Need Help

Dont make a Bully Dog for my application, and with loads like this as my bread n butter, mudflaps wont do squat! In fact an aero truck (Cascadia) with the same running gear as me, same load at 110,000lbs, on the same type of trailer, always put in within 5 gallons of fuel as I did from Ca to Pa. I doubt the stick on goodies are going to help me any!



Thats why I sated "legal loads" in my prior posting. For what I do, even 5.5mpg would be a dream at times!

Martin

 

The shop I use hired a CAT specialist they know to come retune my truck. I was worried because I have just over 1.2 million miles and thought it might be too stressful and shorten what ever life was left in this engine. Oil samples came back good and they said it would be fine. I do not know how or what he used to tune the ECM with. I was not there. They had the truck for 3 weeks. All I know is now the idle is super quiet and smooth as butter. It sounds different. Jake has a noticeable growl to it,.. I suspect the mufflers did that. The turbos spool up instantly, throttle response is instant, I can pull most hills at 1300 rpm where I had to drop a couple gears and tach it up to 1500 rpm before. Put it to you this way,.. I just cross I80 in PA with a 35k load, I never dropped a gear for any of the hills from Hubbard Oh all the way into NJ. I filled up in La Port Indiana for $2.55 gal, I'm in Bridge Port Ct right now with gauge sitting just below the 5/8 mark and 856.7 miles on the trip meter. I'm happy as a pig in mud.

As for aero mods,.. nope. None. Its an 05 Columbia. I have no ground skirts. Tanks are exposed.

I was talking with a guy who has an 08 Columbia that parks his truck where I park mine when at home. We got on the discussion how strong winds really rock and shake the Columbias with condo roofs. He said he added those little mini air spoilers to the sides of his air dams behind the sleeper and they helped tremendously with the way the air shook the truck. I dont know if he was blowing hot air or not,.. but I think it would be cheap enough to experiment and see if it really works. I dont know if it would help with fuel mileage or not. I doubt it would hurt.

Hurst

 

I remember being loaded with 110 barrels of fracking water in North Dakota and was going up a very steep hill, the truck had a sweet ### c15 in it and I have never been more impressed with an engine like I was with the c15.

Also the tank skirts aren't necessary - they're just cosmetic and they are a PITA getting off and on

what about trailer skirts?

 

the other advantage to driving slower and easier is reduced ware on tires and drive line components... just sayin

 

My binder can run the speed limit in all states. When empty I do but when loaded that's another story. A lot of states I have to run 5 to 15 miles an hour below posted speed limit. Sometimes pulling a big grain cart or big combine with a headwind I get passed by swift & prime.The stuff I pull we don't worry about fuel consumption.

 

Moral of the story

The best companies to work for are probably the ones who govern their trucks to the speed that you don't want to drive.

 

If you are in a position to pick and choose, then by all means... hold out for what will make you happiest.

But if things are tight and you have any dependents, then sometimes you have to take the lessor of your evils and ride it out until you find what you are looking for.

Not to sound condesending, but the way you are wording your replies, you come across as a heavy footer, potentially reckless driver with little regard for company well being and strictly self worth and reward. So when you read the replies.. that is why some may respond as they are.

Trucking is a business. Personally I would rather park a truck then risk a driver who may harm my business model.

Not say you would.. just understand when you say one of your criteria is an ungovrned truck.. this is what comes to mind.

Something to consider if you have been turned down or simply gotten no reply after an initial phone interview... maybe choose your words more carefully when talking with a company.

Larger companies may have a driver shortage for the freight they need to move.. but smaller mom n pop O/O companies will scrutinize drivers and mainly choose drivers who portray themselves as true professionals.

Keep knocking on doors and you will eventually find the home you are looking for. Yes I have heard of drivers whos company doesnt seem to care how hard they push their truck and long as deliveries are made on time. I dont know who they are. I never really paid much attention to drivers who talked like that. They came across as braggarts or full of BS to me.

Hurst