need truck advice

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by bowler300, Mar 11, 2011.

  1. Mar 11, 2011 #1
    bowler300

    bowler300 Bobtail Member

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    Feb 4, 2011
    Monroe Ohio
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    im getting ready to buy a truck to do some city work and im in between the cat engine or the detroit one.Most of the trucks ive been looking at are 2006 with 500 to 600,000 miles on them and most been frieghtliners.I do like the kenworths but really dont know much about them since ive driven frieghtliners for 20yrs for a ltl company.This job only goes a 150 radious and was trying to get some advice on which truck and motor would work for me. Thanks
     
    bowler300, Mar 11, 2011
    bowler300, Mar 11, 2011
    #1
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  3. Mar 11, 2011 #2
    AUSSIE DAVE

    AUSSIE DAVE Road Train Member

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    Feb 21, 2010
    OZ - Brisbane
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    all i can help you with is that apparently CAT parts are more expensive
     
    AUSSIE DAVE, Mar 11, 2011
    AUSSIE DAVE, Mar 11, 2011
    #2
  4. Mar 12, 2011 #3
    bowler300

    bowler300 Bobtail Member

    15
    2
    Feb 4, 2011
    Monroe Ohio
    0
    thanks,Ive been looking at both like i said and they do have some miles on them.I just cant decide and decided to post on here since i read a alot of good info on here.
    thanks again
     
    bowler300, Mar 12, 2011
    bowler300, Mar 12, 2011
    #3
  5. Mar 12, 2011 #4
    bowler300

    bowler300 Bobtail Member

    15
    2
    Feb 4, 2011
    Monroe Ohio
    0
    just wondering if anyone has had bad issues with the cat and detroit engines
     
    bowler300, Mar 12, 2011
    bowler300, Mar 12, 2011
    #4
  7. Mar 12, 2011 #5
    Allow Me.

    Allow Me. Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    Rancho Mirage, Ca.
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    one advantage of the CAT motor is you can take it to a CAT dealer for repairs, as well as shops that work on them. CAT dealers know their product really well. The downside is they are expensive to work on VS a Cummins or Detroit.
     
    Allow Me., Mar 12, 2011
    Allow Me., Mar 12, 2011
    #5
  8. Mar 13, 2011 #6
    bowler300

    bowler300 Bobtail Member

    15
    2
    Feb 4, 2011
    Monroe Ohio
    0
    thanks for the info on this.I havnt made up my mind yet,until then i keep looking and reading the info on here.....
     
    bowler300, Mar 13, 2011
    bowler300, Mar 13, 2011
    #6
  9. Mar 13, 2011 #7
    Kellyb

    Kellyb Light Load Member

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    Jan 20, 2011
    TX
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    I was in a position similar to you 2 months ago. Based on what I've learned from many on this forum and talking to a lot of people the last couple of months if you wanna save on maintenance costs look for a 2003 or older pre-emissions motor with a recent rebuild with paperwork...or buy an older one and rebuild it yourself. You can occassionally find an older rig with ~600ishK miles but most of them are up around 1 million.

    Old rebuilt motor >>>newer motor with ~600 k

    The newer post '03 motors run hotter, get worse fuel mileage, and engine life is not as long.

    You'll save on an older motor not having to replace EGRs, EGR coolers, and turbos, plus you'll get better mileage.

    A lot of people won't run anything but older motors. A lot of the brand new glider kit sellers I've see use rebuilt '02 motors...driptroit or CAT. Driptroit has a reputation for mileage and CAT has a reputation for pulling but IMO thats likely due to the fact that detroits are usually run in aero trucks and CATs are usually run in big hoods with high horsepower. You can do fine with either.
     
    Kellyb, Mar 13, 2011
    Kellyb, Mar 13, 2011
    #7
  10. Mar 14, 2011 #8
    bowler300

    bowler300 Bobtail Member

    15
    2
    Feb 4, 2011
    Monroe Ohio
    0
    thanks for the info im going to start looking for a 2003 or older will let you know what i find.......
     
    bowler300, Mar 14, 2011
    bowler300, Mar 14, 2011
    #8
  11. Mar 19, 2011 #9
    Krooser

    Krooser Road Train Member

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    Jul 25, 2010
    Wisconsin
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    Sorry... the old wives tale about Cats being so expensive is just that... it's now about the same as any engine.

    I majored mine in September for $11,300 using genuine Cat parts. The 1693 parts were pricey...
     
    Krooser, Mar 19, 2011
    Krooser, Mar 19, 2011
    #9
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