Stepping Out With My Own Numbers

I agree it is crazy. And if i ever buy another new truck it will be with a dealer and manufacturer willing to build it to my specs. And if no one is willing to then I'll simply build my own glider.

 

I talked to Harrison in Des Moines last week about a glider. They basically said no more custom specs you’re only option is what’s in the lot.

 

I even spoke with Fitzgerald about a Columbia Glider. It had their Detroit 12.7 and the only thing it wouldn't have that my new truck does is the 6X2 setup. I didn't do it because the price was the same and they nailed me on the used truck; their value was 11k less than what Summit gave me. They were willing to custom spec it. I looked into the Glider route because nobody would build the truck I wanted. And if International hadn't stepped up I probably would have kept the Pete another 12 months and done the Glider. I'm really happy with the International though.

 

Fitzgerald can take a walk. When i said id build my own glider i meant exactly that. If they won't build it my way i will order a glider from the manufacturer of my choice, push it into the barn, and put whatever power train in it i wanted.

 

That would be the best way to do it. Save a boat load of money too. I don't have the knowledge to do something like that. If it can't be done with simple hand tools, it's beyond me.

 

That's a sharp truck. I hope you like the drivetrain you speced. I have the exact drivetrain in my Freightliner & I don't like it. If I had plans of keeping this truck long term is switch the trans out to a 13 OD & put 370s in the rear. I don't believe my mom would suffer much, if any at all.

Keep inspiring us with your great story!

 

I hear you, I mentioned previously that this is a spec a lot of guys would probably hate to drive. I'm a slow poke and this truck is spec'd to be a slow poke but I'm confident that with it spec'd to my driving style the fuel mileage will be huge. It won't get anywhere fast.

 

Slow poke is my middle name. I'm the guy that has a 525 cummins under the hood and rarely get over 63. I don't really care about running fast, however i want the gearing to let me pull a hill without having to drop to 6th gear. Dropping a full gear and splitting to the low side is fine, but dropping gear after gear, no thanks. I'll absorb the mpg hit going up fancy gap or monteagle at 50 mph vs 25.

 

If it's a big one close to 6% or so that's usually where I'm at, 20-25 mph. It's not so much the gearing why I do that but more so that I'm only using 20psi on the manifold gauge. That's my limit 98% of the time unless I'm seeing a situation develop and I need to get out of it, I'll use some juice for that and just get away from it.

 

We do the same thing by keeping the boost down and RPMs in a good spot. The 550hp D16 can get 2.1 mpg flying up, or 3.8 creeping up. Oddly enough, I usually still get stuck behind someone slower.