Buying a third daycab truck... doubts...

I bought my 26' box truck at Ritchie Bros, it was an ex Don food service truck and it has been great and I got it for a steal. The reason you are seeing them at 4yrs old give or take is everyone is afraid of emissions failures. That is honestly a crap shoot, you could get a gem or one that is a pain in your ###...hard to tell.

 

Coming from a mechanic I would say just go with the emissions. Most of the pre emissions trucks you will find are clapped out junk. The guys that have nice ones want so much money it's hard to spend it and wonder how you are still gonna make money with it. I know you want something nicer but a international with a n13 will generally run forever. Not gonna win any races but will get the job done and be reliable. If you go back to like 05 you could get a international 9400 because there is about a billion of them out there you can catch a deal on but probably won't be the nicer truck you want for yourself.

 

This ^^^^^.

And I will add that trucks from early in the history of def seemed to have lots of problems...around 2016 most of them had the issues fixed....so if you can afford it try to get a 2016 or newer. A trucks major years of depreciation are the first three anyway, and with 2020 trucks out now they are basically considered four years old already.

 

Figured I would add this. If you are looking at something pre 2015 I would stay away from automated transmissions and a lot of day cabs that come across the block have them. They generally hold up but can chew up x-y solenoids and they can be pricey. They are also a ##### to get programmed decently. You will be in 8th gear by the time you hit 10mph and lugging the engine then they will chase gears and every one I've ever driven was jerky in reverse, you have to two foot it and hold the throttle down and control your speed with the brake or else you will end up slamming into docks. 2016 and up they seem to have gotten a lot better tho.

 

Or just buy a Mack or Volvo

 

If I wasn't a company guy I would be in a Volvo.

 

Wise choice!
Mack is great as well.
Of course if you like the look of chrome in the shop, buy a pete...usually in the shop...but oh so shiny bling that the mechanics can check their reflection in the chrome.

 

He's hauling industrial machinery so I'm guessing some jobsites, that's why I was thinking international because they take a beating daily and just keep going. We don't have any of those bad ### Volvo's down here like you got up there. All the ones here are set up to haul a reefer down the highway.