Freightliners

I've been looking into getting an older truck to totally rebuild and then put to work. This is a really long term plan but it's something I want to try. First off I wanted a COE, but they are scarce in Canada to buy, and the ones you do see are not built with good specs and have the crap beat out of them. I'm now looking at either a Freightliner Classic or a FLD 120, these can be found anywhere with good specs and are dirt cheap. That got me to wondering, why exactly are they so cheap? I've driven Freightliners before and always had the impression that they were a plain jane truck, but worked well for what they were supposed to do. Guy's say they ride rough, but I never really experienced that.

 

I guess I should explain myself a little. I'm looking at buying a truck, it must be initially cheap because I don't have a great deal of money (under $40,000) Canadian. I will then do nothing but pay the truck off and fix it up to a road/work worthy status. When I have the truck paid off and fixed I will get a contract with the company I work with right now and become a third party driver. I'm interested in the Freightliners because you can get them cheaper with higher HP engines and specced the way I would like a truck specced. I want an engine brake, full lockers, either a Cummins N14 with at least 425 HP or a 60 Series with the same HP or better, 13 or 18 spd, 3.90-4.10 rearends and at least 12 and 40 axles under it, with air ride suspension for sure. I'm also looking at W900 Kenworths because I'm very partial to this truck as well, but they are a little more money then the Freightliners initially, I may end up going that route though. I know that Freightliners are plain jane, but this truck will be mostly driven on gravel roads with some highway driving mixed in, I don't need a 379 Pete thats all chromed out or anything, just a good truck that I can get working well. I plan on rebuilding the engine (if it needs it), doing all the brakes and just generally getting it in shape to operate in a reliable fashion. Thanks for all your replies guys.