The Chrome Shop Mafia

They do tend to go overboard on some of the things that they put in them,but as far as those FAT tires as you put it they actually get better fuel mileage then the duel set-up.

 

The wide base tires save a bit of weight on a truck, though they are putting them on for looks and because they are getting them almost free for promoting them on the show.

And yes, they add so much crap to a truck, it has to be picking up weight as they do it. If a driver pulls a van, then he typically has the weight alolowance to have a heavier truck. But there are many forms of trucking that are weight sensitive, and their trucks would be a disaster in those applications. I pull in a weight sensitive area of trucking, and the fully loaded weight of my truck with me in the seat is under 18,000 pounds. Some of the bigger dressed out trucks clock in at 22,000 pounds, some even go beyond that.

 

i've seen several of their shows, and i have to say, while they do make the truck look nice, i think that they add a lot of stuff that isn't really practical on the road. and like you, i would think that the extra weight would be an issue.

 

I dunno... the CSM guests on Freewheelin' on Siruis 147 every Thursday, and they maintain that the stuff they add doesn't really weigh all that much. On a side note, I'm looking at a Western Star 4900EX with the big bunk and it weighs 17.000 and change. I drove a 610 Volvo that was heavier than that.

 

I have a 4964EX with an 18 speed AS and a 460 cummins in it and it weighs in at just over 20000lbs with full tanks and all my crap in there along with me in the seat.

 

That stuff that they do is all about playing "truck stop cowboy" it has nothing at all to do with making money with a truck.

 

Gotta agree with you Joe. I do like some of the stuff they do to the trucks (esp the paint), but some of it is ridiculous.

Case in point: the logger with the old B Mack (whatta truck, BTW, more style than anything else on the road nowadays), they tore off his sleeper and replaced it, only to put a model railroad in it! Granted the old guy used it for day work, but if the old bulldog breaks down, having the bunk is handy while waiting for a hook to come. Or if Momma gets mad, and you need somewhere to crash (where you won't get cold-####ed with an iron skillet), Voila!

 

Yeah, I saw that one with the old Mack. When they tore off the sleeper, put on a new one, and then stuffed a Model RailRoad in it with this big laid out graphic rail yard, etc, I was like WTF? I think that even if the sleeper wasn't used anymore, how about a nice place to stow your gear, your lunchbox, whatever. But a freakin' toy train......aaarrrgggghhh!!!

I really like to see a tractor with a nice paint job, some chrome, polished wheels and a nice interior. Then, LEAVE IT ALONE. Don't keep adding on all the little doo-dads, and teddy bears, and flags and gold teeth. Just a nice looking rig with the basics and a clean look.

 

I'd be afraid to drive some of the trucks they do, for fear someone would scratch it, or I'd get bug guts all over the front, etc. Some look decent, the did a Pete 379 a while back, to look "old school", did a nice job. But when they start putting on spotlights all over the truck, or loudspeakers on the outside to play gospel music, or a popcorn machine in the sleeper, it's time to change the channel....