Getting back in the game

I completely understand that. New or old a truck is a truck and it is going to need parts. Whether it is new and you goto he dealer or its older and you do it at the house. New or old they all break down and they all cost you money. I just have zero interest in a new truck. I don't think pre eld is over hyped. It servers a purpose. I do think they are over priced, but what do you do. Supply and demand. There is a demand for them and only so many to be had. So, I'm kind of at the behest of the market. I was reading a thread from a couple of years ago about guys saying a 99 at $30k with a inframe was overpriced. Nkw that same truck is twice that price. Brother I wish I had all the answers. I just go back and forth weighing the pros and cons of each and I really don't know what the right move is. I'm just going to take a chance and roll the dice going forward. I just don't want a throw away truck. Which is most newer trucks are. I don't see anybody 20 years from now talking about a Cascadia or what not. I see a 379 or w9 as a fairly sound investment these days. Heck if things keep going this way, I can sell it down the road for more than I paid for it
..lol.
@Vampire
Thanks for the education of hangers, I honestly had no idea. I will keep an eye out. Thank you sir.

 

unless you've got some serious capital behind you, best off working for someone else after all a steady pay check is much preferred to a debt collector knocking on your door.

 

I completely understand that. I just don't have it in me anymore. I'm tired of being stepped on with no recourse. after working for myself up until now, I'm tired of working for others. I like to steer my ship. I'm a problem solver and doer. I have a hard time just sitting back and letting the chips just lye where they fall.

Edit: I want to rise or fall at my doing not somebody else's. which is where Im at now. I just lost $40k doing the same job for the same peopleAnd I have no recourse for that other than go down the road and find something else. So thats what I'm doing.

 

First of all the prices that you're seeing are dealer prices. The dealer is always going to shine up a turd and really want insane amounts of money.

You need to find an owner operator that's going out of business that has all the receipts for his truck and he kept up with his like he should. There are also some small fleets that really take good care of their trucks. I would bet you for most of these trucks that you see from these dealerships that they want top dollar they don't even have any maintenance records. Never never buy that truck for top dollar.

When you find one that has the paperwork for the engine being rebuilt and he has all the receipts that in the last 3 years he put a new radiator in a new water pump new injectors he put new spring hangers he put all new driveline seals in the put new universals new brakes drums can seals cams everything that's the truck you want to buy.

And coming from a guy that drives a 95 truck every day, before you start with that truck make sure everything, I mean everything front to back has been gone over over and any potential problems are fixed before you start.

The thing that will kill you with any truck even a new truck, is you go to work you make some money you break down now you stop. Now you have money going out while no money is coming in. Repeat that multiple times over and it doesn't take long to empty out your bank account.

Once in a while that's going to happen, but you want that to be once in a while, the exception. You want to be able to get into that truck every day and roll and make money and then when it's time to do your repairs you've made money and you can afford to stop and do them.

And coming from a guy who runs a big cam Cummins everyday, don't be afraid of a mechanical motor. The big cam cummins or even a caterpillar, although more expensive to work on, are very simple easy to work on reliable easy to diagnose Dependable engines. Everything on those engines cost less than their computerized brethren, and if you ever start having electrical problems or computer problems that can be expensive at times and for sure will make you want to bang your head against the wall.

Good luck, get whatever it is that you want and that you will enjoy, and enjoy it. I love my truck. I have no desire ever for anything else.

 

Thanks @Dino soar

My first truck was a 359 with a b model. I've found a few out there, however, now that I'm getting older, the idea of a flat top is not so appealing. I still think they are the sexiest truck ever made though. My only concern with a mechanical is cruise. I've seen the cruise kits, but haven't heard any feedback on them. I don't have my mind made up yet. I just have preferenceslike everyone else does. I just want to know if my preferences are realistic or not. The couple at the dealer I'm looking at have paper work for engine and trans and seem to be in line with the pricing thatI've been seeing. I agree dealers just shine turds. It's just hard for me to take my time off and fly around the country to look at trucks. So I'm trying to find some that are near each other. I agree with fix what you can up front. That is my plan. I'm going to have. Month or so before my authority comes in. So I'm going to go through the truck top to bottom in that time and fix all that I can. I'm buying a brand new trailer though.

 

Well, I have an update/rant. I have called on about 30 trucks in the past 2 days. Half of the guys seem like they can't be bothered by you. Most either have one pic up or 20, but not one of the interior and surely not one of the sleeper. if you ask for a photo of the interior they get all huffy like your asking for a pic of their wife. I am amazed how many guys I talk to that know absolutely nothing about their truck at all. They can't answer simple questions about it, but they all want top dollar. Then there are the guys who have inframes done, but no paperwork. How in the heck do you spend that kinda money on a service and parts and have no trace of that purchase? I'm calling all owner operators too. Then there are the few I called that sold their truck last week and don't understand why I'm calling. I said because I just seen the ad. If it's sold, take the ad down.....gees.

 

Finding a truck sometimes is hard as finding a driver. Just keep going you'll find it.

As far as the rebuilds without paperwork it never happened. Any shop that did a rebuild for someone you can call them ten years after the fact and they'll send you another copy of the invoice. This is not 1950 where people get rid of their paper files after six months.

I love when I see ads on Facebook where they have a few pictures and the guy says don't ask me a bunch of stupid questions.

There was something I was interested in and a guy said that don't ask me a bunch of questions, so I messaged him and I said you know what I would buy that off of you right now at the price that you're offering but I have questions about it. So if you weren't such an a-hole you would have sold it right now.

I had another guy that was selling a trailer and he said don't ask me any questions about this trailer because if you think you're going to buy a $4,000 trailer and start your business you got rocks in your head!

So I messaged him back and I said well I started my business with a trailer that I didn't pay nearly $4,000 with and I worked it over and it's been fine and it will be fine for probably the next four or five years.

There are a lot of guys like me out there that could buy a trailer off of someone like you but you're too much of an a hole to answer any questions. Sounds to me like you're the one with rocks in your head.

I never understood that attitude when you're selling stuff but those are bad sellers I wouldn't buy anything from them. When I sell things I cater to people if they want specific pictures or whatever else I'm happy to help them.

 

Thanks brother, it's been a real rough eye opener.....that's for sure. I've had a few deals killed by gear ratios. what the keck is with guys and 3.90s? There were a couple of gorgeous early 379s and morethan a few 359s that they couldn't have taken my money fast enough if it wasn't for the rears. For what they are asking, it wouldn't be worth putting new rears under them. Believe me, I've tried to justify it...lol

 

Welcome to the game. You should hear some of the owner ops that call in sometimes about wanting to lease on. If you ask any questions they clam up and get off the phone. A lot of people don’t have a clue about anything frankly.

I almost think it’s worse with people that buy old trucks because a lot of them only buy old trucks because their brothers friends cousin said that’s what they should do to make the big bucks.

 

It can be really hard to find an older truck that isn’t trashed, but really there are some three year old truck that look 30 years old.

if you are on Facebook there are several buy, sale, trade truck pages and some specific 359, 379, and W900 pages. You will find ads with guys selling things as you described with crap for info and the occasional Nugget where a guy knows everything about it. Doesn’t mean he will tell you everything or forgets a few but they are out there if you search.