What can I get for less than $100k: Heavy

Given the lunatic state of the used market, where a low-mileage LandCruiser ute will set you back around 100 grand, we decide to see what that same amount of money will get you in the ‘real truck’ market – a lot more as it turns out.

Scrolling through the pages of Used Trucks on Trucksales.com.au, we found hundreds of heavy trucks in the $90,000-$100,000 price bracket. To illustrate the variety that’s available we picked out some examples. (Click on the headlines to link to the ad *all links correct at the time of writing).

Volvo FM $94,900

That was the ask for a 2012 Volvo FM330 4x2 Prime Mover, running on air rear suspension, with an in-cab suspension-height controller.

Its 330hp engine fed into a Volvo automated-manual, 12-speed transmission and the cab had air conditioning, a Uniden UHF radio with long-range aerial, an alloy bull bar with LED light bar and a windscreen sun-visor.

The FM was rated at 17,400kg GVM and 36,000kg GCM and had clocked up 368,000 kilometres.

It was fitted with an air-brake trailer kit, Jost fifth wheel, Liquip roll-over sensor, battery isolator and E-stop. It also had a hydraulic oil cooler and hydraulic connection points mounted at the front of the fifth wheel.

Freightliner $95,700

Those who are familiar with Roadranger 18-speed boxes could consider this 2016 Freightliner CST 112 prime mover, with fuel-haulage kit. The sleeper cab was fitted with a cooler and a drawer fridge.

This CST looked almost like new and the dealer reckoned it was one of the cleanest trucks he’d ever traded. The truck had been very well looked after and came with some service history.

However, mileage was up there, at 973,440 kilometres.

The specification included a Detroit DD13, 450hp engine, air/leaf rear suspension and ABS drum brakes.

Scania 6x2 $99,000

Single-drive tandems aren’t all that popular in Australia, but this 2014 Scania 6x2 came with a cross-axle diff lock, to avoid spoon-drain and driveway hang ups. It was rated at 26,100kg GVM and 50,000kg GVM.

This G-cab, 440hp prime mover came with a full R&M history from Scania and had been part of a major fleet. The truck was said to be in excellent condition and had done only 594,000km of single-trailer work.

The owner was reportedly upgrading to a bigger Scania.

Mack Granite $95,000

The name says it all: this ‘Granite’ was a 2011 Mack, pulling a 2007 Lusty EMS three-axle dog trailer. The owner wanted to sell it as a combination, but would split if necessary.

The owner said the truck was bought ex-Hanson, from western NSW, where it was very well maintained and driven by a ‘picky’ driver. He reckoned it had been treated just as well since he bought it.

The truck had clocked up 730,000 kilometres and recent maintenance has been new clutch, header tank and air conditioning motor, as well as new tyres. The truck body was rock-sheeted.

Maintenance histories for both truck and dog were available.

His reason for selling was a changed contract that required a four-axle dog.

Kenworth K100 $90,000

We know that big-power Kenworths have high resale values and so it was with this 2004, 70-tonnes-GCM-rated Kenworth K100 prime mover.

The odometer showed 1,690,685 kilometres on its Cummins 620hp/Eaton 18-speed powertrain.

Kenworth T409 $98,000

This much-newer, 2013 Kenworth T409 was Cummins-powered and fitted with an Eaton Roadranger transmission, plus ABS disc brakes. It had clocked up 950,000 kilometres.

Its heavy-duty specification carried a 26,500kg GVM rating and 80,000kg GCM. Also, importantly, it was RED.

Western Star $90,000

Probably a candidate for some mechanical refurbishing was this Western Star 4900FX prime mover. A 2009 model, it was powered by a 525hp Series-60 Detroit Diesel engine, driving through an 18-speed Roadranger transmission.

It was fitted with air suspension and across-axle diff locks.

The sleeper cab was fitted with Ice Pack air conditioning and double bunks, plus an alloy bull bar. Its10-stud polished alloy wheels were fitted with new rubber.

The seller described it as being: “A very clean, straight, tidy truck that’s excellent value”. It was for sale with a current RWC.

Mack Trident $99,999

Many new-truck buyers trade their trucks at around the one-million-kilometre mark and so it was with this 2015 Mack Trident 6x4 prime mover.

It was powered by Mack’s MP8 engine, rated at 535hp, driving through an 18-speed Roadranger transmission to Meritor RT46-160GP diffs, mounted on Mack AL460 air suspension.

This 70-tonnes-rated, B-Double prime mover had ABS brakes, a Jost fifth wheel, 1400-litre stainless-wrapped fuel tanks, 200-litre Ad Blue tank, roof aero kit, sleeper with Viesa cooler, Engel fridge, two UHFs and Bluetooth infotainment system.

This one-owner truck came with a service history and had clocked up 1,133,899 kilometres.

Freightliner Argosy $95,000

This heavy duty Argosy featured a full double-rail chassis, 460mm mean wheelbase and eight-metre load space behind the sleeper cab. With air rear suspension it was rated at 31,740kg GVM and 70 tonnes GCM.

It was powered by a 525hp Detroit Diesel Series 60 that had clocked up 1700 hours, driving through an 18-speed Roadranger box and the truck’s odometer showed 1,291,000 kilometres.

It was described as being in excellent, well-maintained condition.

Mercedes-Benz Actros $92,500

This Mercedes Actros 2660 6x4 tipper, with 600hp engine and 12-speed automated manual transmission, was for sale with regular work. It had reportedly been regularly serviced over its 947,000-kilometre working life and a service history was available.

A new Chris Bodybuilders’ aluminium body was fitted in 2019, along with remote-control electric tarps.

Recent work included a gearbox rebuild with new clutch, new batteries, cab bushes, leaf front springs and wide-single steer tyres.

“No more to spend,” the owner confidently stated.

Mitsubishi crane truck $99,000

There seemed to be plenty of life left in this 2008 Mitsubishi FV 6x4 500hp crane truck that had clocked up only 422,000 kilometres. It had a manual transmission, air rear suspension, 4550mm wheelbase and was rated at 24,000kg GVM and 58,000 kg GCM.

The crab was a Hiab 166-E5, rated for a 4.8-metre lift at 3200kg and a maximum reach of 15 metres at 860kg. The crane had radio remote control and had certification done for 10 years in August 2019.