Need some insight

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by Milktanker, Jan 25, 2013.

  1. Milktanker

    Milktanker Medium Load Member

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    My dad made me an offer today. he has a 2009 KW t660, 450 cummins isx, 3.36 ratio, 230 in. Wheelbase that he will be selling in about six months to upgrade to a t680. He offered it to me for $50,000.
    It has been a solid truck so far, no major issues. It just crossed 500,000 miles this week. He has owned this truck since new. When I was still a mechanic I maintained the truck for the first year of its life, oil gets changed every 20,000 and greased every 10,000.
    I would be going into this knowing the operating costs down to the penny. The truck gets great fuel mileage, 6.8-7 mpg average.
    The only thing that is holding me back is at that point I will only have $15,000 in the bank. That is originally what I wanted as a maintenance/ breakdown fund. But by doing it this early a good portion of that will be eaten up in starting up my business and getting the truck set up for flatbed. I would be leasing on to my current carrier until I could pay cash for a trailer. So what do you all think? Is this worth giving a shot?
     
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  3. thelushlarry

    thelushlarry Road Train Member

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    I would say dad if you really loved me you would give me the truck!!
     
  4. Milktanker

    Milktanker Medium Load Member

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    Lol tried that. Turns out he don't love me that much lol
     
  5. Starline

    Starline Medium Load Member

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    The price is right, but the egr & cooler not to mention turbo will soon need to be replaced. This will be around 8 grand.. maybe you will get lucky and your father will have to fit the bill before you get the truck. In anycase, you have 6 mos to build up funds...

    My opinion is based on friends that own ISX and what I seen them have to do to their trucks with 500K miles on them.
     
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  6. Milktanker

    Milktanker Medium Load Member

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    Frenchtown, mt
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    The egr cooler is being replaced at cummins this week actually, it had a turbo put on under warranty about 25,000 miles ago. Cummins actually called him today and told him that his engine is a candidate for a rebuild under warranty, due to the piston design allowing carbon to build up around the top piston ring and glazing the cylinders causing excess oil use. So if they pull through with it, i'll be buying a truck with a fresh rebuild for $50,000. Its sure looking pretty good to go for this. Just not having that emergency fund as high as I would want it is the only thing that is still holding me back from fully committing to this.
     
  7. Starline

    Starline Medium Load Member

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    I'd say go for it then... you'll never be ready otherwise.
     
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  8. Big Show

    Big Show Bobtail Member

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    I agree with this all the way. That's gonna be about as good a deal you could hope to find and plus knowing the history of the truck don't hurt nothing either. Sounds like you are on your way, congrats and good luck
     
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  9. cominghomesc

    cominghomesc Light Load Member

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    It is a good deal on that truck I would jump all over it
     
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  10. Milktanker

    Milktanker Medium Load Member

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    Thanks for the feedback, I think I'm gonna go for it. Gonna be cup-o-noodles for dinner for a few months getting that emergency fund built up lol.
    I am getting a membership to OOIDA this week, I've heard they have a lot of good info for people just starting out. What other resources do you recommend for someone just getting going?
     
  11. Starline

    Starline Medium Load Member

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    Talking to successful O/O in person... weed out the BS and take what you can use. The internet is a wonderful medium, but there is no body language, no eye contact and a person can pretend to be anyone and claim anything. When your at a truckstop or a customers, you can see how the person conducts himself, how his equipment looks. You won't find bungee cords holding the bumper on a successful operator.... ;)
     
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