Aero truck with the best build quality?

Stay away from the EPA motors. Then parts availability would be the next thing on my list. I own and drive a ProStar, with an ISX that has been fixed. And yes, the ProStar has its flaws, but there is a wealth of information out there on how to fix and run one profitably. The other reason I like the ProStar is the dealer network. every corn field has one. That is what I would be looking at, and then proper gearing etc for the job you plan to do. Stay away from the MaxxFart and I would also avoid Cat, due to parts availibility issues with those motors. I would be looking at Freightliner with a series 60 Detroit if I was looking for a truck, it checks all of my boxes.

 

The 5700 Western Star is the same inside as the 4900, which is what I'm running. This one only has 35000 miles on it, but no squeaks or rattles. The last one was a '13, and it rattled from new.We spent the better part of a morning going around tightening screws and bolts up on that one. And it's good now. I think Western Star has started to focus on fit and finish a little more in the last couple years. But the HVAC system leaves much to be desired.

 

I hope they do rbrtwbstr, because I really want to like Western Star. They have the most room in the cabs, still have a dash that you can get as many gauges as you want in them, standard wiring, no multi-plexing and modules everywhere, etc.

 

They can't be too bad in the eyes of the owner of the company I work at. He bought two in '13, along with two Freightliner Coronado's in '14. The Freightliners were both sold this year to make way for three new Stars. We really wanted to like the Coronado, but just too many little inconveniences to overlook. Little things like the gauges were mostly hidden behind the steering wheel. The headlights sucked, and someone decided it's a good idea to put the headlight harness plug directly in front of the steering tire, where all the slop from the roads seems to land. And the Detroit power wasn't all that great either. But we run mostly Cat power, so I guess it's hard to compare. Both supposedly had the same power as our Cats, but they couldn't stay with even our worst one.

And the dealer service after the sale was horrible with the Freightliners.

Just my$.02

 

No new motor will compare to an old one. I drove three of our trucks back to back one day before we sold my old Freightliner when I got the new Star.

All dump trucks grossing 36,000 KG (roughly 79-80,000 pounds), all geared the same, all 22.5 rubber and 18 speeds on the same hill.
My old Freightliner C15 550/1850 Cat was 10 KPH faster over every hill than the ISX600/1850 and 15 KPH faster than my DD15 505/1650.

 

There is no parts availability issue with CAT motors. If you need something you can easily get it.

 

Does it have to be aero? If not, I can point you to a small group of trucks.

I prefer you to consider what is possible with a truck. A long time ago I used to hammer the rig across a set of railroad tracks enraging my trainer. After he beat me up a little bit Im taught to not abuse that tractor. There will be a day I might need that tractor to dig in and haul... but slamming it around is not the way to do it. I understand there are some you tube videos out there showing truly imbecilic idiots trying to make rap music with a big truck... A fine example of what you don't do.

 

Old Volvo trucks here, well over a million miles. No rattles, squeeks or anything else. Drive just like new ones do

 

Yes, you can get parts, but they are rarely made here in the US, most are Chinese knock offs. Try replacing a head, they are getting harder and harder to find. And the remans have been remanned to the point of scrap. And the new castings being offered are not all they are cracked up to be... Just going by what I have been hearing from a few mechanic friends and Cat owners. I own an ISX, which has its own issues, especially with heads.