Best truck for long haul

I rather 18 speed for the hills, but thats just me.

 

Personally I think 12/13 gears is plenty, 10 gives too big a space between gears, 10 gears kill the power. But them again, you have overdrives for the speed you're allowed to do!

 

These are my favorites:
Volvo - 780 or 880
Freightliner - Coronado
Kw - W9

preferably with 13 speed

 

Talk about a loaded question.
As you have seen, folks pick what they have for the most part, with some going as far as claiming they have the best, period.
I have owned KW (4 axle W9), Pete (379 POS), Freightliner and Volvo.
One thing I would look at very seriously is servicing and dealers. I now have Freightliner for the cheaper parts, more dealers than anyone, and those dealers do not run on bankers hours. Purchase price is also lower, as are running costs.
In my 19yrs, I can honestly say that all the modern day trucks, spec'd right, will keep you comfortable while driving.
My '06 Columbia with the air ride front axle rides every bit as good as my old W9 did, and better than the 379 I ran, any day of the week.
Drive around your home and see what dealers are there, then go talk to them. See who gives you the best vibe and go with their product for piece of mind. My local F/Liner dealer has looked after me very good over the years, a whole lot more than my local KW dealer did.
You could have the best riding Volvo out there until, something stupid happens to it and you have to wait all weekend for the dealer to open. Not so good then huh?
And dont let anyone fool you. ALL makes of truck go into the shop at some time, whether it be KW, F/liner/WS/Volvo, etc.

Just my .02

Martin

 

Best truck I ever owned was a 1987 KW W900 worst truck I ever owned was a KW 2007 W900L.

I have owned KW , PETE , MACK , INTERNATIONAL , FREIGHTLINER , FORD , and WESTERN STAR & Volvo all have good & bad about them.

You can be stuck anyplace waiting on a dealer to open on Mon morning , not everyone offers 24 / 7 / 365 service..

 

Flatbed the sixty four dollar question. What are you buying these
days?

 

Right now I have 3 Internationals , 2 KW T660's ,1 Mack and rest are WESTERN STARS ( newest 2010 ) started buying them when AMERICAN $ was above par with CAN $ got some wicked deals in Canada.

But am shopping for a few new tractors ( not Fun )

 

I really really like t660s.

 

Start hoping that weight limits don't go above 80K for traditional OTR applications. Shippers aren't going to pay us an additional fee for hauling more weight (obvious exception for those bulk haulers). It will be the same as when the industry started using 53' vans over 48'. They were once an option, now they're the norm, and we don't get paid anymore to move the extra freight.

 

what years are you referring to?

I have been keeping my pre 96 cars going so they don't have all the crazy computer stuff that can go wrong, so I am interested for trucks too.