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Freightliner Coronado

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by BDS0111, May 31, 2009.

Page 1 of 5
  1. May 31, 2009 #1
    BDS0111

    BDS0111 Bobtail Member

    46
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    May 27, 2009
    Ohio
    0
    Hey all!! Currently specing some new trucks...

    I'd love some input on what the drivers out there (or fleet managers) think of the Coronado??? Before getting into engines, transmissions, and the like I'd like to hear what you think in general?

    I'm not a driver...trucking is a new service that my company (I'm the owner) is offering...I know much, much more than the average non-trucker but not nearly as much as all of you so lots of this is new to me!

    Thanks for your thoughts!

    Brandon
     
    BDS0111, May 31, 2009
    BDS0111, May 31, 2009
    #1
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  3. May 31, 2009 #2
    Winchester Magnum

    Winchester Magnum Road Train Member

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    Are you certain you want to go with 'shakers, or would you be open to something built with quality?
     
    Winchester Magnum, May 31, 2009
    Winchester Magnum, May 31, 2009
    #2
    The Challenger Thanks this.
  4. May 31, 2009 #3
    BDS0111

    BDS0111 Bobtail Member

    46
    6
    May 27, 2009
    Ohio
    0
    Winchester... I am also looking at the Pete 387. How does the Coronado lack quality??!?! Or is it just a loyalty thing???
     
    BDS0111, May 31, 2009
    BDS0111, May 31, 2009
    #3
  5. May 31, 2009 #4
    Winchester Magnum

    Winchester Magnum Road Train Member

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    It's well know that 'shaker cant hold a candle to Paccar in the quality dept or resale. So yeah, to me it's kind of a loyalty thing. But i'm just a one truck owner. I don't wish to trash your thread here, so I wont get into 'shaker bashing. However, may I ask why you are looking at the aforemention trucks? And how many are ya looking to buy?
     
    Winchester Magnum, May 31, 2009
    Winchester Magnum, May 31, 2009
    #4
  7. May 31, 2009 #5
    BDS0111

    BDS0111 Bobtail Member

    46
    6
    May 27, 2009
    Ohio
    0
    I will be purchasing anywhere from 2 - 8 trucks depending on how things work out.

    First off, I like the Coronado because I can put a custom sleeper on it (and yes, I know there are many Paccar models I can do this with too). Secondly, because I am a small operation I will be doing all of my PM and service work offsite. I have a very, very lengthy and strong relationship with Ryder and they can support Freightliner better than other makes. The size of their operations can provide me with the service and options that I need and much more quickly with the Freightliner and I need their national network. Furthermore, I like the styling of the truck. I feel it displays the image that I want...

    The biggest drawback for me right now is that I'm not completely sold on the Detroit engine.

    What I would really like to hear is what drivers who have actually driven the truck have to say??!!

    I'm very very big into driver comfort, moral, and retention and will gladly spend the extra money for all the bells and whistles if it makes for a better experience for the driver and a happier driver.

    What can I do to the truck to make the ride better Winchester???

    I wish I had more reasons. I'm really just now getting to the guts of the spec'ing process. I am talking with both Freightliner and Peterbilt.
     
    BDS0111, May 31, 2009
    BDS0111, May 31, 2009
    #5
  8. May 31, 2009 #6
    Winchester Magnum

    Winchester Magnum Road Train Member

    1,492
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    Alaska highway
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    For looks, and I caint believe I'm say this, but the Coronado is hands down better on the eyes that a 387 Pete. Make it any other Pete and the bets are off. I'm a CAT guy, so 'Shakers have always been outta that loop, but now that CAT has been force outta the class 8 game by the enviro nazis, that's moot, unless you can find one in Paccar that has already been bought (the motor has been bought by paccar to be installed) and is sitting at the manufacturing plant, or is on the lot.

    The national network for service you speak of, admitadly, should rate up there for a small fleet owner, more so than a one truck guy, but with a shaker and a detroit, I'm thinking you may just need it.

    Those two truck models you mention quite surely have more interior room than anything I'd buy, but I'm perhaps the odd dieing duck type. If I were buying new right now, it would be 386/388/389 Pete, or in KW T800/W900 or maaaaybe a T660. There's no other truck I'd buy, period. That's the owner in me, the driver in me, and the seller (resale) in me.

    Hopefully, a few guys who own the Coronado/387 Pete can make a post or two and weigh in. I think those are the guys you want to speak up. Good luck, whichever route you go.
     
    Winchester Magnum, May 31, 2009
    Winchester Magnum, May 31, 2009
    #6
    wrangler1 Thanks this.
  9. May 31, 2009 #7
    BDS0111

    BDS0111 Bobtail Member

    46
    6
    May 27, 2009
    Ohio
    0
    Thanks for the advice!
     
    BDS0111, May 31, 2009
    BDS0111, May 31, 2009
    #7
  10. May 31, 2009 #8
    25(2)+2

    25(2)+2 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    the road less travelled
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    Cats have been available in Freightliners, just like in PACCAR products and Internationals. Volvo and Mack were the ones that didn't use Cat, and the older Volvos were offered with Cat, I don't know the year Volvo quit selling trucks with Cat engines.

    Freightliner is now offering some Cummins engines in the 2009 models and especially in 2010 models, buying a new Coronado out of inventory might get you one of those. You might find a Cat in inventory somewhere but it would be a twin turbo.

    I would like to drive a DD15 with 1850 ft lbs torque, the ones I see listed in the truck papers new are topping out at 505 horsepower and 1650 torque.
     
    25(2)+2, May 31, 2009
    25(2)+2, May 31, 2009
    #8
  11. May 31, 2009 #9
    BDS0111

    BDS0111 Bobtail Member

    46
    6
    May 27, 2009
    Ohio
    0
    Unfortunately, I'm being told that the only engine available in the Coronado is the Series 60. They are offering the Cummins in some other models, but not this one. On paper I like the DD15 with the 1850 ft lbs but I have been told that this engine will not be available in this truck until early 2010 (along with a $10 - $15k increase in price!!).

    My current spec is the 60 at 470 hp with 1650 ft lbs. They are telling me that this is more than enough power and that I would lose fuel economy if I went to more horsepower...

    I want these trucks to feel effortless on the big hills, I want a nice comfortable ride for my drivers. On some runs I really can't afford to lose time on hills. What are your thoughts?
     
    BDS0111, May 31, 2009
    BDS0111, May 31, 2009
    #9
  12. May 31, 2009 #10
    25(2)+2

    25(2)+2 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

    18,749
    45,452
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    the road less travelled
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    Are you going to be running mountains? Out west or out east?

    Otherwise the difference isn't that great from 470 to 515 horsepower.

    The difference on a trip considering one hill you have to pull versus being able to run it only nets a 2 minute difference at most from the poorest truck I have driven to the best, the best was probably a 525 N-14 backed with an 18 speed, next best was a 500 that had been regeared also with an 18. The worst was a 430 Detriot geared tall(extremely) with a straight 10 speed.

    Pulling refrigerated or dry box isn't that hard, the trailers I have pulled pull so hard that when I get a reefer to pull it takes a few miles to adjust from a terrible drag to an easy pull.

    I'd look for a 515 with a 13 geared to run at 1400 rpm in high gear at 65 mph, it will get up the long hills faster than a 470, and will run fast enough almost anywhere.
     
    25(2)+2, May 31, 2009
    25(2)+2, May 31, 2009
    #10
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