Is my truck able?

Discussion in 'Heavy Haul Trucking Forum' started by chris322, Jan 22, 2013.

  1. chris322

    chris322 Bobtail Member

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    Oct 13, 2012
    Faribault,MN
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    I have been driving a total of 7 years now mostly bulk/hopper. The last 3 years been doing it under my own authority. Things got tough one year ago and a logistics company from california convinced me to park the hopper and pull his step deck. The best thing I ever did! Since then I have hauled many oversizes up to 14' wide and 15' tall and love it. The bigger the better. Two months age he switchted me to a mechanical 35ton RGN with a flip axle even better. Now he tells me that by years en he wants to put a 60 RGN 2+3+1 behind me. I'm up to the challenge but not so sure about the truck. Its a 2001 379 with a cat 6nz 550, 18 speed trans with cooler, 3.55 rears. The radiator is new last summer a 4 core high effiency Detroit radiator. The heaviest so far was a 107,000lb load that it did ok with in the 40 degree temps but come summer.....
     
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  3. leftlanetruckin

    leftlanetruckin Road Train Member

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    I immediately see the rears being an issue.
    40k lb rear axles I guess? The ratio is totally wrong for a 9 axle setup, even if you kept the weight off them.
    If you want to keep the truck, then maybe look into some 46k lb rears from a wrecked rig. I see them for sale used quite often. The 46k would give you some wiggle room for strength over what the normal 40k rears do.
    A 9 axle should be double framed though in my opinion and experience. I had a 4 axle W9 years ago, and would not run a single framed, small front axled rig on a setup like that.
    You are getting into decision time I say. Either get a truck that is set up for it and be prepared to be very heavy when empty, of stick to the occasional heavy load, and pull a 3 axle RGN maybe?
    Martin
     
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  4. Superhauler

    Superhauler TEACHER OF MEN

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    that will be ok up to around 132000lbs. over that i would run 3.90 rears or 4.11 and maybe a higher torque clutch if you have alot of miles on it. start going over 150000lbs it is nice to have 46 rears but 40's will do as long as you dont get to crazy.
     
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  5. leftlanetruckin

    leftlanetruckin Road Train Member

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    A nine axle setup is (or should be) 150k lbs or over. I ran with a girl who was getting into it when I had my 4 axle. She had a normal 3 axle truck at the time, with 3.54's IIRC. Lots of power etc, but setting off on a steepish grade when loaded at @130k lbs ate her clutch for lunch.
    Up to 6 axle, normal setups can be fine, over that and you need the tool for the job in my experience. Wouldn't like to see the OP blow a rear end, clutch, etc when setting off up hill running that heavy.
    Can it be done? Sure. Can it be done reliably? I personally do not think so.
    Just my .02
    Martin
     
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  6. chris322

    chris322 Bobtail Member

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    Oct 13, 2012
    Faribault,MN
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    When I bought the truck last summer I was told it had 44,000 lb rears and 3.55 gears but from what Pete just told me it was factory specd with 3.36 rears. The tag on the axle is in too rough of condition to read. Of course its a single frame that is straight but it also has 1.3million on her. Road salt and age take thier toll on steel even though the paint has been kept up. Its a perfect match for this 3 axle RGN but no more. It was originally a Western(distribution?)truck. The reefer company from colorado that paints the frame rails and trucks metallic blue. Your responces are pretty much what I suspected. This situation just screams NO!
     
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  7. Superhauler

    Superhauler TEACHER OF MEN

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    it can be done.reliable yes.i pull around the 140000 mark all the time with 40 rears 18918 and 3.70s never had a failure of the drive train. heavier specs like 46s and doulbe frame yea it would be nice. but really dont need it if you behave. my last truck had over 1.3 mil on it hauling heavy for 12 yrs had one rear fail at 1.1 mil. on 40s with a 16913 original trans. truck is still going strong to this day for the boy who bought it. i can haul 150000 on 8. but do i want to NO! it has to be just right to do it. 9 would be perfect. if you have the right mind set it can be done with the lighter specs. not arguing just stating a fact. i agree with you assesment, but it can be done all day long with the lighter specs if you dont hotrod it.
     
  8. chris322

    chris322 Bobtail Member

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    Oct 13, 2012
    Faribault,MN
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    The main factor in my decision is that they guy I work through will put 120,000lb loads on the trailer if the trailer is specd for 60 ton. Pretty much a given at this point that my only choice is to start looking to the future.....
     
  9. Superhauler

    Superhauler TEACHER OF MEN

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    if thats the kind of weight your looking at pulling then yes heavier specs is the way to go no question!
     
  10. chris322

    chris322 Bobtail Member

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    Oct 13, 2012
    Faribault,MN
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    The part that sucks is that I just bought this truck last June and I have been dealing with a lot of previous owner neglect. But I will take this truck over my previous 2010 Volvo 730 any day. That thing was in the repair shop at least every 15,000 miles. What a pile that thing was!!!
     
  11. TripleSix

    TripleSix God of Roads

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    I have some friends from upstate New York that have been running the same set ups for 15 years pulling a pair of 2-3-2s. Landstar owners do it all the time. Personally though, I would want two speed rears. I can't think of the name of it, but there's this auxiliary box that you can buy that bolts to the rear of your tranny that will give you the deep reduction gears you would need to pull a big load out of a hole.
     
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