what's a good used truck price range I should be aiming for?

What are ya looking to do with it?

Haul logs, cars, flat beds?

Are you planning to stay Local\Regional\OTR?

What kind of truck are you looking to get, Freightliner? Mack? Peterbuilt? Kenworth?

You can see where I'm going with this. The more information you give us, the better we can answer your question.

 

you can get a plenty road worthy international 9400 for 20 thousand or so, just depends on the miles, a 20.000 dollar international, or freightliner will be most likely better than a 20.000 dollar peterbilt or kenworth, I prefer a kenworth or peterbilt.. but would easily take a good international.. you may buy a 1996 pete for 20.000 or a 2003 international for 20.000 what would be the smartest choice? the engine and transmission options will be the same.. just the cab and hood are the difference...

 

Just dont buy a Sterling and you might do well.

A tractor only, I 'd be looking at 30,000 "at least" for a good unit with maintenance papers to go with it.

You get what you pay for.

 

Price is not realy your bigest concern. No matter how much you pay you need to know how long that truck should last before major repairs. A $10,000 truck will either be very old or very high milage. If a truck has 800,000 mile or more ( the $10,000 range ) it needs $40,000+ in repairs. Maby not on day one but shortly after. An engine over haul run about $20,000. The trans and clutch $5000. Front rear, $3500. Rear rear, $2500. Steering box, Tie rod ends. Drag link. King pins will all be worn. If your lucky they were shot before you got it and were already fixed. The radiator. charge air cooler and th AC system will most likely be on their last legs also. $10K trucks usually dont come with new tires or breaks either. What im trying to get at is you will be buying a money pit. The other thing most dont consider is when the truck is down getting repaired its not just the price of the parts and repair but the money your loosing because you not working.
If I were to buy a used truck $50K would be the least I would pay. 350,000 miles would be the max milage I would buy. I would want to run till its paid for, say 4 years, before it needed any major repairs. Any used truck (or new for that matter) will need some minor repairs but the majors will drive you broke fast if it all comes in a short time.
Lets say you spend $20K on an overhaul. Two months later a rear end goes bad. You cant just say Im not putting no more money in that old junk. If you do you out $20K you spent on the overhaul. Next thing ya know you have spent enough money on that $10K truck that you could have bought a much newer and nicer truck.
If your serious about buying a truck dont buy junk. Its alot easier to make a payment an be running up and down the road than through money at some old junk thats in the shop all the time not making any money. Trucking is stressful enough when your working. Spending money while not making money is crazy stressful.

 

if a person has to 'settle" for say a trunk under $10,000, then said person had better have at least $50,000 or more ready for major repairs.


it's best to buy a good used truck from a reputable source that has warranty coverages. these coverages can protect one from repairs bills right away.....

but i would rather recommend one drive a truck for a few years before making such a commitment.

 

If you don't have at least a year experience you probably won't be able to get insurance for the truck. Most dealers won't even sell you a truck if you don't have a couple years under your belt. Without sounding like a weinie, I would say to that if you do not know about truck prices you are not ready to buy one yet. Get through your schooling and training first and then start to educate yourself for being an owner operator. Besides this fine website here is another one that will help you learn the way of the force!

http://www.ooida.com/

Good luck to you!

 

Shop around, by a good 20.000 to 25.000 dollar truck.. Pay cash no payments.. then put what you would be making on a truck payment away everymonth plus 10 percent for maintenance.. then in one year you can afford an overhaul etc! you can buy a brand new Detroit in a crate for 16.500 dollars or a complete overhaul for just over 12.000.. I know a guy in Iowa i used to drive for him.. he has had over 20 trucks and never financed any of them.. never payed over 30.000 for a truck... hes been in business 29 years...