Thoughts on New trucks vs My Old One

This post is just for fun and my opinion after having to rent a new truck for a few weeks. I have only ever driven much older equipment in my 10 years doing this. I started out with a 2005 international 9400i with an isx. The engine and the truck constantly ate parts and cut into my revenue. International is pretty junky build quality in general in my opinion. The isx had amazing power but was expensive to maintain. Then I upgraded to a 2001 Freightliner classic xl with an N14 and 13 speed. I didn't think a lot about it really. I just liked the truck and was insanely easy to work on compared to the 9400i. Never had any major issues in a few years until last week when the N14 drank all the coolant into the crank case with no warning. That truck is getting a recon N14 direct from Cummins right now. ANYWAYS. I had to rent a Penske truck for last week and this week. It is only a day cab and I absolutely hate it. BUT I found a few things I didn't mind. It is an international RH I believe and has the A26. Honestly the A26 pulls way better than I was expecting. Has a engine brake that comes on automatically when I brake. Engine brake is also quiet so I can use it in town. Also the engine brake is STRONG. That is pretty much the end of the good. The cab itself is uncomfortable as hell, all plastic, bad quality, falling apart, creaks and whistles. Outside of the truck isn't any different than the inside. Just absolute bad quality in my opinion. The A26 gets worse mpg than my N14....I thought they touted this thing as some kinda fuel saver?? DEF wow what a pain in the ### that is....haven't ever had to deal with that...really annoying. Plus the fuel tank is only 80 gallons so I have to stop multiple times a day to fuel up. Also with the super short wheel base it obviously rides absolutely horrible compared to my XL. Just some random thoughts from a guy who hasn't ever driven any newer equipment and hopefully never will again. I won't complain about my XL ever again when I get that big ####### back.

 

Eehhhhh quality depends on the truck with internationals tbh. Their plastic disposable lines are cheap for a reason. Their better rigs like the lonestars and HXs are a lot better quality or at least MY lonestar aside from some minor cosmetic issues and a single window seal going out is a far better quality rig then my 579. Not as good as an O/O 379 or a w900 but pretty close. Also doesnt feel cheap like my pete did.

imo a cheap international and good international is a bit like going to a dealer and compareing a budget kia to a brand new toyota or lexus. They will all get the job done of moving you from A to B....usually but you get what you pay for as well. As for the A26 that thing is junk. Ill keep my isx 15 thanks.....course im biased as hell after the dumpster fire that was my pete lol.

 

I agree with everything you said! My 9400i was actually better quality and this RH. It is obviously as budget as you can get. I was honestly just surprised I found anything I liked about it. Really makes me appreciate what I have! I always thought the lone stars were cool. Haven't ever driven one. Did your Pete have a A26? I have heard a lot of bad stuff about them. Mostly the whole connecting rod going through the block recall lol.

 

Nope the "legendary" MX13. And there is a reason my fourm title is what it is. About the only thing i didnt replace on that pete in the million miles i had it at least once was the sleeper and the #### block. And yea the lonestar handles a lot like a standard hood truck and mine is a 265 wheel base so rides smooth as butter.......or did till recently. I hit that one spot on 70 coming out of chicago because a #### container yanker wouldnt let me over and popped both front shocks. So it needs new shocks atm, but their on backorder lol. Least i didnt break an axle or something.

 

I just parked for good my first truck that I bought 10 years ago, 2001 Volvo with N14. Did overhaul at 1.75 mil miles. Now at 2.5 mil head gasket is starting to leak and it has been consuming a gallon of oil for the last 300k miles. Don't want to put money in it anymore.

It still runs nice, quiet and comfortable just like it did 10 years ago.
Like everything else things are not made the same anymore.

 

Ha ! I didn't even see your title. Honestly my ISX was one of the earlier versions with just the EGR. CM870 I think? I don't think it was well cared for before I bought it but it nickel and dimed the hell out of me with electronic stuff. It was having a slow head gasket weap into the oil so I sold it cause I didn't really love the truck enough to tear the head off or anything else. That is when I got the classic which has been a great truck till last week. But that happens when you buy something unknown.

 

A former member I keep in touch with has been trying the new HX's with the S13 and from what I gather he's happy with them. Doesn't have much good to say about the newer Kenworths.

 

Man that is a sad day! Did you get out of the business or get a different truck? I thought about getting a different truck when I blew my engine but I figured I will know exactly what I have with this truck once the recon is install. Or at least I hope. Buying a different used truck I would be back at square one. Mine had a "in frame" with paperwork! But I always question that especially when the truck just sits around and then is sold after the work is done. Hoping I can feel good and get some good miles with the engine coming straight from Cummins.

 

My old man's last truck was the EGR only ISX and besides having decent power and a good jake it didn't have much else going for it. Needed 2 EGR valves and a turbo before it reached 100k kilometers. Never had issues like that with anything he owned with a Cat or Detroit. Mind you the other stuff was pre-EGR but point is they weren't giving him grief that early on.

 

My EGR valve might have had a mishap and might have disappeared when I had that truck. Power was absolutely incredible in that truck. Mine also blew a turbo...which was 3k just the part. But it was overdue. It wasn't a premature failure or anything. I wish I could afford a cat lol. I hear really good stuff about them.