Two Trucks - Help me make a decision

No question the 05 is either an accert or a bridge/-and way to $$$. The 03 could b an early bridge but I highly doubt it......
Now for the real question......what do u really wanna do?? If looking to haul cars---obviously only get a small trl cause ur not gonna set up a full sized w9--as a full on pkg lot--not saying can't make money but.....so could b ok also if doin the hi end enclosed....
As for van work(but hold true w/anything)unless only pull in lighter frt an 86 studio could b detrimental---have u checked the dry weight? Forget fuel and everything u run gonna put in it---
I'm not gonna get into fuel mileage---u have been round long enuff to make ur own decision on that.....
Good Luck moving on with ur life......hope everything works out 4 u in ur New start

 

And once again the ''old timers'' try so hard to teach the new people the ''business'' and in return the old timers are told to ''SHUT THE #### UP''...OK..I will shut the #### up and i will let the know it all newbies have it there way..Good luck in whatever you decide...I am sure you will need it with an attitude like that..

 

379 EX 18 spd wide open most of the time. 4.5-5 average. But boss says no problem for now. Oil money you know. Castrated at 77 mph. 24.5s Loaded usually 77-80k.

 

I can see her point.

She has narrowed it down to the 2 she likes. She asked the question concerning the two choices.

There are always going to be people that do not like Cat, or want to push a freightliner over a volvo because of their preference.

It has nothing to do with old timer versus new.

What has happened to the ability to read and understand a request in the first place?

 

Wow nice attitude.. I'm personally done trying to help you. Good luck.

 

I'd do a lot of checking on that 2003 with a C16 basically what they're asking for price wise is what the motor is worth. You will definitely be happy with the pulling power fuel economy should be decent even in a hood I have the same concept on my motor only its the E model. How you found an 03 for 30k with that few miles is a steal which is a concern. That tractor should be higher in price. And don't knock "useless gauges" yes you only really need oil temp water temp volts air pressure a tach speedo and oil pressure to get by. But the pyro trans front and rear drive temps are helpful only useless gauge is the filter minder have seen 1 that works and that's it. I have 16 total in my truck 14 work want at least 17. A suspension gauge especially one like the right weigh is worth its weight in gold!

Keep gearing in mind as well your compairing a motor designed to cruise at 1450 to a motor designed to cruise at 1350 I have 3.42s cruise between 70-75 and do well on fuel. Gearing it any faster will hurt fuel more than likly when pulling hills dropping gears contatnly. Also i can give you a decent idea of what the motors differ at because i have a 550 ACERT as well. No comparison between fuel economy or pulling power. The ACERT has 3.70s and still lags on hills, doesn't pull and when you get over 1350 your fuel economy drops faster than 747 at 35000ft when the engines fall off. When that truck attempts to keep up with mine fuel mileage is around 3.5. Now that being said it ran 62 this week went 700 miles on $500 of fuel not bad. This is all given the same equipment as well. The milage numbers were hooked to comparable trailers at comparable weights and we were running to the same places together difference being he was following me so he shouldve done better a little better on fuel. Given the cost of the motors is a big part too. Parts are available for the C16 and you can still get everything for them and they're typically cheaper than the acert. Its much easier to work on as well. CAT has been sued over the ACERT after having as many problems as it has had. MNdriver stated this on another thread you can get almost any truck with any drive train so the wrapper shouldn't matter. Make sure the c16 has 2050 drive lines 1850s will hold up flatland, but if you get a little excited pulling a hill don't be surprised if something ends up twisting off eventually. Heard of a bull hauler at a local company doing that. Hate that company owner so it didn't bother me but it can happen.

The 05 has over a million on it, the 03 is cheap...too cheap from what I have seen over the years I'd run that 03 through a shop or 2 and have it gone over with a fine tooth comb. Dyno it, check it out get as much history as possible have cat run the serial number etc. If that's what you want to go with and don't sign anything until you have done all those. You don't want to put a motor in or overhaul something right out of the gate. And its not cheap to overhaul that truck by any means cheaper than an acert but definitely not cheap. Good luck

 

I have '03 pete C-15 6nz. Pulled a van across I-40 NC-CA and back. 6.5 mpg running 60-63 mph. 40k load.

 

well, sally sue, when you ask which one to buy to own and operate yourself all the other stuff is am implied part of the question, and the fuel economy and aerodynamics have to be part of the equation. I also gave you a answer also, which was neither of them. it also seems you don't know what you think you do if the bottom line isn't part of the equation.

you ask questions , you are gonna get answers, I am with you on this one landstar8891. you may not like em, but you asked. remember you cant eat chrome or a hood.

 

no wonder then its 5 mpg, mine will run out the numbers, but I don't, I buy the fuel and my wife is the boss