Spec' a truck..

Ain't this site great? Years ago, we had to find out for ourselves, what was heavy and what wasn't. 89,000???Good grief, breaker, what's that eastbound coop doin'??? Grain loads, due to the weak pay, require you "load the wagon". I can't remember ever seeing a hopper bottom in a scale, unless they were dragged in and we did it with 300hp motors. Me? I'd have the biggest motor that would fit under the hood, nothing less than 500hp..

 

What brand of truck do you prefer? Where will you be running? Are you going to be 80k gross, pulling a spread, 6 or 7 axles? How long will you stay out? How small of a bunk can you get away with? That all makes a difference. If you’re sitting down to actually spec out a truck and you’ll be pulling a hopper then keep your weight in mind.

If I was going to be pulling a tandem hopper with 78” sides I’d do a small midroof bunk, modest wheelbase, 13 liter engine and as light as I could get it everywhere else.

 

I run a 579 with MX13 set at 510hp with an 18spd and 3.36 rears. I’ve never weighed just the truck but I’m right at 30k empty with a 1600cu ft Mac pneumatic trailer.

Peterbilt in Sacramento is advertising some new 567 Pete’s with the MX13 and 58” midroof bunks. They looked to be spec’d fairly light.

 

I think @wore out is an 0/0 doing that type of work.

 

it makes you smile.

 

I would research some more about hopper work before you go to spec' in a truck. Rates have really tanked. I haven't had mine out of the shed in 11 months straight

 

This, I found some half decent rates this week, otherwise I've been parked the last couple weeks. Last years wet, everlasting spring hurt crop yields seems like.

 

Sheesh, we need some happy news. Anybody else notice, winter pile-ups have all diminished?

 

Spec it for fuel MPG that's your biggest experience. A DD13 or DD15 an auto shift DT-12 with direct drive and. You put the rear ends to match the speed you want to drive with the transmission. If you want MPG that would be like 60-65 MPH