18 Speed

Totally agree. It's easy to break drivetrain parts by doing something dumb. It's even easier with big power. Whatever your lowest gear is in the trans is going to be the easiest on the powertrain. Get it in low gear and get the dang thing rolling and then apply the power and start rowing through the gears. The gears on the low side are there for a reason and I use them for that purpose.

The only thing I have ever broken on any of the drivetrains in my trucks was an axle shaft. I had a 2007 Peterbilt 379 for about 6 months back in 2017 with a 6NZ CAT that put down 702hp/2519tq to the wheels. I was pulling out of a fuel stop on an incline and my foot slipped and hit the throttle pedal in low gear and bang goes the right rear axle shaft. It sheared it off in the third member where I had to remove the other axle shaft and use a broom stick to get it out.

 

Most I've ever done is drag empty highboys around. Even then I waited until high range until I really layed into the throttle pedal.

 

Yep. Had a friend call me early one January.

“Hey Six…if I am driving along, and on one axle, I have the wheels turning forward and the wheels on the other side are turning backwards, what does that mean?”

It means you grenaded the rear end. How did you do that?

“Well, my brakes were frozen, and I tried to break them free…”

You revved the engine and dumped the clutch. With a 16 liter engine.

“Yeah.”

Well, that’s a quick and easy $2500 (probably closer to $3k nowadays). Why didn’t you climb under the rig and beat on the drums?

“I didn’t want to lay in the snow.”

For $2500 I would lay in the snow all day before doing what you did.

 

For the $500 or whatever the up charge is for a 18 on a new $200K truck I’d get the18……

 

Yeah for sure. If I am spec'ing a new truck and paying that kind of money I am definitely spending the extra cash to get an 18 speed.

When looking at used trucks I will buy a 13 speed truck over an 18 speed if the price is right but I'm always shopping for one with an 18 speed.

 

Aside from the fact the truck is just overall more versatile over it's life with the 18 speed, you also limit your horsepower options with something weaker like a super 10.

 

I also don't understand why full locking rears aren't standard spec for every truck. If it saves from being stuck one time in the truck's life it pays for itself.

 

For an owner operator but a lackadaisical employee will cost you money by leaving them locked.

 

Pretty much anything over 20-25k in the back I start off in Low. 1st is a tad high in the 93 Imo. Switching trucks getting into big red with Mack's 18 I can crawl faster than Lo Lo. You should see reverse. In Lo Lo you can have it at 2000 and still walk faster.

Having a 13 and 18 and pulling legal weight on the pavement not off road there's really only been a few times where I needed to split the low side but still I'd rather have the 18 any day....

 

I ordered out a 2016 579 the same way. Loved it!