Comfortable Trucks

huh, my 2012 cascadia is more comfortable than prostar. My truck also has dd15 and tuned up to 505 hp. runs like a single turbo c-15.

 

Pete 379EXHD for me.

This is my first one, I've been in Century's, colombia's, Cascadia's, prostar, and now this Pete. Its got the best build quality and I love the sleeper layout (63" mid-roof). If i buy my own truck it'll be a long hood pete with flat-top 63" sleeper.

 

Did a search for 2011 trucks and newer with a top of $80,000 and it seems 90% of them were Prostar...must be a reason for that. Others would be more expensive, though I do like the looks of them.

 

It is that way because they will have the maxxforce engine in it. You can't keep it out of the shop nor met the emissions requirements, it is why International has given you the option of the ISX now.

International tried to go their own way with emissions requirements for 2010 by going with EGR and DPF only. If you do enough searching you will see press releases saying that Cummins was originally going that way but at some point switched to the DEF route like Volvo and Detriot were doing. I would bet international were being to prideful thinking they could get the system to work when every other manufacturer said they couldn't. I read somewhere that it was about 80% recycled exhaust being put into the cylinders so there is little oxygen left for combustion and that is why you get such horrible fuel mileage and the DPF gives so many problems becuase you have such poor and incomplete combustion. It didn't help that the Maxxforce engine is based off of the C15 which forced Cat out of the truck market as they couldn't get that engine to work with the emissions add-ons.

The way I have understood it is the Prostar is a good truck it is just hooked up to a boat anchor of an engine. I imagine they only survived the last few years because they were giving such discounts to fleet purchases to make it worthwile (and even then I am sure most companies regret it) and probably throwing in a few extra trucks as maintenance spares.

 

This a really PERSONAL question--really has alot to do with YOUR preferences--personally like many others--nowadays--I wouldn't drive anything BUT a hood--prefer a W9--BUT--they really are two heavy and even after some adjustments the truning radius SUX--why I went back to pete bout 10 years ago--BUT thats me--the only other thing I will say--is everybody seems to rave about Volvos--and while it may be true they are marginally better than the other Plastic POS out there--I had the privalidge(LOL)of using one for a rew thousand miles a year or so back--top o the line 780(I think)--with the fridge--sink--office(dinette whatever)set up--and IMHO--just another extremely POOR handlin plastic POS--and IMHO it rode like ####--

 

A good seat that fits your body type is key. Some fleet/ rental trucks come built very cheap with basic seats, giving the impression that the trucks themselves are the problem.

If you're tall, the ability to stand up is huge. I can't stand up in a Peterbilt "stand up " sleeper or a mid roof Volvo. But have a couple inches to spare in a Mid Roof XT.

Volvo, Peterbilt and KW have very little leg room.

 

The two most comfortable trucks I've ever driven are the Freightliner Classic XL and the Peterbilt 379exh. The Classic had the hands down most comfortable cab/sleeper combination except for the sunroof (made it kinda hard to sleep during the day or under a bright parking lot light until I finally completely blocked it with cardboard and duct tape), and the old Pete rode better than a Cadillac going down the road.

 

I love my w-900 but as far as ride unless they have changed since took over by freightliner western star hands down my grandpa drove one for many years great riding truck.It was a 4900ex if i remember right
believe it was a 95 or 96 drove it twice loved the way it rode.Test drove one of those new volvos that thing was rough electronic susp. no thank you

 

The two best things to ever happen to Western Star are the availability of Detroit engines and Air Liner suspensions.

 

I had a 2010 Century, then went to 2011 Casadia.....whoooweee what a difference ! The bunk heater in my Cascadia was a bit persnickety though(stay away from the digital controller for the Epar heaters). But as far as a smoother ride ? Cascadia hands down. She was a lot "softer" though. Take the same off-ramp, same speed, and I got a lot more "roll alarms" in the Cascadia. I also liked having the Bunk Windows vs the vents. On the warmer nights, I would put screens in the front windows with a fan, and open the bunk windows; slept like a baby. (now that was in the spring, you'd never get away with it down in Laredo this time of year..straight to the Pilot and rig-up that IdleAire. Cheaper than idling, and worth every penny))