Buying a cheap, old cabover.

Vancouver Axle and Frame in Surrey BC told me $4500-5,000 to stretch a frame. That is complete with paint.

 

I've tried buying "cheap" trucks two different times. A word to the wise is sufficient... be prepared to work on it, or hire work done it about twice a month.

 

I have personally never owned one but my father had one. It cost him 5000 and this was about 9 years ago. It did well for about 2 years. Small fixes that were not super expensive. But by the end of year 3 it was getting worse. I think it was because it was an international and probably maintained poorly. Since he has bought fleet maintained trucks only and has had the best luck. All in all just get a conventional. Eventually a Coe will be too old to read codes and parts will skyrocket. Plus your back will be in better shape in 10 years. Don't forget there are just as many Conventional trucks if not more than Coe trucks for under 10 grand. Good luck. And go to crst Malone to flatbed as an owner op. they have no age restriction.

 

Too old to read codes?!?

WHAT codes?

I'm running a 1979 Kenworth K100C double bunk flat top with a Cummins Big Cam I 350, 13 speed, 4.11 rears with a skateboard and am averaging between 6.22 and 6.56 MPG, difference seems to mainly be winter vs. summer blend fuel.

I am fortunate as the truck has less than 600,000 original driveline miles on it, was barn kept most of its life, and the previous owner was a stickler for attention to detail and preventative maintenance.

If you can find a COE in similar condition to how I got mine, and keep up on PMs and other maintenance (I do most of it myself), there's no reason why you can't make money with one.

 

My father said the engine threw fault codes that were unreadable. That may have been a lazy mechanic.

 

The biggest problem with a truck older than a 2007 is not having a particulate trap. In 2014 California won't register a truck without it. And once California goes with it, most of the west coast will also. Having an older truck in 80 % of the country won't affect you. As long as it can pass inspection. But think of this one a shipper has two choices . You and your older truck, or the other guy with his newer truck. And both of your reputation is the same. Who will they pick to haul their freight?

 

I think you missed the joke.

My truck has a mechanical motor....it doesn't have an ECM.

Somehow, it still manages to get down the road just fine without an ECM, EGR, DPF, and piss tank.

And for those COE's that have an electronic motor in them...there are just as many conventionals with older electronic motors in them as well. I can't understand not being able to read the codes on them.

 

Awwww, I can't go to the great Republik of Commiefornia?

Too bad.

My better half, her second oldest daughter (who was 13 at the time) and I loaded some stainless steel in Bethlehem, PA in the summer of 2012 and headed west. One drop in Denver, and three in the L.A. area. Took the opportunity to visit a friend who is restoring a '79 K100 Aerodyne while we were out there, and then we headed home. The only reason we even headed out there was we had a load of auction stuff to haul back eastbound; it would not have been worth it to go otherwise.

You can keep C.A.R.B., the absolutely crappy highways, the traffic, and horrible drivers in 4-wheelers. It's like a combination of all the worst parts of the country packed into the L.A. basin when it comes to truckin' out there.

I think originally C.A.R.B. was going to limit the trucks in and out of the ports, and they quickly figured out there weren't enough to meet the demand so they changed the age restriction. Same thing with the model year of the truck...2007 and older were supposed to be banned this year, and they delayed it until 2014. Who knows, they may extend that again.

As far as the rest of the country going the way of Cali, well...I won't be putting an electronic motor in my truck to comply. I take it day by day anymore, and don't get excited over what could or could not happen.

As far as competing against someone else with my 1979 truck and their newer truck...well, after the other individual calls the shipper the first time and says, "Really sorry about this, but I was going down the road, everything seemed fine, and then my truck shut down..." I would say the advantage goes to me. I get a lot of compliments from shippers on my equipment. Not a lot of 34 year old trucks with original paint and interior in good condition running around. Friend of my father-in-law has a 2012 Pete 389 that has had more EGR and turbo issues than you can shake a stick at...he has lost a lot of money on down time even though the repairs have (mostly) been covered under warranty.

 

I doubt many shippers look past the bottom line on the shipping invoice. Having said that- I have a 2012 with 500k and other than an alternator, cab heater fan, no repairs. My truck has been in for tires(twice for steers) more than anything else. Guy that parks beside me has a 81 Pete and is the original owner. He keeps that truck perfect, spends more annually for maintenance than we do but he has us beat by a long shot with no payments. LOL The key is that he has owned it from new, maintained it fully, and now is enjoying the benefits of being so anal. When the truck quits, so will he but I think he has a few years left.