Pros and cons of buying an ELD exempt truck?

My biggest issue is not the engine, those parts are available forever. I spent two hours (that I really didn’t have) chasing down two broken wires on a 2001 9400 on Tuesday.

Then on Wednesday, the water pump crapped out.

Hard to make money chasing gremlins.

 

Man people will be crying if they ever start cracking down on that.

@PE_Trans older trucks are generally lighter than new ones because they don’t have all the emissions stuff on them. When I pulled flatbed my boss had all his trucks set up the exact same way. When I went from my 99 to a brand new 05 (twin turbo Acert Cat) I gained a little over 400 pounds. When I went from the 05 to a new 09 I gained another 700 pounds. Then when I got into a glider in 2017 my TARE weight was back down to 35000 instead of a little over 36000.

 

From everything I read on here a newer truck will probably be heavier than an old one. Who actually wants to go to Cali anyway? Putting a new motor in it would defeat the purpose, unless you find a new old motor but those are about as rare as a gold egg laying hen.

 

It is written right in the laws on eld exemptions, if it is federal law, it will be hard to crack down on, unlike deleteing an emission.

 

Except you can’t go backwards on emissions unless it’s a glider. Anything up until EGR and Acert Cats and all that good stuff you can do whatever you want though. If I was running a 2003 you bet I’d be swapping or at the very least slapping a new ID plate on the engine.

 

It is still possible to, or was just a couple of years ago to buy a brand new cat C15, they are spendy, but available. One friend of mine went this route on his truck

I have another friend that tried to buy a new C18, but there was none available at this time, but he has them in the process of putting a new one together, the block, head and everything else was available brand new.

 

My old 2000-2003 three Volvos get the same mpg as my friends 2016-2019 five Volvo trucks, usually all between 6-7mpg.
My 2000 Volvo with 12.7 Detroit does especially well. For example driving in WV and NC on i77 and i81 with 43k I get 6.3mpg and close to 8mpg from Detroit to Denver with light loads. That's driving 70mph all the time.

 

The new law from last year contradicts the old law, how will that play out in court, it is in plain black and white as law.

 

I may be thinking of something else, but I though fitz used genuine factory reman detroits?

 

Some cons I ran in to.
6.3 mpg fuel economy. I guess I can live with that.
I bought my 99 FLD120 at auction in generally good clean condition, but I believe it had been sitting for a while. I found that leaks started to appear where rubber seals and o-rings are used. I guess that 20 years time takes its toll on rubber parts. It makes them stiff and some hardened and cracked like plastic. When you start pressing the motor back into service, these pieces start failing. Luckily no main seal leaks. I replaced brakes and drums, Ac hoses, compressor, condenser and dryer, all fuel lines, front air brake hoses, all belts, front suspension spring hangers, air system purge valve and governor, alternator, shocks, 2 wheel end seals, front and rear differential seals, piston cooling nozzle o-rings, and a few other things I can not think of right now.
If one is prepared for these issues, and can make these repairs without paying huge labor costs, its not too bad. The interior is not quite as cushy as the modern trucks, it feels more older school. The stereo system is not quite as nice as the newer trucks.
The pros I can think of.
The truck is payed for.
Paper logs.
No DEF,
No EGR Coolers,
No DPF Filters,
No DPF Regen cycles.
No automatic braking
No auto shifting
Less sensors, electronic, and emissions issues.
More nostalgic look, if you like that sort of thing.
I do not get any extra attention from the DOT.
I guess you have to be willing to keep up with the added maintenance of an older truck. Since replacing all those parts, the truck is running quite well and is feeling reliable.