IF money wasn’t an Issue.....choices

I already have such a truck long ago. Boss handed me a Mack Super liner 500 with the V8 format engine and a deep reduction 15 speed. It used to be a road tractor until Somerset PA places a 20 yard dump bed on the frame and welded a pintle hook big enough to do work.

Fuel mileage? HA. We kept the 330 gallons in two tanks, if we were not hauling blacktop or rock or even cut oak tree sections we were supporting our paver, backhoe, bobcat and tool truck and everything else all day.

Its not very fast. But for what it is its a good un. However its same forward or backwards. (Not recommended) and that deep deep reduction low gear will stop the planet long enough to get you out of off roading if need be. Or kiss a paver without knocking boss into the fire.

 

If that's the case. probably a Paccar or Western star aero truck, between 450 and 500 hp with a long flat torque curve, the longer the better, a 15 spd OD transmission and optimized gearing for the .78 top gear, a mid size sleeper with a high end interior, the less bells, whistles and computer displays the better it is, and a gauge for everything that generates heat or pressure.

 

I'll take a gauge on everything analog first before I'll take a computer anything in a older truck. If you are careful and paid attention, she will tell you if alls well.

 

spending my own money on the truck then yeah i really would. probably make more being a manager at one of those places anyways. unless its a 30k start up truck to run local then maybe and thats still probably a bad decision. does anyone really want a volvo, probably not. they buy it because the fuel mileage and they're cheap like you're saying.
at the end of the day you still have to drive the piece of #### around and live in it. i'd rather have what i want and be happy then save a little on fuel mileage and when the foreign junk breaks like it will.. you'll end up in the same place at the end of the year.

 

Mileage? HA.

Put a pair of 265 gallon tanks un the frame. Pick anywhere in the USA to fill em on the trip across one time.

Just be sure to keep about a 2000 dollars ready to go on the fuel card every 30 or so hours give or take.

 

I don't know too much about MPG, but generally the FLD 120 of about the 1994 model year 505 detroit got me up to 2150 miles per gallon, but routinely did 1600 reliably.

Fast forward to the 2001 century with the 515 or so on a automatic, it turned in about 7.4 average the year we had it. Burned about 85000 dollars in fuel. But due to fumbling from dispatch it has wasted 400 gallons at a time over 3 days (Actually two times that much, filled prior to sitting at shipper then refill again with another 400 before heading out after loading) So thats about oh... 2400 dollars gone before we got out of town eastbound. What a waste.

Im still angry with that one episode. Such stupidity when you consider dozens of solos in the area of Salinas with FFE able to sit there for us and load. Then swap with us. (Team)

 

you're never gonna compete with the megas that govern their trucks to 62 mph, pay there drivers dirt and cut rates for volume so why make fuel mileage your #1 factor in a purchase as an o/o. keep it in mind but farther down the list. reliability and job specific specs would be my number ones

 

2021 Kenworth T680 X15 450hp efficiency. Endurant 12sp auto trans. 2.79 rear. Heated tanks, Bridgestone tires. 230 in wheelbase.

I have several with those specs and it works great.