Freightliner FL70 questions

[Phil Stuart]

I'm looking at buying a 1996 Freightliner FL70 with a Cummins 8. 3L.

The truck has a double bunk sleeper,single axle,air ride suspension,22. 5" wheels and a wheelbase of 220". The truck was used for hotshot transport and only has 175,000 or so miles on it. I have seen pictures and it looks to be in good condition. The person I talked to about it said he had it registered for under 26,000# because he was under a lease agreement with another guy/company so he himself did not have to hold a CDL. I will find out if it is indeed titled for under the 26,000# CDL limit. If so this will be a big plus for me.

If not I would like to know how I can register/title it for use as a recreational vehicle and/or keep it under the CDL weght if at all possible.

Me and my wife will be using it to pull our camper and to take trips. I will not be using it for any commercial purpose whatsoever.

I would like to fix it up for a nice travel vehicle.



Any thoughts or help would be greatly appreciated,



Phil S

 

[dan.poitras]

That particular engine (provided it has an air compressor) had problems with the air compressor support bracket bolts coming loose and with the weight of the compressor and the subsequent harmonics would cause the front gearcase to crack and leak oil. Also some headgaskets leaked coolant. Not a bad engine just be aware.

 

[icman95]

Each state has its own requirements for what it takes to register something as a camper, but to me it seems like you're almost there. You have sleeping accommodations, but I would add in a portable stove and a portable camping toilet just for good measure. Then you could show the dmv that you do use it as a camper. Who are they to argue that? I'm not sure it's that easy, but I saw a truck at a show here in CT that was a modified OTR Kenworth. The guy took off one rear axle and the original fifth wheel, put on a camper fifth wheel and registered it as a camper. I didn't get a chance to talk with him so I don't know the particulars, but whatever he did worked. I'm sure a call or two to the dmv might help.

 

[Phil Stuart]

Thanks people,



I got an email from him and he said he had it plated for under 26,000.

The title is clear and he's asking $11,000 , seem like a fair price?

I'll be back to post some more details. Looks like I will check it out this weekend.





Phil

 

[icman95]

I've been looking on ebay motors and searching for my FL Century Class to see what others like it are selling for. Try it for yours and see what the prices are. On the left side of the screen after you do your search you will see the choice to see Completed transactions. This will show you what they actually sold for vs the asking prices on current items. Should give you a nice average. $11,000 doesn't see too horrible to me. Of course that depends upon what it needs and how well maintained it is. Good luck.

 

[Phil Stuart]

Freightliner

I really appreciate the replies, It is immensely helpful.



He sent me plenty of pics of the truck and seems to be in fairly decent shape from what I could tell. It has a 6 speed and is air ride which is what I'm looking for.

I have a flight out from Washington Dulles to Chicago on Friday at 6 am and will rent a car and drive to Plymouth Indiana. From there the truck is located in Knox Indiana which is not too far. I will meet his brother on Saturday because the owner lives in New Jersey, seems like a nice fellow from talking to him on the phone.

I will be in touch to let you all know how it turns out. I am looking forward to see it up close and take it for a spin to see how it drives tho it has no plates. Hope it all works out.



Phil S

 

[MMeier]

How long was it used as a hotshotter? Only 175k on a 12 year old truck doesn't seem right to me. My . 02

 

[HBarlow]

You didn't mention whether it has air brakes or what transmission and rear end gearing it has. Those details could be important to your buying decision.





As MMeier stated above, I'd be suspicious of the odometer reading. I know next to nothing about "big trucks" but have read that a FL dealer can read out the ECM and compare that figure to the odometer to see if miles are in agreement with the facts. I'd consider that before buying.



The FL could be an excellent older truck at and attractive price or a worn out old dog needing thousands of dollars of repairs.



Harvey

 

[icman95]

HBarlow is right on. Any FL dealer can plug in and look at the miles in the ecm vs the miles on the odo. Had it done to mine just before I bought it. HOWEVER this technology might be a bit newer than 96-don't know for sure. I does seem to be very few miles for that old a truck, though.

 

[Phil Stuart]

The truck has air brakes and has air ride suspension. It has a six speed trans. ,

22. 5" tires a 4. 11 rear and no fifth wheel. From the model year and the pictures it doesen't seem like the engine has any electronics. Is this correct?

just seems to have an inline injection pump like the older B5. 9's.

