Taking the Conestoga off!

[tracer]

That's it: with the winter coming, I decided to get rid of the sliding tarp system. Most of the loads I've been doing lately don't even require tarping! Last winter when I got caught in a snow storm in the North East the wet snow bent the ceiling frame members. When I asked the dealer about this they said, "the frame is not load bearing." They replaced one beam only but the other 3 or 4 would bend again for sure as soon as some snow gets on the roof; and I'd have to pay again for all this.

The dealer agreed to take the system off for $1,000 and keep it on consignment in his yard till it's sold. I'll have to keep paying the financial company of course but I can use the $10,000 the dealer promised me to pay off and sell my car, which will improve my cashflow by almost 700 bucks. I use it 3 days in a month anyway ... so taking the Conestoga off will actually improve my bottomline (after the car is sold) and now the rig will be:

- 2,500 lbs lighter (the system + the roof deflector)
- able to take loads that stick out in the front and rear (like those utility trailers)
- more fuel efficient when empty (no side walls!)
- easy to drive under trees, bridges, and inside plant/factory doors (most of these are 14' tall and I always had trouble backing it with my 13'6" wagon).
- easier to load and unload
- safer to operate: the 107" wide system blocked view through mirrors and I could hardly see the rear wheels

I'll probably get a 4' tarp eventually but for now I'll look for loads that don't require tarping. There's plenty of these on the Landstar board. I won't be able to do oversize loads till Spring 2011 (company's policy).

Now I'll have to do something about the holes in the rub rails on the trailer where the Conestoga was bolted on ... can probably get new reflective tape and cover the holes.

[TK THE TRUCKER]

Wait until the first load you wish you had it. You'll be like "Why did I get rid of that damn thing !" But really you are probably better off without it in the long run.

[Bigmon]

How does the 10k work?

[tracer]

How does the 10k work?

Basically, the financial company I have a lease with, bought the system from the dealer. So, the dealer made their profit already... Now I'll pay the dealer $1k to take it off and hopefully they'll be able to sell it at a high enough price to give me $10,000. They said they'd give me a check and it'd be up to me what to do with it. I talked to the financial company thinking $10,000 NOW should be worth more than the same $10,000 over the lease term, but they wouldn't give me any discount. Whether I keep this 10k for myself or I give it to them, I still have to make ALL the payments under the lease. So, it makes more sense to use it to pay off the car, so that I can save almost 700 bucks a month ($430 financing + $170 insurance + $50 fuel minimum) on something I rarely use.

[TK THE TRUCKER]

$170 insurance .

I thought I paid a lot for insurance. My 2008 pick up and Trans Am is $220 for 10 months with collision. $170 seems a lot for 1 car

[tracer]

I thought I paid a lot for insurance. My 2008 pick up and Trans Am is $220 for 10 months with collision. $170 seems a lot for 1 car

Here in Canada insurance is expensive: both for heavy trucks and cars. It used to be 120 bucks then they renewed it at ... $165 for no reason at all. Their explanation was "the bank rates are going up... all insurance companies are raising rates." Yeah, right. I had no accidents and no tickets. Part of a reason why I want to get rid of the car. It's much cheaper to use a rental (when I need one). I"m now in Sasketchewan, Canada and been on the road since the beginning of the month and my car is just gathering dust in Ontario, Canada - 1600 miles away! It's one thing when you have family members that can use it while you're away, but if you're single like me, it's' a total waste of money.

[tracer]

Some guy from Toronto called me this morning.. He has 10 trucks and he wants to lease the entire thing: the trailer and the Conestoga. He didn't seem put off by the combined payment. Probably made too much money and needs to write off something against taxes.

[specialkay]

Why don't you try and sell it to him? If you know and trust him not to destroy it then lease it to him. Then you could lease on old junker. Landstar as a rule doesn't haul a lot of heavy loads so you don't need an expensive alum trailer.

[oneliner]

Probably made too much money and needs to write off something against taxes.

