Question:
I have a 1987 International (Cat 3406B, 9-speed, tandem axles, 42" sleeper) and wonder about using it OTR. It had been on the road until 2001 (odometer says 886k, service history completely unknown), then a yard dog until the fall of '03 when I bought it very cheap. I have gradually fixed it up and it needed a LOT of fixing - more duct tape jerry rigs than you ever saw including the boot between the cab and sleeper . Among many other things, I've rewired everything under the hood and all lights/trailer connections, fixed all the gauges (nothing worked but the oil pressure and tach), changed all fluids, got the heat and a/c working, eight new drive rims and recaps (it had a mix of worn-out 22.5 and 24.5 rims/tires), fixed many air leaks and the dryer, and replaced one airbag. Cat is in good shape (doesn't smoke, starts instantly even in 5 degree weather). Despite the fuel filter being disconnected because the hand primer pump was missing! Steering is tight and the brakes have plenty of lining. I'm going to paint it next month.
The question is, is it possible to run a truck this old on the road? Seems like darn near everything that could break on a truck has already broke and now been fixed... I did a spreadsheet and allotted $1000 per month for maintenance and repairs. Sounds better than $2500 a month for a new truck payment plus maintenance! Is this reasonable, or should it be more ($1200? $1500?) Or should it just stay a yard dog?
-Charles

Answer:
make it as tip top as possible. then stick that 1000 away each month. if all goes well you might have 6k in no time or even more after a while. Just put the fuel filter back on. Some of the fuel you buy OTR is way to dirty to go without it.
So in answer to your question, why not. Well alomost why not. If your planning on leasing it on some where you may want to find out if they have age restrictions.
The other question is, are you sure you want to? I put 114 gallons of fuel in my truck today, just over half. It cost the company $300.84. Depending on where I go it is costing almost 1k a week to fuel my truck. Hopefully your cabover is getting great fuel mileage.

Answer:
Actually it's a conventional, not a cabover.

I did put the fuel filter/priming pump back together first. CAT injection pumps are worth a lot more than a $10 filter!
The equipment age restriction could be a problem. I've seen lots of ads that all want five model years old or newer. I've read on this board that Landstar will accept any age truck if it passes their inspection?
thanks
Charles

Answer:
I'm glad you said that. I am also surprised no one noticed. But driving home tonight being bored I was trying to figure out how you replaced the sleeper boot on a Cabover. Don't know where I got that.
i know there have been alot of negatives about Landstar. I have run several of their loads and know others who leased with them. They seem like a fair deal to me. Can you get a drop deck to pull. They do alot of military stuff and equipment. They are also pulling boats for Brunswick boat group and do alot better than some of the other companies. just a thought.

Answer:
Insted of the Newbie forum you might want to post in the O/O forum... A lot of these tye questions might be better answered by O/O's .. just a suggestion...
I would check with Landstar.. I "heard" that when you lease on the truck has a age limit, but once your "in" you just have to maintain it to company specs.. I would check their web site.
As for companies.. what do you want to do with your truck? You might find work in intermodal.. they are hurting for trucks, and don't have strict hiring / leasing guidlines.. (I know it does not pay very well, but with a old truck I am just throwing suggestions out there for him.)
On a OTR note, have you dyno'ed the motor or done oil samples? How about an alignment (3 axle)? clutch? exaust?shocks? ect...
Ya don't see too many old trucks out there, the insurance companies are running the game, not the trucking companies. My friend has her own authority and is running a 1984 Pete.! Just had her 350hp. / 3406B Cat rebuilt! The truck runs great, now if the A/C would stay working
Answer:
I'm a little concerned about the re-cap thing; Not a good idea. Get originals.
Other than that, if the thing is in good shape, and it looks like you've gone over it with a fine-tooth-comb, then the $1000-per-month figure is about right at 3000 miles per week.
It will probably be lower though; Probably under $750 per month.
I go by .08 cents per mile as a conservative estimate. But really, the maintenance cost is probably lower than that.

Answer:

Chad , you may want to rethink you postion on recapped tires . Did you know that 100% of the airline industry uses recaps on all their planes , and they ( the tires ) are subjected to alot more then any truck tire ever will be . The number one reason tires fail is due to under inflation and nothing to do if it is a recap or vigin carcase . Not to mention the cost savings ...

