How do you like your International Prostar?

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by MercySakesAlive, Aug 8, 2008.

  1. NJKatwoman

    NJKatwoman Bobtail Member

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    Feb 9, 2009
    New Jersey
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    And while I'm in a complaining mood, I'll add a few more things about the ProStar that I had forgotten to mention...
    1) You know those plastic ashtrays and cup holders that you buy at the truck stops to hook over your window ledge? They fit every truck in the world EXCEPT a ProStar.
    2) In every different truck I have driven, I have been able to hook the seat belt around the door handle in order to provide a little more resistance, to prevent a bad guy from getting in the truck. Doing so affords a bit more safety for the driver sleeping in the bunk. You CANNOT do that with a ProStar.
    3) I won't drive nights anymore, because the headlights on a ProStar suck so bad, that I can only see 5 feet in front of my bumper. I have to constantly use the high beams, which is not only safe to other drivers, it pisses people off, and I'm not driving in the dark, if I can't SEE, period.
    4) There are two "cubbyholes" in front. One is so small, that you can barely get your hand in there to retrieve whatever you've put in it. I am a woman, and I can't get my hand in there, so that hole is useless to a man. I got so angry with the ###### thing, that I pried it out of the hole. Now, when I need something, I just dump out the whole thing to find what I need.
    5) This thing has TWO sun visors. One is movable, the other is not. I find the immovable one to be a distraction and in my way, especially when I need increased visibility.
    6) The cabinet to hang clothes is down on the floor. A real chore to get in and out of to hang/retrieve clothes. I get so aggravated with it, that I'm just stuffing clothes in there.
    7) The CB radio gets stuffed in a hole that has been provided in the middle of the tractor, over your head. And that's where water pours out because of the faulty Espar system.
    8 This truck is a 2010, and I had it for 5 months when the A/C quit on a 100% plus day in Georgia. I lost two days pay getting it repaired at a dealer. I have a 14 year old Ford Ranger, and the A/C still works great on THAT.
    9) The battery system is weak on this truck, and they will die in the night when you are using your Espar. So, there goes all the food in your cooler, spoiled.

    This truck is a plastic hunk O junk, but on the other hand, it's better than NO truck at all. So, I have to deal with it.
     
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  3. NJKatwoman

    NJKatwoman Bobtail Member

    27
    62
    Feb 9, 2009
    New Jersey
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    Oh, and I forgot to add two more very important points that I hate about the ProStar....it has a "smart" steering wheel, which imho, is stupid. The "air" horn is located ON the steering wheel, so you can never find it when you need to blast it at that precise millisecond in time. And the "privacy" curtain affords little privacy. It gaps down in the front. Right now, I use a windshield screen and I tape it on the window, and THEN I close my "privacy" curtains, and use more tape to secure them shut. Poor poor design. I think the truck was designed to impress the purchasing manager or someone who has never lived in a truck. It's real pretty on the outside, but I'm just beset with a host of annoyances on the inside. The battery system is weak also. You'll have to unplug everything you own, cel phone, laptop, cooler, etc, if you don't want the batteries to die in the middle of the night.
    ONE THING I LIKE is the big windows in the bunk. Huge plus to be able to look out that window while blindsiding.
    And even tho I hate the truck, I like my job, and I love my DM's. So, there's a tradeoff for everything. I could be w/ another company that I might hate, in a nicer truck, with real jerks for DM's.
    Aaah....I feel better now. I'm spent. Got it all off my chest. Thanks for listening. lol! :D
     
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  4. Pablo-UA

    Pablo-UA Road Train Member

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    Oct 11, 2010
    Borispol, Ukraine
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    ouh, about this steering wheel. It is like a MAN TGX steering wheel, IMO, too many buttons and you have to look at buttons to know what to do.
    New ProStar is not so simple and reliable like old good 9200. 9200 is like AK-47, simple, but reliable.

