I'm very close to buying this truck
 

93 Pete 379 13speed, Cummins N14. The od has a little under 800k on it. I'm told the engine was overhauled at 500. Much of the truck has been totally redone. A few odd things remain, but I drove it yesterday and it seened solid. The owner is a friend of a friend. I have a good character reference, and he does indeed seem like a good guy. He knows trucks well, so he'll be the guy I go to for any work. The price is 16,500

I'd never driven a Pete before. I've only driven Freightliners, and the straight truck I've been in for the past few years, so the Pete was very different for me. It's also really long, which makes turning a little interesting. It's going to take some getting used to. My goal is to get the truck and start hauling for Roadlink. I'm a little nervous about this. Leaving the comforts of being a company driver for for the freedom and risk of being independent.

I don't know how to post pics, so here's a link.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._2408455_n.jpg

Kind of old, are you sure Roadlink will let you lease it on?

Also seems a little high priced

You'll have fun trying to back a 53' in a dock with that long nose Pete.

The truck will be fine.... and if you can pay it off with-in a year then you will be far ahead of a newer truck.

as for backing a 53', I am guessing Clunker has never driven a hood before. It's easy as pie. I was able to get my 900L with a 335" frame into a spot at a Pilot quicker than half the retarted ant-eaters all day long. It's the driver, not the truck!

Oh, and Super 8.... i might be joining you at Roadlink if the plant I haul to now keeps shutting down every week. I like being home too

They've put a lot of money and time into it, hence the price. The guy I'm buying it from runs a small trucking company and uses Roadlink. All of his trucks are pretty old. He buys them cheap and fixes them up. He's a certified mechanic and does all his own work. One of the reasons I want this truck is because he's been all over it and when I need work done, he'll already know the truck.

Unfortunately, I know how to drive 'em, but I have a lot to learn about working on them so I need to have someone I can trust to advise me on this stuff till I can educate myself. It's intimidating, but ya gotta start somewhere.

That's the goal. I'm trying to keep this cheap because I have no idea how much money I'm going to make at this. I'm told Roadlink has a lot of work and they need drivers. If I can make this work I'll drive this baby as long as I can and save up for something newer.

I think this one is like 360". It's looong but I'm indifferent to it. It's all relative. When I was OTR it was all flatbed (side and top load), and I avoided backing into slots whenever possible. So backing this truck or anything else is going to be weird. But like anything else, it's a learnable skill. First time I do it, I'll be nervous and it'll take me forever. In 6 months it'll be second nature.

Keep me posted, Steel Horse, on what you're doing. I know you are in the area, so there's probably a lot I can learn from you. Regarding Roadlink, I'm told that the Rochelle terminal doesn't have their act together, but the one in Channahon down by Joliet is quite good.

I think price on truck is alittle high. Plus it is older then i would like. But to each their own. Buy what ever you feel you can afford. Make sure he has some short of paperwork on the motor.

On roadlink i would really double think them. Their rates dont seem to great. I know in the philly area they are looking for trucks 24/7. But what do i know im a bucket driver that runs local home every night. Anyway best of luck to you.

Yes, but only if you have enough room. Sometimes it's impossible, cause every inch counts. I mean physically impossible....not enough room.

True, it all depends on which Pilot your at..... half of them you can't even spot a damn bobtail into LOL