Help spec my truck

In the coming months I am going to be purchasing my first truck and I do not know enough about the gearing

I will be pulling a flat with a pup (at times) regularly grossing 105,500 with the occasional load of 136,000. Not all loads will obviously be of this weight as I have hauled some under 20k. Will be a mix of flat and 40 ton rgn.

I am old enough that this will probably be my one and only truck. I have decided to go new because of the cost of a glider is 139k and I am questioning what is going to happen in the future when other states follow what Kommiefornia did. I don't want to get stuck with a truck 5 years from now that another state will not allow in.

With that, I always want to keep fuel economy in mind but I also don't want to need a tow over a pass (rockies). I want to have a Detroit so that narrows it down to Freightliner or Western Star. I am going to go with the Western Star and probably an 60" mid roof sleeper. I am only out 1-2 nights at a time and to save a little weight. The other reason for the WS is all the Freightliner/Western Star dealers available for warranty repairs. I travel the dakotas to Washington state.

Things I have decided on already.

1. DD16 motor
2. 18 speed transmission
3. 46k rears
4. pusher
5. 20k front
6. Fishing pole on truck
7. dual locking rears

Things I am still questioning

1. Rear gearing
2. Tire size (no singles)
3. Standard or Autoshift (may not want to shift 10-15 years from now)
4. double frame?
5. Color... LOL
6. Sloped hood or classic (I like the classic hood)

That's all I can think about for now.

I have settled on a Reitnouer 53' flat with a 4' dolly and a 24' pup that puts me at the limit of 81' for a RMD in Montana. Pup will be used in the cases where you just can not physically get all the load on a 53' even though you have weight left on the truck. The 53' will have a drop axle in front and a tag in the back that will get me to the 105,500 weight limit for the surrounding states. Pup will be used only in MT where most of my loads are picked up and delivered. The other states will just have to deal with a 53'. I will be hauling mostly concrete products such as manholes, pipe, blocks etc. The RGN will be for those really tall loads, not necessarily the weight.

Some will say I don't need all these trailers but I am in the position that I can pay cash and not even put a dent. Why would I still drive? Well that is easy, I love to drive.

PS. My other option is a Freightliner Coronado. Pay for the concrete is per 100 weight x miles driven. Hence the want to haul more at one time. I could make 2 trips at say 7 mpg or 1 trip at 5.5 or 6 mpg.

 

Not a problem and thanks for that. I would probably lean more towards the 3.73 end of the range.Tall rubber is good for me too. One option I did forget about is disc brakes instead of drums.not decided on that yet.

 

LOL....

Believe me, I have been going back and forth for about 6 weeks on that one point right there.

And that Glider price only included the upgrade to a 6nz and none of the additional stuff I want like axles and pusher.

 

Thanks guys

I would rather rely on experience than a salesman.

 

The only quote I have seen was someone else's truck briefly at the Freightliner dealer and that was a dd15 and a 13 speed for 149k. I take that back, I saw 2 different ones when I was comparing weights of the trucks and both were near 150k.

On the glider I would have to upgrade the axles, transmission and add a drop axle and those were not included in the price. The Freightliner quote was also lacking these things so I assume the spread will not be more than 20k. Might be even closer if I can get the trailers at the same place and of course negotiate the price.

I have the opportunity to purchase more trailers and lease them out so the more I buy the better deal I can get on the truck too.

 

The price on the glider was from Fitzgeralds and because their setup only generates 1650 torque it required the upgrade to the 6nz from Thompson CAT in Memphis. It was not a firm quote but the base glider from Fitz was 119k and they told me the cat would cost another 20k.

I also believe that in the next 5-10 years other states will follow CA with the emissions crap. I think that WA will be one of them. So for me the risk of having to purchase another truck in that time frame pushed me to get a new truck instead of a glider. I can rebuild the engine and transmission and easily get 20+ years out of a truck with the proper maintenance.