Going to OO, buying my 1st truck in a month.

This topic comes up a lot, and it's great you have this site to hook into, saves a lot of hassle. Tons of credible advice here, but we need more info. What you intend to haul, where you go( mountains need different trucks than say, Illinois) drop and hook in suburban yards, or P&D in downtown Chicago? I too, was a company driver for 20 years, and bought my own. Never regretted it. Be a lot tougher this day and age, but truck spec'ing hasn't changed.

 

10 years in the seat gives you a HUGE leg up on so many people getting their first truck with little experience.

You should have a good idea on what is nuisance, other stuff that just comes with having a big truck. As opposed to someone spending all their time at a dealer or shop for every little vibration, or everytime the check engine light comes on.

I'm not a fan at all of the BIG truck payment.

 

Which dealer? Freightliner dealer? Where did it come from?

 

I completely agree when purchasing a personal vehicle, but not when buying a truck with 500,000 miles on it like the OP is looking at. I’ve only owned one new car in my life, and I bought it when I was 18. Way too much instant depreciation on a personal vehicle.

Lots can go wrong in half a million miles in a big truck though, and unless it was extremely well taken care of you’re just asking for trouble when you buy a truck like that. The dealer won’t be honest with you about the condition it’s in, you’ll have a hard time telling what kind of shape it’s in on the short test drive you get, and good luck finding accurate maintenance records.

My first truck as an O/O was a 2012 Volvo 780 with 425,000 miles on it and an APU already installed, and it nearly bankrupt me. I’ll never buy a used truck again.

 

Do you have any experience with super singles? My opinion, and probably the general consensus from experienced O/Os is that you should stay away from them. If you blow one when you’re loaded there’s a good chance it’s taking the wheel with it, so you’ve got a nice little $1k+ roadside repair to look forward to.

 

ENNN, ( buzzer sounding) Don't, and I repeat, don't go with a small motor. Being a flat lander truck, you can get away with a 10 speed( mountains require special gearing and such) but it's a common misconception, small motors get better mileage. You have been a company driver for a while( sounds like something a boss might say) I'd get no LESS than a 500 today, and Freightshaker is a good truck for what you want to do, but no small motors, you can get the same( or better) mileage with a 500( got almost 8mpg with a buddies Columbia, 500 Detroit) and it doesn't work so hard. I have no experience with super singles, I'm old school, and duals always worked for me.