Spec it.....

To make a long story short, I will soon operate my own truck.... again.

Here is the deal. The last time I owned it was a k100 cab-over hauling grain, and fuel then was cheaper, considering. This time it is a 2006 Century Class Fruitshaker, with Thero King A.P.U., sitting right now as a glider chassis. S-60 Detroit engine (500hp), and a fuller 13-speed, both rebuilt top to bottom and put back into the rig, all the other parts-Turbo, radiator, etc. replaced with new. NOW! these days I'm all too aware of fuel mileage, and I run a dedicated route, but I try to hit as few tolls as possible, running east PA to Chicago mostly, sometimes to southern Wisconsin. (I-70, I-68, I-79, I-70, I-74, I-65, sometimes rt.30 across Indiana) Right now, the guy I'm buying the truck from, plans to put the truck back together how I want it before taking it away from him. The rear end gearing is what hangs me up, and I already realize with the thirteen speed, I might have to join the Double Nickle club, but I'm never really pressed for time anyway. My westbound loads are usually under 25,000lb., return loads are usually 40,000lb.

The Ponder: Right now he has many different gear ratios he can put in the rears for me. The old gearing was 3.42, and not sure with all the hills I take, if 3.55 might be more ideal, or stick to the stock set? See what I mean? What do you all have to say here?

 

I guess it will be a trial and error thing week to week or month to month then. From what the owner told me, with the 3.42's he used to get 7.5-8.0 at 60mph, he never got into how it pulled hills though, he ran nothing but Texas and Oka with it. I keep digging around, hate to consult Kevin Rutherford on this, but beggars can't be choosers either huh?. I'll start a new thread and document the whole circus once I have the title. Thanks for the input guys.