Anyone have experiences with 4964SA, vs FX? What is ride like?

I have a 2001, 244" wheelbase (for parts of Canada), 84" sleeper. I run mainly northern B.C., Yukon, NWT, and Alaska. Lots of gravel road and poor ashphalt. I do lots of deliveries at mine sites, some of which require being towed by a cat. This is to let you know the conditions I operate in. I've always found the ride to be good. If you need measurements let me know and as soon as I recieve your cheque I'll get the tape measure out.

Oh what the he77, for a fellow Star man I'll forgo my usual fee and do it for nothing. Let me know what you need.

One word of caution. Watch your sleeper size. Depending on kingpin setting and wether you have a headache rack clearance can get a tad cramped. There are times I wish I had more room twixt the trailer and headache rack.

 

If both trucks are spec'd the same, the SA should give you a better ride off road and I also found they stand up a bit better in the corners.

 

I been truck shopping recently and didn't know much about the newer Western Stars but liked the look of them. Was speaking with a salesman at a midwestern WS dealership who seemed knowledgeable. He told me to avoid 2001 - 2002 models made in the USA because the company was bought out by Volvo? (I forget who?) in 2000 or 2001 and the quality and fit/finish went in the toilet for a couple years. He said the Canadian made ones were fine. Anyway, I have no personal experience, just what I heard. Maybe someone will put in their 2 cents with real experience?

 

I think Western Star was bought out by Dalmer Chrysler which also so own's many company's like Freightliner,Mercedees Benz, ect they moved the plant to Oregon from British Columbia there might of been some start up problem's and getting the kink's out of the new factory but other than that I havn't heard of any rel issue's they had. I have known of several trucks purchaced in those years and they didn't seem to be any better or worse than the Canadian built ones

 

My 01 was built in Kelowna. I believe, but not 100% sure it was 03 before they were built in Portland. I know it was quite awhile after Terry Peabody sold Western Star. They brought quite a few of the Kelowna people to Portland. I hauled 8 loads of machinery from Kelowna to Portland.

I've run Stars since 64 and cried when Freightliner bought them. My theory is there nothing in this world so good that Freightliner can't make it bad and nothing so bad Freightliner can't make it worse.

I was at the Portland plant last year and was told they build Freightliners to last 3 years and Stars to last 15.