[familyguy]

Anyone know anything about Sterling trucks?

Looking at a used with low miles. Just under CDL. 230 HP mercedes engine.

Grain body shows some significant use. Engine is clean with no leaks. Tires are in good shape. Cab is midly abused with some cosmetic cracks. Drives nice.

This is a truck we will grow into. Probly a bit too big for 2007 but definitely can't justify anything smaller.

My question is this:

Is there another, better, option that Sterling? Any reason not to buy a Sterling?

My 2nd used choice was a GMC 4500? or 5500? whichever is the same size model. The sterling salesman seemed very knowlegdable about why the Duramax sucked and the GMC was crap.

Feedback would be great.

Thanks

[Pelican]

Sterlings are Fords in disguise. Diamler/Benz bought the rights to Ford's heavy trucks a number of years ago. Diamler/Benz owns Mercedes, Freightliner, Sterling and American LaFrance, so they have quite a few resources to draw from in building trucks. The only thing I'd be concerned about is how close you have a dealer to you for parts and repairs.

[johnkeegan]

I was all set to buy a GMC 5500 with Duramax at 26K GVW level but balked because the local dealer seemed unresponsive, if not downright rude. And the next closest dealer was hundreds of miles away. And then I started to meet people who thought their heavy duty GMC's were lemons. So I moved on to the International, their local dealer is the same one I bought my 2 Isuzus from with good service etc. Now I've got to recoup and do more investigating. I may even go with the larger Isuzus with the 26.5 K GVW. I've had great luck with them but I was hoping for a little more power.....And from all accounts (some listed here in earlier threads), Ford needs to reevaluate their dedication to quality.
Anyone with input on Internationals (or other brands)? I see them every where.

[Dale Wiley]

We evaluating trucks right now too. We are going to go with a bigger truck, I am tired of worrying about being too light.

We are looking at our specifications...

Diesel
6 speed transmission
16 to 20 flatbed dump with grain racks
Air brakes
230 hp minimum

We intend to tow a 28 foot trailer.

We are bascially looking at those parameters and then searching for the truck that meets those.

International has a great engine in the DT 466--runs forever

We are looking at a Freightliner F80, with 6 speed, Cummins engine, with the body.

I hear Ford is switching over to Cummins diesels in F 250 and on up.

We have a GMC 6500 with 427 gas and 13 speed..tandem axle 20 foot bed. Great truck, but I want to move away from carburated engines. Its gives us 46K GVW, so we have our heavy hauler in that truck

[Pelican]

My friend runs IH in his construction operation and swears by them. He's had his share of problems though.

The Town Highway Dept. has been running IH for about 10 years, but the Super was concerned about the money and down time due to repairs. He compared repair costs with the Macks he had from 10 years earlier and believe it or not the 10 year old Macks cost him less to maintain than the newer IH trucks.

The most important factor in purchasing a heavy truck is dealer support. Does the dealer have the facilities and personnel to get you back on the road quickly in the event of a break down? Down time is costly in our business.

Peterbilt has come out with a model that fits the size you are interested in which is more economical than some of their other models. A number of contractors and fuel companies in my area are using them with very good results.

[r schipul]

I own a 99 Freightliner FL60 with a Cat engine. It's been good but it's definitely a work truck. Freightliner has redesigned since I purchased mine. The cabs on the older models are a little chinzy.

I was in a similar situation when I moved up to a 26k. My justification for a bigger truck was cab and chasis on a FL60 was a $1000 less for a bigger truck than f550. I was hoping that bigger truck meant HD parts which meant longer service/less repairs. I pay a lot of money to keep that truck on the road even though it has only 40k miles on it. Annual inspections with an oil change cost me $500 alone.

For what it's worth, I know someone who has a mercedes engine in a FL70 with a engine brake who love's it.

If I did it again I'd consider another Freightliner as well as International, the small Peterbuilt and GMC. Good Luck

[johnkeegan]

Thanks for the input. Stumbled across this link regarding customer satisfaction and medium duty trucks...For what it's worth. http://www.jdpower.com/corporate/new...asp?ID=2006252
Be sure to read the full extent of the ratings, however, because there are different factors in the ratings that do balance things out a bit...Although it is noticeable that Ford finds itself at the bottom alot.

[familyguy]

still confused.

i just don't have enough experience with larger trucks to make a decision. those links were pretty tough to decipher. mack was listed as a poor choice in the second link. mack has always been the choice of the big truck owners from what i have seen. sterling was way low on the list but gmc, which has been knocked enough for me to discounbt them, was listed in the top 3.

it is really hard to know the reality because dealers are just so dishonest. its understandable why. they choose a product to sell and in 3 years it can turn into crap and they have committed to selling that brand so they have to spin it as best as they can.

its hard to get an unbiased opinion. does consumer reports have anything on these sized trucks i wonder?

[4seasons]

glad this post came up Ive been looking at the sterling lo-pro and chevy topkick 6500. I like both of them, and thanks guys for your answers. Please keep them coming. I'm with family on this one, what type of inspections are you getting on trucks under cdl weight?

[Firescooby]

Originally posted by Dale Wiley
I hear Ford is switching over to Cummins diesels in F 250 and on up.

You heard wrong on that one. They offer Cummins in F-650 & 750, but not below that. The F-250-550 is getting the new 6.4 PSD.

[r schipul]

I believe all states (at least in CT) require an annual inspection for any truck over 18,000 GVW. For my truck they run about $500 a year. You'll probably also need to get a medical card every other year to make sure your healthy enough to drive the truck.

[familyguy]

So...

Spent 2 days straight going from bank to bank to bank. very frustrating. I have a pretty good credit score. I have never missed or been late on a payment for anything.

However, I can't get better than 13.5% financing on this truck. The reason is because the size. With pickup trucks you can manipulate the bill of sale to co-sign with your company OR manipulate the SR-1 form and sign the truck into the company name so you can get the sneaky "It's for my own personal use" finance rate (5.5% on our last truck) as opposed to the commercial rates which are double.

WHY CAN"T I DO THE SAME THING! So annoying. The reason you would put the truck in the business name WITHOUT co-signing as a personal entity is to have the layer of protection between you and your corporation (assuming you are incorporated).

BUT if you choose to shed that layer of protection, you should be entitled to purchase any thing you want and be allowed finance rates as any ol' joe schmoe. Some fella who likes trucks and has no business could decide to buy this truck and what I am being told by every bank is that he would be forced to pay commercial rates! What a scam! There is no logical reason that I am forced to take the business rate except that the banks can make more money.

Corporations are risky because they can go under and the bank loses out. BUT if you actively choose to shed that layer of protection you should be able to buy the same thing on "your own" and get a regular old auto loan. BUT I CAN"T.

For you guys with these larger trucks, what kind of rates are you paying?

(That was my purpose of my post but my patience has been tested sorely today)

[Pelican]

The manufacturer isn't offering any finance deals? I know of a couple guys who have traded their used tractors for new ones because the finance rates were so much more attractive. Another option would be leasing, which often puts your company in a better overall financial position.

[johnkeegan]

I thought if you personally were the "guarantor" on the loan it was the same risk to the bank.
I don't know if this link will help but this is how I bought my last truck. They just send you a check made out for $30,$40...K, whatever, and you can use it to buy any vehicle your want. You don't need to "ask their permission." Two or three years ago my rate was about 4%. http://www.capitalone.com/autoloans/index.php

[r schipul]

Have you tried a credit union? I know mine is much more personal and lienant when it come to the fine print?