What truck to get???? Grrrrrr.....

Only solid advice I can give came straight from a CAT mechanic, stay as far away from there trucks as you can get. Thy are made by International and thy are crap!

 

Second the CAT advice.
Mack used to be THE truck for dump, but now they're made by Volvo, and are all Volvo under the cab and hood. Still, it's the newest truck, and is a tri-axle, instead of quad, if that makes any difference. You need to see them in person, sit in it and decide if you'll be happy in it 10 hrs a day. I hate Mack's w/w switch, and seat, but everyone has different opinions. Try to get service records, you can see if they're "problem childs".

 

Definitely not anything past 2007 ,especially used unless it's a glider with a pre emissions engine. The 2011 and 2013 will bring you nothing but DEF/DPF and eventually blown engine heartaches . This is from experience running a 2012 W900 with a Cummins 550 in it. Blew 2 engines ,first one at 300k second at 400k. It blew a turbo at 580k,new turbo installed $7000, then cracked injector tubes in the head . Truck was a nitemare,and I know more than a few people with the same story. The truck was a solid truck,it's just the emissions junk was ,and will always
Be a nitemare ,especially going off-road. Dust clogs the filter in the DEF tank and screws up some sensors ,cost to clean tank and filter $900, cost to clean DPF filter $800, a couple of thousand to replace if it's cracked (its ceramic)You will be constantly at the dealer with insane bills for emmision issues,trust me.
Just got a 2007 Western Star 4900 tri axle heavy hauler
Tractor . 550 C15 Cat,18spd,46k rears. Love the truck. Had a few isssues to work out ,but no DPF/DEF nonsense.
I've been driving 31 years and spent many years in 379 Petes and W900 KW,s along with Macks,and other Brands. Hands down I'd take the Western Star over any of them. It's so solid ,and stable off-road ,tight and well made. I always heard Western Stars were rugged Off-road trucks,bit didn't realize till I've been in one for The last three months .
Out of the choices you have ,Definitely The 2007 KW. The C13 is kind of under powered for a heavy hauler,but pretty reliable from what I've heard.
If you have the time look for a similar Western Star with a C15 ,you won't be disappointed if the truck was taken care of and well maintained.. Good Luck...

 

Hey,your welcome. Freightliner And Western Star are owned by Daimler. The KW seems like a good deal,but isn't 380 horse really under powered for a heavy hauler.
I run 107,000 and even that 550 Cat needs some help on some hills. I couldn't imagine 380 hp.

 

You're 550 Cat is probably in front of high 3.XX to low 4.XX geared rears. That 380 hp probably has high 4.XX to low 5.XX rears in it, seeing as how it's just a dump (not a tractor) and meant for local type work.

I voted the for the Mack...but I'm a little biased. If it has an all-Mack drive train behind it (Mack engine & Mack rears) and the Camelback suspension, it'll take you places those other 2 can only dream of going. The fact that it has the most power under the hood doesn't hurt, either.

Ok, just re-read the OP and saw "Allison 6-speed transmission". Not sure why you'd want that, but to each his own. Doesn't change the fact that the Mack is top dog in the HP department. I'm a little curious what rear end gearing those trucks all have, as that can mean the difference between a decent working truck or a nightmare on wheels...especially doing site work.

 

You do know that "newer" Mack motors are Volvo motors repainted and branded as a mack

 

Not entirely true. While the parts and pieces are the same, it is still a Mack tune. Last I looked, Mack was tweaking them for more hp & than the Volvo counterparts...but it's been a couple years since I've looked.

 

Tune might be different but I bet all the hard parts are the same. Just like the M-Drive is a I-shift rebranded.