Class 6 Truck

[QRTRHRS]

I used to own around a 69 model year IH dump that had air but per the spec plate was rated 26k. That was about the ownly one I ever saw too.

You come acrossed a lot of Freightliners with Mercedes engines. I have driven some Columbia's and Century's with them and they did okay. The one issue was that not all of the companies shops had software to service them. That could be a factor when seeking out service.

That little Pete 335 that I mentioned was around an 04 or 05. It had plenty of room for my legs, something a lot of these class 6 trucks do not have. It did have a nicely laid out driver friendly cab. The fit, finish and quality were pretty good overall. With single leaf front springs and air bags on the rear with a really short wheelbase, the ride was good practice for the PBR association.

SouthernX, that weight is on the high side for a gooseneck. You planning on a fifth wheel hookup?

I saw a FL60 with a fifth on the net the other day, think it was out in California.

 

[Paystar]

Just a few small points to remember. Like builder said, Sterling is no more. Might get some good deals on one but how long will Sterling specific parts availability last. Though most parts ARE universal vendor parts. I have experience with Sterling and Freightliner and find them to be cheaply built and poor fit and finish. (just my oppinion) Also they are moving ALL Freightliner and Western Star production to Mexico this year. How will quality control be then? And do you want to support a company that takes all your jobs and closes all U.S. and Canadian plants and sends it all to Mexico?
Also remember to not base your truck make decision on having a Cat engine as they are no more (unless you buy a current model). Cat will now only make engines for themselves and International. The truck engines will be built by Int at their factory under licence.
I don't know about in your area, but where I am in Canada, if you get a GM or Ford you have to deal with the auto dealers whose labour rates are way higher per hour than the truck shops that sell the big class 8's.
I won't give an oppinion on International or Mack as I am biased towards them and that's all you'll see from now on in my yard

 

[LoneCowboy]

You know, one thing about Mack/Volvo (same company) is that all their stuff is proprietary.
Mack engines, mack rear ends, etc, etc, etc

Can be a real problem if your local Mack dealer is less than optimum.

typically FL/KW/Pete/IH can all be worked on by any dealer, less some specific parts but the level of specific parts for Mack/Volvo is MUCH higher than these others.

Also, some areas of the country, one brand is MUCH more common than others, which makes parts availability better. For example, Macks are WAY more represented the further east and north you go. Out west, lots more KW/Pete (same company).

 

[Builder]

I have seen and driven several under 26k trucks with airbrakes

A CDL or "Air brake endorsement" is not required

PS Air brakes isn't an endorsement it is a restriction if you don't have it

It is in my state.

If you don't have training on how to handle, monitor & maintain airbrakes, you're an accident waiting to happen......and that ain't good.

 

[Duffster]

It is in my state.

If you don't have training on how to handle, monitor & maintain airbrakes, you're an accident waiting to happen......and that ain't good.

What is in your state?

 

[wushaw]

SouthernX needs to find out what his state regs are and what his intended purposes are for it.

My Pete 385 has 26000 right on the door jamb sticker, it came from Peterbilt in Denton Texas
that way specific for RV pulling. I do have a Class A NON-CDL for driving it. It can be registered either as a heavy duty truck, farm truck or a RV in Texas, as a HD truck I can tow non-RV specific trailers like my 16' utility with my tractor.

 

[Builder]

I used to own around a 69 model year IH dump that had air but per the spec plate was rated 26k. That was about the ownly one I ever saw too.

Do you know why it was 26K or less with airbrakes?

There were no CDL laws or tests back then.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Do you know why it was 26K or less with airbrakes?

There were no CDL laws or tests back then.

LOL! Back in 1967, I went to work for a small excavating firm. My first day on the job, the owner pointed to a GMC dump and said "take that truck and...". Took me awhile to figure out what that red button on the five speed stick was for.

Anyway, I think we need to get back to SouthernX's needs here.

 

[Duffster]

Anyway, I think we need to get back to SouthernX's needs here.

He did ask

 

[bearmtnmartin]

have to throw my 2 cents in here. Don't worry about what the name is on the front. They are all the same. make the best deal you can on the truck with the best local dealer support. the rest will take care of itself. I have never given a hoot for branding, and I guess it has saved me thousands over the years. As for KW and Pete being better, I don't think so. Can't speak about petes, because its the only brand I have never owned or operated, but Kenworth cabs are nothing special. They never did figure out how to keep their fiberglass from flopping around. And underneath they are exactly the same as the rest. I can't stress enough to get a brand with a good local dealer. Nothing worse than being OS on a busy morning chasing some little sensor that you had to drive the truck(unless you're on a hook) to four or five different shops to get it diagnosed, and then have to wait the rest of the day for a courier to bring the part in from two towns away. You won't care what the name is on the front right about then.

 

[Builder]

have to throw my 2 cents in here. Don't worry about what the name is on the front. They are all the same. make the best deal you can on the truck with the best local dealer support. the rest will take care of itself. I have never given a hoot for branding, and I guess it has saved me thousands over the years. As for KW and Pete being better, I don't think so. Can't speak about petes, because its the only brand I have never owned or operated, but Kenworth cabs are nothing special. They never did figure out how to keep their fiberglass from flopping around. And underneath they are exactly the same as the rest. I can't stress enough to get a brand with a good local dealer. Nothing worse than being OS on a busy morning chasing some little sensor that you had to drive the truck(unless you're on a hook) to four or five different shops to get it diagnosed, and then have to wait the rest of the day for a courier to bring the part in from two towns away. You won't care what the name is on the front right about then.

