Post flatbed load photos here V2.0

What's an appetizer have to do with it??

 

I used to swing em around on a straight truck tilt and load and a tractor trailer tilt and load all of the time. Level the deck out so it doesn't freak you out for the first little bit. Take your tune and in the snow and ice, be even more cautious.

They dig while sitting on inclines all of the time, right? Slow and steady that's all!

 

You are absolutely right. While I'm not ever looking to buy (at this point in my life at least), I always take a look in the classifieds (like Truck Paper and such) just to see what's out there to ogle. I can certainly attest to both 379 and W9's being incredibly overpriced, especially late model 379's from before 2007 but after 2000.

People seem to think they aren't a dime-a-dozen truck, and that ACERT CAT motors are what everyone wants (protip: they aren't). At least $10-20K more than an equivalent truck in a different model range (even similar Pete's).

While a lot of people might just want a turn-key purchase, I think you would be much better off building something that YOU want. You seem like the kind of guy that likes things a particular way, and just buying a nice truck won't satisfy you, and all the money you waste will just be doubled fixing all the issues you have.

Personally, if I were looking to buy, I would find a cheap 379 EXHD from 1994-1999, in decent condition (i.e. well-loved, but not customized heavily or changed from stock), and if it didn't already have a 3408B CAT in it, I'd find one, get it rebuilt (assuming it already wasn't done) and stuff it under the hood. Other than that, I wouldn't change much unless it really needs it (i.e. the paint is really faded or something). That's my dream truck situation, even for a regional position. I want an all-mechanical beast that combines the old-school styling of the 359 with the newer-school niceties like air-ride and cruise control.

On top of it all, I wouldn't be forced to use e-logs if I didn't want to, and makes me wonder how my company is going to make the switch (I never said this, but they like it when drivers "get the job done"... but remember, I never said that).

 

We (the company) hauls a lot of write-off's from Western Canada as a way to pay fuel back (when better loads aren't moving, it helps bring drivers back faster, which when I was out there, I really appreciated). As the city guy, I get to deliver a lot of them to auto parts/wrecker places and many of them don't have room for their customer's four-wheelers in the parking lot, let alone a 70 foot truck.

So we do offloading on the road. And you know, with a bright yellow and orange striped CSA shirt on, four-ways, strobes and marker lights on, people still don't move entirely into the oncoming lane to pass my truck, coming within feet of me at 50-60km/h. Even when there is literally no on-coming traffic.

Nobody has any respect for professionals working on the road. I barely see anyone around here slow down for tow-truck drivers and move over (when possible) anymore. And it's REQUIRED BY LAW to do so.

It really freaks me out sometimes, and makes me really uneasy. This past week, I had to yell at someone passing WAY too close. Had I leaned a bit, I could have hit their car with my hand. And they were turning in where I was delivering. If I were a more confrontational person, I would have gone and given them a piece of my mind. Looking back now, I probably should have. Not that it would have made a difference.

I think I'm going to bring this safety issue up at our next driver's meeting.

 

I've thought of buying 3 cones to close off some space on the traffic side when I have to unload on the street.

 

I love the CATs,.. but leaning more toward the 3406E rather than the B model. No personal experience with either. But from what I have been reading,.. the E is a little bit easier on fuel.

I have the BXS ACERT C15 in this truck. It was seeing 4.5 - 5 mpg when I first got in it. I picked up an honest .5 - .75 mpg just from changing my driving habits,.. installed a boost gauge and just try to keep it out of heavy boost when practical.

The rest came from new CAC, couplers, all new injectors and custom tuning for efficiency, keeping a clean air filter and changing it out with every oil change. Also aggressively maintaining proper tire pressure. Now I see an honest 6 mpg on average with 6.5 mpg on good terrain and light loads,.. and a low side of 5.5 mpg when in mountains and heavy.

I dont expect to see 6.5 mpg from a 3406 powered 379,.. thought I read from guys that brag they are seeing it. I think 5.5 - 6 mpg would be more realistic.

I am also interested in N14 powered trucks as well. Seems to be a decent motor. A few quirks that can be addressed. But seems to be close to the power of the CAT with better fuel efficiency similar to the 12.7 Detroit.

I've driven trucks with the 12.7 and yes,.. I saw 7 mpg even when heavily loaded. But it really struggled on the hills. The power band was much higher up in the RPM's. Pushing 1900 - 2000 RPM was the only way to carry it up a 6% grade. In my opinion,.. that can not be good on a motor.

I have no experience with the N14. I have driven a 515hp ISX in a 2008 T660 and I really liked that motor. Power wise I felt no real difference from a CAT. Loved the jake,.. much stronger than a C15 jake. And from what I have read,.. the N14 is very easy and affordable to work on. So my only real apprehension is my lack of experience/knowledge of the N14. But really interested and would like to find a truck with that motor in it. Of the 96 - 99 variety that I have been looking for,.. I see mostly CAT and Detroit. Being that this will most likely be the truck I retire with,.. I dont think I would be happy with the Detroit.

Not afraid of buying a 3406B model,.. but realistically,.. are there any CAT techs left that have experience with the 3406B? I've read a few horror stories about guys getting their truck back and seeing 2 - 3 mpg,.. black sooty exhaust,.. not happy with the mechanic at all. I dont need those kinds of problems.

