Is this truck right for frac sand hauling?

The shaker will work but you will hate that 2.62 ratio on a soft lease. A 70 inch isn't really needed as it adds weight and you want to be as light as you can be really wait times on the well aren't that long so a smaller sleeper is ok. I would spend the extra money on a paccar product just because it will hold up better. In my experience KW's hold up to the condition better than petes.

 

I think the answer is in a question. What do you prefer more, relaxing in the sleeper or polishing the chrome on the outside?

 

I vote for polishing the chrome. Always done that to my Harleys. If I'm buying it, I'll take a Pete (or a W900) over a shaker any day..

 

Personally, I would buy the one that gets the job done with the least amount of cost per mile/hour. There are so many variables to look at when buying/spec'ing a truck for a particular application.

 

I am no expert but I saw a LOT more 379s hauling sand trailers than shakers. I think I would look older and cheaper for oilfield work, depending on where you want to run. The dirt roads in TX are brutal. I'd be thinking $20-25k truck to start out with.

 

Run away as fast as you can from the 2.62 rears.

 

Especially with a 10 spd great for fuel mileage pulling light freight on the flatlands but will really suck on a soft lease in the patch.

 

Keep in mind the weight as well, I would most likely think you're going to get paid by the ton. I drive an 05 International eagle with a 51' flat top sleeper and an 07 heyl aluminum pneumatic, my light weight is somewhere just above 29,000 with full tanks. I'm able to legally gross about 25 tons, I see some guys with freightshakers coming in and leaving with nearly 27 tons, I'm a company driver so I don't know how much 2 tons will really effect the paycheck, but you figure on a 2 load day that's 4 tons, over a course of a 6 day week that's 24 tons more to the lighter weight truck, almost a full load!

 

Look at a truck purchase as an investment. Call a dealer with the specs on that Freightliner you want to buy but you're selling it and have a heart attack when he tells you he'll pay $25,000- $27,000 if that much!

You want something that when you are finished with it and ready to sell you'll get something worth getting back! It's resale value at the end of life is what you want also. Not having to pay someone to take it off your hands is not an option! It's part of business. Just remember you are buying 5 year old problems another driver/company sold. What do you think the repair costs will be on things that old?

That 2:62 is not a good idea for playing in the desert!
As for the statement of polishing yeah that 2 times a year of giving the money maker some well deserved loving is worth it! Besides getting up close and personal with your truck is how you find problems you normally miss on a regular walk around! Nothing like being seen in a great looking truck over a plastic throwaway! Also you can change the sleeper to something smaller and lighter weight OR get yours customized with a few things that make sitting in the patch waiting for your turn to blow off that sand as I hear happens in both TX and ND frac sites.

It all comes down to your bottom line and how you want it to be.