Best Engine for Flatbed and Heavy Haul

Well I'm probably not as qualified as others to argue the merits of particular engines especially for heavy haul. But I can relay my experiences with the two trucks I own.

The first one has a 2004 ISX, it was running 6.2 mpg and it's pretty doggy powerwise (set at 435). After a very expensive set of injectors and welding the EGR shut I'm now getting 6.8 mpg. parts, rebuilding, etc... very pricey for this engine.

The second one has a 1999 N14, documented 7.4 mpg pulling heavy reefer. Still not sure, but we are seeing those numbers and better pulling the lightweight stepdeck stuff I do. No EGR concerns, everything is cheaper from turbo to injectors to total overhaul. If I had it to do over again I would have two trucks with N14's and would have placed less emphasis on truck year and mileage when purchasing. When you can get 7-8 mpg out of an inexpensive truck you can afford to put a lot back into it if need be, IMO.

 

Aren't you mostly limited by cooling on the big HH loads ? I've had heavy-haulers tell me it doesn't really make much difference if you have 350 hp or 500 hp when you are climbing a hill with a big load, either one can only work as hard as the cooling can keep up with. Is that true ? Obviously, coming down the hills makes no difference. Plus, those guys tell me the last thing on your mind is hurrying with loads like that. Do you agree ?

 

Agree to a certain point. More HP is always better, but gravity and cooling capacity are what they are.
Western Stars actually mount the cab higher than they normally are, to make room for extra cooling in the HH trucks they build.
You normally drop gears to keep the boost reasonable, thus keep the coolant in line.

Martin

 

It's amazing how many drivers out here don't understand that 3 gears down half throttle and under 20lbs of boost is way better than overdrive and full throttle on a hill.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2

 

The cab lift is $600 uptick in price, in case you need it

Ron

 

The only thing I can say is that I drove a 2013 International Pro Star with the Maxx Force engine and now in a 2012 Cascadia with a Detroit, I would take the Maxx Force any day over this piece of crap Detroit.

 

In a nutless company truck? Never base your opinion of equipment if you've only drove hacked up company trucks. I have heard 0 good anythings about the Maxxforce and I almost bought one

 

I can't REALLY make an intelligent reply to this.

Back in the 90's we had Big Mack trucking as a customer. Bill was the shop manager and he used Pete trucks with Detroit Engines and SWORE they were the best. I want to say they were s-60 or something like that. I still see some of their trucks (they have been out of business for better than 10 years now) but the paint scheme is easily recognized.

I had a clapped out Freightshaker with Detroit and a not so clapped out Prostar with a Cummins as a PAM driver. Both were strangled but a liked the Prostar WAY better.

 

We got a 1994 379 peterbuilt for my boy. Kevin Rutherford claims these tractors are like a brick not able to get any fuel mileage out of them.It has a N14 and a 9 speed overdrive Rockwell transmission and 3.90 rears. Paid 5500.00 for it. took engine out send it to machine shop put everything brand new back in it except for the cam and crank and the rocker boxes. put an OPS bypass system and a fass fuel system on it 8 new Bridgestone M726El drive tires (KR) says they are no good also. 2 BF Goodridge ST230 steering tires and 6 new aluminum wheels rebushed the suspensionand I can not remember what all else we did to it. anyway with the 2290 and tags and 250 gallon of fuel we had 42500 in the truck.He is 22 now and hauls a lot of oversize runs 57 to58 mph and stays in the 7.5 mpg range. To say the least I am impressed with that N14. He has been running that truck for 10 month and has made 3 times what we have in it. My old cat pumps out 620 hp and 1970 pounds of torque and gets 6 mpg.In 100000 miles he is close to $10000 more profit just from fuel savings and you say N14's are mechanics friends?. I do not get it

 

Kevin Rutherford is full of crap? Say it aint so....that ###### needs to stick to trying to flog his stuff to the flease purchase guys, only ones that would believe his drivel.


Martin