When you buy a used truck, CHECK IT OUT GOOD

[Bruno]

Mayfield Express bought two used trucks from a company that has a banner here on EO. I won't name the company unless asked in a private message. We traded in two trucks and bought two trucks, which still cost us $80,000.00 for the trucks. We have had the trucks less then 8 months and have spent over $40,000.00 in repairs on these trucks. One truck blew the motor less than two months after we got it and the other we have put tons of money in the transmission. A few months earlier we bought a used truck from a well known EO member. That truck had about 300,000 miles more on it than each truck we bought from this truck dealer and runs like a top. All i'm saying is make sure when buying a used truck that you are getting a good truck or a truck just thrown together with used parts.

 

[zorry]

Sorry to hear of your bad luck.
If someone in your position asked for my advice, this would be my game plan.

I'd find a good source of low mileage class 8 trucks. I've bought two used Werners and had fantastic luck with them. Spec'd well.

I'd find a good body shop that could stretch and mount good quality bodies, no ABC or Hercules. Not necessarily new.

You'd have a good used truck, built somewhat to your specs.

The way many of these people assemble new expeditors is with marginal quality. I'm sure by owner number two they are less than desirable used trucks.

 

[zorry]

I won't ask you the dealers name, but if it starts with F and ends in A just consider it a four letter word beginning with F.

Were they class 7 or class 8 trucks ?
Did you pull oil samples, ECM reports, or do a dyno ?

The first thing I learned when I went into sales is that trust of a salesman CAN be very detrimental.

 

[Ragman]

It just goes to show you, when a man of Daves reputation and stature can get taken, anybody can.

 

[KickStarter6]

Sorry to hear of your bad luck.
If someone in your position asked for my advice, this would be my game plan.

I'd find a good source of low mileage class 8 trucks. I've bought two used Werners and had fantastic luck with them. Spec'd well.

I'd find a good body shop that could stretch and mount good quality bodies, no ABC or Hercules. Not necessarily new.

You'd have a good used truck, built somewhat to your specs.

The way many of these people assemble new expeditors is with marginal quality. I'm sure by owner number two they are less than desirable used trucks.

For someone who hopes to one day move up to a class 8 straight truck one day what are some basics to look for? I nor my father know a lot about tractors, he drove a box truck for several years and was a FedEx home delivery guy before that. I have heard a lot of great things about Volvo trucks especially their sleeper quality. I personally like Mack trucks and would love to stretch one of them and add a 22ft box.

Any tips tricks or suggestions?

 

[zorry]

When the time comes, ask around a lot.
When we hauled trucks most tractors were stretched and had to be capable of 80,000 plus.
A great stretch job must hold up and probably won't be visible to the naked eye.
And it's not rocket science. We had old timers do them in their driveways.
I saw a professional job that screamed "Run Forrest Run."

 

[KickStarter6]

Is there a particular brand of truck and box I should look for or keep an eye to research?

 

[paullud]

For someone who hopes to one day move up to a class 8 straight truck one day what are some basics to look for? I nor my father know a lot about tractors, he drove a box truck for several years and was a FedEx home delivery guy before that. I have heard a lot of great things about Volvo trucks especially their sleeper quality. I personally like Mack trucks and would love to stretch one of them and add a 22ft box.

Any tips tricks or suggestions?

Use www.rigdig.com which can provide very important information like Carfax but also includes things like roadside inspection results so you will know if it was properly maintained. You can get 3 reports for $50 which is nothing compared to the money it can save you.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using EO Forums mobile app

 

[zorry]

Kickstarter, Depends on price range you are in.
Everyone builds pretty decent trucks.
Buying used, the general condition is very important.
Start listening to Kevin Rutherford. He has a really good set of guidelines for buying a used truck.
And reading Dave Ramsey will help get you into a better situation to become a successful O/O.
On the box side, look over what you see in service and ask people using different boxes what they think of them.
Penske and Ryder know boxes. What do you see them spending their money on. U-Haul builds their own boxes.

 

[KickStarter6]

Thank you guys for the info

 

[KickStarter6]

Kickstarter, Depends on price range you are in.
Everyone builds pretty decent trucks.
Buying used, the general condition is very important.
Start listening to Kevin Rutherford. He has a really good set of guidelines for buying a used truck.
And reading Dave Ramsey will help get you into a better situation to become a successful O/O.
On the box side, look over what you see in service and ask people using different boxes what they think of them.
Penske and Ryder know boxes. What do you see them spending their money on. U-Haul builds their own boxes.

I was thinking of a budget for about 70k probably. I don't know if that's a low budget or too high. I honestly don't know

 

[zorry]

You can put together a very good truck, non-reefer, with that budget.

 

[KickStarter6]

Awesome! I'm not interested in a reefer at least not now because I have no experience with them and dry freight is fairly straight forward

 

[sewmun]

FWIW,I bought an off lease straight truck from Ryder,it came with all the records from day one & it's been a great truck.They have all kinds of trucks,tractors & vans on their site.

 

[KickStarter6]

FWIW,I bought an off lease straight truck from Ryder,it came with all the records from day one & it's been a great truck.They have all kinds of trucks,tractors & vans on their site.

Good point but aren't those basic trucks? If I spend that much money and the time that a ST entails I want as nice of a place to "live" as possible.

Also how many miles is too many? Or is it a case of how well it was taken care of?

 

[zorry]

They may or may not be basic.
They will lease you anything you're willing to pay for.

 

[Bruno]

Zorry

Both trucks are class eight trucks with auto shift transmissions. And it wasn't a Freightliner dealer as many have asked if it was.

 

[Bruno]

I was thinking of a budget for about 70k probably. I don't know if that's a low budget or too high. I honestly don't know

If your not going with a reefer unit that is a bit high.

 

[KickStarter6]

If your not going with a reefer unit that is a bit high.

So including the truck, box, lift gate(?), the frame stretched and accessories like a heater or generator?

 

[KickStarter6]

They may or may not be basic.
They will lease you anything you're willing to pay for.

That's good to know. Like I said I know nothing about trucks. Vans I know enough to get by because they're just a square white truck lol