What to look for when specking a truck for a general freight?

How fast do you need to run? 3.08's gonna be a bit much with a 13 od

 

I think you would like 3.25 better.

 

I'd agree with @blacklabel. 3.2-3.3 would suit you much better, but still have plenty of legs without winding her out too much when you run out west.

 

@Midwest Trucker would probably have a good idea. MPGs would be my goal, with any new Truck. All depends on Torque rating, and Torque band. Need the Torque to pull hills, and enough RPMs to stay in the band, without downshifting. That costs MPGs. I’d imagine being between the low end and middle of the curve, with enough torque, would be better most of the time. Maybe worse in the hills though, if downshifting a lot. That’s the gear fast, run slow theory anyways. I prefer to cruise right at 1500 RPMs, right in the middle of the torque band,(1350-1650), for drivability. But a higher Torque engine, with a lower (RPMs) and flatter torque band, might still have good drivability at lower RPMs.

 

You don't want a dealer to spec your truck they don't know very much. I would spec it for MPG, then you have figure out how fast you want to drive 60-65 for MPG. Then you will want to run in Direct Drive on transmission for MPG. You also want the engine to be in the lower RPM rage when driving down the highway all day at 60-65 maybe 70.

 

That's funny.

 

Kenworth dealerships do have stock trucks built, just not right now. Close to the same with all manufacturers, all of them are building sold orders.

Definitely spec your new truck out, get it they way you want it then and not a dealership spec. You are correct about the transmission, auto shifts only improve economy for drivers that over rev before shifting.

 

I would look at 2.64 rear ratio. Drive in 11th (direct) and idle along. That is how you save fuel.