Buying new or used truck

You can get better than 5 mpg. That 4.5-5.5 range is generally reserved for stingers. Add cars hanging off the front of the hood & then add that those trucks(with sleepers) are in the 42,000-45,000 pound range empty.
But Rolling Coal is correct in that aero vs hood is not going to make much difference pulling a high mount car trailer. You generally have a large gap between back of cab to front of trailer for over hang & then all the variable heights of the vehicles is pretty much a middle finger at aero-dynamics.

So that said, you can buy the body/hood you want, you just need to narrow down if you are going to CA.(CARB rules) & most importantly, match the specs for the terrain you travel most.

 

cowpie claim that harrison has better warranty than fitzgerald.

 

no, it means harrison will sell cascadia gliders with cummins n-14, 12.7 detroit, and maybe 6nz cat c-15. With DEF, it would cost more than what the gliders normally cost.

 

From my research into it, if I were to buy a glider it would come from Harrison's.
You are in the same boat as me. For what I haul MPG is not going to happen. I ran with a Cascadia a month or two back. Same loads, same trailers, same engine, same trans, same rears near enough (3.42 with 22 lo pro's on his, 3.58 with 24 lo pros on mine), and we always were within 5 gallons at fill up time. Problem is, I run a 4900EX Western Star with the big sleeper, and is about as aerodynamic as a house.
Hauling oversize/overweight out West, does not make for good MPG with any shape truck in my experiences. Biggest thing to improve my mpg would be a lower rear end ratio, thats about it. But with my truck under full factory warranty, and having full lockers, I'm hesitant at the moment.
I would say any type of truck will improve your bottom line, if payments are acceptable.
i know Western Star makes the Lowmax for your type of application, and is a very nice ride in my book.

Martin

 

Every folk says they dream of having western star. I bet they use same insulation on freightliner.

 

Oh dear. I have owned both. Can you say the same? Didn't think so.
Maybe go look both over, then see for yourself.
Nope, ws is not owned by freightliner neither, so try another one.
Not sure what set you off on this particular path, but having owned most trucks out there, I can assure you the build quality, fit and finish, and yes the insulation, is at the very least equal to or better than anything else out there.
Maybe go look for yourself, then you won't come off the way you just did., which is both ignorant and hostile for some reason.......oh well, PMS does seen rampant this past week or so,.maybe its the moon

Martin

 

For the record, Western Star IS owned by Fruitliner, however, they are not built like a shaker. For the most part, they are still made very much like they were in Kelowna.

 

Actually with this setup the engine becomes even more important than usual over aerodynamics.

I'd get a glider, no matter the make or model, run a 12.7 pre-egr detroit with a direct drive with 2.64s and run 60. Or slower.