2013 Columbia spec'ing

Am spec'ing out a 2013 FL Columbia at a dealer near me. It will be a 2013 Columbia glider kit with a remanned 500 hp 12.7 Detroit and 13 spd. Interior loaded with fridge, set back fuel tanks, dual behind sleeper stacks. Basically one loaded truck. Nice thing is that it comes right now at just over $100,000 and I get to avoid the Federal Excise Tax. And a big plus.... NO EMISSIONS JUNK!! Saving over 30% off the cost of a similar new truck with all the emissions stuff. High end woodgrain interior trim, wrap around sleeper cabinets, windows in sleeper walls, arctic insulation package. Mid roof XT model. 3yr /300K mile warranty on engine, standard FL warranty on chassis, 5 yr /750K mile warranty on diffs.

I know... can't use in California. No problem. I don't go west of I25. Given that, it seems ridiculous to pay for all that emissions junk and all of its problems. Just avoiding the 12.5% Federal Excise Tax is worth it. How else could a person buy a new truck for around $100K? And who gives a rip about resale value. Plan on keeping this one for a long time, and I live in corn patch country..... there are plenty of farms around that would pick up on a mid roof tractor. I am selling my present truck to a guy 2 miles up the road who farms. He only uses a truck seasonally and it works for him.

 

2000 year production DDEC IV. No emissions stuff in sight. Detroit Reliabilt factory remanned engine with new engine warranty. Definitely will not be going to California. Last time I went to California was 1999. Lots of freight running around the Midwest. No California, New England, or Florida. Been that way for over a decade now and no reason to change.

Will make a few modifications to the engine when I get it put in that Detroit doesn't do.

 

Still working with them on little details. Did change the tranny to a direct 10 and went with 2.64's. That would put me in the 1400-1500 rpm range on low pro 22.5's for speed I like to run (62-66). Still gives me some room outside of that to use if needed. Never have been a speed demon in 3 decades of driving. Fuel and tires cost too much. Not to mention that Indiana troopers can be a buzz kill on speed.

Since I primarily run the Midwest, I also went down a notch and spec'd 100 gallon polished tanks instead of 120's. They will be set back under sleeper with steps under cab. Heck, that is over 300# is weight savings. Interior is where I am getting crazy though... spec'd out every cabinet I could cram in there and a fridge and signature interior with wood grain and chrome bezels around just about every gauge I could get. And the Davco 382 fuel filter will be preheat model since I play around in the cold all winter.

This girl will also be getting an initial fill of Evans Waterless Coolant instead of regular coolant. Up the thermostat and reprogram the fan on and off temps. Think I will like not having to ever add junk to the coolant and it will last as long as the engine.

Some of the fun comes after I get my hands on the truck. Ported and jet coated exhaust manifold and 15% larger turbo are on the list. Along with high flow straight thru mufflers. That 12.7 will breath nicely. Would be nice if I could get it to be a consistent 8 mpg truck or more. I know... Dream on!

Just got the 16 page spec sheet emailed to me on many of the changes. Still working on them. Current sheet has the price at around $105,000. But there is negotiating room. That is invoice pricing.

 

I also like the 12.7 Detroit. It was developed by an engineer at Cummins that had a hand in developing the NTC engines. He tried to get Cummins to bite on it, but they already were sinking their dough into the N-14 research and development. John Deere, Penske, and Detroit decided to pick up on the 12.7 and run with it. I did like the N-14 I had before, but that doesn't mean I don't like the 12.7 as well. When you take it beyond factory specs and let it breath, the 12.7 will pace just about anything out there. Plus, the price is right and they have a well deserved reputation for fuel economy.