Trucks built for Dirt work

probably all depends on the region and the specs. i don't know.

i just know, that in utah. freightliners. (and there are very few) are always being towed in. wreckers and mechanics say they use standard otr rearends which aren't capable of the dirt hauling punishment.

i'm sure rockwell has a variety of rear end types for specific duties. not a one size fits all.

if your down in the south. where it doesn't rain or snow much. you could probably get by with a weaker rear end. becuase your always on dry dirt and not getting stuck.

i'll say this though. the oil haulers in utah. are all kw's and pete's. pulling 140lk. and in utah. oil fields are in the higher elevation. where the roads are all dirt and the snow and rain can really make a mess. good paying job but you have to chain about 7 months of the year.

i've seen a few guys have good luck with there western stars and sterlings. but the FL'S and volvos just don't work.

 

live in Ohio and was in and out of the Appalachia's running coal, hauling in and out of farms with agriculture and in and out of mills hauling scrap and alloys. Most times I was pushing 95-100k on a standard 5 axle set up and never under 80k. it depends on the specs of the trucks. you put an otr rear-end and yeah you will blow it out. we tried a Volvo rear-end out once and needless to say it didn't last. I've seen the freightliners and Volvos doing it. had a buddy that had a Volvo running end dumps and he liked it but I always drove a Mack when I did it. we may not have the high elevation but a lot of dirt roads mud snow cattle trails ect ect. now I run a kw and pull tank instead of end dumps

 

Freightshakers are garbage macks, kws, petes and western stars all hold up better. Western star use to be the best until freightliner took over.

 

How long a truck lasts is mostly determined by the loose nut behind the steering wheel.

 

That factor can have a lot more to due with the life expand act of the truck than the spec.

 

CAT dealerships are selling trucks built by NAVISTAR with International or Cummins engines then marked with CAT badges.

http://www.truckinginfo.com/channel...2013/02/cat-ct-660-at-work1.aspx?prestitial=1

 

I have owned Macks, Petes, and Freightliners it is how they are all spec'd.

 

The mack motor are also made by Volvo. A farmer i work for got a newer pinnacle (07 i think) he though it drove weird for a mack called the dealer and they said yea its a Volvo motor with a mack sticker on it.

 

true & not TRUE. I've SPEC
D LOTS OF TRUCKS....HERE'S WHAT I WOULD BUY FOR MYSELF:

1.) Name; insert what turns you on.
2.) NO SLEEPER. Duh. Yer paid by the ton,etc.
3.) 3:70 or LOWER gear...either Eaton ( preferred ) or Rockwell. You ###### near can't break a MAck....BUT YOU WILL BUY PARTS FROM MACK.
4.) Minimum 10-speed...Prefer 13+
5.) I suppose everyone's on the air-ride now...they're okay & light.
6.) Don't buy a freeway truck & expect it to live in the dirt...Springs?????
7.) Don't buy a Wheelbase of 240"...& expect to back up like a pro.
8) You WILL need horsepower. TO my very experienced way of Parts & Service Manager thinking;

a.) NO CUmmins L-10/M11 garbage.
b.) No Cat little 3116 stuff.
c.) My experience w/Cummins ISX (all HP ) has NOT, been great.
d.) Cat is nice...little spendy, but reliable.
e.) Later DDA IV stuff is good & tunable as are all others.
f.) Volvo??? I duno....& you won't find one w/o a sleeper. Nah.
g.) W/Star no doubt..Mack ditto
h.) ABSOLUTELY NO AUTOMATIC. PERIOD.
I.) F/Liner w/MBZ....hold on to your checkbook.....but they run forever until...........$$$$'s

If you're running bellys...may as well replace the air compressor now...'cause you're going to need to build lots' of air, ALL the time.

Good luck,

big Perm