2000 KW W900 vs 2000 FREIGHTLINER FLD132 CLASSIC XL

Trucks are too cheap to spend 30k on a Century Class Freightliner

 

He’s looking at a Freightliner FLD Classic. That’s a hood; not a Century.

 

he posted a century later. I can see the confusion.


To the OP, my first truck was a beat up old Columbia. Spent about 30k keeping it on the road. For the 2 years I had it. After all said and done it was ok, not the best but needed another 20k just to be where I wanted it to be.

for that money if would have rather gotten a KW.

 

Back then trucks were built with most all the same parts as each other. Its only been in the last 15 years that they've gone the way of the automotive industry and made everything proprietary.

I'd be willing to bet if you looked at a late 90s/early 2000s Freightliner and KW side by side you'd have the same (or very similar) powertrain, steering, suspension, frame etc. Really the only major difference you'd likely see would be the cab and hood.

Back then you had Cat, Cummins and Detroit to pick from for power, Eaton and Rockwell for transmissions/diffs, Rockwell and Eaton for steer axles, Shepperd, Ross and TRW for steering boxes. Suspensions had much more flavouring though. Usually had a couple proprietary suspensions (KW had the Airglide, FL had Airliner) and options for Hendrickson, Neway, Chalmers etc.

 

Seeing how you are financing them I would guess you do not have the money to run this business yet. That older truck should be bought with cash in hand. Why are you trying to go so old and wore out other then because that is all you can afford?

 

Ok disregard my last statement. It looks like you have a little cash to buy what you want. If it was me I would pay cash for the truck and rent a trailer starting out for maybe 6 months to up to a year. This will give you cash in hand to be able to replace that motor or trans if need be in the first year. I would not use the credit cards in the beginning.

You will also need to buy all the equipment to put on truck for the flat bed work. Will need to get your plates and insurance set up. Have you got a quote on insurance yet if you plan on running your own numbers?

The Freightliner Truck itself is overpriced and is down the road from me. I have never done business with them so I know nothing about them personally. But they do have good reviews it looks like. If I had to pick one I think that would be the one. Save that cash since you are gonna need to use it on the truck most likely fixing issues. I would figure 20K min for the first year in fixing up the truck.

I am sure you can do it but you better be able to get decent freight rates and be willing to work your butt off when it is good.

 

Advice??

Look for other trucks.

Get the truck on a dyno, test the blowby, and so on.

DO NOT finance with credit cards, house equity or anything that will leave you in debt when it crashes.