What are the miniumum engine specs to look for?

Nope, I just stated that freightliners fall apart, the interiors manly.800 hp no way with stock barrels and plungers, but I do know a company that is looking in on making them.

 

If what you are driving does the job, then get something like it. No use in trying to figure out what would work when you have it now.

 

With the drought, looks like there may be some serious problems finding produce loads out of California soon. Thousands of farmers have just been denied water because there just isn't any unless water is cut off to homes.

 

I was not debating the availability of loads. I was suggesting if there are lucrative loads don't let it being in or out of 'California' deter you.

Also, he clearly stated he plans to pull a dry van, so, he is not solely dependent on agricultural loads.

Drought or not my previous post is valid!

 

I do not remember saying anything about it being a stock engine.

 

884k miles on my last truck, with that being oversize/overweight for the most part.
MBE 4000 motor, 13 speed, 3.42's.
And it didn't fall apart, rattle to death, or ride bad. In fact, it was quite possibly the best riding truck I have owned in the past 23yrs.
Shock horror, it was a 2006 Freightliner Columbia with an air ride front end!
Rode better than my current Western Star, better than my prior W900, and so on.
Lets try to get some answers from people that have actually owned the trucks they seem to slander on an hourly basis.
For starting out, a Freightliner is hard to beat. Dealers everywhere, reasonable rates compared to KW etc, parts are cheaper, and so on.

Martin

 

Well I have never had a truck with a engine that was to big to do the job but I have had a few that were to small to do the job efficiently .

I would look in the 450 - 500 horse class easier to sale if it don't work out than a 300 would be .
Just because you have a big horse doesn't mean you have to run it fast and hard.

It does mean that you won't have to push it to the limit every time you hit a little hill .
Big horses make driving allot easier than than your gutless company truck .

You don't know what trucking is until you get your own truck with plenty of power and no governor .
It makes the job so much more enjoyable .

Like the old saying goes a big truck does what he can a large car does what he wants !!!
Happiness is being able to do what you want and not what you can .

 

Never owned a freightliner, after driving many I know better.

 

Yes it will suffice and then some depending on trans and rear gear. I have been grossing 80K and more since 2007 running between Watertown, NY and Baltimore, MD with a M11/13 OD/4.33 rear.

 

When I started driving, a 365HP motor was the bee's knee's, in fact my first truck had a big sticker advertising the fact it had such "big power"! And believe it or not, we still managed to climb a hill and deliver on time!
Two ways to look at it.
Look after your pocket 100%, get something like the 450HP MBE, get great fuel mileage, and bank as much as possible without caring you didn't get to the top of the hill first.
Get big HP in a shiny truck, and don't bank as much, but look good doing it.
Both ways are "right" per say, for different people. And there is some crossover with modern motors, that have big HP and get decent MPG IF driven right, and when they have the right gears etc for the terrain.
My Western Star dealer also delivers gas and diesel. They have a tanker truck that grosses 105,000 everywhere. DD16, 560HP, 1850ft lbs with an 18 speed and 3.90 rears, in Washington state. They get 6-7mpg average with that truck and weight.
My old Columbia with the 13 speed and MBE motor always got the best MPG by far, when I ran with other trucks. On blades, I used $120 PER TANK FULL less than a buddy with a big ISX in a Peterbilt. Same loads, speed, roads, and so on. It took 2 fill ups to do a trip, so that is $240 in my pocket just on the loaded miles!
No way is "wrong" per say, but make sure you think long and hard so you dont regret your decision.

Martin