Cascadia?? Should I??

We got a 2010 model and so far its been a good truck. Had it since december and now theres 154k on the odometer. t had too major of issues with it. Mileage is good, we have a pretty solid average of about 7mpg out of it. Sometimes higher, sometimes lower.

Although, you may have to have the air compressor worked on a few times because with ours, we've had it in FL'r shop a couple of times because of a leak somewhere on the compressor that kept kickin' it on every 30 seconds. This time as with last time, it was due to a fitting that sprung a leak. Other than that, we had to recently have the tensioner pulley replaced because it wasnt keeping the A/C and the alternator belt tight enough.

 

I just got a PM from a parts guy over at the of the big fleets that runs a lot of Cascadia's with DD15's. He sez most of the problems aren't mechanical with the engine... mostly ECM snafu's when the computers don't agree with the info they are receiving from the various systems. And the EGR valves and DPF's are sensitive... whatever that means.

He also said the new trucks with urea systems are too new to comment on... good luck.

 

The Idea of buying a glider kit and a pre-emission engine is a great idea, except more and more locations are specifying the emission of the trucks that service them be of a specific regulation.
There will be roadside emission test stations and if you do not pass you do not enter, or you will have to have it fixed. When the states figure out that they can fine you and insist that the truck is fixed near there they will do it.
Congratulations on the new truck!

 

Congrats on the new TRUCK , what color did you get ?

 

We bought 2 of them, both 2010's with the DD15, fuel milage is phenomenal, trucks are running great, nice ride, quiet, the drivers love them.

Best trucks we've ever had as far as fuel economy.

 

Your point is not valid. With a glider kit truck, the emissions requirements are tied to the year of the manufacture of the ENGINE, not the truck. That is the beauty of a glider kit. It will have a "G" in the VIN number to show it is a glider truck. If tested, the engine only has to meet the emissions requirements of the year it was made, since it is a rebuilt engine. Do not confuse a glider kit truck with a regular production truck or personal auto. Rules are very clear. True, you could not rebuild a pre emissions engine and slap it is a, say, 2006 truck. That is because the truck was a regular production truck and therefore the engine has to meet the emissions of the year the truck was made.

All this being said, true, "Kalifornia" will not allow pre emissions engines, glider kit or not, unless retrofited with DPF. If one does not run CA, then it is a non issue. You can, LEGALLY, have a rebuilt 1995 N-14 in a 2010 FL Coronado glider kit truck (or whatever other engine/yr trips your trigger).

Not clear on this? Check with Fitzgerald Truck Sales in Crossville, TN. They have specialized in doing glider trucks for several decades. You can find a raft of listings of new glider kit trucks with rebuilt pre-emissions engine right now that they have ready to go on Truckpaper complete with warranties. Some are downright sharp looking rides. And the equivalent spec'd truck similar to what Fitzgerald is selling will run you $30,000 to $40,000 more as a regular production truck (because of all the emissions junk you will pay for) at a FL dealer. That is money I care not to spend if I don't have to. And in the long run, there is no way, with a full blown 2010 emissions equipped truck, you could come close to the overall low maintenance cost of the pre-emission engine. You might, if lucky, match it in fuel mileage, but when you have to buy sensors, EGR valves, SCR fluid, clean DPF's, etc, you are going to be out a lot of change compared to a glider with a pre-emissions engine.

And, since a complete glider kit truck is less than 75% the cost of a brand new production truck, there is no Federal Excise Tax! Add that to the savings and things get better and better. I will admit, that eventually, all of the country will clamp down on the emissions stuff. I concede the old saying "As California, so goes the rest of the nation". But that time will not be here for quite a while. At least a decade or more. Plenty of time to get a lot of use out of a really good glider truck.

 

I just wish more companies sold gliders, FL doesn't exactly trip my trigger.

 

Do you mean that some customers (shippers) are going to start requiring trucks that meet a specific emissions standard to do business with them? I can see that happening if more places follow the lead of the ports in California, but I've never had anyone even ask me how old my truck was.

 

Won't every OEM sell a glider?

 

Kenworth doesnt offer gliders. I dont care as much for Freightliners either but Coronado's are nice trucks. I'd probably get one of them before I would a Peterbilt.