Mack vision

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by Skunk_Truck_2590, Feb 17, 2007.

  1. Skunk_Truck_2590

    Skunk_Truck_2590 Road Train Member

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    I don't drive yet but will be before to long. I've been in a few Freightliners and drove a T-600 but I was wondering if anyone like's those big 80"? sleep's on the Mack Vision cabs. I haven't heard anything about them but from the outside they look like they are nice inside. I like Frieghtliner FLD120 because of the body style and the amount of room in the sleeper as to the T-600 isn't bad but it really isn't meant for two people because it's a bit tight inside because of the narrow configuration of the cab towards the front and cabnets eat up the space big time. The Centrury's/Columbia's have pretty much the same setup inside but they lack cabnet/storage space.

    They all still have the "ladder" to get up in the top bunk as to where the Kenworth doesn't so you have to step on unsafe, unnessacery things to get up there. If I had my way with it I would want an FLD120 with one of the larger sleepers off of a XL classic and take out the two pane windows up top and install the three pane windows. Then either a N+ 14 or ISX Cummin's. Another issue I hate. The coiled air lines. I have only been in one truck that had strait air lines and that was a Dick Simon truck back in 99/00. Those were great as to where the coiled one's get tangled and are more prone to pinching or snapping from tight turn backing than the strait ones. Depending on the setup. I don't own a truck and nor like I said do I drive one but I do know my trucks. Not bad for a youngin' ehh?

    But I'm curious as to what you guy's think about the newer Macks. If they are close or better than the Freightliner then I might try and go with a company that has them. That's if there is a trainer company that even has them. I doubt it but worth looking into. Reason? Well, I want a good company that pay's well with good benifits a rider program plus good equipment that is taken care of instead of going to #### because I want to take my fiance` with me. I don't think she has ever traveled that far and sharing the experiance of some beautiful country side with her and the thing's I've seen over the last 7 years that you have to see for yourself to get the real feel. TV is nothing. Anyway I'm going on and on. How bout those Mack Visions guy's?


    Excuse me for any misspellings ahead of time. :laughing7:
     
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  3. MACK E-6

    MACK E-6 Moderator Staff Member

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    I drive one of those, except it's a daycab. I'm happy with it, although the engine isn't noisy enough (I miss the R-models).
     
  4. Burky

    Burky Road Train Member

    Like Mack, I also drive a Vision, a 2006 with a 48" low rise sleeper. 380/410 hp, Maxitorque 10 speed, 210" wb. They are a nice enough tractor, though the interior dimensions get a little cramped if you are much more than a 6 footer. I haven't really looked at the interior layouts of the 80" sleeper, since I could never afford to carry that much weight around in my line of work. But you could swing by a dealer and see how they are layed out and look for yourself. The interiors are a little bit spartan, missing the useful nooks and crannies that some of the other manufacturers include, but it's certainly livable. The dash panel is laid out nicely with good access to all switches and controls, the materials used in the interior are nice and clean easily, and the interior is a definite upgrade from the previous CH-600 series.

    Bottom line, when it comes time to buy a truck, the Vision rates among the top two candidates on my list.

    However, starting out, I would not select an employer based on the make of truck he is running. I would look for the right job, and if it turns out that you are running something else, as long as it makes you good money and you are treated well, then I wouldn't get into any kind of panic attack about what name is on the hood. my 02.
     
  5. MACK E-6

    MACK E-6 Moderator Staff Member

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    Some of the later CH's had the same interior as the Visions.
     
  6. Burky

    Burky Road Train Member

    Yep, if you look carefully you can find CH's with the Vision interior. We have som daycabs that have them. It is a big improvement over the base CH inside.
     
  7. MedicineMan

    MedicineMan Road Train Member

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    I have a problem with the steering wheel position in macks. When it's set to fit me it totally covers the instruments. Mabey it's just me, I'm no small boy
     
  8. Burky

    Burky Road Train Member

    I have no problem, but have heard numerous larger drivers mention it as an issue. I spend enough time inside the cab that the layout is important to me, so when I hear a complaint like that and the people relate it specifically to their size, I give them the benefit of the doubt.
     
  9. Skunk_Truck_2590

    Skunk_Truck_2590 Road Train Member

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    Thaks guy's. The Vision's look nice and I was guessing? they were just as good on the inside. That is the 80" sleepers of course. Reason being is that I want a truck that's going to have plenty of space and room to move around unlike Kenworth. One thing though. Burky said about the dash layout. Now the main key feature next to the body style of the Freightliner FLD is the wrap around dash. I love how every thing is up close and right there. Plus is gives it just that much more of the big truck feel. If you know what I mean. Now look at the T-600. The most hated part of those truck's before the brake knobs were moved on the latest models is where they were located. By the drink holder under the dash. Lean over to push them in and pop them out.

