I Bought My First Semi For $6,000 At Auction! Was It A Mistake?

This is crazy! I bought a 2004 Volvo VN M with a kaufman car hauler for $6,000 at the Thomas Hirchak Auto Auction.

Keywords:
tractor trailer, semi truck, 18 wheeler, big rig

[plumber]

Bro... This might be your BEST video yet!!! BTW, you stole that rig at $6K. Looking forward to the "semi" series. -Andy in St-Albans.

[model]

You can find front tires for around $300 each. And I'd definitely switch to duals on the drive axle. For traction and also if you have a flat or a blowout, you can limp it somewhere on one tire. With super singles, you're stuck wherever you are. Side of the interstate, on a curve, a city street, wherever. Chances are you can trade someone even up your super single wheels for their dual wheels. Some guys like them for the weight reduction. Best of luck truck driver!😉

[richardthomas]

That was a great buy and you did real good for your first time driving a big rig. I agree with duals on the drive axle. Usually tire cupping problems are caused by loose steering parts, bad shocks or simply being badly out of balance to begin with, also make sure the wheel alignment is okay. Congrats and thumbs UP!! 👍

[gabeackermanackerman]

First thing first check your king pins for play. Then front shocks. Those tires usually don't just cup or wear like that.

[Hdogdog]

I'm a mechanic at a fleet shop, we mostly run volvos and macks, although most of our stuff is a little newer. These trucks have been relatively trouble free, we do see a lot of issues with fuel systems getting clogged up and throwing low pressure codes, there is a banjo bolt on the fuel filter inlet and it can get pretty clogged up. The mileage is pretty high, and considering the lack of blowby and not many leaks, it has probably been refreshed. You should check king pins for play, grease all the points in the suspension. Those tires aren't worn normally, I would check wheel bearings or alignment. Only major failures we've seen air top end, mostly cracked heads and one that dropped a valve. Overall seems like a great buy, 6K is a steal for what you got.

[josephsamsor]

With semis, you never want to cheap out on front tires. Don’t necessarily need the most expensive ones but you always want good condition tires. If one blows it’s obviously dangerous but it’ll completely destroy the front end of the truck. New hood, fender, and headlight minimum. Otherwise this thing is awesome. My dad had an 07 with 1.2 million miles on an isx, but a full sleeper truck. Might be worth heading to a truck salvage yard and seeing if there’s better seats to buy, maybe with better armrests or whatever else. I’m subbing for this because I really wish I had an excuse for a single axle semi and I’d specifically want a Volvo too.

[MisterEmoto]

Great truck. Definitely get a professional dot inspection done by someone who you trust so they can look at the airbags and the brake Chambers. Keep cash on you when you do take for your first trip, the heavy towing companies charge a lot less for cash than they do credit or check❤

[robertgreer]

You look jacked, Working out?
Nice rig! Let’s start hauling !!!!

[theside]

Just be careful semis dont like sitting for a long time sometimes brakes start sticking in the drums just be sure everything is good whenever you get back to driving and dont forget to keep up on maintenance

[WaldosWorld]

That's awesome! Looks like a good truck for a great price. Now go get your CDL so you can sponsor me 😂

[chaseferguson]

New Fuel filter, new oil filter, check all brakes shoes/drums, slack adjusters, air canister, S-cams, bushings for your suspension, leaf springs (check for cracks), king pin on your steer axel (might be causing uneven tire wear), check your hub oil, see if hub cab is leaking, wheel seals. That’s a good start and get it all clean so you can see where the leaks are originating from. I’m not a mechanic just a fellow trucker.

[robbalinski]

That's a fantastic buy for sure! No blowby either that engine was very well taken care of or had an in frame. Most volvo engines will crack heads before the bottom end goes, know plenty of people that have well into the 1.6 million and only cracked a head. The slower you accelerate and the lower your rpm stay's on the highway the longer the engines going to last.
You definitely need steer tires, they'll be $500 each minimum! Looking at how they're worn, you either have broken belts in the tires or your alignments out, soon as you get steers on it go for an alignment (Very in expensive and will save those pricy tires) and check over that front end thoroughly.
Take my advise or don't up to you. I'm an owner op and was a truck mechanic for 5 years.

[salutations]

Balls Baby, Balls !!!! Seeing those tires and then seeing the rain, Balls man for a maiden voyage.

Awesome buy and cant wait to see whats next.

[Justayeshivabochur]

This is my favorite YouTube channel, it’s so authentic!! Always looking forward to the next video :)

[bellowsjeep]

Awesome job! As a trucker, I am impressed with your driving skills without having your CDL. You did a fantastic job shifting. What a deal on the truck, super cheap! Were you using the clutch to shift or no? Looked like no. You shift those by rpm and not so much by clutch. Well done if that’s the way you did it! I’m sure you probably know about the “clutch brake” as well, right? To get it into first gear, you have to put the clutch to the floor. I’m really impressed with how well you did with it. You must have had some stick time in a yard somewhere. Good luck, I’ll be watching!

[karlweppler]

9.8 mpg! Better than I thought lol. Great stuff man! Keep it up!

[MeagerHomeless]

Good luck with the CDL getting a class A is difficult but it seems like you already have the hang of it

[tikiman]

Sweet deal nice buy. That motor will be more than enough for what youd be hauling. Its probably underpowered in dump truck/vocational applications.
And yeah get duals in the back, also safer if a blowout occurs

[justinraystyles]

That's a steal of a deal for that that setup is worth at least 12grand!!💗 you basically bought the truck and got the trailer for free!!👍

[ajfergy]

Dude 6k for a semi AND trailer is a fuckin steal, grats man, gl learning!