How to make a truck lighter

Back in the 60's,70's Esso Exon Tankers specced out their tractors as light as I've seen. Started with IHC DC 400,or later 4200 day cab conventionals,fiberglass hoods. Aluminum frame,all aluminum wheels,one fuel tank. Single drive with tag axle,fixed fifth wheel,V-6 Detroit,9 speed. No passenger seat,no radio,no ashtray or lighter. Weighed in around 12k iirc. Load the same amount of gas,every trip,stay right under 73,280. I was surprised they did use an electric starter. Most big fleets,like Roadway,CF,still used an air starter,and one battery. Saved a lot of weight,not carrying multiple batteries,heavy starter,parallel switch,and cables.

 

240" WB, 2-stack Mack (steel cab) with a Mack (triple countershaft) 18 speed transmission, Mack rears, 2 PTO's, wet kit, tool box stuffed w/tools, another tool box (and the cab) stuffed with equipment, 4 tire chains, steel wheels on the drives (aluminum steers), and 16-ply 11R24.5 tires all of the way around.

It adds up...

Used to work with a guy that had (still has) a beautifully hopped up 379 extended hood with a built 3406B putting down more power than anyone really needs. It had a fairly decent wheelbase, and probably a 60" flat top sleeper.

Pulling identical pneumatic trailers, he was 2000# lighter than me. That was when I had a blower (which he also had) on the 2nd PTO, and before I added the 2nd tool box and stuffed the cab with all of the flatbedding gear.

 

At what point does durability start getting sacrificed for weight savings? Is it really worth shaving 1000lbs off a truck if it'll bust a frame rail after 2 years?

 

Neat!

 

We found the light weight truck!!!

 

Oh,lets see...Yank that pesky "passenger (jump seat outta there),tire chains etc.I have a "Sawzall",if you need to borrow it.

 

You got it all twisted. If you are worried about chasing all freight then you need to reevaluate your game plan.

 

Find an older w9 and rebuild the motor. My 97 is around 18.5k with half full tanks, I don't have any chains or all that stuff in it, a kw or pete hood is going to be difficult to keep below 20k with a lot of stuff in the truck and full tanks.