I bought a semi today (pic)

Well, technically not quite. I still have to have my credit application approved. But I have good credit and the down payment so everything should be cool. We have hammered out a deal, though. I guestimated that the truck needed about $1000 worth of work for several minor problems. They agreed to do the work for me and they came down on the price about 10%, so I think I got a good deal. Here she is:



The red decals have been taken off. 2007 model. It has a 435 horse Cummins ISX motor that's upgradeable to 500 horsepower. I'm going to have that done at some point. They say they can't do it there at the dealer, it has to be done at a Cummins shop. 10 speed transmission with overdrive. 3.58 rear end ratio. I'm thinking the top speed will be about 80 mph with the governor turned off. It has 380,000 miles on it and a warranty until 500,000 on the motor and 750,000 on the transmission and the rear end. 150 gallon fuel tanks (300 gallons total). New steer tires and nice, thick brake pads all the way around. It appears to have a new fifth wheel. The drive tires are less than desirable, but I think they will last at least 6 months. There is no body damage to the truck which is unusual for a ex-company truck that's been around for a little bit.

Tomorrow I will probably plunk down the money and start trying to figure out where I'm going to park the thing. :)

Congrats!

A must have feature on any vehicle. :) You know I didn't think to notice, but I think it probably has two- one for the driver and one for a passenger.

Is that a White? I guess the jones caught up with you. Let's be careful out there :)
A celebratory tune for your new rig:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bN1oDb14S68

:)

:D

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Is it, like... single and available and, um... you know... maybe drunk and desperate?
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No reason. Just askin'.
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CONGRATULATIONS!!!
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And good for you for following and, more importantly, ACTING ON your dream.
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Good for you!!! Good for you!!!
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Looks like a Heartland Express lease return.

If so, you got a damn good tractor. From what
I've heard, HE if VERY meticulous on maintenance.

:)

They let it go a little bit, but the truck is basically sound from what I can tell. Just needs a few minor things. They put new steers on it, but apparently didn't balance them because the front end wobbles pretty good. A/C needs fixed. Just a few things like that and they are doing that work for free for me so I will have a really good truck when I hit the road.

It looks really good!

How big is your sleeper?

Plenty of room to stretch out, but it does only have one bed. Ideally, I'd like to have a top bunk. But other than that the truck is perfect for what I need it for.

'cause that would be totally awesome.

How will we know it's you?

You'll know it's me because I'll have this big, goofy grin on my face as I'm driving down the road like I just got laid for the first time. :D

I was actually looking at a Kenworth with similar specs to the truck I bought (mine is an International). They wanted more for it, but I was still interested until they said they wanted $10,000 down. That stopped me cold. :(

I didn't check it out when I test drove it, but most trucks don't have great speakers. It does have an am/fm cd player in it. They were still putting cassette players in some trucks as late as 2003. :crazy:

...upgrading the audio/video.

the repairs before you put a down payment? That way you can be assured they do the repairs and that the air is fixed.
And a minimum of a front end alignment or ball joints or more. You don't need a front end wobble.
But I'm always paranoid.
Is that a White? I helped my friend sell a Freightliner last year (still collecting payments) and it didn't have a symbol, just said Freightliner across the front.
Anyway, you know the custom in the industry and what repairs you need done. So good luck. And I will be looking for your reports from the road.
dc

And I will be sure that the work is done properly before I sign on the dotted line.

I look forward to writing for you guys. I haven't done much of that lately. Been kind of keeping to myself in that regard. But you can be sure I'll have some stuff to talk about real soon. ;)

some exciting (but well-thought-out) changes! :hi: Congrats on landing the gig, buying the rig, and all that! :toast:

:hi:

That sounds like trucker dirty talk.
:P



On a serious note, congrats for taking the plunge.

Thanks!

you have to buy that separate ?

I'll post pics of the entire rig inside and out when I get it together.

what are you planning on hauling?

Outbound I'll have LTL freight on (less than truckload)- several small loads combined into one big load with several deliveries on the other end. Coming back will be general commodities- likely just a one stop load. Possible freight includes food, furniture, car parts, agricultural supplies, clothes, make-up, hazardous materials- like I said, just about anything that will fit in there.

I worked in a semi scrap yard for a short time. Please make a point of not running into things. Semi's are big and bad, but they get jacked just like anything else when they hit something bigger. So be careful out there, eh?


Also... Why the heck cant a normal car come with a 500/750k warranty?

Best of luck with your new venture.

nt

They also don't operate as quickly as a car's which will also make them last longer. For example. The max rpm the engine will turn as it sits right now is 1800 rpm. On the highway it will turn about 1400 rpm at 65 mph. My little Honda Civic turns over 2000 rpm at that speed and regularly over 4000 when I'm kicking it down. So there is less wear and tear there. Plus the components of those engines are huge compared to cars. That engine in that truck is probably a 14 liter engine. My little Honda, 1.8 liters. The biggest gasoline engines they put in passenger cars are half the size of a semi's. I'm sure there are other variables, like it being a diesel motor, that come into play, but I'm not much of a mechanic. Maybe someone else will hop in here who knows a little more about this.

