MDLP412,I have been seeing ads now running for the last week were I have seen a 5500,regcab,2wd,SL,Air,Aisian 6 speed,120',6.7L Cummin's,for around 26540.00 this ad and other ads have been running very close to this price by other dealers in the SoCal area.These are 2008-2009 trucks.Very nice deals.

 

Do Not Buy A 6.4!!!!!

 

I'm a journeyman mechanic and I wouldn't touch a Ford with a 10 foot pole. Variable pitch turbo runs like a toilet most of the time. 4 wheel disc brakes rear calipers seize up, the park brake is internal. Antifreeze leaks at the back of block. Just off warranty, reach for your wallet..............
Hope this picture shows up, here's a good way to paint your Ford

 

How about a update based on the 6.7 Ford 'Scorpion'.

 

I think the new F450 uses different axles than the last F450 and uses 17 inch wheels as opposed to 19.5.


In reality though it seems maxing out any truck commerically above a 3/4 ton puts you into cdl license territory.

 

The pick up truck F450 has the same drivetrain as the F350. The gearing is different in the F450 pick up style. Ford still makes the F450 C&C with the bigger axles and 19.5 rims. If ford would not have made that change, I would be driving one right now. I want the pick up 450 with bigger axles and tires. Oh well.

 

Ah yeah I looked it up and see what you are saying.


I'm real leary of Ford diesels, good looking trucks though.

 

Sterlings are an orphan, Freightliner shut them down 3-4 years ago.


Why buy new? Look around for a KW T300, Pete 330, IHC 8100 or lo-profile 4700 or 4900. Accessibility for maintenance is not the only reason to buy a heavier truck. Because then you have the room to put a real sleeper on the thing plus a good air-ride seat, and enough truck to stop the load if you lose your trailer brakes. Even the farmers around here are going to pulling goosenecks with their semi, or buying a single axle daycab, just because they are more stable and stop so much better. I'd personally look for the 4700 or 4900 IHC with a DT466 and an Allison or an 8 or 10 speed.

Also remember you will be living in the thing at least 4 or 5 nights a week if you are going to turn a profit.

You can pick up any of the trucks I named used for less than a new 4500/5500 would cost, and if you do your homework and have them checked over good by an independent mechanic before you buy, maintenance costs won't be much different. Add in greater longevity and greater re-sale, and once you put pencil to paper, you may find a good used medium-duty truck may look a lot better than a pick-up or chassis-cab.

As far as regulations, you will need to set up for occasional drug screenings, your investor, being an owner of a commercial, for-hire rig, will have to attend some classes at some point, DOT number, FCC number, IFTA reporting, brokers and deposits/bonding, if you can find an established company that will take you on as an owner-operator you could avoid a lot of headache. The trouble with the hotshot-type companies though, is they only pay you outbound, and if they find you a second load from your first delivery, they don't pay enough to cover your fuel. Or at least that is how it was when I looked into it about 5 years ago.

Being independent, you could haul cars out, and if you haul into an area where RVs are a big item, you could haul a load of them out. Or even lawnmowers, golf carts, or small tractors and ATVs. The key is to minimize your deadhead and out-of-route miles, and to make all of your paid miles profitable. You will lose less money sitting for two or three days waiting on a profitable load, than hauling something 1000 miles for 5 cents/mile under your costs.