If you had $70K to start on your own would you buy outright or finance?

How do you blow 70 grand.
Buy a semi.

Whatever you did to save that 70 grand,
Keep on doing it.

You'll never get it back if you buy a truck.

 

I have more money in the bank now than I ever did as a company driver. Parked in mid-April and didn’t do a thing until 3 weeks ago. I’ve never been able to do that as a company driver.

 

yeah, but what worked for you, worked for you. the o/p is a totally different person and set of circumstances. your recipe for success could be his failure (i do not wish failure on anyone by the way)

some people (i truly do believe) will not be motivated to work every day, like maybe you do/did. some people like to "get rich quick" or live the life of Riley. (a leisurely life, rather than a working life).

hey, i'm all set, fully retired. i did my time.

 

OP, here ya go. Half of the $70k you're willing to spend

 

without seeing specs that’s top dollar for a star car of that year

 

@abyliks
I'd call it top dollar for any 20 year old truck. I know others will argue to the death over this topic, but I won't. It's just a piece of metal and plastic.

But it does say it's an N14 red top Cummins, 525 hp. 13 speed, 3.70 rears. 840k miles. Not horrible specs, especially for what I do. Buuuttt.... I'm not buying lol

 

there’s one around me for 19k with similar specs

don’t get me wrong, old trucks have their niche in the market, and ones truely rebuilt correctly will still bring 60-70-80k plus depending on how it was done, but a polished up turd isn’t worth top dollar, now if it says 100k on Crate engine, trans and both rears with Paper work and new Michelin I would absolutely pay it. But buying an already rebuilt old truck kind of takes the fun out of it IMO,

 

Just answer the question - owner operator - or not?

 

I would be all over that truck for that price if it is in as good as condition as the pics show if I was still Hot about getting into driving on my own again .

I paid 15 for my 97 international with same n-14 And 13 speed. But needs rubber and brakes and a host of other stuff a million mile truck could need 5 miles down the road

When I was looking at preemission trucks 2 years ago I was appalled at what they were asking for complete worn out abused Junk.

Especially if it was. W900 or a 379. I was just looking for a nice old Freightliner classic

 

@tommymonza

I remember seeing pictures of your truck. It looked like a really nice truck that you found.

The way that I see it it just depends if you want to be in this business or not. To drop $10,000 into a truck really is nothing to make it dependable so that you can run it everyday.

I look at it that people spend $150,000 on a truck and sometimes they end up in the shop more than they work. If you have 25 or $30,000 into an older truck it's really not a lot for this business.

Even that truck that is for sale someone could easily drop another 10 or $15,000 into that. And on your own truck at least you know that you have good Tires and Brakes and cams and slack adjusters and air Chambers and steering box and airbags and all the other stuff that you know will have been replaced.

Just my two cents on your truck and putting money into an older truck.