I’ve just read another post regarding an 05 Volvo with 950,000 km. It got me thinking about whether or not that kind of mileage is too much or are people just scared of what they perceive as high mileage. After all , diesel engines are made for a long tough life so if they are serviced when they should and are looked after whats the problem ?
Would you buy something with 1,000,000 kms on the clock ■■
it would depend on several things 
what work had it been doing ? age ? what work it was going to do ? mechanical condition ? and of course price 
you can safely assume maintenance costs will be higher but if this is reflected in the purchase price it could be okay
I’ll have one for sale in a month or so 
one thing the volvo engine is basicaly bulit proof esp fh/fm engine if had reg oil changes etc, they run for ever
globby 480:
one thing the volvo engine is basicaly bulit proof esp fh/fm engine if had reg oil changes etc, they run for ever
i’ll echo that globby with regards to engine,but my main concern would be the suspension/gearbox/diff and a-frame…all of which i had major problems with when i first started five years ago with a 3yr old fh12 420,it had been dealer maintained from new,and cost me near on £22k in first 18 months,sadly this has put me off volvo’s for life,but i do know plenty blokes on our job that have bought volvo from day one (20years) and never had the probs i incurred.i now run a magnum 480dxi which i bought new,all good so far (nearly 3yrs old) and a merc actros 2550 which is nearing 4yrs old,with no “volvo problems” as yet.andy.
Some good advice so far,if the truck was a bargain i wouldnt be put off.
I have had three Volvos and all three went pear shaped at the 500k mark,clutches,boosters,banging noise from suspension needing a very expensive part behind the front grill,indicator stalks,window motors,heater box at almost 2k,oh and one even went on fire.
Volvo in my opinion are a very good truck but they have there problems.
check everything
As Elliesdad says, vehicles (not only trucks) tend to get to a phase where many things require replacing within a matter of months, once all those thingas are done, you’re good to go for another few 100,000. However ofcourse that cycle will come round again!
The price needs to be right.
Does it use oil? Is the drivers seat knackered? (expensive item!) Have the 5th wheel bolts been replaced? etc. etc.
In times such as these I think its vital that hauliers know their costs, and what costs they are likely to
encounter in the future. After 37 years in the game, and still running quite a large fleet, nowadays I
hire. Currently cheaper than leasing, although I’ll go back to leasing when that changes.
May buy late second hand low milers from ‘distressed sales’ if very cheap.
My point being that you cannot quantify your costs running a high miler that you do not know, and therefore its a ticking time bomb, kid yourself you’ve earned money this year and then watch what happens next, its likely to skint you.
I kept some MAN TGA 430’s just over 500k whilst waiting for new ones and some went totally
■■■■ up after that point (3 years old) - they did look lovely but would have been expensive for the next owner (I had them on contract maintenance).
Only my opinion, but learned the hard way over the years!
K
knowall:
In times such as these I think its vital that hauliers know their costs, and what costs they are likely to
encounter in the future. After 37 years in the game, and still running quite a large fleet, nowadays I
hire. Currently cheaper than leasing, although I’ll go back to leasing when that changes.May buy late second hand low milers from ‘distressed sales’ if very cheap.
My point being that you cannot quantify your costs running a high miler that you do not know, and therefore its a ticking time bomb, kid yourself you’ve earned money this year and then watch what happens next, its likely to skint you.
I kept some MAN TGA 430’s just over 500k whilst waiting for new ones and some went totally
■■■■ up after that point (3 years old) - they did look lovely but would have been expensive for the next owner (I had them on contract maintenance).Only my opinion, but learned the hard way over the years!
K
Wise words, the rental game is the way to go at present, known costs, ONE source of credit, everything covered, sleepful nights, not sleepless
I have been offered brand new Mercs and DAFs, euro 5, 44t, sliders / aircon / auto, in white @ £345 PW on a 12 month contract, and M.A.N on a similar contract with another company @ £330 PW.
I was expecting around £300 PW, but, this is the norm at the moment, so I`m told,is this true ■■?
