Farmer here looking for a simple reliable truck/engine for hauling grain.

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by Dusty Boots, Dec 9, 2013.

  1. Dusty Boots

    Dusty Boots Bobtail Member

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    Jul 16, 2013
    Alberta, Canada
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    Hey fellas, for those of you with more experience than I point me in the best direction here for my specific application.

    I was in here awhile back asking about the best combo for pulling super B's and was set on getting a 379 w/ 550 Cat, however after some re-evaluation with some of tight spots we have to get into and lack of long hauls we figured a Super B isn't practical. So now we're thinking just a tandem trailer so we'd only be grossing around 87,000 lbs.

    Most of our hauls will be around 5-20 miles with the odd one up to 50 miles so fuel economy isn't of great concern. However when harvest comes around we need the truck to go so reliability is of utmost importance as well as simplicity if something does go wrong.

    Power does make me horny which is why I like cat but I do enjoy tinkering with mods and stuff so a good modding platform from any brand would be cool.

    I could really care less about the color as long as it works for our operation, dad loves our 3406B we have in a tandem and most of my experience comes from running Pete's with ISX in the oilfield. However I'd look at a Detroit too, but it seems like a love it or hate it it thing depending on the application. For those with experience what do you figure would be best for mine. Thanks fellas, apologies for the long winded post.
     
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  3. Y2K

    Y2K Road Train Member

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    Yacolt,WA
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    I drove a Schneider truck for about a year, Freightliner Columbia with a Detroit 60 & 10 speed.
    Cheap and wasn't the prettiest thing but it was very reliable and had a great turning radius for a tandem axel rig.
    I went up and down Cabbage Hill with it every week and it never let me down.
    Had to get into lots of tight spaces delivering dollar stores.

    [​IMG]
     
  4. Dusty Boots

    Dusty Boots Bobtail Member

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    Jul 16, 2013
    Alberta, Canada
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    Thanks for the reply. I will definitely consider Detroit. Ideally I'd like to have it in front of an 18spd just for versatility in the field where conditions aren't usually ideal.
     
  5. Y2K

    Y2K Road Train Member

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    Yacolt,WA
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    Wish I had an 18 in the chip hauler I drive but we get around over some pretty rough ground at times just fine with a 10.
     
  6. fortycalglock

    fortycalglock Road Train Member

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    Tourist Town, FL
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    A Detroit series 60 (designed by John Deere) is the logical choice. Cheap and easy to fix if something does go wrong, and with a few mods, tons of power. Take a look at one while imagining doing a repair. I think it's 3 bolts and some hose clamps to do the water pump. Every other accessory is just as easy too.
     
    Dusty Boots Thanks this.
  7. JohnP3

    JohnP3 Road Train Member

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    Feb 21, 2010
    Rock Creek B.C. Canada
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    John Deere never designed a thing on a S60, detroit and JD were going to build an engine together, GM was going to build the cylinder head and the injection and ECM, JD was going to build the small block. It was to be a smaller engine not a truck engine GM was going to use it in boats and power units. 100HP as a 4 cylinder and 160 as a 6. JD ended up having nothing to bring to the table.
    They ended up doing a deal with International.
    JD was going to bring out an engine of their own for trucks but did not, It was a copy of a CAT, that did not work. It never got out of the design stage.
    A S60 with an 18 speed is a great combination, the 430 HP early version was the most efficient big bore class eight engine. The N14 is also a good choice, that engine you would want to have the Main bearings changed and the Caps inspected, before you buy it.
    Just a thought!
     
  8. Pablo-UA

    Pablo-UA Road Train Member

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    Borispol, Ukraine
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    not sure about your state, but here in Ukraine grain movers are usually overladen with over 30000KG in trailer, so I'd look for pre EGR engine with bigger displacement, like early ISX, N14, Cat 3406E, Merc OM502 (16l).

    There are grain hauling companies in Lugansk and they use different engines. Not all good as we need. Series 60 12.7 is reliable but not powerfull enought, Volvo D12A/B and D12C are good, D12D - too expencive to maintane. D13 - weak cylinder heads, and emission aftertreatment problems.

    Mercedes engines are good, really, but not with auto, becouse roads are rought in countryside and dusty.

    what to avoid.....

    MAN CRD engines (MAXXFORCE) and DAF/PACCAR MX engine. They got too sencetive fuel system but fuel in villages may be incominated.

    Other good idea - upgrade truck with snorkel, becouse of dust on road. Many EU cabovers have stocl snorkels, but US trucks not.

    Ok, I have two trucks now - retired schnider and volvo. Freightliner turning radius is good, but Volvo is much better. Other bad thing - freightliner is not made for bad pavement. all interior falls apart. Volvo runs much smoother but you have to pay for it: cab suspention goes bad in a year on farm roads. And one very bad thing - Volvo headlamps are BAD.
     
  9. bigdad7

    bigdad7 Road Train Member

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    I got 1.5 million on my detroit have owned it for 500 k and never had one roadside service call i haul reefers so almost allways heavy plus on a century this thing is light i,m only 18k with a spare tire chains and 200gallons of fuel and my fat azzz
     
  10. bull hauler

    bull hauler Medium Load Member

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    Dont know where ur at but round iowa grain haulers are always gettin roadsided for being over weight, so a lighter truck then with short turn radius b better imo, id think any of the motors do ya fine im partial to a cat after havin a gutless detroit, find something thats been takin care of even some of the big work done already. If u go detroit id hit up another forum member here rebel 127, hes a wiz on tuning up a detroit to make sure if u need him to stoke it up its doable on it
     
  11. wore out

    wore out Numbered Classic

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    CHASIN THE DEVIL'S HERD
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    I'm partial to a CAT, but if its not been taken care of its junk like the rest. In your situation I would look for an O/O truck that was owned long term and well maintained. After a little age its not always so much the brand but the miles and how hard they were put on.
     
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