Freightliner on the high side?

The lower the number the lower the gear. I think that's what the well reknowned KR says. The driveline will spin 2.79 times per 1 tire revolution.

3.42 was standard spec. with a 13 speed manual. My 12 was the exact same spec as OP. Don't know your location but it worked just fine in the western region pulling 80k flatbed loads. ( Mountains ) AND we pulled reefers also.

 

Not sure i entirely agree with you on that comment. I have a 2015 Cascadia. Steers are always around 12000 or a little higher. We actually unboltes the stationary 5th wheel and moved it back some when the truck was new. Doesnt much seem to matter how the truck is loaded. Im 11,200 or so empty and 11,900 or more loaded. I could push more weight back on the trailer to lighten my tractor up, but I am pulling a spread axle flatbed. Pulling van or reefer, youd probably get over on the trailer before you took enough off the tractor to lighten the steers up enough to matter.

 

No, if you load it right you will be fine. Must have a sliding 5th wheel. It is a lighter truck to begin with. Which would explain why so many drivers of them especially pulling reefer very often have their trailer tandem all the way forward. And also why we have a go around about steer axle weight every few months on here.

 

I have a Freightliner Cascadia with the same specs however two different things. I have a 550 Cummins and 3.50 rear axle former Ryder truck with 417xxx when i bought it now at 446xxx .So far I've havent had any headache with it and I've owned it for almost 5 months. Replaced the Dozer valve earlier in the year, and replaced my clutch. Other than that Its a pretty decent unit. I'm able to scale 45500, and typically dont like pulling all that weight. I'm comfortable with 42000 sometimes 43000 depending on terrain and weight distribution. My steers never hit above 12000 with my 5th wheel positioned smack dab in the middle and sometimes the drives can sometimes be above 35000 but I can adjust using the tandem axle. I also have the Parksmart APU which does apply with the 400 pound weight exemption on drives.

 

Which one worked fine the 2.79? I'm in the south/east coast. Will it pull this region w/o a problem? @snowwy

 

2.79 in direct gear will pull about the same as a 3.70 with overdrive .

 

I don't understand why its such a hard concept to grasp. Its basic math and common sense. Position the 5th wheel so that when you're full of fuel you have 12k/34k (5,500kg/17,000kg in my neck of the woods) and leave the friggen thing alone. Once its set up properly the truck will always be legal on the steer if its legal on the drives.

 

@sdaniel are the 2.79's rear end rare? My uncle been driving for 30+ yrs say he never heard of such gear (2.79)

 

Basic math and common sense is the issue... wait til we throw in reading the front of that big map book then oh God! Interstate rules differ from state weight limits! What now?!?

 

Yes they are rare . Flies in the face of what we were told for years. But in a overdrive gear you are losing HP. In a direct gear the input shaft and output shaft are directly connected. Very little loss. At road speed the two will pull the same in its highest gear. But direct will use slightly less fuel. Walmart and SNI both have used even higher gears , 2.64. And we know SNI is never light.