07 Colum bia or 2011Cascadia

Wow, only $6,000 cash and looking to go O/O? I wouldn't.

 

Personally I'd back @Hurst on this one.

You sound sold on the '07, - and if so, then pull a FULL ECM report and study it well or post it here for comment.

Run it on a dyno.

Pull a rig dig, just in case.

Pull an oil sample and send to Blackstone/Polaris.

If all above look great, then pay no more than $13k for it.

There is a lot of trucks out there from guys going out of business after rushing into it.

My 2 cents. Good luck.

 

I almost bought a 2004 with the 14L, EGR, but I took the advice from here, after spending the time and money, and backed out into a 2001 T2000 with N14 for $12,500.

I drove an 11 Cascadia with our last company and the entire batch of 11's had multiple problems. Injectors, harnesses, DPF, all before 500 k miles.

It's difficult to be patient, and costs money, but trust me - that $6k could go real quick if you rush this.

 

I dont want to turn you away from your dreams. But I would like you to please do some more research on exactly what you need to get started.

Unless your carrier is willing to float you if something goes wrong,.. $6000 is honestly chump change in this business. If you are willing to gamble $6000+ the financing on the reliability of that truck, then go for it.

Before you do I'll give you a quick example of how easy something so simple can can end up costing you more than you realize.

Summer 2014 my truck shut off on me while climbing a hill. No idea what the problem was. Paid $550 to get towed into a small shop. The problem was discovered to be a bad ground for the ECM from the battery box. $400 later I was back on the road. So $900 into the wind right there.

I make my delivery and get a reload. Later on the motor starts shaking and running rough. I pull over. Call out a service truck. He cant diagnose whats wrong with it. But he takes $200 for coming out. I have no choice but to have it towed to Freightliner. This time the tow bill is $1300. The broker for the load I am on wants me to repower my trailer so the load can be delivered. I telling them no way. Give me a day or 2 to find out whats wrong with my truck. I dont want anyone yanking my trailer just so I can chase it down 920 mi away.

Diagnosis comes back,.. faulity ECM. Going to take a day to order one from CAT. $2100 just for the ECM. I Take the shuttle van to the hotel. Even with discount its still $90 a night. Calling all morning to get updated on my trucks condition. 5PM comes,.. truck still not repaired. Another $90 to stay at hotel. Broker has now put me on their black list, unloaded my trailer to another truck. So now I have lost that load and the money for it.

I call all morning the next day and they give me more bad news. Not only is the ECM bad,.. but 2 in
jectors are not working. Need 2 injectors. Should be ready by the next morning. Poof,.. another $90.

I take a cab back to Freightliner,.. sit in their lounge all day with company drivers who smell like rotting death. Finally called up to the service dept to settle my bill,.. my truck is finished.

Here is how the bill and expenses broke down.

First tow and service - $950
2nd service call - $200
Second tow - $1300
ECM - $2100
2 injectors $1000
Reflash ECM + injector codes - $1000
3 nights in hotel - $270
Misc - food, drink, cab,.. $130
-------------------------------------------
Grand total - $6900

That quick. Plus I lost out on a $4400 load I was on.

Spring 2015 I pulled off on the shoulder to pee. I ran over a piece of metal poking up out of the ground,.. I did not see it when I pulled off the on the ramp. Punctured my steer tire and both outside drive tires. Happened at 6pm. Took till 11am the next day to get a service truck out to replace the tires. $1750,. poof.

Then back in July I blew a coolant line and ran the motor hot. Blew a head gasket and cracked the head before discovered the problem. Ended up spending $14,900 for an inframe.

I'm not even going to list the money I've spent on preventative maintenance. Tires, regular maintenance, axles, bearings, seals, replaced the engine harness, new mufflers, water pump, went through ever single hose and coolant line on the truck. New fuel lines, had the fuel tanks removed and flushed. New Davco filter, generator, interior parts, new 5th wheel,.. just to keep the truck as reliable as possible, to prevent any uneeded down time. Even now,.. seems I've developed a cold leak in the radiator. So when I come home I'm going spend my home time tearing that apart and replacing it. Its always something. Constant maintenance and upkeep. It never ends. And compared to many others,.. my truck is pretty reliable.

Do yourself a favor and put $20k away before you decide to buy a truck and become an O/O. I started with $50k,.. $20k for my truck and $30k to get started.

Can you do it with less? Probably,.. yes,.. but your gambling with your business. This is not my first truck. I had a 96 Volvo before this one. Failed miserably,.. sold it and went back OTR as a company driver for a few more years to come back with more start up cash.

Up to you how you want to proceed.
Seems like you've already got your mind made up. I wish you would reconsider.

Hurst

 

I can tell you - I spent $30,000 on maintenance last year. Oil, new tires, injectors, front cover bushing, rods and mains, starter, on and on.

Like hurst said - just to keep it as reliable as possible. Luckily all repairs were done at home, no breakdowns.

 

I have to disagree with detroit ser 60 not being a million mile engine. I had and personally no. People who have detroits with 1.3mil and haven't had to overhaul. Running east coast mainly I-95 maine to miami.

If you can get bank finance then open up a little. Look around there are many used trucks in your price range. Id look for something with no more than 450k on it. Every 4 years is a big maintance year.

In my experiance every 4th year is a big maint year. Might not be engine or trans rear ends. But thats when front end needs rebuilt, and the hanger ons (starter turbo radiator air to air etc) start to go.
If you have 6 grand saved for repairs AND your company will help ya with a few grand if needed. And you start saving .10-.15 per mile right from your first settlement. Then you have a shot at being ok.

 

I say 07

 

I purchased a 14L S60 in November '14....in 2015 I spent $18K (not counting a $12K inframe paid for by the dealer who sold it to me 2 days after I drove it off the lot).....6K is not enough....

 

If you are going to do it with 6k I hope you have a very large line of credit at a good rate available to you if you need it. But even then, you can run that up very fast and if it runs out and it's against your house ...you have dug a hole you might lose the house.

 

put an extra 0 behind that $6,000 you already have and maybe you won't go broke in 3 months (maybe).