Tractor hauler

I am considering purchasing a road tractor for hauling antique tractors.

I really like the look of this 90 Freightliner amd the money is right.

I want to keep the total weight under 28,000 for license purposes and run standard commercial plates.

Any engines to avoid?? Aluminum trailer?? Comments??

Brad Buchanan
a51178.jpg
 
Cool ride. Engine wise there is really no bad choice for what you are doing. My personal likes are CAT,CUMMINS,SERIES 60. Trailer wise I would look for an all alum but look for a 96"wide they are going to be cheaper because everybody wants a 102" and some places won't load a 96". Look at where the suspension mounts for corrosion and cracks along with where the kingpin plate mounts. I would be wary of the trans if it is a SUPER 10spd [THERE IS NOTHING SUPER ABOUT IT!!!!!!] a straight 10spd,13spd,9spd are all great trans but the super 10 has lots of issues. I fear you will be over your 28000lbs. Trailer should weigh 9500-10500lbs for all alum,combo [steel&alum] 10500-12000,all steel 12000 +. Truck should be about 14000 so that doesn't leave a lot of pay load weight. Can you register it as a RV? But if the price is right you would have a hauler to last a life time,oh watch the first step it's a killer.
 
What engine and tranny is in it? Good thing about it being cab over and single axle, it will turn on a dime and easy to manuever compared to any other big truck
 
Be aware that cabovers do ride quite a bit rougher than a conventional truck, and have more intensive maintainence requirements. As already mentioned, they turn a lot shorter than a conventional. Any engine should suffice for the weight you will pull, Mercedes engines I would avoid due to spendy parts, and in general the bigger the engine displacement wise, the longer it will last trouble-free at a given HP. In other words, a 425 HP 15 liter cat will still be running long after the 430 HP 12 liter cat dies a spendy death, and will get about the same or better mileage. I would say look for a CAT 3406C or E model, a 60 series Detroit, or an N14 Cummins and you should be okay. Some 60 series before 1997? should be approached with caution.
 
I think thats a nice truck to haul toys with,I have drove cabovers alot the rides not bad at all,you wont be riding it 10 hours a day everday should do fine.
 
Doesn't anything with air brakes and a 5th wheel hitch really jump up the insurance rates too ?
 
I've always been partial to the older 80-84 macks.. but that machine loks real celan.. etc.

soundguy
 
Cat engines are good but cost more to keep running since you pay for the name. Cummins do well and are very common. Detriots are ok for the open road but get do into tight areas where you need a lot of slow pulling power they do not have it. As for that rig I have never likes the singe rear axle rigs and the cab overs are a pain to work on. I drove a binder with a 350 big cam Cumins that was a cab over hard to get in and out of and hard to check things like oil etc.
 
That would be a good truck for you. If you're going to run a gooseneck on it set the hitch way at the back, it will put more weight on the back axle. The trailer also won't track as far to the side in a turn, and even without trailer brakes stopping won't be an issue.

Just remember, there is a reason the old Freightliner cabovers are called freight SHAKERS. But a good set of shocks and a trip to a good alignment shop can take care of a lot of that.
 
Buy a trailor and build living quarters in the front of the trilor and license it as a motor home. Leagle to do here in Michigan. No CDL or scales to worry about, as you won't have to stop at them. Use the back of the trailor to haul your toys.
 
Thanks to all who responded. This is just the kind of info I was looking for.

While some think this type of truck is an 'ugly duckling' I think the short turning radius combined with the power available make it a good choice. And I think they look great!

Thanks again,

Brad
 
it shouldn"t, had a 4900 IH with air brakes, pulled my 5th, never got stopped. as long as it doesn"t look like a commercial vehicle
 
like john said, put private carrier on side "not for hire" and get motorhome plates, plus should be cheaper on insurance if they think you use it for your own porpose.
 
I asked the DOT man about the signs on the trucks that say NOT FOR HIRE and he told me that when he sees one of them he checks it out real close to see what they are hiding.

Bob
 
Brad the tractor will handle what your going to do with it. I don't think you will get away with 28,000 lb. plate. That tractor with trailer is going to scale in around 20,000 lbs. no load. That would leave you 8,000lbs. for the load. As for the NOT FOR HIRE commercial carriers that are contracted out use that on their trucks.
So I don't think that will help you a whole lot.
 
Nice truck for a 90'. Lots of chrome too! I have been looking at medium duty trucks to make a toy hauler/farm truck. The Chevrolet/GMC 4500 and 5500 with an 8.1L gas/propane look good and are under 26,000. This is good, keeping them under CDL requirements.

I find it hard to swallow that you can buy that size truck and be below CDL requirements. Or do you plan to put commercial tags on it and all that folllows?

Never the less, it is a nice truck.

CT
 
That's a good looking ride to be a 90 model. There is some advantage to being an early model as that truck will be mechanical instead of electronic which could be alot better. The electronic operated fuel systems tend to get real exspensive when the components start going bad such as ecm's and computers etc. So that being said I wouldn't be afraid of it provided it runs out ok. I would however check out the license and insurance, because, the state I live in does not reconize that type of truck as a rec vehicle. That makes the use of a road tractor prohibitive for hauling toys around. Then, theres all ways the fuel permit and highway use tax to deal with. I tried that and found it was too much of a headache for no more than I was using it. Just a little insight of things to check. Good luck!
 
(quoted from post at 19:53:19 10/13/11) I asked the DOT man about the signs on the trucks that say NOT FOR HIRE and he told me that when he sees one of them he checks it out real close to see what they are hiding.

Bob

You know those little stickers that people put in their car windows about the police fund that they donated to? Well I expect that the DOT guys joke about not for hire signs just like cops joke about those little stickers in the windows.
 
Unless it's a Detroit, the 60 series came out in 86 and I don't think it was ever available with mechanical injection.

But there's enough of them out there, if something too major goes bad you can always find a good used one to drop in it.
 

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