Mack trucks - good/bad?

A volvo definitely handles better.

 

I can tell you at 414K, the stiffness in the steering has went away, but that was one of my biggest complaints prior to this mileage.

 

Unless it’s got a gold bulldog I’d pass ….

 

My truck has a gold bulldog. It has all mack components as far as engine and drivetrain.

 

The poor design of the hood's latches will later drive you nuts (follow-up to post #4 above)...

-- L

 

What is the details of the truck's spec's? Just saying a Mack will give no one any true information. You need a truck that is spec'd for the job you are gonna do.

 

You can have the ECM programmed so you do not have those issues on shifting.

 

I have a '20 and a '22 Anthem. Both spec'd about the same, MP8-445-HE with mDrive overdrive with 2.47 rears. The Mack Anthem is the poor man's Volvo 760. Fit and finish is not as good. New, the price difference was $20k when I was shopping. That money on the Volvo gets you much more fluff in the interior and better aerodynamics. Otherwise it gets the job done. I'm comfortable enough, but I don't spend more than 4-5 nights in it at a time. Mine are probably still too new to offer a lot of feedback.

Both have had 1-2 minor visits to the dealer for warranty repairs for EGR leaks. The '20 got a new turbo last time (just over 200k miles), but my gut tells me they just threw one on there to pump up the warranty claim. I don't think it was really bad.

The blind spot mirrors on the hood suck. You'll end up gluing or taping them if not already. Hood latches and side fairing latches is an easy fix. Ignore the service interval that says lube once a year, and hit those with spray white lube every time you grease the truck.

About the only other thing is don't wait until the batteries are completely shot to replace them. When you first start losing capacity, weak batteries will lead to some minor, but annoying things such as a less than perfectly smooth idle/hesitation at times.

The '22 came with a front sway bar, the '20 did not. The salesman said they started coming that way in '22. Both steer axle specs were the same. It looks like it could be added on later. IMO the handling is a bit tighter with it, but not enough to spend on one for the older truck.

All things relatively equal, I'd still trade them in for new ones just like them when the time comes.

ETA: Parts prices and availability have been reasonable. My last trucks were Paccars. After years of KW/Pete gold plated pricing, I feel like I'm getting away with something at the Mack parts counter.

 

The biggest thing about owning a mack is how good is your close mack dealer. That is the biggest make or break. Bought a 2014 pinnacle because it was dirt cheap and the motors and emissions is pretty much bulletproof. Downside is while it was atleast $10-$15,000 cheaper then a freightliner our local dealers never have anything for it in stock.