    The new MAN D28 engine (MaxxForce) is common rail engine and there are some issues like NProp valve and high presure issues, especially when it is cold (below -10) you start engine, engine runs and stalls in a minute with high pressure related fault codes... you restart it in a minute and get the same problem. It goes on till you get boiled water and spill hot water on filters, NProp valve, hight pressure pump and some fuel stuff! All the fuel system is not inside engine and goes cold! Fuel goes too thick and... you know what to do now!

    So, IMOm this truck must be redesigned....
     
  5. Blackducati750

    Blackducati750 Light Load Member

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    Mar 11, 2009
    Bushkill,PA
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    I drove a New ProStar daycab as a sub-unit (Ryder Fleet) when "my truck" (07 Freightliner Columbia) was in for service.

    It was a VERY smooth-riding truck. All the buttons,switches, and knobs took some getting used to. I spent 10 hours in the truck and I still ended up blowing the air horn when I wanted to turn on the engine brake. I'd look down and the steering wheel buttons were so dimmly lit, I'd end up staring at them for 3-4 seconds to figure out what button to press. Once, I almost ended up in the shoulder trying to flash my trailer lights (universal truck driver Thank You) at a driver that let me pass him up-hill.

    Also, the turning radius is HORRIBLE. EVEN ON THE DAYCAB!
    I deliver frozen foods to a local supermarket chain using mostly 48' trailers. One particular store, you have to make a complete 180 degree right turn as soon as you pull off the dock to get back on the road that brings you back to the highway. I almost ended up on the sidewalk on the opposite side of the road. My '07 Columbia never has a problem making the turn.

    Oh, and the annoying clutch pedal rattle that cursed my '05 International 8600 seemed to find its way into the brand new ProStars. I almost never listen to the radio. I'm the kind of driver that likes to hear the engine and hear the truck going down the road. The rattle almost drove me crazy...
     
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  6. Pablo-UA

    Pablo-UA Road Train Member

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    Oct 11, 2010
    Borispol, Ukraine
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    On our market International offers 7600 trucktor with ISM ore ISX engines. They sell it like the low cost truck, but really with Euro Calibrated engine it is used to tow trailers over Europe. Small cabine, but they make sleeper version! but bunk is narrow!
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  7. Blackducati750

    Blackducati750 Light Load Member

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    Mar 11, 2009
    Bushkill,PA
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    That's not a ProStar, that's a TranStar....(a.k.a. 8600)
     
  8. Pablo-UA

    Pablo-UA Road Train Member

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    Borispol, Ukraine
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    I tired to trive it twice. Short wheelbase and good turning radius, like EU COE truck, but loud inside and rought ride. Anyway it is a low cost truck
     
  9. Sequoia

    Sequoia Road Train Member

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    Dec 4, 2010
    Tampa Bay, FL
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    Ah ha!!
    That happened to me like the 2nd day in the truck and I was thinking "where the h--- is that coming from?" and "omg i hope that won't short out the cb wires"
     
  10. gonzo01

    gonzo01 Light Load Member

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    Jun 14, 2010
    denver, co
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    simply put, pos
     
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  11. Cowpie1

    Cowpie1 Road Train Member

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    Nov 25, 2008
    Kellogg, IA
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    There never is hardly a "fleet" spec'd truck that has decent storage or other good features. They spec only for the minimum cost they can get by with and still keep most of the drivers.

    I know a few O/O that have ProStars and I have not heard these same complaints. I am sure they have an issue or two with something, but overall they like them. I am pretty sure they all have the ISX in them, but from what I understand, International is wanting to make it so that only their MaxxForce engine is offered. Thay may not be true, just what I have seen in various articles.

    The LoneStar is just a ProStar with a different front end. They seem to not have all the issues mentioned here as well. But then, they are usually spec'd more for the higher end fleet and O/O market.

    Each brand of truck can be good or bad on how it is spec'd. You have to take that into account. Also, no one truck will satisfy everyone.
     
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