New Guy, Old Truck

[Blue Dog]

Hi all, actually I'm a new guy to this forum considering buying an older Mack and looking for advice, drove for a company for 30 + years but they outsourced there trucking division, now at 60 i'm finding it hard to get a decent driving job so looking at being an o/o for a few years until retirement. Over the years have driven just about every make there is but for some reason was always partial to Macks (even drove a C/O V/8 5 speed for awhile), there is a local auction comming up that has 5, 2000 Mack CH 613 day cab conventionals for sale, some specs are E-7 427 engine, 10 speed, twin screw, 180" wb, 40,000 lb rears, air suspension, ect.. I know some of you guys think i'm nuts for considering this adventure but I can't see myself flipping burgers for the other "big Macks", been reading problems with the later Macks, anybody have experience with these CH models or should I consider older yet ?? Will be pulling daily loads for that range from light to 43,000, usually under 300 mile days, any and all advice appreciated, thanks, Blue dog

[hatcity]

Welcome Bluedog

. I run a 2001 CX, same platform as you are looking at. E-7 427, 10 spd. Motor runs fine , no major problems. The original radiator was a plastic/aluminum unit. Most have already been changed by now. It would cost about $700 for a new, steel one. It would be interesting to see if the owners ran fuel additive, as not doing so caused problems related to the camshaft/fuel pump connections.

Good motor overall. Before all the computerized and exhaust crap, so less problems.

If you have work lined up and don't have to sink a lot of money into it, I would say you will have a good runner(til you reach retirement) Be good to it, it will be good to you.

[JerryB]

Hi all, actually I'm a new guy to this forum considering buying an older Mack and looking for advice, drove for a company for 30 + years but they outsourced there trucking division, now at 60 i'm finding it hard to get a decent driving job so looking at being an o/o for a few years until retirement. Over the years have driven just about every make there is but for some reason was always partial to Macks (even drove a C/O V/8 5 speed for awhile), there is a local auction comming up that has 5, 2000 Mack CH 613 day cab conventionals for sale, some specs are E-7 427 engine, 10 speed, twin screw, 180" wb, 40,000 lb rears, air suspension, ect.. I know some of you guys think i'm nuts for considering this adventure but I can't see myself flipping burgers for the other "big Macks", been reading problems with the later Macks, anybody have experience with these CH models or should I consider older yet ?? Will be pulling daily loads for that range from light to 43,000, usually under 300 mile days, any and all advice appreciated, thanks, Blue dog

I agree with hatcity. That truck is a good set up for what you want to do and should have many many miles left before it goes into your pocketbook.