Hypothetical question

[Malaki86]

Just something I was wondering about:

Let's say you're in the market to buy a used truck. In your search, you find the perfect truck except it doesn't have an option or 2 that you would really want on the truck, such as an APU and Centramatics. Say your funds are tight and purchasing these seperately from the truck really wouldn't be an option.

Would most dealers work with you to get these installed prior to the truck purchase so that it could all be paid for with the truck loan?

[xcarsalesman]

Its up to the load co, not the dealership. Now, if the dealership tote the note, then i think it would work.

[solo379]

Would most dealers work with you to get these installed prior to the truck purchase so that it could all be paid for with the truck loan?

I think so. Why not?

[RostyC]

If the upgrades you want exceed the value of the truck (assuming you're using the truck as the only collateral) they might have an issue with it.

[tracer]

...you find the perfect truck except it doesn't have an option or 2 that you would really want on the truck, such as an APU and Centramatics...

I think APUs are just a waste of money. Get a Webasto bunk heater ($1,000) and add the option of heating the engine block and you're good. I knew a guy who had an APU and it caused fire and his entire truck (1 year old) burned down. The insurance he had pretty much covered only the value of the loan he had with the financial company. He was left with no truck and no money and had to become a company driver again.

[Maniac]

I would think they would as long as you weren't asking for something way out of the ordinary, an APU would increase the price and maybe the finance co wouldn't want to lend all of the money without maybe a larger down payment

[solo379]

Get a Webasto bunk heater ($1,000) and add the option of heating the engine block and you're good.

What about AC? Personally i prefer Espar.

[Steel Horse Cowboy]

If they are 22.5 time, I got a set of steer centramatics w/800 miles I'd sell for $100

[Malaki86]

The last company I drove for had Webasto's in every truck. 2 of them burnt to the ground because of issues from the Webasto's.

Plus, I really like to be able to sleep in the middle of summer when I'm in Laredo. A Webasto or Espar won't help there, so gotta idle anyway. Same for when it's below 20f with one - the bunk heater won't keep the fuel from gelling.

[Steel Horse Cowboy]

An APU also won't keep your fuel from gelling unless your truck has tank heaters from the factory and you get a APU that runs the trucks coolant such as a Tri-Pac.

[solo379]

Same for when it's below 20f with one - the bunk heater won't keep the fuel from gelling.

You probably meant -20C, cause 20F is nothing....

[Windwalker]

the bunk heater won't keep the fuel from gelling.

Tank heaters work great, but rather than having tanks replaced to get the heaters, use a good anti-gel and get a "hotline" from a Pete back in the mid '90s. As long as the fuel is not completely solid, the "hotline" would warm it up just before the filter and no problems. More than once, I realized that the engine was being starved for fuel because it could not get through the filter, just throw the switch for the hotline and the truck took off. The company also said to run with the hotline on anytime the temps were below 15 F. Many times, I went by a number of trucks that were frozen up, even gave a few drivers a ride to the next truck stop to get warmed up and get help. I also installed a used one in the Frightliner I owned, and found that it was well worth it. As long as the fuel can still get into the fuel line, that hotline makes sure it can also get through the filter. And, it was a whole lot cheaper than an apu. Of course, it didn't do anything for A/C in Laredo or El Paso in the middle of July.