Need advice from someone EXPERIENCED with new freightliner glider kits

????? So just for the record YOU resort to name calling (arrogant jerk) .... and idle threats (pretty sure you wouldn't be so ####y if you didnt have a keyboard to hide behind) .......... But I'm the bully

 

I don't know if I can help but every TA has a freightliner shop and freightliner and TA are owned by the same company. I have a 600 HP detroit in my XLT on a trip from Washington State my son called and said his power was down big time and he said he changed the fuel filter and that did not help. I told him to take it to the TA and they put it on the computer, he said they ask him to get out of his truck and take it out of gear. He and the mechnic stood back an the truck started up and it ran the engine up to 1700 rpm and ran it up and down a few times then the computer shut the engine off and the mechanic picked up the phone and they told him what to do, I thought it was the PT pump because I have EGT monitor and it was showing very low heat from each cylinder so that tells me it's lack of fuel pressure. the mechanic told to my son to pull the battery cover while he was getting his tools. He unhooked the battery's then he went to the computer in my truck and discharged the computer system then hooked be battery's back up and called freightliner service system and they started his engine again and ran the engine up again and shut the truck off again then the mechanic told him he was ready then they gave him a read out page from his printer. This print out showed my MPG over the past few years and set my truck to factory plus 10% as that was what I had it set at. He said the computer system had to be recycled. the read out even told me how may times the high cycler idler had activated and fuel pressure and snap fuel pressure as I have a low gear aneroid valve to keep from pulling to hard on take off's. most never stop to think how much pressure is on your tires when you take off from a dead stop and if you have high HP and change gears empty it will spin the tires and that's no joke.

I don't know if that helps but you never know by the way I'm getting 6.9 MPG loaded but the EPA made freightliner change their engines and fuel systems. I've overhauled my engine two times and have new liners, mains, and a remaned head and other part to do another overhaul because the days of the big trucks are going fast. I try to get my son to run between 68 and 73 there is where I get the best MPG. The read out showed a top speed several times over 90. at 73 my RPM shows 1100 and I grab another gear at 900 RPM, I run a 9 speed because it takes less horse power to pull a 9 speed than any tranny on the market. I have made more money with this truck than any that I have owned, 1,400,000 and it still looks almost as good as when I bought it in 2000. I've got air ride everything and that's why it's still looking good. Price paid in 2000 was 147,000. Truck built in Cleveland NC and I got to see it on the line. If you go by Cleveland NC and tell them you are thinking about buying a freightliner they will take you on a tour and it's worth it to see how they are made. Oh I know some of you are thinking 900 RPM well guy's that is factory recommended as these engines are low RPM, that's why it got 700.000 between overhauls, I've truned less RPM to cover the same ground as most trucks. My old trucks was turning 2100 and I changed gears at 1700 or I was lugging it. Take care all.

 

I inquired at Harrison in Waterloo about purchasing an Argosy glider. Talked to a salesman at least twice, promised to call me "in a few days" with an answer, nothing. Not a good start to a business relationship. No sale

 

I just recently researched if a Argosy glider could be had stateside. Supposedly you can still buy one as a glider but it must be approved by the factory. It's not in the dealers computer system, so they have to do some calling to factory etc. It sounds like most dealers are to lazy to bother with making the sale and just say you cant buy one. They'd rather shove you into that conventional thats already on their lot.

 

700,000 between overhauls is good for a Detroit?

 

I was thinking the same thing.... only 700,000? As for sharecropper's comments about the NC freightliner plant, those guys probably couldn't put a lego set together properly. While I dearly like the glider I bought, and it was built at the NC plant, the dealer had to fix a batch of things the guys at the NC plant did wrong when they built the truck. Dealer spent almost 2 weeks at that. So my view of the Freightliner plant in NC is rather jaundiced. I got the distinct impression from my experience that they were more interested in Monday Night Football, fishing, or going to Hooter's after work than they were in building a truck. And the quality of their build was evident. My dealer deserves more respect than those knot heads.

The dealer made the comment that they get the same trucks built in Mexico that are also built in NC. They don't have near the problems with the Mexican built trucks as they do the NC trucks. That is a sad testimony to American labor.

 

52000 on my glider from fitzgeralds in TN. no major problems and they do more than most places to increase reliability on little things. i had to put 20 amp fuses in for the windows up from 15 and my fuel vent hose melted to the exhaust causing the pass side tank to hold fuel. both easy fixes. i am the slow poke who makes the satalite and eobr crew mad all day 55-60 regardless of the speed limit. i dont use the cruise as it pours to much fuel to the motor even on slight inclines. i averaged 8.6 mpg on winter fuel pulling a box. i am now pulling liquid tankers again and my mpg is down to 7.3 loaded. the rolling resistance of the tank is part of the mpg loss for sure. old wheel bearings and recaps on it. o and mine was a dam mexican built rolling glider to start with. 336 rears 18 speed. motor set similar to cowpies

that mpg display on the dash is your friend. use it to your advantage with out the cruise. patience can be profitable in the right situations and there is more than 1 way to skin a cat.

 

As a company driver I got a new Mexican lemon every year. It took about 80000 miles to get all the bugs out and then they were OK. The problems were mostly electronic in nature. It was only after a lightning strike while I was sleeping that I finally got a truck with everything working. (That was after repairs.) If the NC trucks are worse than that I certainly would be disappointed.

 

What gear are you running to only be turning 1100rpm at 73mph, with a 9sp at that??