Most Reliably/Comfortable Tractor?

Don't think breaking down has as much to do with the name plate on the truck as the engine and how it was/was not maintained. You should maybe be more concerned with weight, engine/drive train specs, and practicality first, then mileage, maintenance history, cost and personal preference.

 

Of everything I have driven I am kinda fond of freightliners. I have also driven,

Fords
Volvo's
Internationals
Peterbilts (even one that had more then 2 million miles on it)
and macs

I prefer 10 gears (5 and 5 with an upper and lower range). I prefer floor heat but top A/c. I despise cab overs. A working cruise control that does not randomly shut off is also nice. Put the #### fuse box easily accessible as well.

What no one can really prepare you for is how different every one will be. I have been in several that it was obvious they went to great pains to try and make them ergonomic but they just failed completely. Most will have a quirk or two that is just completely irritating.

Internationals and peterbilts feel cramped somehow. Volvo's have a #### window crank that digs into your leg. The ford had an on/off valve for the heater that you had to crack the hood to switch. Hopefully many of these faults have been fixed by now. Does ford even still make tractor-trailers?

 

Well you have to remember if there are fewer examples running the roads, you're going to see them broke down on the side of the road less often.

 

Sterling is what used to be a Ford they are owned by Frieghtliner now and gonna be phased out I just read that somewhere.You may despise cabovers but they are usually much lighter so you could haul more weight. I still drive a cabover it is the 7th cabover I have owned. Only ever had one conventional A brand new 1987 LTL9000 ford great tractor but it weighed over 20000 pounds

 

A T800 Kenworth with a C12 cat engine10 speed direct transmission some where around 355 rears and 22.5 or low profile 22.5 tires and a small bunk or daycab might be a good setup for what you want to do

 

Anything built prior to 1/1/2007, pampered its whole life, without any of that emissions garbage on it.

 

Volvo's are the most quite ,I have found, and that is important to me.drive one now with the Volvo D13, 500HP (no gov), pulls great. Prefer a Freightliner dash layout, more truck like. bunk area is great though.

see, it depends on what your gonna do.

 

PACCAR, a KW or a Pete. JMHO