How was the condition of your first truck?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by rbmc20, Oct 6, 2009.

  1. Rat Fink

    Rat Fink Light Load Member

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    2006 International 9200i, 18 spd, Cummins ISM/410 Hp, with 450,000 miles on it when I got into it a little under a year ago. I run at 80,000 pounds most of the time and I find I have to make that engine eat itself to climb the hills nicely. Sure wish it didn't have super singles (my main beef with it). When I first started driving it I had a lot of down time due to mechanical work. The previous driver didn't report a lot of mechanical issues that I ended up finding out about in my checks. After 4 months or so I got a lot of the kinks worked out and it has been okay since. 570,000 miles now on it
     
  2. Nophix

    Nophix Light Load Member

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    2007 Volvo 670, 345k miles. I LOVE my truck. The last driver took very good care of it, and the shop caught what he didn't.

    D12 Volvo, 10 speed.

    Interior is gorgeous, exterior is near perfect. I also take great care of it. Nobody smokes near it, and I always keep it clean. Hey, I have to live in the thing for days at a time.

    We pull reefer, and I average around 76k lbs. Pulls ok, and does the job safely.
     
  3. rbmc20

    rbmc20 Light Load Member

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    sounds like you got pretty lucky
     
  4. Dreaman

    Dreaman Medium Load Member

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    My first truck was Maude the old broad. It had issues but did get the job done. Came to a point that it needed to be traded in as there was always something going wrong with it. The worst part of it was the clutch pedal rattled. After a while you got used to it.:biggrin_2552:
     
  5. Nophix

    Nophix Light Load Member

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    Yes and no. I work for a small carrier, and they take decent care of all the trucks.
     
  6. rbmc20

    rbmc20 Light Load Member

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    Thats good
     
  7. stepnfetchit

    stepnfetchit Medium Load Member

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    1977 International COE-290 Cummins-10speed-boot was gone over gearshift so you could see the concrete as you drove-Cab heater didn't work but the bunk heater did-spring ride-air windshield wipers-Armstrong power steering-no shocks. Drove the truck about 6 months back and forth from Indiana to Boston. Had a blanket across my legs to keep my feet reasonably warm. AM Radio that only picked up stations at night. Don't know why I kept driving the thing. Kept hoping things would get better and they did. Got a 1982 Intnt'l COE,290 Cummings, 9 Speed, ELECTRIC ws wipers,power steering,AM-FM 8 track,Cab Heater and Bunk Heater and A/C all worked,Shocks on the front and the rear,Eagle Interior, Power windows,Pretty sucker to-Red,White and Gold. MAN I was a Truck Driver!!
     
  8. 1988pete379

    1988pete379 Light Load Member

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    Back then in the 80s did not think much about it The truck was a Ford L series seems like it was a old ABF truck that they streached the frame on to get a 220 " WB had a Cummind 300 BC and a 9 spd power steering but no A/C Drove that truck from March86 to about May 86 when we got a New 359 Pete with a Cummins BC 315 with another 9 spd but it had like 3:70 gears and would fly ,stayed there till July when I went to work for Chemical Express Carriers out of Irving Tx ,Went from a 1986 to a 1976 with no power steering , 180" WB , and a A/C that did not work to good due to so many air holes . Older now would not leave yrd with that truck but then Texas had only one set of scales and just a hand full of weight cops over weight ticket was always around 25.00 dollars and they did not mess with you that much , Amazing how times have changed for the worse .
     
  9. lv gn

    lv gn Heavy Load Member

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    73 brockway wrecker with a 318 detroit and a 13 spd. then a ford ltl 9000 with a dump trailer. cabover kw's for a few years. then a brand new 89 pete 379 ex hood, stand up sleeper with a 425 cat. never drove a cab over again!! now i drive a 09 prostar. best riding truck i ever drove!
     
  10. halfburn

    halfburn Medium Load Member

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    One they might have been testing you to see if you wanted to work anto sit around in a nice truck. Two, you will be suprised as to what you can get used to after driving the same truck for a while. Three and most important is that safety items are breakdown items for a shop. If you get the same truck take your list to the shop and ask them about them. They are probably familiar with the truck.