which is the least worst?

Discussion in 'Expediter and Hot Shot Trucking Forum' started by tree98, Mar 26, 2011.

  1. tree98

    tree98 Bobtail Member

    3
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    Mar 26, 2011
    northeast ohio
    0
    I own a tree service and i'm looking to buy a newer crane.The problem is when they build these trucks they put the crappy medium duty engines in them.I've read some of the posts here in the expeditor's section,and it looks like you guys have the same trucks.All the trucks i've found that are 2006 and newer have either a cat 3116,3126,c-7 or mercede's MBE4000.I haven't read to many good things about any of these engine's.I don't see any way around it i'm going to end up with one of these engines,the question is,if you had to buy a truck with one of them which one is the least worst?The 2 best trucks i've found at this point are a 2006 sterling LT 7501 with 42,000 miles on a cat 3126,and a 2007 freightliner M2 with 8500 miles on a mercedes MBE4000.I won't be putting more than about 15,000 miles a year on this truck,but it does run all day every day.
     
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  3. milskired

    milskired Road Train Member

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    Jul 20, 2007
    Plainfield, IL
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    For medium duty I dont know much. I cant ell you that the C-7 is known for injector/ HPOP problems. I personally would try to find a truck with a cummins in it. Mercedes motors are also from what I have heard junk. No experience with one but I just have seen that not many people like them and they are very problem prone.

    The 8.3 cummins is a great motor so is the 5.9 and they are both medium duty motors. Now you can always go up a size to the ISM motors and they are also better then the MB motors and I would think much better then the C-7.
     
  4. tree98

    tree98 Bobtail Member

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    0
    Mar 26, 2011
    northeast ohio
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    I'm not going to buy the truck new so I won't be able to choose exactly which engine I want.These trucks are put together at the crane dealer's shop's and put on the lot for sale they all came with one of the engine choices i mentioned.90% of them are on sterling's with the cat engines the other 10% are pete's also with the cat engines,or freightliner's with the MBE4000.I haven't seen a cummins yet,and believe me i've looked at about 100 cranes.I know there are many better engines out there but in my situation i'll be owning one of the cat's or the MBE4000.
     
  5. Bent Wrench

    Bent Wrench Medium Load Member

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    Aug 11, 2009
    Cornholio, OR
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    The last Sterling truck was built in Mar 09 http://www.sterlingtrucks.com/

    The MB motors are not cheap to work on and not commonly known by independent wrenches.

    Some times spending more now will save you considerably more in the future.

    The Pete will have a better resale and support.
     
  6. tree98

    tree98 Bobtail Member

    3
    0
    Mar 26, 2011
    northeast ohio
    0
    I agree spending more up front would be a better way to do it.If I buy a new truck with my choice of engine it will cost me about $70,000 more than one of the used trucks i've looked at.I just can't get that much more money.

    The crane dealer closest to me has brand new 08 and 09 sterling's on the lot and more brand new cab and chassis's out back to put together as they need them.Another dealer i talked to in my neighboring state told me they also have new sterling's from previous years,it's like these guys got a great deal on sterling's if they bought 10 or 20 at a time.It seems like it will be a long time before all these trucks are circulated out of existance.
     
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