What do you think of the new aerodynamic trucks vs the old long hood

I didn't HAVE to replace it but I don't like looking like I can't drive with a bent bumper. While searching for a Cascadia bumper price I found some interesting stuff about them from a towing site. Again while I had to buy a bumper, and you didn't have to buy anything a Cascadia would be a different story.

You can't tow one backwards because the "breakaway" fairings will come off. You can't pull on the front axle because it's designed to break off in an accident and apparently a small deer strike will probably cost you a radiator. So now my $350 bumper would have cost me $2k+. Sounds profitable.

Pretty funny reading...

 

It could be alot worse...... I could own a volvo....

 

Come on now, we all know you can't drive, thats why you have the daycab and your dad has the big truck....

I do agree the new breed of trucks are plastic junk rolling down the highway. I didn't know about the Cascadia. But if you look at all vehicles today you see they are built cheaper. The design is to crumble around the people in the car to help prevent severe injuries. IMO, thats why people drive like they do today. They have no fear of injury or death cause they figure the car will save them.

 

I like W900's. I could like Pete's, but everyone's brother owns one makes it kind of boring. But I'm more for practicality and would chose a truck that is reasonably priced, handles good along with plenty of room and storage. A truck pushes alot of wind and creates a vacuum under and behind it. Aerodynamics can play a big role in mpg's. I think if I was going to be an OO, I would buy a Cascadia.

I like new technology and look forward to new designs.

 

Just my opinion from owning both aero's and hoods. While the aero's are nice on the blacktop with good weather I still prefer a hood when it's snowing hard the sloped nose on the aero's just scoop the snow onto the windshield. Also trying to keep the skirting on the aero's on gravel and off road is apain in the a!!!. So it all depends on what and where your driving. Olso on the fuel issue when your pulling 100000 to 150000 lbs I do'nt see the aero style as making that much of a differance. Thanks for hearing my opinion.

 

My point exactly. But there are no shortage of people on here that think everyone is pulling a dry van cross country with 40k net (big load to them). The forget about the other trucks they pass daily that go off road, pull heavy or non aerodynamic loads i.e. heavy equipment. That's why I always laugh when I read or hear guys claim an aero truck will "always" make more money.

Come one guys convince me how much of an increase in profit or fuel mileage these trucks would see if they just had a sloped hood.





I know, I know all these guys are a Cascadia, air tabs and trailer skirts away from 7+mpg's If they would just ditch those #### hoods.

 

We have mostly T800 day cabs at our company. I have a 07 with the extended cab, and it gives you a lot of room inside,especially for the "fat" guys (not me of course).

 

jfaulk, when you heavy haul, fuel doesn't matter. You need a big truck with a big motor.
Aerodynamics (drag) does play a big role with vans running normal loads which is the majority of the industry. The majority of their time is at highway speeds. Heavy haul is just a fraction. You aren't seperating the two. That's one reason some trucks are getting 8mpg today.

 

Cascadia?

Drove one for two years. Cascadia is the reason I no longer trust Freightliner.

 

The Michigan sled is the only pic of the group that is "heavy". I am one of the few that can separate the trucks based on their use. There are no shortage of people that swear you must buy an aero truck to make any money. Of course they're also probably the guys with the 13' tall sleeper pushing air over top of a 3' tall stepdeck with a load of shingles.

If I ever got hit in the head really really hard and started pulling a van, or God forbid a reefer. I would probably consider a T660. Then hopefully I might gain .5mpg so I could cover the lumper fees. :smt064