Gonna go get this truck in Indiana on Monday.

rockyridgefarm · Sep 11, 2022

Hey all.

I bought this truck on an online auction a few weeks ago. Due to the rain, I finally have a lil time on Monday to drive the 350 miles to go get it. It will be used to pull my seed cleaning trailer. 2000 freightliner FL70 with 8.3 Cummins and a 9 speed. Hope I did not buy a junker.

Bob Bancroft · Sep 11, 2022

As long as it's not all rotted out, you can fix everything else, and I don't see any rot. Looks like a nice truck. I've got three
8.3 engines, and overall, they are the nicest performing diesel engines.
Am I seeing correctly that the AC belts have been removed?
I wonder why so many trucks are still made with spring suspension?

Geo-TH,In · Sep 11, 2022

Indiana is the rust belt.
Neighbor has an old ford pickup.
His frame is rotted out..
Many trucks in Indiana have been attacked by iron worms which eat holes in the body
in 10 to 15 years.
Hope your semi hasn't been attacked by iron worms.

rockyridgefarm · Sep 11, 2022

That is the risk one takes when buying online. I did not pay so much that I would be in financial hardship if it does turn out to be a junker, but it would be disappointing. When talking to the seller, I asked if he thought I could drive it home to Wisconsin and he said he thought so. He also said it passed DOT inspection this year. From what I could see of the frame, it does not look like there is any rust, but I know a clever photographer can *miss* certain areas. I am keeping my expectations low so that the truck can exceed them.

Anyone have a guess on what it weighs? Im thinking 12,000lbs

caterpillar guy · Sep 11, 2022

That will be a rough riding thing with springs in the rear. Yet for no more than you probably will drive it it will not matter. An air ride suspension could be put under it from a donor by taking the complete spring suspension out and bolting the air ride in. Would need the ride height for the air bags to set the right angles on the driveshaft. The 9 speed shifts the first 5 gears then retraces the last 4 gears. don't downshift the hi lo above about 20 MPH or it will take the auxiliary drive synchronizer out on the hi lo which will make it grind every time it is shifted into hi.

Bob Bancroft · Sep 11, 2022

My guess is 9-10000#.

flying belgian · Sep 11, 2022

Pa always said,,,as long as you have a
frame and a steering wheel you can just
keep fixing it,,,

DoubleO7 · Sep 11, 2022

Is that an Indiana farm license plate??

Maybe it never has been driven in the winter and thus never seen salt.

Looks like it has seen dirt roads tho.

rockyridgefarm · Sep 11, 2022

It will not ride any rougher than my 1ton dually. I haul Mennonites around a little bit, and even they complain about the rough ride in that thing. If the truck turns out to be a goodun, I plan on putting an air ride under it.

On weight, my dually weighs 9750lbs, but it has a steel flatbed. I figured this should weigh more than that.

This post was edited by rockyridgefarm on 09/11/2022 at 08:54 am.

john in la · Sep 11, 2022

We have a couple of them at work. Yes they are a lot newer and have 6 speed automatics but basically the same rough spring riding truck.

They are a class 7 truck so they will not play with the big boys but we pull lightly loaded (10 to 20k) 53 foot trailers with them. I would say they weigh about 12k empty and can gross 32k plus what the trailer axles will haul.

At 65 to 68 mph and 2000 to 2100 rpm you can watch the fuel gauge go down.
You get your foot out of it and run 50 to 55 mph and they will get 7+ mpg.

They are nice trucks for what they are.
A truck to haul a trailer around town.
I sure would not want to drive it 100 to 150 miles from home as they are no match to the class 8 single axle trucks we have.

504 · Sep 11, 2022

Our tandems with a 20 foot bed weigh in right at 21000
empty. Its just me but I hate the pedal position on the FL
trucks

Kansas4010 · Sep 11, 2022

I like it. It looks like it'll be handy to
have. I wouldn't mind having one that size
for hauling hay. Let us know how it works
for you.

jm. · Sep 11, 2022

I think you will find out, rough and you feel like you are sliding out of the seat all time, seat
position to the pedals is awful , all that said will probably do what you want to do.

37 chief · Sep 11, 2022

You should be ok. Lucky you can still bur the older trucks. In california 2006 and older trucks are banned from operating in the state, unless thousands
are spent on smog upgrades. I had a Volvo FE7 about the same size, and almost gave it away for some tree trimming work . Problem it's still here. Stan

rockyridgefarm · Sep 11, 2022

Hmm, I test drove an FL80 I was considering buying a year ago and didn't notice the pedals being a problem. I was also driving a Coronado for almost a year for my neighbor. I liked that Corondao a heckua lot better than that stupid pedal coming outta the floor in his Peterbilts. Those are just dangerous. Why are Pete drivers always so short? They can barely see over the dash

I plan on using it like a really big pickup truck. I will not be hauling any big loads or for very far. Unless I buy a lil single hopper grain trailer it pry will not get more than 5-10000 miles a year

Mark-Mi · Sep 11, 2022

No your not the only one. I did not like the accelerator pedal position in my FL-120. Always drove it with a 1 inch thick rubber pad in front of the pedal to rest my heel on.

Gonna go get this truck in Indiana on Monday.

rockyridgefarm

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caterpillar guy

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