Really want my own rig

To me a hood is like a '69 chevelle, an Aero truck is like a Prius. No thanks

Ethan

 

....and when my profits looking pretty like ur 69chevelle, yours profit will look like my Prius!!! LOL.

 

It's funny you say that, because I can back my 280" wheelbased Western Star into places I see guys with the "fantastic" Volvo's and set back axle trucks spend all day trying for. It's not about turning radius, it's about skill. And as for your Areo=more MPG. I know of 4 drivers off the top of my head with aero trucks that get the same or worse than most hoods. I manage 7mpg out of my brick, which is right where most Columbia's and Volo's average as well. It's about how you drive the truck. You have to know how to GET the good MPG, not expect the truck to do it for you.

 

Like SHC said, its how you drive the truck Mr MPG

Ethan

 

Thats right. And now that you Know how to get the good fuel mpg, I bet it would be MORE if it was aerodynamic. As far as backing, don't even trip like you get it in there with that western star all the time cuz you're FOOLING yourself by thinking that its your skill when its really just a spacious dock!!! Either you can't count, or you're tooo proud to admit it. Its not hard to get 7mpg when you do 60mph and add lucas twice a week on light loads, but you wont get 7.25 mpg 40k lbs heavy in that western star. It costs to look pretty, if u dont believe me...ask your girlfriend, lol.

 

From the way it looks to me, you're going around a blind curve into a steep grade with a soft shoulder and NO experience!!!! That would explain why you want that big kw with the shiny hood that gets 6mpg. Because you haven't developed.

 

From the way it looks to me, you're going around a blind curve into a steep grade with a soft shoulder and NO experience. That would explain why you want that big kw with the shinyhood that gets 6mpg. Because you haven't developed.

 

I don't use Lucas, and I manage 7mpg with 47k of steel on the deck. Light loads i can get it around 8mpg.... I have put this truck into spots that would make your wife envy me, and it's about skill, not turning radius. Just earlier this week i watched as 3 drivers tried to park in a spot at the pilot. i made it with one try, and do all the time.
Years of hauling conatainers in and out of rail yards and delivering to jobsites make you able to do this, not backing into docks. I'd put my backing skills up against your drivng forward skills any day. Please go join the other aero-addicts over on Kevin Rutherfords website and leave the real business of trucking to the professionals. Don't be jealous because some of us have figured out how to get great looks, performance, and MPG all in 1 package. Instead, just stick to your ant-eater bouncing down the highway with your feet up on the dash.

And just for reference, my WS weighs less than a Volvo 780. You obviously don't know trucks as well as you think you do.

 

Its easy to knock on someones experience or lack thereof. I may not be experienced myself but I've learned a lot from guys that do have it.

Oh and SHC pulls flatbed so there aren't many docks that you bump.

I also pull flat and there have been two places I've been to so far that if I had a wheelbase over 250 I would not have made it in without pulling up about 100 times and working back and forth.

My conclusion is this, if I can make the money I want at 6mpg then I'll be happy. Sure I can buy an Aero truck and make more but if I get to drive the truck I want and make money just fine then I'll be happy, because I'm driving what I want rather than what I don't want.

Id rather make less money and be proud of my ride rather than make more and be embarrassed about my ride. Most guys go into it with the attitude that "its JUST. A work truck, ONLY a TOOL to get the job done". For me, trucks aren't just tools or just a truck, its something more. I may have a prostar and also be a company driver but I treat it as if it were mine. When I go home I polish my wheels, degrease the tanks, polish the toolboxes, armoral the inside, and shine the tires. I'm a flatbedder and its just gonna get dusty, muddy, and plain dirty when I go back to work but it's a pride thing. If I'm gonna drive an Aero truck, its at least gonna look good lol.

I ain't meaning to argue with you about hood vs. Aero. I'm just telling you unlike most people, I'll take less money to drive what I want rather than not. Its not just a business thing, trucking is my life.

Ethan

 

Funny you mention that, when I was gonna lease to my company, the guy that the head over the o/o division kept telling me to buy a Volvo lmao. He kept saying a long wheelbase just means more weight and less fuel mileage. I'm thinking um....I've seen plenty of 270"+ wheelbase Pete's and Western stars on truck paper that weigh 1-2k less than similar spec'd volvo.

Ethan