CRETE - A Year in Review

Ok, I will admit it...I was wrong. Got to Lincoln...and sitting there at the end of a small line of new trucks (many of them red) was my brand spanking new blue, double bunk international prostar... So far the only complaints I have is...is the engine running?(been in a Freightliner, where the engine is so loud you can't hear yourself think) and I haven't figured out how to attach my phone cradle and directions clip to the dash, and since there is only 1 12v plug, and no way under the dash to connect my handy dandy splitter, I haven't figured out how I'll plug in cooler up front, along with phone charger and my Garmin nag-agator. Plus, please forgive me if I accidently blind you with the easy to reach switches on the wheel. So far, it is only a 'get use to convience' instead of deal with how Freightliner just tossed it in there where ever it would fit... I won't know how to act w/adequate hanging space, and a junk drawer, and a pull out shelf for paperwork or chow, or computer. They did go back to a fixed 5th wheel...but hey, we weren't allowed to use the slider when it was there, so I guess you can't miss what you haven't had.

I messaged my terminal manager and said "this will be the last message you will ever receive from me(from this unit) any future messages will be from my brand new international... Thank you. But I have one problem...I won't have any thing to complain about, so what will I do with all this extra time"... She msg'd me back and said she was printing that message out and keeping it a while, just in case she needs to remind me.

 

We used double stick tape (reinforced with superglue) to stick a 12v splitter on the passenger's side of the dash. Plugged in the phone, GPS & satellite radio. Ran the cooler to the plug under the bunk. Pluggled another cooler in under the junk drawer too. We use a magnet to mount the cell phone on the dash. The Prostar rides like a Cadillac.

 

my biggest problem with the plug is it keeps shooting my gps's plug out of the socket...not sure if it's the socket or my power cord. I did locate what looks like a extension cord under the tv table, I'm guessing that is made for a cooler, except my cabinet has metal shelves. I haven't quite figured out how to get the back part of the shelf loose. And these trucks have a decepive amount of storage...I was thinking it had a lot, but after I was only part way through unloading my Century...I was out of space...so wally and lowe's got some of my money for rubbermaid totes for now.

I use to think I could drive any make/model of truck with any engine...but this maxxforce w/the eaton makes me feel like a rookie. One driver said it reminds him of driving a CH model Mack...which is right. This engine winds up fast and drops off even faster. Couple that with the fact I haven't driven a Eaton for almost 9 years and the fact you can't hear the freakin engine...man, I hope I get use to this before the heavy winter shmutz starts. It does ride good, almost as good as a Volvo...almost that is. The heater works great in it as well. I spent the night in Lincoln before I headed to Denver...it got down in the mid teens, and I still has so much stuff stacked up, I couldn't close the curatin...even on low-to-medium it had no trouble keeping up. The only thing I don't understand is when the 'no idle' heater is going, my front dash vents blow too. The mechanic said it's just the heat venting up from the warm coolant being pumped through the system, but this was a low 'blow' of cold air. All in all, so far(my 1st day on the road) Snackbar likes it.

 

Things I miss about my old Century class that this Prostar needs.

An outside thermometer. Yea, I could buy one of those battery powered, wire sensor ones the truck stop sells, but these trucks are so 'wind noise' proofed, I would hate to disturb the seals just to stick one out there. And I'm not too sure how well one of the cheapey wireless ones would do rolling down the road at 60 mph.

A leg odometer. These Prostars have a trip odometer only. I use to use the trip odometer for my yearly actual miles traveled, and the leg odometer for the daily miles (more or less) for my log book mileage.

The little trash can under the cup holders. I used that for a receipt caddy(for my receipts for my taxes, not for the ones I turn in for reimbursement). Plus it use to be a good place to put all those 'at-a-boy' trailer inspection slips I never had to use.

Petty little things I know, but still, if Snackbar can't find something to disagree with...what fun would that be? No one would believe me if I didn't. Overall though, I'm still tickled *bleep*less with this Maxxforce Prostar.

 

nice i love my prostar to dont drive for crete but pull for pepsi my biggest gripe is how heavy they are love the controls for the radio in the sleeper as well

 

Our's don't have the radio stuff in the sleeper. But these suckers are heavy. The mechanic who did the inspections for my switch said the Prostar is 2000 lbs or so heavier than my old Century. Which means I will only be able to pull 44500. So far I have only pulled a kelloggs load and an empty Coke can load so I haven't weighed it to see. Although we do ditch the 400 lbs of chains, and the 100 lb spare tire, so that'll help. I am headed home( at least it's planned) this weekend to ditch some stuff. I managed to find space for all but 1 mid size tote of stuff. I feel like my folks use to feel when they'd take us kids on a driving vacation...every nook and cranny has something stuffed in it.

I am not as annoyed as most I talked to with this On Guard thing. The only thing I don't like about it so far is that it backs you off a little to early if you're coming up on a slightly slower vehicle and don't want to jump out to pass too early, but you can override it with your foot on the gas. I did get to play in Denver's rush hour traffic with it too.

 

This thread sux without pics

 

Yeah, I run into that slow down frequently. Today, when I moved over early to pass another company truck going a little slower on a 3 lane one of the super truckers doing 70 barreling in on my 6 yelled at me for moving over. First, there was little traffic; second, they had the hammer lane to move into; and third, these bozos have no clue what on-guard is all about. I have not seen a problem with weight yet, and I came over from the Century. I am carrying a complete set of chains...still in the bags....hope they stay there. I will install if necessary to get home. Have to go through eastern OR and we know how chain-happy they are!

 

The weight issue isn't as bad as the mechanic made it out to be...picked up a load out of Amarillo, TX. Bills say 44,700 which is 1800 less than the max gross my Century could haul(w/o using the apu exemption rule). The CAT scale said my Prostar was 78,760 w/just over 1/2 tank. Which means it's roughly 7-800 lbs heavier than the old one. But now that I've got things figured out on how to drive a maxxforce...this thing get's it done, once you get rolling. All the way from Amarillo to OKC, up and down the rolling hills, never once had to take it out of 10th gear...my Century, please....I would've got some right arm exercise... I need to go see some real hills to put 'er to the test.

I have noticed something I am not sure I like the sound of in my truck. The throw-out bearing chatters a lot after using it in traffic, or a lot of red lights on some of these back roads. And I think I smell clutch too. It doesn't do it just from normal shifting(since I'm a floater---go ahead and snicker at that, I said it that way on purpose), but if you're on and off the clutch to stop and start a lot...man I hope it's just a break in thing.... I would hate to have something like that ruin my new toys near perfect first week.

 

And the best part is you don't have to deal with that DEF b.s.