Do I NEED heavy specs?

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by Amp'd Trucking, Oct 14, 2011.

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  1. Oct 14, 2011 #1
    Amp'd Trucking

    Amp'd Trucking Bobtail Member

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    Aug 13, 2011
    Ottawa, ON
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    Looking at purchasing a used truck and trailer pkg. Its a 550 kitty, 18spd, 3.90 rears with 24.5 rubber and 12/40 axles. Trailer is a quad axle live bottom. Whole unit will gross 126000 # with an 81000 # net.

    Won't be taking the truck anywhere with soft ground etc, just hard pack loading areas and hwy work. The unit has been working this way for a year or so now without problems.

    I'm wondering if the axles should be of any concern? Obviously heavy is preferred, but this package is a screamin' deal and just what I need. What I'm wondering is are heavy axles a MUST or could this work as it? Maybe with a rear ratio swap up to 4.11s or something?
     
    Amp'd Trucking, Oct 14, 2011
    Amp'd Trucking, Oct 14, 2011
    #1
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  3. Oct 14, 2011 #2
    Les2

    Les2 Road Train Member

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    You'll be fine with it.
     
    Les2, Oct 14, 2011
    Les2, Oct 14, 2011
    #2
  4. Oct 15, 2011 #3
    special-k

    special-k Road Train Member

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    You'll be fine, my 2000 Pete has almost the same specs but with 4 way lock ups and super 40 rear ends. All it's ever done is heavy work and its fine. You'll find that gearing is just about right for highway and secondary roads. I run high gear on the big road and half a gear down on the two lanes.
     
    special-k, Oct 15, 2011
    special-k, Oct 15, 2011
    #3
  5. Oct 15, 2011 #4
    ENR

    ENR Light Load Member

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    A lot of us pull B-trains with 12/40. No real concern. It's really your driving that's the wild card. Don't trounce it.
     
    ENR, Oct 15, 2011
    ENR, Oct 15, 2011
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  7. Oct 15, 2011 #5
    Floyd

    Floyd Light Load Member

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    Agreed with above. 12/40's with 3.90's and 100K plus is no problem, even with some off-road mixed in.
    Personally I prefer the 3.90 over the 4.10 rears. Coupled with an 18 spd you have plenty of gear to start you off, even in a hard spot, plus you have the taller gear for cruising down the road for better mileage.
    Driving style is key.
     
    Floyd, Oct 15, 2011
    Floyd, Oct 15, 2011
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  8. Oct 15, 2011 #6
    Amp'd Trucking

    Amp'd Trucking Bobtail Member

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    Aug 13, 2011
    Ottawa, ON
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    Thanks for the input! Forgot to mention it has 4 way locks.
     
    Amp'd Trucking, Oct 15, 2011
    Amp'd Trucking, Oct 15, 2011
    #6
  9. Oct 15, 2011 #7
    Licensed to kill

    Licensed to kill Heavy Load Member

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    Are you looking at getting a tri-drive, or did you mean to say it has "full lockers"?.
     
    Licensed to kill, Oct 15, 2011
    Licensed to kill, Oct 15, 2011
    #7
  10. Oct 15, 2011 #8
    haulhand

    haulhand Road Train Member

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    A tridrive has six way lockers with full lockers so a tandem would have four way lockers.
     
    haulhand, Oct 15, 2011
    haulhand, Oct 15, 2011
    #8
  11. Oct 15, 2011 #9
    JohnP3

    JohnP3 Road Train Member

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    That truck seem spec'd perfectly, people brake things because they drive it hard, Gently, remove foot from clutch, then use throttle and low RPM when starting off and you will have no problems.
     
    JohnP3, Oct 15, 2011
    JohnP3, Oct 15, 2011
    #9
  12. Oct 16, 2011 #10
    Licensed to kill

    Licensed to kill Heavy Load Member

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    A tandem with "full lockers" locks front diff side to side, rear diff side to side and inter-axle (front diff to rear diff). That's fully locked with all 4 driver corners pulling at all times. What's the fourth way that they lock?. A tri-drive locks 5 ways, side to side front, side to side centre, side to side rear, front to centre inter-axle and centre to rear inter-axle. What it the sixth way?.
     
    Licensed to kill, Oct 16, 2011
    Licensed to kill, Oct 16, 2011
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