And, yes, I'm aware of what can happen when a truck wrecks. I've been driving semis for over 13 years.

into be an Owner/Operator. :toast:

:toast:

When are you putting the satellite dish in?

Have you named her yet?

Good luck and keep the shiny side up.

or else I would have satellite TV. Have you seen those dishes on rigs? I think that's pretty goofy looking. I'm more of a computer guy and I'll have my laptop with me with a cellular broadband connection. I have not named the rig yet. Bustin' Bugs? Lone Wolf? Slow and Easy? Casper?

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...in the backyard would be nice.
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A lot of movers can get away with a huge sleeper because they don't have to worry about weight. I've seen sleepers that have a shower, stove, refigerator, washer and dryer, and a table in them. They are custom built and if you get one put on a new rig it can make for a $250,000 rig.

:hug:

:hug:

:woohoo:

I feel like this right now ---> :bounce:

What do they do, install a big turbo, reprogram the computer?

I think one way to do it is to increase fuel flow. Cummins says that the RPMs can be set at 2000. Right now it maxes out at 1800. So that would give you a few more horsies I think. If I get that done I'll be sure to ask what goes into it.

Keep 'em coming.

Me: 370/430hp 1650 ft. lbs. Cummins Select Plus N-14 set to 470/1850.

No limit on rpm's...this unit can actually spin to destruction if I was a dummy about it.

Can't wait for some of your posts from the road!

I'll definitely have some more road stories for you guys.

You done yourself good, Driver.



May she treat you as well as my Cornbinder has treated me.

Have you decided to buy that rig down in Cincy?

We shall see...hey, what's thirty or forty grand, right?

:D

Hard to go wrong with a Cummins and a 10 speed, that's a pretty bulletproof combo!

good luck in your new venture! :hi:

They say of you want something that will pull really good, get a Cat. If you want something that will get the best fuel mileage, get a Detriot. If you want something that will last a long time, get a Cummins. I don't know how true all that is, but I do hope to get a lot of life out of that engine.

It should last a long, long time with proper maintenence, keep clean oil in them and they'll run forever.

Is that 10 speed a super 10 or just a straight roadranger?

I drove a dump with a super 10 and really liked it for that application, I was running empty half the time on the way back to the gravel pit and could shift it like a straight 5 speed with the truck unloaded.
:D

They are a lot easier on you when pulling hills. Less moves to downshift. Just flip the button and flip your foot. And like you, I could turn it into a 5 speed when I was bobtailing.

Not like the old days. My dad was the real trucker in the family, 40 years and millions of miles. Everything he drove for the first half of his career had two sticks in it, no air split back then, no power steering or AC either. :o

Driving across Iowa, Kansas or Nebraska and it's likely to pull hard to the left or right.

They always want to go out in the fields and harvest!

Best of luck with it.

I'll get some blinders for it when I'm running through corn country. :)

There are a fair amount of husband/wife teams out there driving. I assume at some point they have to sleep in the sleeper. What happens when the person closest to the back wall has to go pee?

It's a sad, sad, tale yes indeed worthy of a good country truckin' song.

I assume, depending on how urgent the matter is, that you'd just push your partner over the edge. :)

A lot of trucks have bunk beds in them that are twin size. So I would imagine that when marital bliss isn't happening you wouldn't be sleeping togther.

The other one is out the back bedroom, past the pool room, and up a flight of stairs over the library.

I used to think the fairings on those Internationals looked goofy, but I'd have to say that they have grown on me. I seem to be out of my truck related (technician) career, but I still keep my eye on what's on the road.

Don't quote me on that though. It looks to me like the new Prostars have taken the place of the 9400i as International's bread and butter truck. I think some other trucks look better than mine, but I think the Prostar isn't as easy on the eyes as the 9400i.

I'll have to check into that.

Hi Tobin,
I hope you can share some stories once you get out on the road again. I have always enjoyed them.

Peace and good luck!

Stay alert when you're out there on the road, thank you for keeping our country's commerce going and safe travels to you!

I have a smile on my face just reading through the thread so far. Congrats on following your dream!! And I look forward to reading your Stories From the Road!!

I was always partial to Peterbilts...what make is it?

They both drove those things for a living. Never owned their own, but man, when I was a kid, it was the most awesome thing to go on a trip with them. Once I crawled back into the bunk with the little side window open on it and slept from Charleston to Tampa and almost the whole way back. Something about the sound of the engine and the muted wind from that little window. To this day, I go to sleep with a fan running, blowing on me, or either, if I sleep in the living room, which I often do, I'll have the AC running and the ceiling fan blowing.

When I wasn't sleeping, I'd sit in the passenger seat and alternate between marveling at the scenery and playing "Star Trek" ("shields up, captain"). God, some of the best times from my childhood.

They all thought for a while I'd end up being a third generation driver, but that was not to be. Although, I can't help but wonder how things might have turned out had I followed in their footsteps.

Beautiful rig, man. Sorry for the "me me me" part, lol.

That looks like the whole darn thing!

Congrats, and good luck. :)

Looks like a darned nice truck!