They are basically all the same underneath. It's a brand loyalty thing more than anything.

However, it does make a difference when you have a nicer built cab. I own an IH with a very basic cab. I've spent a lot of money upgrading that cab. If I had a Paccar bros truck, I wouldn't have to do that. Instead, Ihave to live with less creature comforts.

You do pay more up front for a paccar truck and there is a reason that paccar, mack, etc. sell for more as used units than comparable F/L or IH, GMC or Ford. They have higher resale because generally they're more comfortable to operate.

I think the truck the O/P is looking for is a vocational class 6 truck to pull a machine, so unless he wants more comfort, the "basic" trucks should be fine.

 

[SouthernX]

[ snip... ] I think the truck the O/P is looking for is a vocational class 6 truck to pull a machine, so unless he wants more comfort, the "basic" trucks should be fine.

Yes, correct. I'm just using it to do some local transport (under 150mi) so although creature comfort is great it's not a major consideration.

Also, I was only asking about the air-brakes as a matter of clarification. I'm fine with hydraulic (perhaps even prefer), but I suppose air-brakes would be all the better for getting things stopped (but perhaps overkill for loads under 25K-lbs.). For some reason I thought you had to have a CDL to use air-brakes but I guess I was wrong. And yes, I know I have to have a CDL for the setup I'm going to be using (even though the truck is non-CDL).

Thanks for all the information. I'm still not sure at this point which truck I'll be leaning towards. I think they will all probably work. I'd really like to have a Pete but I don't I'm not sure I could find one in the price range I'm looking at. I only want to spend about 10K (no more than 12K) with no more than about 150,000 miles (maybe 200,000?). Seems like a lot of people are down on the F-650. I was sorry to hear that as in some ways it might be the best truck for what I'm trying to do. On the other hand, I definitely don't want to invest in a piece of junk!

 

[Builder]

Yes, correct. I'm just using it to do some local transport (under 150mi) so although creature comfort is great it's not a major consideration.

Also, I was only asking about the air-brakes as a matter of clarification. I'm fine with hydraulic (perhaps even prefer), but I suppose air-brakes would be all the better for getting things stopped (but perhaps overkill for loads under 25K-lbs.). For some reason I thought you had to have a CDL to use air-brakes but I guess I was wrong. And yes, I know I have to have a CDL for the setup I'm going to be using (even though the truck is non-CDL).

Thanks for all the information. I'm still not sure at this point which truck I'll be leaning towards. I think they will all probably work. I'd really like to have a Pete but I don't I'm not sure I could find one in the price range I'm looking at. I only want to spend about 10K (no more than 12K) with no more than about 150,000 miles (maybe 200,000?). Seems like a lot of people are down on the F-650. I was sorry to hear that as in some ways it might be the best truck for what I'm trying to do. On the other hand, I definitely don't want to invest in a piece of junk!

You're going to be hard pressed finding a good used truck with those specs at that price if it's diesel powered and has a body on it.

You'll probably be into something older.

 

[SouthernX]

Does anyone have suggestions for truck sales websites. These are the ones I've been looking at:

New and Used Commercial Trucks For Sale | CommercialTruckTrader.com

Used Trucks For Sale at Truck Paper: Freightliner, International Trucks, Kenworth, Peterbilt, Mack trucks, dump trucks, dump trailers, used trailers for sale.

In particular I would like find a used truck coming out of fleet service. I've been shying away from Penske and Ryder fleet trucks. I'm sure their fleet service is fine. However, my guess is that trucks rented by the general public / businesses probably get more abuse than "private" business fleet trucks. That's just my uneducated opinion. If you have an opinion of Penske, Ryder, or other fleet trucks I would like to hear it.

 

[Builder]

Ebay has 100's of used commercial trucks

 

[QRTRHRS]

If you have an opinion of Penske, Ryder, or other fleet trucks I would like to hear it.

Ryder service can range from the best to the worst depending on the location. For example, I had a bad driveshaft U-joint that even the person working the fuel pumps would ascertain yet they blew me off at least twice. I was planning on pushing it a bit further then attempt to have it repaired again when I broke down and had to be towed to another location who readily fixed it.

This was on a class 8 long term lease to a company that had more than just a few tractors. I could go on.

I never had any of that with Penske. On a number of occasions, I rented single axle moving trucks for personnal use from Penske and always had excellant equipment with no problems.

 

[Rara Avis]

Just be careful on how you are loaded...

 

[Scooby074]

Just be careful on how you are loaded...

Buddy got some 'splain'n to do

...And careful how you unload
YouTube - Amazing unloading excavator

 

[Builder]

Just be careful on how you are loaded...

Somebody forgot to open the tailgate......

 

[LoneCowboy]

Truck Paper, works good if you work the advanced search well, updates a lot. I'ts the big #1 in the used truck world.

Fleets are hit or miss, so are small companies.

Fleets do the required stuff, but the fleet mechanics may or may not be any good. (JB Hunts are no good, let me tell you)

Small trucking companies either do a great job, or are barely getting by and are skimping.

I don't think there are any set fast rules on which to buy and for what.

Except
It's going to have been used hard
It's going to need work.
Just figure on a couple thousand dollars in work on it, no matter what you buy.


Oh, and "fully DOT inspected" means precisely nothing. They are clearly "pencil whip DOT's".