Buying a tractor

The series92 2stroke 500+hp, pulls any load and will get you there quick, as long as you don't mind 3-5 miles per gallon. Fastest truck I've ever driven was a Mack Superliner with a Silver92 V8 with double over 13 and 3.55rears, triple digit plus, pass everything but a fuel stop.I went on vacation for a week and when I came back the driver that had filled in for me had broken all the motor mounts and put the hydraulic cyl in the dump trailer through the floor.Extended my vacation, he did.What an A-hole.

 

AW. Fire that one.

Those V8 Macks like the one we had were just I guess a Animal upgrade. Not particularly fast on our Superliner 500 mind you, what with it being a tired ex road tractor converted to dump... but she will lug pretty much any hill at about 850 when Snowball (RIP, torn artery heart area at 59) had her. I tried to match or beat it but I could only do it at 900 on the same hill same load. I think the difference with him was the hearing. He could tell what to get out of those turbos.

I talk like they are monsters. But it's more of a historic engine than anything and if you have not experienced it, I suggest you go find one.

Here is a similar one but right hand drive new zealand style.

 

I asked this question to several long time employees at a major company I used to work for, and the answer was always DD15 has less issues overall than Cummins. That’s not to say Cummins is a terrible engine. These differences may only be visible when looking at the performance of hundreds, if not, thousands of trucks. The major company I worked for has about 2,500 drivers and most of their trucks are Freightliner, Kenworth, Peterbilt, and Volvo, in that order. I once drove a Kenworth T680 with a little over 100k miles. Their interior was very well designed.

 

Whatever your preference is.I prefer anything pre- emissions.My favorite Freightshaker is the Classic. Big hood, big sleeper, big power. But that's the last one that I've driven.2001 Classic, 275" whlbase, condo sleeper, 12.7DDEC, 500hp, air ride,24.5 big rubber.I pulled a reefer throughout New England, 3 trips to Maine,NH and N Boston, and 1 trip to NYC. Set the cruise to 75 and let er rip. That truck never went under 65 up hill with 40k in the box. Good luck doing that now with the new regs. You have to decide what kind of truck you need for the job you're going to do, that is what spec'ing a truck is all about. I needed a comfortable truck, that I could live in all week and not be tired. That truck was more comfy than my own bed. I have no experience with any "new" trucks, auto shift, def, e-logs, I didn't even have a GPS. Give me a city, an address and a phone#and I'll find any stop, the old fashioned way, with a map.That's my point,you have to decide what's best for you and for what your doing. Test drive the heck out of many trucks. If you don't have any mechanical exp,find a garage close by and drag the truck over there and have someone in the know look at it.If you're going to run the road, you'll be spending a lot of time in that truck, so you need to be darn sure it's the one you need or you won't be happy, get it.Good luck, you'll figure it out.

 

I have had cummins. I think cummins is good engine but when problem occurs cummins dealers are worst. Especially one in St louis, MO. I went there 2 times got charged $2000 for nothing.

I have heard many bad experiences with cummins dealers all over the country

 

There isn't one, it is all about the drivetrain, the packaging is just something that comes with it.

 

I have a 2014 Freightliner Cascadia. I have had a few DEF issues, especially when I first got the truck. Last time I had to take my truck to a dealer for DEF issues was over a year ago. I have been lucky, though.

Get the newest truck you can afford, or a pre-emissions truck. Newer trucks have probably been able to fix some common DEF issues. Now, ultimately, trucks will always have ongoing problems that are not related to the engine or DEF, such as coolant, oil, and air leaks. This site and YouTube are a good place to learn how to fix those issues yourself. If not, get ready for a $125-$190 hourly labor rate at the truck shop.

 

Better if you add EBay head studs and Chinese choo choo bois.