Found my dream truck but have a few questions

Read rockyroad's post again and again.

I think I read earlier you posted your start up capital. Seems you are starting out better than most do. You are risking your good start up capital with this truck.

Maybe you have no real big problems, but what if it turns out to be a money pit. It could. Down time is a killer. Check with your insurance company and read the fine print. What if they total it and only give you 20k? Are you sure they will pay you what you think it is worth? An unfortunate accident can happen to anyone at anytime.

This dream could become a nightmare faster than you think.

Something to consider. Just what mpg do you think your going to get with this truck? Light weight freight in a van, you have the opportunity to really be on the upper end of mpg for big trucks. Your not pulling a wide load on a double drop. This truck could cost you 10, 15, 20k in fuel every year.

Your great starting position might not really look very good 2 years from now with this truck.

Your buying from a emotional position. You are playing into the sellers hand.

And yes to me trucks are just tools. Pick the best tool to do the job. With maybe a little fluff. If your really successful then you can afford more fluff if that gets your crank going.

But this is your first truck. Don't waste your starting capital on fluff. Use a balanced approach to truck and wagon. And save a good chunk for the unexpected.

Good luck either way you decide.

But I would read rockyroad's post 10 times before I bought this truck. And think about what he is saying.

 

You can find a newer truck for half the price. That newer truck may be a money pit! Almost any one who has bought several trucks, has screwed up and bought a money pit. The truck is over priced, and you may (will) put a lot more money in it. The thing about an older truck is when you are finished putting that money in it, it is every bit as dependable as a new truck with no miles on it

My first truck was an 1989 pete, put well over 2 mil. on it before I sold it. To me the day I sold it, it was as dependable as a new one. What was that truck worth? On one hand it was worth the price of a new truck, on the other hand, every time I put new tires on, I doubled the value of the truck.

You have great working capital, when things go bad you won't go broke. If your going to keep the truck for many years it does not matter what it cost. Some people view a truck as a tool, it does a job, to them its all about net profit. For others, the truck is not only a tool, but it is also a very personal asset, an extension of who we are. Many us have done very well putting money into over priced older equipment.

 

I agree 62 sounds a little high for it but its you who has to be happy with it. The tires wont be a problem. Every Pete I ever drove had 24.5 tires on them and most trailers I pulled had 22.5. If it has 700,000 since the overhaul, that seems kinda much as well for that price but most of the Petes with cats I drove routinely went over a million before doing an overhaul. The man I drove them for said the bearings were the thing to worry about with a cat. He said hed routinely change his about every 3-4 years whether they needed it or not. 2 of the trucks I drove had a million and a half on them when I got out of them. The start Mileage on one was 402,000 and the start on the other was 565,000. I don't know what was done before those mileages to them but he never touched the engine as long as I drove them. We run both of them as team trucks so the miles run up quickly.

In my opinion, you cant beat a Cat but some prefer Detroit and some prefer Cummins.

 

Here's a Pete for you: http://www.truckpaper.com/listingsdetail/detail.aspx?OHID=5134469&dlr=1&pcid=2000718386

Here's a KW for you: http://www.truckpaper.com/listingsdetail/detail.aspx?OHID=4977251&dlr=1&pcid=2000718386

One is 22k, one is 14k. You could buy both for the price, then still buy two more trucks. You could have a fleet of four trucks. If one dies, no problem get into another one. 62k is a joke, like someone said you're playing right into this guys hands. "It's got pretty carpet every where." Forget about the carpet, it's just carpet!

 

Get it man, happiness is priceless. Proof is in the putting, check out the paper work and call Cat and ask if the job is legit. Jordan truck sale are known to be a bit pricey but once you are pre approved, and you negotiate a price almost every dealer will work with you. Offer them and try to get it for 58k for it and if comes down to it tell them you will take it for 60k and use the 2k for tag and taxes fee.

 

While it is hearsay".... A long time O/O told me when I was looking to purchase my own truck to look at this place. As he explained to me this dealership does charge a premium price on equipment but it's because they have looked over each unit carefully. They obviously do a couple things to sweeten the deal but they started with a solid unit taken care of previously. So you are paying a premium for the homework they have done. Just my .02

 

OK I got interested in your story so I checked out the wed site of JTS the place the truck u like is at. and its a buy here pay here place. these guys are always going to jack up the price because they cater to poor credit buyers. not to say the truck isn't worth it I don't know. I've not seen it/ but if you don't need their financing help and it sounds like you don't I would just look around a little more.I also saw this truck on their website U guys think its worth it.2007 PETERBILT 379EXHD Heavy Duty Trucks - Conventional Trucks w/ Sleeper For Sale At TruckPaper.com

 

Well that is good. I bet if u flash the cash at him he will move a little. anyways the truck is sharp. So good luck.