Opinion on the truck, 2009 freightliner Columbia.

Probably about ready for rebuild if not there already. 12.7 s60 isn't all that expensive to have it done. Sounds like a decent truck if it's your entry into being an owner operator. If you run mountainous regions or otherwise will likely need 4 way locking drives that may make me hesitate. If you're mostly flat land you should be fine. Just always remember it's only 6x2 don't get hung up somewhere like train tracks..

Price could be anywhere, low side maybe 10k (?) High side maybe 25k (?). If it's s60 pre egr that will drive price up. If it's eld exempt engine that will drive it up. If overall condition of the truck is decent it should fall in that range I would think. Have it dyno tested and oil analysis done for an idea where you are at. Those old detroits some of them would go 1.5 even 2.0 isn't unheard of before needing rebuilt. At 997k it could be just a fleet dumping it regardless.

 

Old freightliners never die,they just drive like they did.

 

I sold my 2003 Columbia with 12.7 Detroit with over 2 million miles 2 weeks ago for $9500. I asked for $10k but I was prepared to go as low as $7.5-8k. I cannot believe it sold for that much.

That truck sounds great and you can probably get a solid year in before a rebuild is needed. Check the blowby visually and you’ll get a clue. I drive from Texas to New England and haven’t needed to lock the diffs in over a year so you’re probably fine without, and I do flatbed work.

As far as fuel mileage mine was bad. 5-6.4mpg cruise control 70mph at 1450rpms hauling flatbed with exhaust in front of sleeper and no side skirts. We have another 1998 with the 12.7 everything the same and it gets 6.5-7.2mpg hauling dry van with side skirts.

 

When I bought the one I'm driving now, it needed the pinion bearing in the front driver. The mechanic told me that the power divider looked beat up, and he didnt recommend locking it up if I was rolling and to really be careful with it. So I've owned it for over 2 years and I haven't engaged it. I drive up north, so I'm in the snow all the time.

 

I can believe you got that. I sold a bunch back in October and had best offer on every one of them, every one sold to the first person who looked at the truck, and for 2 to 3 times as much as I was willing to let them go, they were real junk. BUT I didn't argue with these new guys, they were told old iron was the best, even those these trucks were junk yard trucks.

 

Is there a way to make the steering column drop lower like you can in a pete?