12.7 series 60 inframe cost?

The last turbo I bought was for a CAT and the cheapest one I could find cost me $1,530. That didn't include the cost of labor. Labor and parts cost over $2,700.

 

Acert, I hope. $1200 in LABOR!!!! I hope that meant you had oil everywhere.

Series 60 turbos will run between 600-800 and maybe $200 labor to install, IF it didn't puke oil everywhere.

 

Guy's this is no trucker BS. we were running together ( leased to same Co.)
Bob tailing home after doing a power unit only load to Houston.
As he fell out to pass the normal slow arsed 4 wheeler he heard a loud bang. At first we thought a clamp came off or blew an ATA hose.
Nope all good we were about 35 miles from the Frightliner dealer at the 845 in Beaumont Tx.
So to make a long story short, they checked it out, yep turbo shot.
They ran the Vin.# and when the service manager came out he said I have some bad news for y'all,
Thought my friend was going to have a stroke me all I could do was stand there with my big mouth hanging open.
So he rode home with me and a week & $12,863 later it was ready.

Now I know why all the used trucks with the MB4000 motor are so much cheaper than the same truck with a Normal motor. He thought he had made a good deal when he bought it. I can just imagine what that sucker would cost to do a rebuild. IMO stay the heck away from the MB4000 if you have to pay the bills.

 

For a few grand more, he could have replaced that MB engine with a factory rebuilt 12.7 detroit. I am spec'ing out a glider truck now and a 500 hp 12.7 DDEC IV Detroit Reliabilt factory rebuild with 3 yr / 300,000 warranty is costing $17,800 invoice price (final actual price less).

 

Well, they did change my oil. I would have changed it out myself but had injured my leg on the trip out to pick up my truck. I could barely stand so I didn't have any choice. It was at a dealer 2,000 from home. When you are broken down that far from home and can't do the work yourself, you are pretty much at the mercy of the dealer or whomever can do the work.

 

Ouch. My o/o that was leased to me had a 600hp 3406e, and his turbo was pricey because it wasn't standard, but they bent you over with no vaseline on the labor, even factoring out an oil change.

I paid 2,700 for a clutch in Ogden, UT so I've been there too.

 

Ouch!!

I agree. They did take advantage of the situation. I keep a list of garages or mechanics that do a good job and whom I consider have treated me fairly. I also remember those that I believe have given me the shaft. I don't mind sharing either list.

Those who want to become an owner operator for the first time don't want to hear about what can happen and what it can cost if you break down on the road. It is these unexpected breakdowns that are the reason we suggest having a good nest egg but back. If you don't have the money to pay the garage then you don't get your truck. I know a guy who broke down in Wyoming. He blew the engine. His bill was less than $400. He had just gotten out of the hospital a few weeks earlier after some surgery and being down for several months so he didn't have much cash. He had to leave the truck and the guy charged him $50/day storage. He had the bill up to several thousand dollars in a matter of no time. Without the truck the guy had no way to earn a living. The guy lost his truck and trailer to this garage who sold them. While the guy should have had the money to pay for the repairs, it was dishonest of the garage to essentially steal his equipment. I think the garage should have worked with him, but they are not required to work with anyone.

 

Oh, I know, the ones with dollar signs in their eyes don't want to know or hear that I put 8 drives on the day before at Les Schwab in Ontario, OR. That can't happen, right? That was a crappy week!!! I didn't include the hotel bill with the clutch either, that was another $300+.

 

Too many people who want to become an owner operator only want to see the profit or gross revenue. They would rather ignore or not think about the costs involved. Sometimes, it seems like there is one thing after another that goes wrong. At other times, things go right and the world is good. With most businesses people seem to better understand that all businesses have their ups and downs. I suppose those who have never owned trucks don't seem to understand that we do have seasonal changes where business can be up or down. 2008 was a very unusual year. All of the business cycles were turned on their head. That will happen every once in a while. If you prepare for the worst then you can weather pretty much anything that comes along. The expense of staying in a motel while your truck was being prepared is not something most would consider. It is one thing to sit for a day or over night waiting for your truck to be repaired, but another when it takes several days just to get parts. You don't want to sit at a dealership drivers lounge for a week. Better to spend those days in a motel where you can rest and have a decent meal.

 

You are right, G/MAN, one has to really bank it for those unexpected times. But it is like any other small business. Even a retail store owner has to bank for those tough times and works over 80 hrs a week to make things work. They have business cycles that have to live with to. And they will have to change that light fixture that goes out or the plumbing that backs up to save cost on repair. Just like a truck owner, to save cost, will have to turn a wrench once in a while.

The only true survivors at any form of business is those that go into it with a business mindset. Even then, statistics don't lie... 90% of business' will not make it out of the first year. Actually, I think trucking has a better percentage, but it still is unforgiving of someone who doesn't do things well. Heck, even Donald Trump had to file bankruptcy before he made it big.