Flatbed tractor questions

Acert sounds familiar. I think I've read here to stay away from them...

May be wrong though


What's the year, mileage and approx price of the truck?

 

great points...interestingly, I came to a similar conclusion yesterday. It's not so easy to find an old truck with specific specs.

In my case, my best case scenario would be:

- big cam 2 or 3 engine (at least 400hp?)
- 13 speed or 18 speed
- 3.xx rears
- 220"+ wheelbase
- sleeper

If I found something like that, I think I would have a solid truck, that I can repair at a reasonable cost and learn to do some repairs myself.

Only downside here that even though I have everything I wanted....i'm still going to wind up with a 5 to 6 mpg truck.

My other option, that heavy spec daycab with 4.60 rears and an 8LL, would probably even get worse mileage...maybe as bad as 3 to 4 mpg.

If I went the route of a newer truck, like a freightliner with a dd15/dd16, I'd probably end up spending something around $80k for a used example with 100,000 miles on it. I would hope I could get 200,000 to 300,000 problem-free miles out of it, but who knows? Let's say I get 8 mpg out of that.


If I theoretically drove 10,000 miles a month, The 2018 freightliner would cost me $3375/mo in fuel. The 1985 Peterbilt big cam would cost me $4500/mo in fuel and the Heavy spec day cab would cost me $6750/month.

The new truck would save me thousands a month in fuel costs. It seems so clear cut...but I don't know.

Things like this concern me:

"I learned the hard way, spending $10,000 at a shop that didn't bother to check a $7 in-line fuse to the aftertreatment control module."

With these new trucks it sounds like I'm holding a ticking timebomb. It sounds like a couple serious problems can eat up all of your fuel savings very quickly.

 

So just to reiterate and clarify, these were the options I was considering, including feedback from everyone here...

Option 1: 2000 Freightliner FLD120SD daycab. n14 celect plus. 435hp and 4.60 rears. Double frame. 8LL. (60k miles...$35k)

Pros: Cheap price, solid engine, super low original miles, the truck might be versatile (can flatbed or HH?)
Cons: Heavy spec not optimum for flatbed, low mpg, rough ride, no sleeper.

Option 2: 1981 Peterbilt 359 low roof sleeper. big cam 2. 400hp 3.xx rears. 13 speed transmission. (400k miles...$35k)


Pros: Cheap price, legendary mechanical engine, low maintenance...nice old truck
Cons: Maybe too old, maybe not enough hp (debatable)

Option 3: 1998 Kenworth w900 sleeper. N14. 525 hp 3.55 rears. 13 speed transmission. (800k miles...$55k)

Pros: very nice sleeper...perfect specs for flatbedding
Cons: may be due for an engine overhaul

Option 4: 2019 Freightliner Cascadia sleeper. dd15 500hp 3.55 rears. Auto transmission. (100k miles...$100k)


Pros: modern truck, powerful
Cons: sensor issues are a problem waiting to happen and price....I probably can never work on this truck in a meaningful way

Also, I may have misspoke when I said "regional"

The goal is to work the loadboards and stay within a 250 mile radius and hopefully be home everyday. I'd like to have a sleeper in case that strategy doesn't work though

I don't know how to define it, maybe that would be considered "local"

 

haha good point. I have overlooked them.

I have heard plenty of good about the series 60. The only thing that I've read is that they blow turbos...?

But yes, I got stuck on the idea of a Big Cam or N14.