It does have wire and a connector for a 7 pin trailer hookup on the rear of the sleeper.

I did not see any air lines or glad hands on the backside either.

He said he never towed anything at the gross weight of the truck.

Any more input gladly accepted.



Phil S

 

[icman95]

Reason for abnormally low miles on 12 year old truck?

 

[Phil Stuart]

I agree.

It does seem abnormally low for the milage to be only around 175K for a 12 year old truck.

I shot him another email and probably will call him again sometime today and check on this. I am curious too.



Phil S

 

[HBarlow]

Phil,



I was trying to avoid a constant barrage of negativism about the truck you are interested in. Nobody wants to hear all that. In truth I might have been interested in the truck myself a while back when I was considering the possibility of buying an MDT.



You sound like an objective person who is actually considering all the facts and sincerely wanted suggestions from TDR members so I'll toss out another thought to consider. A couple years ago when I was transporting and the RV industry was booming I ran across a driver who had a brand new Freightliner Business Class with single drive axle, small MB engine, tall sleeper, and minimum equipment. His truck had a six speed transmission. He was proud of his new truck but admitted that the truck's gearing was not ideal when loaded heavy.



A FL MDT is much heavier than one of our Dodge duallys. With a heavy 5th wheel loaded a 6 speed manual in one of our Dodge Rams grunts a little to get the load rolling and doesn't always have exactly the right gear available. A heavier FL might not be a great RV puller with only a 6 speed.



Harvey

 

[dcoffman]

Thanks people,



I got an email from him and he said he had it plated for under 26,000.

The title is clear and he's asking $11,000 , seem like a fair price?

I'll be back to post some more details. Looks like I will check it out this weekend.





Phil

Het Phil: Are you the same Phil with The BRDB out of Roanoke? All you need is to register it in your name under 26000 and tell them it is not for hire. You then put sign on each side "NOT FOR HIRE" and you good to go. What's wrong with your goat?

Dan

 

[BDeMartile]

You didn't mention whether it has air brakes or what transmission and rear end gearing it has. Those details could be important to your buying decision.





As MMeier stated above, I'd be suspicious of the odometer reading. I know next to nothing about "big trucks" but have read that a FL dealer can read out the ECM and compare that figure to the odometer to see if miles are in agreement with the facts. I'd consider that before buying.



The FL could be an excellent older truck at and attractive price or a worn out old dog needing thousands of dollars of repairs.



Harvey

Im pretty sure that in 96 there was no ecm to capture that info it came later along the same lines as our own ISB's with ECM's.

 

[HBarlow]

Yeah, I'm sure you're right. I should have thought of that. The Cummins engines in our Dodges changed over to electronic injection and controls with the 24 valve in mid year 1998.



I stand corrected.



Harvey

 

[Phil Stuart]

Het Phil: Are you the same Phil with The BRDB out of Roanoke? All you need is to register it in your name under 26000 and tell them it is not for hire. You then put sign on each side "NOT FOR HIRE" and you good to go.

Dan

Dan,

Yup same Phil that was down there about a year & 1/2 ago with wife at Golden Corral.



Freightliner looks /drives good saw it past Saturday. I'm working on the nuts and bolts (paperwork) to get everything ready for the 21 st when I drive out with my father-in-law to get it. BTW. My 89 is in the classifieds, check it out.



Phil

 

[HBarlow]

Congrats. Please give us a report on how it drives and, later, how it tows your trailer when set up.



Harvey

 

[dcoffman]

Dan,

Yup same Phil that was down there about a year & 1/2 ago with wife at Golden Corral.



Freightliner looks /drives good saw it past Saturday. I'm working on the nuts and bolts (paperwork) to get everything ready for the 21 st when I drive out with my father-in-law to get it. BTW. My 89 is in the classifieds, check it out.



Phil

If I remmember right that is a really nice 89.

 

[KBalzuweit]

The person I talked to about it said he had it registered for under 26,000# because he was under a lease agreement with another guy/company so he himself did not have to hold a CDL. I will find out if it is indeed titled for under the 26,000# CDL limit. If so this will be a big plus for me.

The DOT does not care if its registered under 26k. They do care what the gvwr of the truck is. And most FL70's spec'd for expediting had 33,000 gvwr, the air brakes are usually a sign that tells that too. I looked at many of theses a couple years ago to build a truck to haul a Jeep but in the end scraped the idea.