Question for owner op

Wow...we are keeping an old thread going! That's cool. Good to hear from both you and Hurst.

Hurst, that was some GREAT stories, and proof that, you really do need a sizeable bank account to cover the "what ifs" of this business!

I know you had good luck with the ProStar from Roehl, just watch them. I'd think twice about it if it has an Intl motor...they had some real issues.

Frankly, I wouldn't get anything with a DPF on it...or an EGR for that matter...and, depending on your likes and dislikes, maybe even get some old iron that has been rebuilt....or, spend the money to have it rebuilt! Nothing beats not needing an ELD.

I traded my 2007 KW, went through a few different trucks before I settled on what I have now. I decided I wanted a 12.7 Det...having had Det 60 Series before, I had heard all kinds of good about the 12.7.

So, I am in a 1996 Intl 9200 Eagle. It has over 1.5 million miles on it. Much has been replaced. The motor was brand-new, out of the crate replaced in 2013. It had about 130K mi on it when I got it. I felt that was perfect, it was "broken in", if there was going to be a problem, it would have happened. The trans was rebuilt, new radiator too.

I have done quite a bit to it since I purchased, new brakes, S-Cams, slack adjusters, shocks, tires, replaced shackle and pin on one side in front and thinking about maybe doing the other too. New fan clutch, work on the AC, steering U-joint. I am going to put on new steers and then, do a 3 axle alignment.

The factory programming on the 12.7 is 430 HP and 1,450 ft lbs torque, making this truck distinctively slow!!! Having run the '07 KW at 600 HP and other trucks, like an E-9 Mack and a C-15, I definitely felt under-whelmed with the 12.7 stock.

So, I took it over to see the Diesel Dr in Effingham, IL. For $350, they uploaded a custom tuned program that turns the HP up to 550 and the torque to 1,850 ft lbs...now it has plenty of get up and go and, still can get over 6 mpg. I hear from some guys who get 7.

The last few things yet to do are replace the turbo and manifold...Diesel Dr suggests a Borg Warner turbo and a hardened manifold...I forgot what brand they said, but, will probably take to them for the work. The other thing I want to do is lower the rear ratio...it is at 3.90 right now, which made sense when the HP and torque were so low, but, now that it has some power, we can drop the cruising RPM's....I like to drive about 72 mph, which means I am running about 1,650 RPM.

The best part, I don't need an ELD!!!

Good luck, keep us informed on what you do!

 

Thanks for all the info. How you went about your current truck is how i would love to go. Get a good running truck and just add upgrades here and there. The Prostar i used had a Maxxforce engine i think. I do not know much about engines. Roehl had their mpg bonus at 7.2, i hit it a couple times but never really averaged it, i usually averaged 6.8 to 7 mpg running flatbed. I see a bit of prostars with cummins engines as well. There is a 2012 for sale near me for $17,900 with 354,000 miles. It has the International engine you speak of. But again i dont know much about that side of things. Im researching though!!

I was telling my fiance i would just feel better if i could start with a paid for truck and the insurance paid for since it is such a big expense. I think i would just sleep better knowing my cost per mile to operate would be significantly less at least for the 1st year while i make mistakes and hopefully learn from them.

 

Cummins is a better choice, although, has its own issues with EGR valves and coolers...the Maxxforce was the motor with the bigger issues when it first came out. You can check with Intl on the specific VIN and see if what if anything has been done to it. I thought there was some recalls, which, hopefully fix them! $18K for a 2012 with that few of miles seems like a deal, but, you never know until after the fact! When you know what the problem is, most times, it can be dealt with...it just takes time and money! For instance, I had an ISX Cummins in a KW I had...EGR kept going bad...finally deleted it. Problem solved, until the cooler gave way. The cooler itself is $900 part, the dealer wanted almost $1,700 for it...the EGR does nothing beneficial...the truck ran SO much better without it although, made it so I couldn't go into a Cummins or KW branded dealer! So what? I avoid those places...at $150 hr for their labor, they can stick it! They engineer and build this crap, then gladly take your money to keep it running. A real racket.

