Looking for advice on specs for a day cab

I used to work for a company that ran 198" WB Columbias, 3.90 gears, 10 speed, LP22.5's, and 435hp Mercedes engines pulling mostly pneumatics and end dumps. The short wheelbase makes them VERY maneuverable, and full lockers (on 2 switches) meant they rarely got stuck. They were fairly light, too...able to haul 26+ tons with ease and stay legal. They had 12K steer axles and 40K rears, and got the job done just fine. Hell, being a day cab, you could probably shorten the wheelbase up a little more if you wanted...just watch the bridge, because you'll need 34K on the drives and 46K on the 3 tractor axles. A 39' trailer is going to fall under the exception, where the distance between the front drive and rear trailer isn't enough under the formula to give you 68K on the 4 axles, but that exception allows 34K on both tandems. You just want to make sure that your tractor isn't too short to allow 80K on 5 axles pulling the short trailer that's using the bridge formula exception.

If you're going to spend much time pulling a van, I'd also look into adding a roof fairing...one that can be raised up when hooked to a van, but collapsed flat when pulling a lower profile trailer like an end dump.

 

@Pedigreed Bulldog is right on with the wheelbase for an aerodynamic truck. 210-220 would be for a long hood truck. Like a Peterbilt 379 or Kenworth W900

 

The specs you just listed are for HH pulling super loads not 80k general freight hauling. Holy crap man. Pulling a van with 24.5 were at 13'8 but that's fine for the lanes we run. Around a metro area I wouldn't want tall rubber

 

It’s real simple.
Go to your nearest Mack dealer and tell them your needs.

 

Yea when you’re trying to by a 12+ year old truck. Smh

 

None of the end dump drivers run 20k front axles at my plant.

There is a dude who comes from time to time in a pretty clean superliner. Coolest truck ever.

Anyways you see it all from ratty old freight liners to 600hp kw’s. At the end of the day I’d just get something decent to make money. The truck is gonna get beat up.