For those who will query the weekly charge, have you added up all your charges for ownership, with finance / R+M / tyres / Tax / breakdown cover ect. ect. ect. ■■?
Do know how much the 940k truck is priced at, but its got to be cheap to chance it, I watched some tidy 05 370k FH12 480 ishifts at an auction last week, they struggled to get to £15k, some tidy 05 DAF CF 430 same mileage all made less than £10k, but then an 05 Merc 3350 heavy haulage tractor with a trashed interior got to £33k, and was withdrawn.
Stanley Mitchell:
the rental game is the way to go at present, known costs, ONE source of credit, everything covered, sleepful nights, not sleepless
maybe on artics, but if I went to a rental company and said “I want a 26t drawbar spec rigid, rear lift axle, 5.5m wheelbase, toolboxes either side, with a low height 28 foot flat bed suitable to put a livestock container on” they would just laugh !!!
MAN TGX XXL 440 & 480 / DAF XF SSC 460 About £ 300 per week, no committment!
K
Denis F:
Stanley Mitchell:
the rental game is the way to go at present, known costs, ONE source of credit, everything covered, sleepful nights, not sleeplessmaybe on artics, but if I went to a rental company and said “I want a 26t drawbar spec rigid, rear lift axle, 5.5m wheelbase, toolboxes either side, with a low height 28 foot flat bed suitable to put a livestock container on” they would just laugh !!!
Agreed, I`m talking “basic” kit, your in the very specialised “elite”. 
Stanley Mitchell:
Denis F:
Stanley Mitchell:
the rental game is the way to go at present, known costs, ONE source of credit, everything covered, sleepful nights, not sleeplessmaybe on artics, but if I went to a rental company and said “I want a 26t drawbar spec rigid, rear lift axle, 5.5m wheelbase, toolboxes either side, with a low height 28 foot flat bed suitable to put a livestock container on” they would just laugh !!!
Agreed, I`m talking “basic” kit, your in the very specialised “elite”.
the benefit of being very specialised is that I don’t get every tom, ■■■■ or harry muscling in when their usual work goes a bit quiet
Denis F:
Stanley Mitchell:
Denis F:
Stanley Mitchell:
the rental game is the way to go at present, known costs, ONE source of credit, everything covered, sleepful nights, not sleeplessmaybe on artics, but if I went to a rental company and said “I want a 26t drawbar spec rigid, rear lift axle, 5.5m wheelbase, toolboxes either side, with a low height 28 foot flat bed suitable to put a livestock container on” they would just laugh !!!
Agreed, I`m talking “basic” kit, your in the very specialised “elite”.
the benefit of being very specialised is that I don’t get every tom, ■■■■ or harry muscling in when their usual work goes a bit quiet
Thats the theory Denis, BUT, as we all know, ■■■■■ will be ■■■■■■ and, the customer is blinded by cheap prices, even if the pratt who is under cutting you does not have clue 
We had this problem years ago with the “hanging garments”, very specialised, and very profitable, but, the “general” brigade turned up, started cutting the rates by UPTO 30% FFS 
What made it worse, these idiots then started moaning about the time it took to load / tip ect., thats where the 30% came in ■■■■■■■■■, but, by this time it was too late. A rate can come down very easily, but, getting it back up is nigh on impossible 
TBF, live stock is ■■■■ proof, innit ■■?
I know someone who has just bought a 06 MAN TGS 18.390 that has done 940,000 Kms don’t know how much he paid though. It is very tidy no smoke, auto box think it must have been double shifted 24/7. It is an ex P&H haulage.
podge:
I know someone who has just bought a 06 MAN TGS 18.390 that has done 940,000 Kms don’t know how much he paid though. It is very tidy no smoke, auto box think it must have been double shifted 24/7. It is an ex P&H haulage.
It was TRIPLE shifted, it did`nt stop, Heywood - Dunstable - Heywood, 24 / 7, only Christmas day does it stop, 
It was light work, and the P+H set up looks after its trucks, very strict on servicing. I know they are very impressed with their M.A.N.s, its been replaced with another one.