Best truck for $50-60k

50 to 60 k on a used truck, I would find a 97-99 379 already rebuilt, motor, tranny and rears, with receipts. In extremely good shape. Now you are pre emission and don't have to worry about EOBR's. As a bonus you probably couldn't lease on to USA or any of the other big companies with a truck that old. That would be a good thing.

 

A Ford F 350 with the high pinion Dana 60 front axle and a Cummins engine conversion with Allison Transmission

 

At the very least I would not by anything newer than 03. Stay pre emission. Cat is the most reliable.
500,000+ I put on my 379 longnose 6nz. 1.3 mil and going strong. Never cost a dime but regular maintenance. I upgraded the turbo by choice when I bumped it up to a 601hp custom C16 file. $33,000 for the truck with new tires, brakes. Didn't need a thing but fuel. Sold it for $38,000.

 

I don't care about post count. I'm part of the latter.been there done that, have a great company gig now

 

I just sold an 07 shaker. Worst truck ever. I am looking at buying new and selling just before the warranty is up. The problems with used trucks with the price of parts and labor is they are not worth it. I bought a new pete in 96 and sold it in 04. Wish i had it now

 

Buy a 20k truck and make the same money, if not more.

 

My local company gig pays me 45% of what I was making as an O/O. I has some good loads, some F/U loads. But I also had 0 hassle, and no one looking over my shoulder. I think that's why a lot of people go out on there own. And I guess I hauled a lot of cheap freight, cause mu super regional was only about a $1 mile + FSC, but it was all miles. Strait out, strait back. Got paid to deadhead back from Dallas or Houston several times. Had 1 night a week at the house, just to stop, maybe 6 hours, but always had a full 34 at home on Saturday & Sunday. Made $1800 to $2000 week before taxes, after everything, 2290, plates, all insurance, fuel. Took good food from home, and would stock and supply the truck from the wal mart near by and the Fry's down the street.
To me, that's a really good job. Went by the terminal once a week for 15 Minutes to turn in my logs and BOL's for the week, wash, rinse, repeat.
I made more at the company that paid me 80%, but I was gone for 2 or 3 weeks at a time. SO, you have to compare apples to apples, and what are some of the perks. This company was also no grief, no look over your shoulder, more paper work though.
Someone asked where are $100K jobs on another thread. About 10 miles south of where I'm typing this. But I'm sure a lot of people will say cheap freight, too many miles, blah, what ever.

Are you happy? You have succeeded, even if you make nothing.

The guy that never uses his cruise, squeezes every penny, goes through life a miserable SOB, suddenly he's old, he missed the fun part, now he gets sick and discovers what real misery is, then he dies. But, he averaged $1.60 / mile for all miles, and got 7 MPG while he was alive.

 

I should print out parts of that, and tape it up above my windshield. Very good advice.

 

A buddy of mine is selling a 2004 Volvo vnl 780 with a cat motor that's been rebuilt and 200000 miles on the rebuild plus a new transmission 3 months ago a new radiator within the last 6 months and a new intercooler and turbo within the last 3 months. I think he's asking about 24,000 for that truck and everything is new on it including the driver seat he put a brand new driver seat in the thing when he bought it

 

So how much more money will be needed to put in it? lol