cheap heavy duty truck reliability

Fresh bearings on an electronic engine doesn't mean anything. Any emissions engine (EGR, DPF, SCR) that's had work on any part of the emissions doesn't mean it's fixed and you're good to go. It means you're going to change that part again in the near future. The best thing you could do, in my opinion, is go with a 2003 or older but not so old that it's got a mechanical engine.

 

Times 2 on any pre emissions engine. You should be exempt in states which enforce emissions because according to what your saying, you will be running under 5k a year, well at least in California.

 

If I was going to purchase anything that had a million on it, it would definitely have a CAT motor. Second choice would be the N14.

Truck would be a Freightliner Classic or Columbia, just for the sheer volume of dealers and parts support.

Stay away from automatic transmissions too.

 

I'm biased but go CAT first,second and third choice. 6NZ or MXS/ NXS acert. Find one with a known service history including oil tests if possible, roll in new bearings if not already done and away you go. A nice deep growl under the go pedal and reliable as hell.

 

CAT with the two turbo would be my choice. Next down is detroit, but those have been worked.

Agreed on the mechanical engine. When they are running correct the music is beyond wonderful.

 

go price some parts on a cat. they're expensive.

you want cheap and reliable? i'd get something with a pre emission detroit 60 series. and the fuel mileage on those is the best as well. a freightliner FLD with a 60 series may not give cb bragging rights but it'll be cheap to buy and cheap+and EASY+ to fix.

 

cheap and truck don't go together unless your lucky

 

Cat parts I've had to buy since I've owned this 2007 Columbia (three years)...

Compressor coolant hose $43
Fuel transfer pump $186
Coolant diverter valve rebuild kit $108
Precooler hoses $40
Rocker studs (admittedly pricey) $500
Injectors cleaned, tested, new o-rings $300

Now some things that can go and are not cheap...

Turbos $3k each
Precooler $850
Injectors $600
Water pump $700
Internal wire harness ? (Anyone?)
VVA solenoids ??

Keep the oil changed. Use Cat filters. Never fill the secondary filter with fuel and never let it get so plugged that it blows the element out.

It will run a long, long time.

 

we ran detroits all thru the 90's up till you could get them only in freightliners,and we weren't gonna downgrade on the truck because of the motor. we ran KW and Petes. a lotta detroits.

after that we went with cats. we ran a lotta cats. 6nz thru Acerts. they had their issues. but also they did fine by us,i aint baggin' on cats. but they are more expensive to own,and run.

Cats are great motors,probably the biggest power makers too. but we probably went inside more cats that detroits. certainly not fewer.

and there is the whole bragging rights thing about cats. some guys need that. some guys don't.

i think for a single o/o its hard to beat the value ,ease,and economy of owning and running a 60 series.