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2003 Freightliner Century ( What do you think)

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by Joe3711, Sep 14, 2011.

  1. Sep 14, 2011 #1
    Joe3711

    Joe3711 Bobtail Member

    8
    0
    Jul 23, 2011
    Gulfport, MS
    0
    Hows it going Guys,

    I wanted to see if I could get some expert advice. Im looking at purchasing a truck. I found a 2003 Century thats real nice and the price seems pretty good, but want to see what the experts think and what advice you can give me.

    Like I said its a 2003 with the 12.7 and eaton fuller 10 sp and it has 1.2 million on the clock. It has brand new rubber and brakes all the way around. New clutch, pilot bearing, input shaft and bearing, new cross shafts and forks, and new bell housing bolts. The a/c was completly gone through they replaced the condensor and reciver dryer, and PSI switch. It also had the king pins replaced, and front right torque arm. They also had the muffler and flex pipe replaced and carrier bearings.

    I have recipts for all the work and called the Company also to verify everything.

    If I purchased the truck I would be paying 11k for it. The only thing that really worrys me is the miles. They said that there hasnt been any extensive work done to the engine besides replace 4 injectors. It has been an O/O truck since new and this is the original owner and only driver. So

    So my big questions is do you think its a good truck for the price and how much life do you think it would have left.
     
    Joe3711, Sep 14, 2011
    Joe3711, Sep 14, 2011
    #1
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  3. Sep 14, 2011 #2
    BigJohn54

    BigJohn54 Gone, but NEVER forgotten

    1,972
    1,599
    May 13, 2011
    SW Missouri
    0
    The price is good enough. The only way to know the condition is to dyno the truck and run oil samples on the engine, transmission and differentials.

    The real question is do you have the cash or credit to build the engine, replace the transmission or differentials when the need it? IMHO, it has served it's useful life so it is when not if.

    With a cash reserve, a shorter haul distance, some TLC and a lot of luck an experienced owner might survive with it. I wouldn't do it unless I had the cash to build the engine.
     
    BigJohn54, Sep 14, 2011
    BigJohn54, Sep 14, 2011
    #2
    SHC Thanks this.
  4. Sep 14, 2011 #3
    SHC

    SHC Spoiled Rotten Brat O/O

    8,484
    7,046
    Feb 26, 2011
    Westville, IN
    0
    Agreed.... take it and have it dyno tested. If it all checks out, offer them $9500 and see what they say, cuz that's about what the repairs and new tires are worth.

    And if all else fails, the block is worth $2500, trans another $1000, tires say $1500 and then $1500 in scrap.
     
    SHC, Sep 14, 2011
    SHC, Sep 14, 2011
    #3
  5. Sep 14, 2011 #4
    Dima

    Dima Bobtail Member

    15
    2
    Aug 16, 2011
    Toronto, ON
    0
    I am driving this truck from Toronto On to west coast making 11000 miles every month. My truck is the same year and about same mileage as yours. I would not recommend this truck for long haul for few reasons. First one is noise. Noise insulation on this truk just doesn't exist. I had to buy noise cancelling headphones and drive with them on my head most of the time. Especially when engine fan is on I can not hear my own voice. Second reason is suspension. This is one of the reasons they call it freight shaker. Shock absorbers don't help much. Truck is very uncomfortable to drive. If I decided to buy a truck one day it would not be a columbia or a century. These are one of the worst trucks on the planet. Buy older FLD with cat engine. There are dozens of them on the market in this price range.
     
    Dima, Sep 14, 2011
    Dima, Sep 14, 2011
    #4
  7. Sep 14, 2011 #5
    BigBadBill

    BigBadBill Bullishly Optimistic

    4,599
    4,439
    Oct 2, 2010
    Chattanooga, TN
    0
    You WILL have to be rebuilding soon so you need to ask "Is this worth $25K if all that was just completed?" And of course, can you afford to do that.

    I forget the year but have seen several pre-emmission with low miles on rebuilds for less than $20k. Looked at a WS, 2001, with 120K on rebuild for 14k.
     
    BigBadBill, Sep 14, 2011
    BigBadBill, Sep 14, 2011
    #5
    SHC, BigJohn54 and Mr. PlumCrazy Thank this.
  8. Sep 16, 2011 #6
    Blind Driver

    Blind Driver Road Train Member

    3,081
    1,406
    Aug 7, 2006
    New Albany, IN
    0
    Insulating a truck is fairly cheap and easy.

    Aftermarket shocks are worth the $$$.

    My 379 is a noisemaker, but it's a company truck. With $2000, the truck could be really nice to drive.
     
    Blind Driver, Sep 16, 2011
    Blind Driver, Sep 16, 2011
    #6
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