53' stepdeck - NEW or USED ??

That would be me.... Mon-Thurs with a $1,200 week salary AFTER taxes, and only local moves....... when do I start?


Oh yeah, and I'll only drive a brand new truck and no Volvo's

 

Personally I don't buy anything new, you loose to much to depreciation the first year, so I always buy used everything. I guess if you ask 10 different people you will get 11 different answers as to what is the right way though.

I pull a 51 foot Doonan step, I have a dump valve on the back axle wired all the way into the cab. I dump the air off it anytime I make any turns more than changing lanes, and my trailer tires wear good. If you don't have a dump valve I highly recommend putting one on your trailer, they are fairly easy and not real expensive. For the cost of one tire you can rig it up.

 

My truck and trailer are both paid for, and I plan to keep it that way. The way I run my show is I put away a small percentage every month in a savings account for the truck and trailer. I am usually always looking for a deal on a newer trailer, and I know what mine is worth if I decide to sell. When I find something newer that I like better or has better options than what I have now, I see how much I have in the piggy bank, and if that plus what I can sell my used equipment for lets me write a check for the one I want, I go get it. If not I keep looking, sooner or later something always turns up. I guess I am more of a make a list of the options I want on a trailer, take my time and find a deal then buy. I don't get in a hurry anymore, I also don't like the idea of having payments. If I want to take a couple extra day's off, or someone tries to get me to haul some cheap or BS freight I am real quick to tell them, NO I am perfectly happy sitting on my back porch drinking coffee call me back tomorrow and I might think about it.

 

I don't see it either. I wonder if those that advise buying a used SD have tried to find one. Often by the time you drive to look at it/pick it up then put new rubber and brakes on it, sandblast and paint it...and put the tool boxes on it that it doesn't have, you are almost at new price. The only advantage I see to used is you don't have to wait 8 weeks for delivery......and if you get an old enough one you can avoid the mandatory ABS.