Next step

So what is wrong with that? I can tell you $40,000 or $50,000 or even $60,000 would make a nice down payment on a new $150,000 truck if you want to play Russian roulette with complex, costly, finicky emissions systems. Or you can rebuild a tractor from an era when diesels were efficient and dependable. You can't borrow money and do it. OP will need a bankroll to do such a thing. $10,000 ain't gonna cut it. That's how I look at it with the benefit of hindsight.

 

No way to answer the question with out knowing.
What type freight.
Regional or 48 how long are you staying out?
How willing are you to work on the truck?
Do you have a local shop lined up to do work?
How much knowledge do you have of the mechanical systems on a truck?
Like Rollin said the emissions system on these new trucks can break you,even if under warranty.

 

I had faced similar decisions when I purchased my recent truck. I now have a 2010 model. Having already gone the older route ('93 model), the newer truck is pretty nice to have. Things like emissions can be dealt with if you are even a little bit capable of doing some work. The newer trucks can (with proper attn and maintenence) be more efficient than the older ones......no matter what it takes some effort though.
My own choice in trucks was based on the newer truck being cheaper to operate, even with a payment.

 

Its a risk either way. There is no single one size fits all answer for your questions.

You have to seriously do your homework and know what your getting into.

Option 1:

Newer truck. $65k - $100K+

Pros:
Warranty
Less miles and more time before rebuild needed
Usually more driver friendly options (Bunk heater, APU, working AC etc)
Usually look cleaner
Can go into Cali legally
Potentially better mpg

Cons:
More expensive with heavy payments
Warranty does not provide lost revenue for down time. Does not cover payments while in the shop.
Repairs can be more expensive,.. electrical nightmares.
Can end up in shop for weeks just to diagnose while under warranty.
Emissions can become problematic and catastrophic financial problems.
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Option 2:

Older Pre emissions truck. $8500 - $35k+

Pros
More affordable to get into.
Can find one with newly rebuild engine and other new parts and paperwork.
Possible warranty
Older engine, easier to work on for mechanics, less expensive labor times.
No emissions related problems
Potentially better mpg
Usually anything that will go wrong already has.
Classic style and looks

Cons:
Can end up with someone elses problems.
May need a rebuild soon or other expensive repairs.
Can nickel and dime you to death with small repairs that you over looked.
No warranty.
Obsolete parts hard to find.
Not California legal
Interior can be a wreck
Not all carriers will lease older trucks


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You take a gamble no matter which way you go.

I personally went with the older pre emissions truck route.
I spent the better part of 3 - 4 years researching, working, packing away cash before I pulled the trigger.
Paid cash for my truck. No payments. To date,.. including purchase price and repairs I am just shy of $45k invested in my truck.

It was always reliable. Yes it nickel and dimed me when I first got it. I spent a lot of time getting ahead of the lack of maintenance it saw. Once I got on top of everything and started fixing and modifying it to how I wanted it, its become a very pleasant truck to own and operate. Its paid for itself over and over,.. earns just as much as a new truck. No I will never see a resale return in my investments. Everything was a business expense. Truck depreciation is a tax write off.

Hurst

 

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/truckingindustryforum/posts/4988091/

Old truck. 1 year. Hundreds of hours of input. Shameless self promotion for no recruiting fees. This is how I did it. Hoo Rah Me.

Good luck. Or check out @double yellow he has a thread how he went bealls deep into own authority with a similar old truck.

Ten dash four, driver!

 

I paid 18k for my 1996 w900l with 1.76 million miles on truck 780k on inframe in 2012, it now has over 2 million on truck and 1 million on inframe. most of the rest of the truck has been replaced or rebuilt since.the vast majority of the parts i replaced before they were required. I do this because I intend for this truck to be my first and last truck I run. I would suggest having at least 20k left after purchase, too many people dont have enough set back then repairs or freight availability drops or any other number of things happen then they lose their ###. When your buy a truck you are starting a business that requires a lot of capital to get it started. Good luck to ya.