Advice Needed for New Truck

That is a fairly specialized facet or trucking, I would suggest talking with the OO's that are making a "whole bunch more" for tips.

 

Hauling heavy, off road, requires tougher trucks if you want it to last. 46k rears, 18 spd, double frame(2 frame rails, one inside each other), etc. Or, you can get a decent OTR truck tear it up for two years and trade it in and start all over again. The biggest factor in fuel mileage is the nut behind the wheel.

 

There are dozens of answers to this question. We don't know enough to answer it. How much is off-road? What speed will you travel at on the road? How is the terrain, lot of long pulls? You speak of fuel used but no distance traveled. The numbers you speak of could be compared to 5.2 MPG and 7.0 MPG and yes there is that much of a range in fuel mileage. Usually there are differences in aerodynamics and/or gross weight to make such a large spread.

Also most on the forum deal in pounds of gross weight, miles, gallons and MPG. You need to spend some time looking at the things you ask about and learning them. You also need to spend some time tracking expenses on the truck you drive to compare to what you can earn.

I suggest this to insure your success. Just because others are making more owning a truck doesn't mean everyone will. The fuel numbers you gave are a perfect example. Since you gave no distance I can't give exact figures. In the US, at 5.2 MPG that is roughly a fuel cost of 0.75 CPM (Cents Per Mile) and at 7.0 MPG it is 0.56 CPM. That is a difference of 0.19 CPM in your pocket and could mean the difference between success and failure.

A metric ton is 2204.62262 pounds. So if I understand your post, you are loading 88,200 pounds. If I understand correctly what you are posting you would be grossing somewhere around 115,000 and 125,000 pounds. How many axles on the truck and trailer? Is this a train? What kind of load is on the truck drivers? Unfortunately I find myself with more questions than answers.

I would look at what others are running as a guideline. I think you will need the torque and horsepower. An 18 speed would be a great choice. The rear axle ratio will have to be geared low enough (a high number) to be able to pull the load based on roads and terrain. It also needs to also needs to be high enough (a smaller number) to allow you to run highway speed in the engines sweet spot. A heavier truck with heavy axel weight ratings would be good too. 34,000 lb rears mean they are designed for that weight. This could be a concern if you aren't pulling trains. The heavier trucks like T800's are designed for this type of service.

 

I think you need to contact Prairie Boy he has more experience in specing new trucks for heavy hauling and trucking in the Alberta oil fields then anybody on here. He will have some good advice. Good Luck!
(http://www.thetruckersreport.com/truckingindustryforum/members/53039-prairie-boy/)

 

Why would you want a CAT? There's a reason they left the truck engine market....their product is crap! Years ago they had the best engines on the market.....

 

Go back and read the post. He said the truck he is driving know has a Cat in it not that he was wanting one.

 

ESL classes for me!

 

Not that I love Cat either BUT that's NOT why they left the truck market. They left because the expense of bringing a cetified motor to market was too expensive....... ( and still make a profit ) so they got into bed with corn binder and co-conspired on a complete truck.

It's actually been said "they couldn't bring it to market" and that " they couldn't make it work" but I don't buy that.

And Detroit Diesel is no more either. The brand is dead, burried by Damlier. They will now design their own stuff and use the DD logos, name plate etc. Another sad day.....