Buying a Freightliner semi you have never seen is a gamble. Buying one that sat in a warehouse for about 20 years is a bigger one. Still, a Tennessee trucker did both because he needs more trucks for his fleet.
Tim Gentry, who runs trucks with his son Braxton and posts as @Gentryandsons, bought it in Michigan after a friend found it and told him to grab it.
A Freightliner Semi That Barely Moved
Gentry says the truck made one trip from Florida to Michigan. After that, someone parked it in the back of a warehouse, and it stayed there. He paid for it without seeing it in person, because his friend vouched for it.
Getting there was its own trouble. On the way north, their older truck developed a brake problem. Eventually they traced it to a brake chamber and a quick-release valve that would not seal, so they had to bypass it until a friend brought parts.
Why They Wanted Another Truck
Gentry says they recently took on a big deal and need about 20 more trucks. Because of that, they are hunting for trucks that people bought only to pull a boat or a car and then parked. The friend who found this one, Dick, once ran about 70 trucks himself, so Gentry trusted his eye.
Timing mattered too. One of their drivers had just lost a transmission in Wyoming, and Gentry says a tow home was quoted at about 10 to 12 grand. As a result, they wanted a spare truck ready quickly.
First Look In Michigan
At first glance, the Freightliner looked almost new inside and out. It had fresh mattresses, new batteries, toolboxes and a black hood wrap. However, the dash lit up with codes and showed no miles, and the engine sat in protect mode.
His son soon spotted part of the reason, since someone had unhooked the coolant sensor. Meanwhile, the Michelin tires looked good but had sat too long. Gentry also did not like the look of the old fuel.
The Starter Fight
Next came the bigger problem, because the old starter would not turn the Detroit engine over. Fortunately they had brought a spare. Even so, one back bolt fought them for about an hour.
In the end, they made their own extension, cut notches in it and finally broke the bolt loose. With the new starter in and five ground wires back on, Gentry turned the key.
“There ain’t no way that thing just started up.”
“Holy crap. It didn’t even take a half a turn.”
Soon the truck built air pressure and went in and out of gear. According to Gentry, it should have right at 117,000 miles. Still, he says he could not check that because he left his computer at home.
What To Check On A Truck That Sat For Years
- Bring a scan tool, since codes and protect modes are easier to sort with one.
- Look for unplugged sensors before you condemn an engine.
- Carry a spare starter and the tools to reach its bolts.
- Treat old tires as suspect, even when the tread looks new.
- Drain old fuel and change the filters before a long drive.
Where Things Stand
The Freightliner semi runs and is headed home to Tennessee with fresh fuel and filters. After that, Gentry plans new tires, airbags, brakes and wheel seals before it goes to work. He also says they are looking for more trucks like it.
“I am tickled to death with this deal.”
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