If only we would all have that problem. LOL

[tracer]

If only we would all have that problem. LOL

that's a serious problem by the way. my truck is pretty much written off - i've used all the depreciation since i bought it in 2007 and i'm making 2 last payments in november. time to jump for joy or tear my hair out because my 2010 tax bill is going to be astronomical?

[oneliner]

that's a serious problem by the way. my truck is pretty much written off - i've used all the depreciation since i bought it in 2007 and i'm making 2 last payments in november. time to jump for joy or tear my hair out because my 2010 tax bill is going to be astronomical?

I know it can be a problem.Once my truck was paid for I just stopped working so hard.I now just run 1800-2000 miles a week.Less tax at the end of the year.

[Steel Horse Cowboy]

I'm in the same boat..... I bought my truck in 2004 for cash and took my depreciation already. I have owed around $10,000 the last few years but this year is going to be BAD. I cleared $255k already this year. I'm seriously thinking about getting a brand new truck just so i don't have to spend $20k for nothing, I can put it as the down-payment

[Steel Horse Cowboy]

also Tracer..... is this guy willing to take over your payments from the finance company, freeing you from it or is he wanting to lease it from YOU????

I personally would sell it to him or let him take over the burden, but no way in hell would I lease it to him.

And get rid of that damn car!!!

I sold my 2005 Ram 2500 and saved me $650 a month. I got a 1990 Olds Delta 88 that I bought back in 2000 for $800 and it's still running strong. Too bad they don't make cars like that anymore

[classictruckman]

that's a serious problem by the way. my truck is pretty much written off - i've used all the depreciation since i bought it in 2007 and i'm making 2 last payments in november. time to jump for joy or tear my hair out because my 2010 tax bill is going to be astronomical?

If you are selling your trailer anyway, maybe you should get a loan and buy a trailer then you can write off some of it.

[tracer]

I'm in the same boat..... I bought my truck in 2004 for cash and took my depreciation already. I have owed around $10,000 the last few years but this year is going to be BAD. I cleared $255k already this year. I'm seriously thinking about getting a brand new truck just so i don't have to spend $20k for nothing, I can put it as the down-payment

Here's a tip that might be worth looking into: if you have extra cash, use it as downpayment on a house and then rent it out (hire a management company to do all the work). In Canada you're allowed to use 5% of the house price as depreciation against your primary income, since you're self-employed, and this rental house is used for BUSINESS. It's not much - 10 grand from a 200k house a year, but it's something. I"m pretty sure your rules in US are similar for rental properties. I would do it too but I have to make some money first

[tracer]

That can be a possibility. Here in Canada I can write off 30% of the cost of the trailer every year. I could get one of those ultra-light Fontaine Revolution steps with the wicked floor

[jagerbomber3.0]

That can be a possibility. Here in Canada I can write off 30% of the cost of the trailer every year. I could get one of those ultra-light Fontaine Revolution steps with the wicked floor

Damn you love spending money

[tracer]

Damn you love spending money

as one guy said, "either you drive a new truck and make payments to the financial company, or you drive an old truck and pay taxes to the government." same with trailers ...

[Steel Horse Cowboy]

as one guy said, "either you drive a new truck and make payments to the financial company, or you drive an old truck and pay taxes to the government." same with trailers ...

I couldn't agree more...... most guys on here don't believe that tho, but then again, they mostly pull van for companies and make .93cpm

That's my delima..... 20k as a downpayment or give it to Uncle Sam in April. Then again, I'm sure Uncle Jagerbomber3.0 would take it too

[tracer]

I couldn't agree more...... most guys on here don't believe that tho, but then again, they mostly pull van for companies and make .93cpm

That's my delima..... 20k as a downpayment or give it to Uncle Sam in April. Then again, I'm sure Uncle Jagerbomber3.0 would take it too

The deed is done. I came from the trip and dropped the trailer at Aero-Kit in Burlington, ON. The next time I'll hook up to that trailer it'll be 2,500 lbs lighter, have no walls, no ceiling and no headboard