repair. Don’t risk losing your cash invested.

 

I have never been real big on buying one with a fresh overhaul, and especially not here, I would much prefer to handle that myself. I know you get a warranty with a fresh overhaul, but I have watched guys have their truck inframed 5 and 6 times in that many months or less, so what good is a warranty if you don't get to run the truck long enough to make a payment on it. lol

I could make either of these work, for sure if I got 10,000 miles out of that isx, but there is still that eld thing, if it goes in to affect, so am thinking I am going to pass on them, at least that is my thinking tonight.
They are after me to haul logs, if I get in the right mood, I may do that until I get settled with the insurance co.

 

I bought mine w/ 50 k on OH. Same as the one I had wrecked. Now 11 yrs. and 1.3 mil, still going sorta strong, Lol. Most Trucks over 10-12 yrs old have either been OH, or are ready to be OH. 5 or 6 OH in 5 or 6 mo.s ? I’m looking for a new Mechanic, after the first failure. That’s crazy!!! There’s usually a lot of Trucks for sale, w/ 200-400 on an OH. Usually because the OP had to run it long enough to justify the cost. To get their money out of it. It’s no different than any maintenance, eventually it needs to be done.

 

Many new trucks do not get 350,000 miles on this road, most company trucks are pretty well worn at 250,000.
Every ounce of power gets used on some of the grades, and the road is hard on fresh engines, but most that go through 5 or 6 or one guy I know 22 overhauls are building as much power as they can almost get away with. I don't think doug actually had his overhauled 22 times, but he jerked 22 liners before he just took it back to KW and went back stock with it.
It seems like the isx engines even with oo's taking care of them, have a hard time passing the 350,000 mile mark, those that stay on the pavement tend to do better, unless they are pulling double tankers or something like that.