Best Engine for the Mountains

my .02 out of all the trucks iv drove i felt the isx had the strongest engine brake by far. and a good running 565 will pull like a freight train. if i was running mountains every day i think that be my preference. cat would be a close second.

 

My dad bought a dump truck in the 50s. It had front brakes because it wasn't a tractor. He took the bed off, and put a sleeper so he could go over the road. The guys at the shop told him "Bean, you want to run with the big dogs, you're cuttin' them front brakes off!" (Actually, they didn't talk like that because everyone was from Los Angeles). He did and couldn't stop bobtailing because the tag axle would hop during braking, and that would get the drive axle bouncing.

 

It's all a balancing act, OP. Technically any engine will do the job just fine. Add enough power to the engine and/or pick the correct gear ratio to match.

 

I've had all 3, but all old iron. 2 3406Bs 2 Series 60 and an N14. 1 of my Cats was only a 350, and I was the last up the hill, the other I didn't have long enough to get a really good feel, but the little I drove it, it sure felt a lot stronger than just the 50 hp it had over the 350.

I love the Detroits I have, but they weren't that great in the hills.

The N14 was a low hp that I had turned up to 460. It simply was a beast.

 

Had a Detroit 15 series in mine. Pre def and castrated by the company, she never met a hill she couldn't tackle. Thing pulled like no one's business. Had an Eaton Fuller 10 speed. Don't know what the gear ratio was.

 

79,000 from Baltimore to Huntington, WV last year and never did drop more than 2 holes, after flipping into direct on a 13 speed. Not bad for a 32 yr old Cummins.

 

Dad’s big cam 3 with a 13 and 3.73s ran good, he had the pump turned up 10 percent I think. We don’t really have too many hills, but loaded with 80k of lightweight in a 36 ft Fruehauf it went right up them no problem. He had straights and that truck sounded good.

We have done a few things to his ISX including the fuel pressure sensor trick, and that truck pulls like it’s empty.

 

CAT

 

Depends on weight, but if you are running mountains at 80k gross, you'll be good with a 475-500hp 13 litre motor with a 3.70-3.90 rear end paired with a 13-speed.

Start running in Canada at 100k gross or more, you'll want a 550 hp or higher 15-litre motor with an 18-speed for sure. I run the 17 in Ontario with 90-94k gross, several 5-7% grades up to 3 miles long and pull up them in 5th direct. 470 C-13, 3.90 rears, 13-speed, 24.5 wheels.

Now, if you want to argue brands, I keep hearing the saying passed around that "while the Cummins will make it to the top of the mountain first, the CAT will keep running onto the next one". Cut me and I'll bleed yellow, so you know I'm a little biased. But there is nothing wrong with any pre-emissions motor, so long as it's well-maintained.

 

I'll hop in here a little late.

My runs are mostly from Vancouver BC to Alberta. That means 4 real mountain ranges, and an assortment of annoying grades along the way. Probably the easiest running in BC is hwy 97, along with hwy 16, but each have plenty of 6% grades, along with a couple of nasty 8%s. Then we have hwy 1, which for the most part is a 2 lane goat trail, that has umpteen grades, and umpteen slow to 15 mph for the evil curve at the bottom of most of them. For those that know the interstates, try going west into Golden BC. You'll have plenty of fun from 10 mile down to the town. And that's after the did major improvements. You have the Okanagan Connector, which is reputed to be the highest mountain highway in North America. Try riding down to Kelowna from Pennask Summit. They at least give you 2 runaway lanes. It's a nice long downgrade, varies between 6% and 8%. Then you have The Coq, also known as the highway through hell on TV. A sprinkling of 6% and 8%s to keep you from getting bored. And of course, the star of the run, The Smasher. It started as 14%, then it became 12%, and weirdly enough, the government now says it's 8%. Guess it's all the trucks from 80,000 to 145,000 tearing it up with their chains that's gradually making it flat. It's amusing to see the dolts coming down as I'm coming up the Coq. You can see their brakes smoking almost to Hope. But that fun little hill makes the long 6% after seem flat, and catches quite a few that aren't used to it. Oh, and I'm remiss, it snows up here too. A lot. Some roads don't see a plow all winter. Some see a couple after it's piled up half the night. It's always fun when all 3 major highways are closed down all at once. Ahhh, hwy 3, a joy to drive in all seasons. There is one nasty little hill in BC, that I have yet to have the pleasure of changing my shorts on the way down. That's the one that goes down into Bella Coola. Quite often it's a 22% grind up to get to a mill or mine. So much fun when you have to split your train, and do it twice.

So, we're talking king of the hills here eh?!?

The first truck I owned had a Cummins big cam 400 in it. Wasn't a powerhouse but it pulled as good as the same hp Cats back then. I say the 3406 Cat and the Cummins N14 are the two best motors ever. Bullet proof. Detroits were, and always will be a waste of time in the mountains up here. Yes lots of guys like macks too, but 460 ponies ain't going to get your tridem up the mountain very well. I never owned a Cat, but I was impressed with the 3406, and the 6NZ. My N14 was a joy, especially screaming pasts the Cats crawling down the hill with their pretend jakes. But because I spend my life in the mountains, an ISX is my favorite. The old joke: with one of them you gotta wear a seat belt, otherwise you'll get thrown through the windshield when you hit the jakes. Yes, cats have the jam and the power to run up the hill at a decent speed. But they have to crawl their way down. So, no time savings, it comes out even. An ISX goes up the hill a little slower, but more than double a Cat on the way down. So, if time is the essence, then you save it with an ISX.

Yes, Detroits sip fuel compared to those two, but you're not going up or down fast at all. Stay on the prairies with a 10 speed. But, Cats have the grunt, but are thirsty, and parts are #### expensive. To me the ISX is the sweet spot between Cat and Detroit. Less fuel than the Cat, way more grunt than a Detroit. And, well shucks, nobody beats Cummins jakes.

Anyhow, king of the hill. My last truck had 700 hp (was a natural 625), 2250 torque, 18 speed, and a 3.21 ratio. I could take it down to 1050 rpm, or with no governor, really fly on the flat. With equal loads, I could pass 600 Cats going up The Smasher. The extra 200 ft lbs helped. I went and put auto chains on it. ####, during a snow storm, I'd have to throttle back going up, because the manufacturer said no going over 30 miles an hour with them on. Yeah boys and girls, with a 3.21 rear end. 22.5 tires too. OK, I'll admit, I went and bought a Volvo D16. But it was a freaking freight train. And only had 65k on an inframe when I got it. Specs like that, why not. Was a black 2007 880, so yeah I tricked it out a bit.

But alas, I sold it last year. *Heavy Sigh*

So, now I'm going to buy something much cheaper. I'll be slumming in a little 2007 International 9900. Cornbinder Express. But it's got a semi fresh ISX 565 in it, 18 speed, 2050 torque, and 3.55 ratio. $20k Cdn. A beater binder with jam. I'll probably find it hard to adjust to something so wimpy.