Best engine HP/ rear combo for pulling 80,000

The ISX isn't new.. Mine is a 2000 model.. 11 yrs. Is new?

As for the hauling question.. Pulling 80k is nothing unusual. Any truck out there can do it. However you want to do it the most economical way you can.. You want a truck that'll get good mpg, aerodynamic, & comfortable to drive.

I like the ISX.. But hear a lot of things about the EGR's messing up on them. (mine is so old it doesn't have one).
I like the Detroit for mpg, I think with a van I would want the best mpg I can get.. I don't think you can beat a Detroit in this dept.

HP.. 475 - 500 is all u need.. Nothing more, it'll just use more fuel..
Tranny- hard to beat a 13, but a 10 speed is simple & lighter.
Rears- 3:70's are good. If your running more flatland.. 3:55's

that's my opinion

 

Yeah but the 13 always helps on those longer hills when you know if you had a 10 speed you would be stuck between gears.
I have only driven detroits and 1 cummins. The cummins was a few weeks ago and it was in a prostar. It was a 435 ISX and the truck had a 10 speed. It was ok because of the 10 speed but with a 13 in it that thing would be very nice. That motor is very tourqey down low unlike the DD.

As for the volvo motors the way I look at them is this. If you break down in the middle of nowhere is it going to be easier to find a mechanic who can fix a DD, Cat, Cummins or a Volvo? I would go with one of the first three.

Remember this to. Cummins has a Common rail fuel system where as Cat uses HEUI. CR fuel systems seem to always be more reliable with injectors and high pressure pumps. Thats just what I know and really just an opinion.

 

I wouldn't be scared of the price of rebuilding the Cat anymore, you may be surprised of an inframe now that Cat has introduced overhaul kits packaged with extended coverages.

 

Nice that is good to know Rafferty.

I know the older Cats are hard to beat as in the 3406E and the single turbo C-15s I guess are beast.

I am still a uge fan of N-14s. I have a buddy that works for cummins and says those are the best motor they have ever built. A signiture 600 N-14 would be nice to have now wouldnt it. Here KITTY KITTY LOL

 

I own and drive a 06 W900L with a 550 cat 18spd and 3.55 on tall24.5 rubber. I have a 2nd truck that is a 05 Volvo with 500 ISX 13spd and 3.70 on tall 22.5. We run the exact same route pulling mostly the same loads (flat bed) my truck is 2500 pounds heavier and I pull alot heavier permits. He gets .2 of a mpg better than I do BUT he drives alot "softer" than I do. My cat will run circles around his ISX! I cant stand to drive it. Only thing I like about the isx better it has a stronger engine brake. I like the acert cats you have to drive them differant and they need a 13 or 18 to get good mileage. I am very happy with mine

 

Cost of overhauls are about the same across the board. You'll be disappointed with a detroit and their 500. Personally I think their 470's pulled better and got better MPG's. A friend had one then traded it off for the 500, big mistake!

 

I was not a huge fan of the 500 that Prime uses in there trucks. WEAK and only a 10 speed akes for some long grades take a long time.

I have not driven an OTR truck with a Cat in it only a couple military trucks. One being an MRAP which has a C-7(Garbage) and the others a 7 tons which have a C-12 and a 7 speed allison in them. I do like the C-12 and I have pulled a lot more weight with one over in afghnistan then most will ever pull in there class 8 in the states. I had it setting at about 105K. It was a 20ft flat bed on the truck and a 25ft +5 ft dove pintle hitch trailer. It was all pallets from an air drop with each pallet having 4 55 gallon drums.

Had 34 pallets of fuel, the truck which is up armored weighs in roughly 35K and the trailer is around 12K.

That thing pulled it but ok but I never had to get up to any real speed
The MRAP with a C-7 I have had to pull another Mrap about 60 miles on hard surface road over there. These were the new Independent suspension system MRAPs which weighs in right at 40K per. I had one in tow behind me and I actually managed to get the thing up to 70 MPH on a straight away. I hit a hill and it fell on its face and made it to the top at about 20MPH. I just lugged the motor down at about 1400 RPM and the torque carried me right along. 1400 RPM on a C-7 is lugging it pretty good for those of you not familiar with them.

 

I am familiar with the MRAP. The C7 is under powered for use in that application. It is a 7.2 liter with 300hp and 860 ft/lbs. For towing, I guess it wasn't doing to bad dragging 80K down the road but in the hills, it is just to small. If it is just pulling itself, the performance is respectable but not overwhelming.

 

Over in Afghnistan we were going to put a C-12 into a MRAP. We had a 7 ton get blown up and could not get any parts for it because of my remote location over there. Well we ended up not doing it because we had to get the MRAP up and running fast. The motor was out of it and everything would of mounted right up and everything would of plugged right in and the trans would of bolted up to.

That would be nice going from 335hp and 860 ft/lbs to a 425hp 1350 ft/lbs I think thats the torque into that little truck.

The international truck is much better with its DT570 set at 395hp and 1100 ft/lbs. Got it crazy sideways around a corner on a dirt road. Not bad for a 40K lbs truck!