I finally bought a truck yesterday after 6 months of looking. I bought a 1 owner 2003 387 Pete with 523K miles.

 

Nice truck!

specs?

 

ISX 475 Cummins Engine, Jacob Brake, 12 Speed Meritor Freedom Line Transmission, 40,000 Lb. Rear Ends, 3.36 Ratio, Air Ride Suspension, Premium Length High-Roof Sleeper, Bunk Beds, Air Conditioned, Deep Chrome Bumper, Hydraulic Power Steering, Exterior Visor, Heated Power Mirrors, Premium Interior, Cruise Control, Dual High Back Air Ride Seats, Power Windows, Telescopic Tilt Wheel, Power Door Locks, Dual Chrome Stacks, Fuel Tank Fairings, Side Extenders, Dual Aluminum Fuel Tanks, Stainless Steel Quarter Fenders, Air Slide 5th, 235 Inch Wheel Base, Full Screw, 24.5 Low Profile Radial Tires, Aluminum Disc Wheels

 

Nice truck. Looks like an old Lessors, Inc. rig. Are you leasing it onto a company??

 

Why this particular pete? What stood out for you?
What test on the engine did you have run?

 

I seen it on US Auctioneers website for a auction that was going to be fairly close to me.

So I went and looked at it when they opened viewing 5 days before the auction. I found out that Des Moines Peterbilt had it in the auction so I went there looking for information on it. They told me a company had bought it there new and traded it in on a new truck. I asked what company traded it in and they told me.

It turned out the company that had bought it new and traded it in was a local company with 20 or so trucks. The company was the company I first drove for when I finished driving school.

I went there and talked to the owner and he gave me all the maintenence records he had on it. He said it had been a good truck while they had it and he trades them in for new when they get 500K miles.

So I took a chance by believing everyone and bought it really cheap at the auction.

I had wanted a 387 and I looked at about every 387 in the midwest that was in the Truck Paper and had never found the perfect deal. I bought this one for $20,000 less than ones I had been looking at for the last 6 months.

Yes I am going to lease on with a local company that has 12 trucks leased onto them. They have good paying dedicated runs to Southern California and back. They take 10% of the gross and I will run under their authority.

 

Nice looking truck. Good luck to you. 8)

 

Thanks for the explanation....nice to have the local history on the truck PLUS getting to bid on it at auction like that.

A nice looking truck...a big cab and aerodynamic. I like what somebody posted once that with trucking, you are in the business of moving air as much as in hauling freight. Aero designs make sense.

Good luck and I hope you post your experiences!!

 

X2+1....Very sage advice indeed!

100,000 miles at 5mpg=20,000 gallons@$4.25=$85,000
100,000 miles at 6mpg=16,666 gallons@$4.25=$70,830

Straight to your pocket savings of $14,170. per MPG. Or you could think of it as $1400 per 1/10MPG!

Fuel is going to be your largest expense, it is best too manage it accordingly. It really does pay big time.

 

Good luck, fine looking truck........ I have been thinking about starting myself, but still find myself stepping back from that move now, maybe I will watch a little longer, then revisit in 3 to 6 months.... Enjoy the ride, cruising at 65 will get ya there, just a little later than 70, but boy oh boy, that extra mpg and money in the bill fold is nice!