Help spec my truck

6 axles with the spacing will get you 88k

Steer 12k
Tandem 34k
Tridem 42k

This is based on their bridge formulas

My setup

steer 12k
drives w/ pusher 43,500
Trailer quads 52,000
Total 107,500

I have a little wiggle room there on that. I also have to have 70 feet outside bridge for 106k with 8 axles. the pup will have the ability to carry another 40k gross but will not need to go over that 136k limit.

I am anticipating the truck and 53 to come in at 30-35k empty range. That leaves 70k for payload when most are carrying 48-50k on their steps and flatbeds. With the pup it will add another 20-25k to the payload (I don't have pup weight yet) so yeah the heavier specs are worth it. I also like to over spec things. Like I really do not need 46k drives but I think it will be easier on them with this weight than the 40k drives will be.

Yeah, paid for every hundred pounds I carry times the number of miles run. The added capacity will generate approximately $2 per mile extra to the truck. If I am running light, I just keep the other axles off the ground. There is also a lot of hay hauling in this area so the doubles will come in handy for that.

As far as the 20 years, that is not replacement, that is retirement. I can rebuild the truck for a lot less than a new one will cost in 10-15 years.

Now can the setup carry more legally? Not with a divisible load. You will not get an over axle weight permit with a divisible load. That is the main key to all of this, these loads are divisible so I have to stay within the bridge limitations. Not just the overall length but also each axle set.

BTW the 53' quad weighs in only 2500 lbs more than a buddy's 48' spread step but can carry 25k more in payload.

 

Thank you for that info. I have looked at MACK and I still lean towards the WS just because of the interchangeability and availability of parts and service. I think of this like back in the early 90's with computers, you could buy a clone with interchangeable parts or you could buy an IBM with proprietary parts. I like the ones with the more off the shelf parts.

 

LOL.... Single frame was already stated before. Well take away the double frame, wet kit, extra axle, enclosed headache rack rack off and add a sleeper. I guess we will weigh about the same or less but will not be sure until the truck is spec'd and quoted. No need for 12r or 315 on the front. I can only put 12k on the front axle. Like to keep all my tire sizes the same so the steers I can cap and put on the drives or trailer. This way I have my own casings and know how they were treated.

The problem with 22.5 tires is about 4 mph slower at the same rpm with the same gearing. Plus I do like the ground clearance... LOL

 

And you are basing this on what? Your opinion? EGR has been around since what 2007? Are you saying that the majority of those trucks have had to be rebuilt in the 5-600k mile range?

Disc brakes dissipate the heat faster than drum brakes do. Proven fact for decades.

Yeah and I am likely to have problems with anything I buy. Yes it is easier to AVOID this stuff but that does not help at all when a state shuts it's doors to non emission trucks. I can fix an emissions problem cheaper than I can a non emissions truck. As far as telling my customer, it is no different from blowing out a differential or any other part on the truck. A friend of mine just lost the use of his 2001 WS because his driver went off the road and broke the front axle. We will not know until monday what all the damage is but suffice to say the tire is sitting at a 30° angle.

You seem to feel that the trucks are in the shop all the time with emissions systems problems. We also have a 2011 Dodge 5000 and it has DEF and all that other crap too. Although I hate it, that truck has over 80k on it and has only been in the shop 2 times. Once for a sensor in the DEF system and once for a broken wire in the shift lever.

If there was really that much of a problem with emissions trucks, there would not be 190k of them sold every year. Yeah the older ones had issues, I will give you that but it has now been 7 years since all this crap started. I think they have most of the bugs worked out.

Yeah the emission trucks have a lot more to go wrong but there is also the expense of retrofitting a glider. I would not be able to do that for 20k. Looking to the future and not to the past. Sometimes you may not like it but you CANNOT ignore it.

 

Sounds like you got one of the lemons. At least the engine was the right color.

See guys this is how disagreements should be. CIVIL... LOL

Thank you for your input though. What I meant about the emission vs non emission cost was that I can keep an emissions truck running cheaper than I can converting my non emissions truck over to an emissions truck. I would say that it would run into the 30-40k range to do that conversion with having to get a new motor and all the other stuff. It may be higher by the time that comes around.

Putting your head in the sand and refusing to believe that other states will follow the CARB lead is not going to make the problem go away. Years ago CA came out with some crazy anti smog legislation and all of a sudden cars had to have these smog pumps and such. Then the feds moved in and put even stricter legislation. No they did not eliminate those older vehicles being used but what is to stop them from doing this with trucks? It is not out of the realm of possibility. Government wants the little guy to fail and the corps to succeed. If everyone had to buy new trucks, who do you think is more likely to keep rolling?

You did state that there would be a phase in period and on that I agree. My point is that I don't want to have to buy a new truck then or have to upgrade the one I already have. I can not justify paying over 140k (without the extras) for a truck that could possibly be obsolete and unusable in 10 years.

Those big fleet trucks are probably the majority of the 190k per year, I don't know, but their old trucks are being purchased and easily run for another 2-5 years or more. Heck, ours is a 2001 and has 1.3 mil so 20 years is not out of the realm of possibilities.

See one advantage I have is that I don't have to run 7 days a week. I can't, the places are all closed. When you do not have any down time then there is no time for preventative maintenance etc.