We currently have one truck on the road doing long haul RGN work. We have a 2004 Pete 379 with a cat 475hp and a 10 speed, 40k rear and 14k front. We are pulling a 45 ton trail king extendable well mechanical detach. The heaviest loads we want to pull are 60,0000 to 75,000 lbs. My question is that we are going to add another truck and i was hoping for some opinions on the truck to look for. How would it be set up??? Thanks in advance!
Engine Specs Cummins Engine Type ISX Horsepower 600 Transmission 18 Spd Suspension Hendrickson PRIMAAX Ratio 4.10 Wheelbase 244" Front Axle Lbs 20,000 Rear Axle Lbs 46,000
That truck is awsome!!! Might i mention i dont want to spend $125,000. What is the best comprimise? Also, gotta have a bunk. I will definitily take that truck if ur buyin!!
If you're looking to upgrade from what you have, I'd suggest going to an 18spd trans. Maybe bump the HP up to the 550 range. Since the trailer you are pulling is mech detach, lo-pro 24.5's would be an appropiate tire. Helps keep your overall heighth down. 49" 5th wheel heighth. 14k front axle will work and 42K rears are also good enough for the weight range you stated you are hauling. 4:11 rears are a good medium range to have for off and on road running. If you are going with a lift/pusher axle, don't get a steeraable. They are lots of trouble. While they save on tire scuff, you will sooner or later find yourself where they won't lift high enough to clear the ground while backing up, and then the fun begins. No need for a dbl frame if you are not planning on getting into anything larger than 7 or 8 axle unit. Full lockers are definitely nice to have. Long slide, longer than normal, fifth whell is also handy if you have any plans for neck extensions or such as that. 3.15's are a heavy enough tire on the front for what you are doing presently. Also, I would go with a 16 ply rating on the drive tires as well. Keeps ya legal for when they check that at the scales. Also, single bag suspension is a must. Preferably with a lot of lift. My suspension of choice is Neway, but to each his own. I'm sure there's something I may have missed, but that is a good start. And, that is a nice day cab KW in the picture
Very helpfull, i will keep looking and update when i find something......... Thanks!
As above, the 18 speed is nearly mandatory. I also like the 2 speed rears. The 22K front with 425 rubber is nice, but overkill for the weights you are talking about. Lockers for those treacherous deliveries are nice, but if you don't hit the rugged job sites they are not a neccesity. The longer slide and heavy duty 5th wheel are though. I won't get into engine choices, as it is as much personal preferance as anything. Just like a Ford or a Chevy. Cat, Cummins, Detroit, all will get it done. Get 550 or 600 HP and you are in good shape. Good heavy spec trucks are up in the 150K plus range new, so I would suggest looking late model used. There are a lot of hurting contractors now auctioning off well set up trucks. I have seen some really well set up trucks 2 to 3 years old for less than half of new.
We run steerable Hendrickson Lift Axles on our dump trucks and tractors and have never had a problem with height with the exception of our first truck having 295/75/22.5 tires on the drop axle cause a little ground scuffing in deep mud. We prefer to run Cat 550 motors, 18 speed transmissions and locking rears with hendrickson suspensions. We have heard of lots of problems with the newer cummins egr motors up here in the NW, we just prefer the pre emission cats...