Is the truck you are looking at automatic or manual trans?

BTW - Roehl and everyone else sets those bonuses up so you will never get them! Not if you drive highway speeds.

Are you thinking of doing flatbed work? There is a TON of money in it right now. Rates are $3-$4 and sometimes more, even on coast-to-coast runs. It is amazing.

When you are ready to lease on, let me know...I have my own authority, the lowest cost insurance in the industry and decades of experience...I take a very small percentage once I know we can work together well.

You can run CA to NY and back, make huge money. Or, anywhere in between for that matter.

The biggest thing I see new owner ops not doing is putting money away as they are making it for future repairs. You need to budget yourself and, for every mile you drive be putting at least $0.10 - $0.15 away for it. Depends on where and how you drive, if you have a trailer, you need more. But, when you are running flatbed loads at $3-$4 a mi, it isn't that hard to do! You can do the same thing with insurance, plates, etc...set yourself up on a budget so that, when you start you pay cash for those things, the second time and after, you have an account with the money in it waiting for you. Its a good feeling when you know you have the bases covered and terrible when you don't!

Make sure your credit score is good and history is clean well before you start. Start your company as soon as you can, so that you have some "history". Getting lines of credit are key. I have credit for repairs, parts, fuel, you name it.

Just know that, in case you run into a SNAFU, there is a place in GA that will loan money on titles, even if you already have a lien on it. It won't be cheap, but, in a pinch, it can help.

OK, can't think of too many other things now.

FYI - the temp issue I am having right now, I believe, is actually the temp sensor itself. I was driving through Angola IN, stopped by to see an old mechanic I have used in the past who is very knowledgeable, especially on Detroit's. When I described the symptoms, he asked if I had replaced the thermostats...which I had....then he asked about the temp sensor...which I hadn't replaced. He said 12.7 Detroit is notorious for temp sensor going bad when thermostats break. Go figure.

I have one on order and an appointment for some other work at my mechanic next week. I could do the sensor myself, it is easy to get to, but, you have to partially drain the radiator. My guy only charges me $75 an hr for labor. I could have my son do it as well, but, he has all his diesel wrenches and stuff at his place of work. For now, it is easier just to have my main guy take care of it...and, based on how things have gone with this truck so far, invariably, the part is wrong...so, better to let him deal with and figure out all that. I make money driving it, and when I am not, I am doing what I want to do, not getting filthy playing backyard mechanic.

 

One more thing...I'd like to think my truck was a good running one when I got it...sadly, like most trucks for sale, it needed a lot of work that the dealer hid pretty well. Typical tactic, they tell you on the phone they got X number of guys looking at it, they won't take less than Y for it, and, first come first served. I really wanted the 12.7 Detroit motor, so, I was willing to overlook the other issues it had knowing that I could drive it and fix it over time.

There is something to be said for buying a bag of bones for a few thousand and investing the $ to build it back. Buy something that will always be in demand, like a Pete 378 or 379, FL Classic, Classic XL or a KW W900 or T800. I am partial to the KW's. The FL Classics are roomy inside. The 379, well, it's a Pete! Problem will be, finding one for a few grand.

I am also partial to an Intl Eagle. 9200 - 9900. Detroit 60 Series motor. You can't go wrong.

Cab-overs are making a BIG comeback too. I had a FL Argosy at one time...I loved that truck. Lots of room inside. You can get with stairs that articulate out instead of climbing the ladder to get in and out. You get GREAT sight lines...usually better turning radius.

I think the biggest bang for your buck is in Intl or FL...FL in particular...they sell the most trucks, a lot of big fleets buy them. Depending on what it is, you can pick one up pretty cheap.

Like I said too, I'd buy pre-2000 to avoid ELD's, that is if you are intending to drive regional or OTR. Local (100 air miles), you can do short-haul, no need for ELD no matter what age truck.