Used big rigs

Yes but starting next spring. It will be retied along with us. And then its will only pull our camper.
We left west Tn, ran to Ca then to OR, turn and burn back east. Unload and head to South Fl and back to Tn. Get home Friday evening, leave out Sat 8am heading back to LA or Golden Gate. Did that 18 months and got burned out on it. I could not sleep running team. Some weeks I only got 12 hrs sleep on the road.

 

What’s all involved in a motor rebuild? Pistons, rings, rods, crank and polish the cylinders?

 

Probably don't need a new crank.
Pistons, rings, liners, rods, bearings.
Maybe crank bearings.
N14 Injectors are cheap, probably do them too.
Maybe a new oil pump.
Resurface the heads, or turn them in for remans. (N14 has 3 heads)

N14 inframe kit runs about $2k..

Heck all this may have been done, but maybe not. That particular truck I linked is showing ~9xx,xxx miles. I've also heard the n14 is a 1.5millon mile motor. Could be good for a while still. Just got to find a rig you like, then putting a few bucks into it every now & then don't seem like a big deal. Well, to me anyway..

I'm a Detroit fan myself. My truck is showing 1.1 million & 34,xxx hours. Unknown rebuild history. Put a camshaft in it last Nov. Probably could have run it a while longer, but it's in there now..

 

That’s actually a perfect setup the one you linked. The amount of photos and description are good signs IMO. We’ll see, she may come home with me

 

It looks clean!

 

I like it too. If I thought it was a major pos, I wouldn't have mentioned it..

I can't remember the bunk size on that one, 58"-70".? It looks big & comfortable. Mines only a 42" bunk, but it is worlds better IMO, than my homemade backseat bunk in the dodge was..

Lots of people will try & scare guys off from running older trucks. I'm not sure why though, especially if you're handy & can do majority of the work/maintenance yourself. New trucks break down also, & are more costly too repair..

My FLD120 is a '93. I do what I can myself, but it's not much. Simple electrical, chase air leaks, oil & filters, grease, swap out a leveling valve. I almost did a water pump, but wimped out..

My point being if you can do at least this much, or more I don't see the issue running something a little older, when you own it outright. The money saved not having a $1-$2,000 a month payment offsets the labor cost I incur every few months. Not to mention the eld & emission hassle is gone, & if I want to take a month or 2 & sit, insurance is the only big bill coming every month..

 

Yes sir that’s exactly my thought process. Running an older truck is fine with me, it makes it easier to swallow when I’m upgrading it and have to cut a panel or whatnot.

I’ve done diesel motor builds just on a smaller scale (little VW 4 banger turbo diesels) so the mechanical side actually excites me to see how much bigger and different a tractor engine will be. Plus the extra room to work under the hood.

I envy you for the financial situation. I’ll get there soon enough. Thanks for all your input!