    I hated it. I saw some of the newer models that Wiley Sanders got and they were mounted up on the dash rather than under so it was a bit easier. I wouldn't mind going and having a peek at one of the Mack's but we only have one Mack dealership here and it's pretty small plus all they have on the lot are brand new CH day cabs. I've never seen any other truck on the lot. Peterbilt doesn't have anything except. Now maybe Freightliner might because they have a mix and match of makes next to their new ones but then again I've never seen a Mack on their lot. Some of you may know of the FL dealership here in Shreveport across I-20 from the Petro. But as far as it goes it goes at some point I will need a truck with room for two. The KW is not one of them. When I road it was a bit cramped and I'm not trying to scare or run my ol' lady off from it. I want to make it enjoyable for her and myself and be comfertable when I work.
     
  10. MedicineMan

    MedicineMan Road Train Member

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    the KW isn't cramped except in the front cab. And how much room do you need up there. that is the office, the sleeper is the house. I like to be able to reach the other side of the truck if need be myself but I know alot of you guys are only used to the newer wide bodies.

    Look at a volvo, they are real nice inside and spacious and have more of a wrap around dash than any of them, kinda like a ####pit. They are heavy though.

    I havn't driven one of the mack sleeper trucks since the vision came out. if there is no wall behiond the drivers seat then I'm sure the seat would go back far enough to make room for the big guys. I turned down a job with sisbro just because of the macks actually.

    The problem you stated about the mak dealer is a very common one. almost all the ma ck dealers are very small and mostly handle day cabs and dump trucks. Plus if you get a mack motor in that truck you are stuck dealing with ONLY mack dealerships. I would never own a mack motor or a volvo motor in one of them either. Or a mercedes in a freightliner, we have one and it's super expensive to work on. Oil filters are four times as expensive, injectors are twice or more and we've replaced all of them already in 200k miles
     
  11. Skunk_Truck_2590

    Skunk_Truck_2590 Road Train Member

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    :happy1: Yea, I've heard a lot of commotion about the Volvo and how good they ride. I've never road in one but I've seen the inside and I'm not to pleased with the dash and sleeper setup plus the body style doesn't intrest me much either. Please excuse me if I'm sounding close minded. The Volvo even look's heavy when it's moving at slow speed and look's like it react's a lot different to bumps then other trucks. I'm disapointed that FL discontinued the FLD's for the more snazy looking Coranado's. As for the KW, I road in one for 2 week's that didn't have a top bunk and I tell you sleeping across the front seats was unconfertable. I remember a couple years ago I got hired on with a logging company that my step dad left Wiley Sanders to go work for.

    I was only hired for a couple days as a flag man for an oversize load run to San Saba, Tx. It was a if I remember correct a R model Mack. I hated that truck with more than a passion and a half. 2 full from dawn to dusk days in a day cab. The seat was mounted directly to the floor the cab was mounted directly to the frame and leaf spring suspention. Just riding as a passenger about beat me to my death. It took about a week to recover from that trip it was so bad. So any truck of the nature is an automatic reject. Tight and cramped was another big issue in that POS. However back on topic. Again. Sorry guy's! I like how the KW handles and I've never driven a FL but I like the wider body style trucks. I've only been in one truck with an automatic tranny and I didn't care for it. I think it was one of the early auto's because it was this god awful bulky black box on the floor with a stick on it just like in a car. Me, I'm not one for automatic tranny's anyway.

    Hopefully anything I get with have a straight 10 in it. Rockwell or Eaton. I've asked about super 10's but I don't understand the concept all that well. Unless what I was told was not put in a good form of words. I've been looking all over the net for pictures of the inside of the Mack Vision sleepers but only found one and it was a poor shot. So right now I'm leaning towards a FL Century or Columbia with either a Cat or Cummins. Preffered Cummins over anything because I don't like the MB motor/power train and I don't like Det. There was only one truck we had with a Detroit and it performed horribly. It was a Prime truck. Somehow in -3 degree weather in Idaho and the truck kept shutting itself down saying it was over heating plus it didn't have any pull power at all. So that motor is out of the question and I will refuse any truck with one without a second thought.
     
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