Class 7 trucks - best manufacturers?

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by Sara3394, Jan 27, 2011.

  1. Sara3394

    Sara3394 Bobtail Member

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    Feb 17, 2010
    Lake Mary, FL
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    Anyone experienced with class 7 trucks? We are looking to place an order to replace our older 2004 International 4300's. We've been looking at Kenworth and Freightliner but were recently visited by the Hino/Peterbuilt rep and liked what I saw. I know that International and Freightliner are the mass distributors for Class 7's, but what I am not understanding is why - other than price? With the 2010 emmissions International went with the EGR technology and I'm not sure this is the way to go. We experienced massive mechanical failures with their revised 2004 engine, and I am hesitant to purchase a newly revised engine from them again. As for Freightliner, I am hearing that it is just plain cheap in quality and price - you get what you pay for? Anyone able to jump in on this and help me sort through the pros and cons of the class 7 manufacturers?
     
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  3. Pablo-UA

    Pablo-UA Road Train Member

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    Borispol, Ukraine
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    IMO. The best class 7 truck on EU market is Mercedes Atego... But I do not like COE trucks so I'd prefere Freightliner Business class.

    What engine to recomend? I like Mercedes OM904 and OM906. Paccar CRD, MAN CRD and Cummins ISL are less reliable due to less Common rail system reliability. Mercedes engine runs with faulty PLD pump unit ore injector, with missfiring, but anyway enought to limp home, but one faulty CRD injector dumps all high pressure to fuel return line and engine stalls.
    CAT 3126 HUI engine is good, but anyway less reliable thern traditional MUI. But no one offer electro-mechanical pump units on small engines now (ISM is not so small, ISL is CRD).
    Sold here Cat 3116 is not offered in EU ore US becouse of emissions, but IMO the best engine for this class of trucks.


    About transmission. If I choose truck for selfdriving I'd prefere Alisson tranny, especially operating in urban areas, if I will pay to driver - I'd give him truck with shiftstic.

    And do not purchase truck with EBS and Disk brakes. Yeah, safaty is the first, but disk air brakes is additional headache. Try to get truck with 4ch ABS, becouse some trucks are with simplified Knorr/Bosch/bendix 3 ch ABS (4S/3M).

    About frames, chassis, axes, brakes.... I use to maintane and repare many trucks of this class (International, Mercedes Atego, Freightliner, Paccar/Layland/DAF LF, MAN TGL and other....) and as I can see they are of the same quality.

    If you will purchase new truck you'll get it with new modern emission toys like EGR, SCR, DPF and other. All they are not necessary for you, but you pay for lower emissions and you cant get something other w/o it....
     
  4. Sportster2000

    Sportster2000 Road Train Member

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    Indiana
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    I like the KW for their quality and base of option as far as transmission engine combinations.
     
  5. Pablo-UA

    Pablo-UA Road Train Member

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    Kenworth T170 is a US styled DAF LF. Typically European small COE truck converted to conventional truck))) LOL

    Early LF series were sold with Cummins ISL engines here, now they offer them with 4 cyl and 6 cyl Paccar Common rail engines with Bosch MS7.X control unit.

    Bigger T370 and DAF CF series are offered with Paccar PX6/PX8 engines. All CRD with Bosch Fuel system. Engines were designed in Holland.

    Previous DAF PLD engines, Cat 3126, Cummins ISL are not offered now.

    So, guys purchasing small KW truck you'll get US styled DAF CL/LF series truck.

    But you can get this truck with alisson transmission, I do not see on European Paccar trucks. They usually put ZF.
     
  6. mrdcb

    mrdcb Bobtail Member

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    Oct 24, 2008
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    If I was buying a new class 7 it would be a Ford. They use Cummins engines, Allison transmissions and the Super Duty cab can't be beat for leg room. (I'm6'4"). Any medium duty truck dealer can service them. This advise is coming from a former KW and International truck salesman. The KW is a great truck it just does not have enough leg room for anyone over 6' tall. The Internationals had lots of problems.
     
  7. Pablo-UA

    Pablo-UA Road Train Member

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    I like M2 with manual tranny and Mercedes OM906 engine.
     
  8. Krooser

    Krooser Road Train Member

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    I owned three KW T-300's and they are the best medium duties on the road as far as I'm concerned.

    I priced IHC, Sterling and KW and the Kw's were cheaper, too.
     
  9. bones62340

    bones62340 Bobtail Member

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    Dec 29, 2011
    Griggsville, Illinois
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    how much weight can i haul with a class 7 sterling 2 axle truck? What would be best trailer size? (1 steer and 1 drive) (Van Trailer)
     
  10. Pablo-UA

    Pablo-UA Road Train Member

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    It depends on what do you want to haul, for whom? it is commercial quation, not of truck choise!

    Class 7 is usually 20' dry van, in Europe may be tint ore BDF
     
  11. Pablo-UA

    Pablo-UA Road Train Member

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    BTW, Paccar introduced DAF LF and CF in the USA with KW badge!
     
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