Buying a used semi...any advice?

I'm looking at buying another used semi. My 2003 is in the shop and I need to be hauling and selling grain. I seem to recall a few truck drivers here, wondered if anyone can offer advice as to what to stay away from. Problem brands, models, drive-trains, years...desirable brands, models, years, drive-trains.

I kind of think I'd prefer to not buy another International. Mine has been okay, current problem is rodent wire damage (I think). I haven't really had any problems with the International that would make me not buy another but dealers are not readily available near to me and the local shop I generally use doesn't like to work on them.

 

Mouse poison.

 

Lol, it still had poison in it.
I have not gotten word yet what the issue is for sure, they're supposed to work on it today. A couple years ago I had a pack rat get in it and chewed on the main wiring harness behind the engine block. I pulled it out and spliced it and fixed everything else I found chewed on and it worked okay until yesterday. The check engine light and stop engine lights came on. Oil pressure was fine and it was running fine except the rev limiter kicked in and it wouldn't rev over 1500rpm. It had two injector voltage codes and an ECM data code in it. Hopefully the ECM is okay, that can't be cheap...

Closest dealer in Joplin MO, wasn't going to drive it all the way there so I had it towed. 65 miles and $575 later they got it there, SMH.

I've kept poison in it ever since and also rodent deter spray. Unfortunately I think the damage had already been done. I'm thinking that my splices probably finally got too dirty and old but we'll see. I can probably buy another decent truck for $15-20K.

 

I can't begin to be any help on trucks since all of our farms are close enough to the elevator we just use gravity boxes. I just needed to give you crap though! My coworker has an International Eagle that I know he really likes. I don't know a thing about it though. Most guys around here have Petes but majority buy for show.

 

Yeah mine is a 2003 9400 eagle with an N14 cummins. It's been a decent truck, no major problems until now and it wasn't the truck's fault. I just got a call from the shop. Chewed wiring and a bad ECM...$4500 repair bill. The inglorious part of working with a lot of big equipment....