Answer:

I just drove it today to a nearby truck repair shop (8 mi. away) for an inspection. I'm more of a wannabe than a newbie - this was the first time I ever drove any bigtruck other than in the driveway so there was an interesting learning curve. (A CDL is not required in Mo. as long as you are not-for-hire). The personal-use insurance was approved last week, only $267 per year. I'm going to the DMV tomorrow for 42,000 lb Local plates (50 mi radius) which are only $100 per year, so I can get in some driving practice before I get a 48 footer to practice backing with.
Anyhow, I took a lot of dirt backroads at first (no license plate can be issued until after inspection), but no one tickets you in rural Mo. if you are headed to the garage for inspection. First time I pulled out on the paved highway and ran up through the high range to 55 mph was a real heart-thumper but everything worked fine. All four rear brakes needed relining after all (they did look somewhat marginal when I took a close look and one shoe was separating from the lining). The mechanic strongly recommended new drums since the old ones were deeply grooved and turning them would have left little if any "meat". The front brakes were fine though. Also one exhaust flex-pipe had a hole under the cab, the left front air-chamber was the wrong type (another yard dog jerry-rig) and was replaced, and I had them do an oil/filter change and change the trans. lube too. I didn't need as much "lubricant" as I expected when I took out my wallet since I'd done my homework repairing a lot of other things first, but it was still a pretty good chunk of change.
Driving it was not as difficult as I thought with a 9-speed nonsynchro gearbox, since the splits are pretty uniform around 40%. I thought I had 3.70 rears and the tires are 24.5's, not low-profile, but it is still turning 1600 @ 55 mph. Looks like this isn't a triple-digit truck The hardest part was getting the rpm's right for downshifting while also slowing down and going from 6th (hi range) to 5th (low range).. I am definitely not ready yet to take a 48' van around tight corners!
With no driving experience, I was really shocked at just how rough this beast rode bobtailing... dirt roads with rocks/potholes were really rattling and bouncing me around even at 15-20 mph. The front suspension is leaf-spring and the rears are 4-airbags. I guess a 34,000 lb suspension with no weight on it is going to be pretty stiff
-Charles
Answer:
Rough riding..............
Ah, heck...........try a spring ride truck!!!!!
Trucks are NOT meant to be comfy riding.......especially with no load on.
Glad you here your maiden voyage was uneventful(except for the pocket lightening ).
Do you have any job prospects lined up yet?? Sounds like you got the horse before the cart? From previous discussions, unless someone local will use you, getting any OTR work will be rough with no experience.

Answer:

Like a '59 Mack?

I went slow and careful, and only ground a few gears... but I'm not quite done, unfortunately. Above 50 there is a weird almost "corkscrew" shaking that feels like a dog passing a peach pit which has to be fixed. I know my front driveshaft has been "rigged" and I think that is the source of the vibration. I also discovered missing and loose bolts on the seat pan (really fun to round a corner and all of a sudden your butt is 3" out of line)

You're probably right. Really this truck is a hobby rather than a means to a job. I have what is known as "golden handcuffs" making too much money to quit and do something else. Everything I've read on this board says it would not be a good time to jump into OTR (if there ever is a good time)!
-Charles
Answer:
Yup, '59 Mack!
Ya, sounds like you got a bad joint somewhere if it's shak'n that bad. Make sure the joints are lined up also. Maybe someone had the pieces apart and got the ends out of phase?
"I also discovered missing and loose bolts on the seat pan (really fun to round a corner and all of a sudden your butt is 3" out of line) "
In an old Mack....you don't have to worry about your butt being IN the seat anyway..........LMAO!!!!
I'm in the same boat. Making decent money at a job, but if things ever went awry I would possibly look at hooking up with a friend and pull a dump for him. He wants me to do it anyway, he'd love to have his name stuck on my truck running around town.

Answer:
Some companies will not lease an owner operator on with a truck past a certain year model. Others don't really care as long as the truck is in good shape, looks decent and will pass a DOT. It sure beats big truck payments. Landstar and CRST Malone don't have age restrictions. Mercer may not either. I would check with them if you are interested in flatbed, etc.,

Answer:

Good call. When I bought the truck, the seller assured me that "all it needs to put on the road is a u-joint" I'd forgot about that until now since I've been fixing everything but u-joints since I got it nearly two years ago!
Anyhow I took a closer look today and found that the driveshaft from the center bearing to the front rear axle was not only assembled with the yokes rotated two splines out of line, but it had to have been found in a junk pile because it's two inches too short and the splines are only half engaged in the yoke... so now the yoke slip-splines are "pounded out" and there's a good 1/8" radial slop where the max spec is something like .010
Now to find a driveshaft shop that can make me a new one without taking out a second mortgage. The pieces should be pretty standard though (1 slip splined yoke, 1 weld spline, about 3 feet of tube, 1 weld yoke).
-Charles
Answer:
WIth all the cobbled things you mentioned....it would be safe to assume that someone might have NOT paid attention to phasing the joints if the slip yoke was pulled apart! It will whip itself to death.
Check a local driveshaft place for pricing. It might be cheaper in the long run to hit the junk yard, find a complete shaft and have it shortened?? Maybe, guess it all depends on pricing in your area....or if you have any connections.
Get this fixed and then take it out on the big road and see how she runs