Question on Buying a Tractor

for me, i wouldn't want the truck with a shower first because of its long length. i'd want it to be able to not give me any problems being over length when pulling a 53 footer. then too as mentioned just because they look good and have a pretty good price, does not mean they do not have problems that need addressing.

there are way too may things to consider besides price.

and with the business climate the way it is, along with the economy, yes, prices may seem god, but one NEEDS a hauling contract first to ensure a job.

keep doing your home work, and you will see even MORE great trucks, for sale...and a word of caution here too, if any truck was "repossessed" or a turn back, whos' to say the o/o did maintenance work when it was needed...?? meaning a pretty truck may be knocking on deaths door....!!

 

Yeah, those trucks with the showers are great and everything but about the only thing you can do with them is "bed bug"! Any other freight and that truck is going to run you up over your weight limit all the time. They sure are perdy to look at though!

 

actually, extend the sleeper even more to the rear bumper, re-register it as a camper, blow the air horns blowing by a weigh station....!!!

perfect little camper for a retired trucker...!!!

 

That would make for a fun retirement gig!

 

Most of todays companies want you to drive a rig to their specs. IE Crete only runs 10 speeds, so if your a 13 speed lover you wont get it. Granted Crete does have a nice lease deal that I wont get into.

Otherwise the leases are binding to only company equipment only. Most national carriers wont let you come in with a rig of your own even if it meets their years. It is easier for them to say no. They want you in their trucks or nothing. So your choices are very limited.

 

most company's want you to have a newer truck so you are in debt and HAVE to run your tail off and run their crappy loads

i know plenty of guys that have trucks that are as old as 94's to 2000 and they work every day and NO PAYMENTS.

all trucks need repairs sooner or later but the older ones are more reliable than these emissions crap they a putting out the last 5 years. i know 1 guy with a 07 pete that has been 1 headache after another . in the first 200,000 miles its had 2 sets of injectors and a burned piston so it had to be rebuilt and still don't run right and probably has been in the shop almost a total of 3 months in 3 years all while still makin payments .......

a guy i know bought a 99 western star 6 months ago for $8000 has a driver on it and hasn't done anything to it except tires and pm's ..works everyday

you can keep those new trucks......plenty of work for the old ones and you'll have more money in your pocket at the end of the year

and when you want some time off the truck will still be there in the driveway .........not on the repo lot

 

i'm new to this, so is leasing a bad thing?? driving for two years now, and i'm thinging about leasing.

 

Another reason why is that older rigs wont meet the new smog specs, particularly in states like mine, California.

Its going to cost a bundle to update an old rig even with the tax deductions or rebates. I wouldn't touch anything over 5 years old if it were me. 3 years or less would be much better. Stupid laws are killing O/O's.

 

Cruz 36 your doing it the right way , asked good questions and getting decent informative replies.