This is what I am looking for.
96 - 99 379 preferably,.. but will entertain a W9 as well.
Looking for 260 - 270,.. Maybe 280" wheel base,.. but not sure I want one that long. I just need enough Catwalk space for my headache rack and some overhang from the front of the trailer and enough room between the fuel tank and drives to set up my generator.
475 - 500hp 3406E or N14. Not looking for anything crazy. Just enough to carry me up the hills while still being able to keep the MPG's in check when back on level ground.
13 or 18 spd
Stand up sleeper,.. 63" is what I see mostly from the 379's with a few 99 models having the 70" sleeper. My 386 had a 65" sleeper and it was doable. So I think a 63" would be ok,. but nothing smaller. W9 seem to all have the 72" sleeper. I think the 84" Studio would be too heavy. Thats why I'm really leaning toward the Pete with a smaller sleeper.
Looking for 3.25 - 3.55 rears with preferably tall 24.5 rubber. I have seen a few 379's with 3.36 rears,.. so I am thinking thats what I will probably end up with.
I want the larger 150 gal fuel tanks. My 386 had 110 gal tanks,.. and I found myself scrambling for a fuel stop a few times. I prefer the large tanks because,... no I dont have to fill them all the time. I can always drop 1000lbs just by cutting back to 1/2 tank.

The rest is just cosmetics. I dont want to see any rust. Or minimal surface rust at most. No ground down frames with bondo filling the rust pockets. No sleeved over/repaired cracked frames from over stressed work/abuse. I dont mind seeing dinged, bent bumpers, tanks, sleeper etc. The truck was worked,.. I get that. But the price should reflect the cost for the work I need to have done to repair and repaint the truck. I'm not paying $40k for a truck that needs $12k in body work. I want to see a truck that has been well cared for. No stained, torn and cracked interiors with spiderweb of wires from things that used to be there but no longer are. I dont want to guess what wires are still good and which ones are just taking up space if I ever have electrical problems. Wiring and electrical are probably my weakest link. I suck at it.

On the other end of the spectrum,.. I'm not afraid to buy a basket case truck with a blown up motor and who knows what else is wrong with it. If I could find a truck like that for say,.. in the $5000 - $8000 range,.. I would buy that and build it into what I want. As long as the frame and metal arent rotting/rusted to hell,.. that would be something I would entertain.

I worked my butt off with out a break from Sept till Dec,.. then went back out and ran straight again till April. I've packed enough cash away to finally do this. I originally planned to take the summer off from June onward. But I havent really seen any trucks spec'd the way I want to go look at. So I'm back out here doing my thing and when I pass near where a truck I am interested in is located,.. I'll swing by and take a look. Never know.

One thing I am discovering,.. besides O/O's who think they are sitting on plated gold Pete poop. Some of these truck dealers are equally as frustrating as they can not answer my questions. How can you sell a truck you know nothing about? I go to look at a 97 379,.. turns out its an 07. Call on a 96 and ask what motor is in it,.. "Oh its a C15". Really? Which one? "Its the C15" he says again. I dont have the patience for this,... 'Click'

As for the Elog thing,.. thats how my carrier is. He doesnt want to know how you did it,.. as long as you stay safe and dont let DOT catch you with your pants down. Funny thing is,.. I dont really push a lot of miles any more. I do mainly 250 - 500 mile hauls. 2500 miles is a big week for me. 1800 - 2000 is probably closer to what I am averaging most of the time. Though lately my little loop is not producing the volume of freight that I found last year. So I have been experimenting with some different lanes with mixed results. My overall gross is has been down by 25 - 30% since April compared to this time last year and in 2014. Some of it is by choice. I refuse to haul 44k lb loads for under $2 mi. Being that I mainly run the scraps brokers post on the load boards,.. its difficult. They call a 25klb load that takes up 26ft a partial and think its ok to ask me to haul it for $1 mi. I'm supposed to find other partials to fill my deck to mitigate my rate.
Thats like working for a company that you need to work 60hrs a week to make what you used to make working 40hr. Then they say look at all the OT you get! No,.. look at all the extra work you get out of me for a lot less money. That was me when I first moved to Fla. I didnt know any better.


Hurst

 

I never heard of a trucker working a 40 hour week.

 

@Hurst You have a fantastic plan and I wish you the best of luck! Honestly, if I were in a different place in my life (i.e. single) I'd be right out there with you guys. Not that I wish for any change whatsoever (I couldn't be happier with my life right now) but this is the kind of community I was hoping to find out on the road, but it never materialized.

I think I might have been an old-school trucker in a past life. I yearn to spend hours driving and talking on the CB with other drivers, run a twin-stick truck and love the sound of a proper mechanical motor pulling hard up-hill. A lot of drivers who entered the industry like I did (I'm almost 30, university educated but chose this as a passion thing) want that cushy luxury condo truck and 8-hour days. But I want that 1980's trucking experience for some really weird reason.

And just think, if you get into hauling heavy, fuel mileage will cease to be a problem for you!

 

I had a couple over this past winter. Freight was SLOOOOOOW.

We had to create work in the yard to make up hours to even get to 8 a day.