I’d also go with the couple that said to fix up the FLD. If you’ve been driving it and loving it for 16 years - you know the ins and outs of everything that’s been done and what it needs. If your budget is 90k for an unknown truck - why not spend a chunk of that on making your current one everything you want? As long as the frame is solid? Otherwise if that isn’t an option I would definitely vote the glider also.
Unless you’re buying a brandy new one, keep what you have, you already know what’s done to it and aren’t buying someone else’s problems/Mickey mouse #### just big nuts and bolts
The power train on the truck is rock solid so is the frame however cab and interior are in bad shape and i can’t justify spending a lot of money to make it look good. So many reasons for getting a newer truck: insurance started to ask for annual inspection to renew the policy and im afraid down the road they will refuse to renew all together. I only work few months a year and thinking about just leasing to a carrier and most carriers out there wont accept an old truck. After so many years in the game i feel that i deserve a confortable good looking truck that i can get to enjoy till retirement. Truck prices went down and probably now is the best time to buy and save a good chunk of money.
I agree on repairing and updating the ol FLD… tons of parts still available for it and everything but the cab is mostly universal parts. Sounds like you’re handy with a wrench? I’ve redone my whole truck over the last 6 years including putting disk brakes on. I was kinda feeling the same as you but put a new seat, steering wheel, door seals and felts, and new latch and striker. it’s like a whole new truck this week. Good luck in your decision..
You make a good point. Insurance or carriers don't feel the same way you do, and you're right, they may not even write you a policy. From a carriers/brokers point of view, who should take the load, the person with the new Coronado, or some old rattly door FL( no insult intended) Again, an older truck can work in many situations, your own stuff, or dedicated perhaps, but if you want to make money out there today and thumb your nose at the DOT as you go by, get the new truck. I'm telling you, DOT doesn't like to be out of the loop, and right now, non-emission trucks are out of their loop. You'll see, ALL trucks will need to comply soon, or they will be extra stringent on the non-compliant ones. Driving an old truck will be like walking around with your zipper down,,,, same thing, who the cops going to hassle, someone with a shiny new truck, clearly compliant and successful, or the older one with a mud flap battery cover and rain down spout stack( again, no insult intended). Personally, I'd keep the old truck or glide it out with some cool old KWhopper, but as a hobby trucker, but to make money, I'd go new or almost new. Time to shoot the old gal, doesn't owe you a dime,,, she did grand, Laddie!
I’m biased. I bought a 98 FLD that should have went to the junkyard. I now run it hard in the oilfield. Guys still make brand new interiors for them. Can’t afford or don’t wanna pay for a paint job ? Get it vinyl wrapped. Darn near everything is still available for these trucks. Heck I just ordered the inner fender/splash guards that attach to the hood. They are still available. They aren’t like the modern plastic version and I figured they would have been discontinued long ago. I have put 50-60 K total into truck. Including engine rebuild and basically replacing everything and I’m still not done. It’s a tank.
Run what ya brung still gettin it done around here too. It's ALL deductible. You want breather lights for an FLD? (I know, just saying) Tax deductible
