Why I won't buy another Freightliner

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by OldeSkool, Jan 6, 2020.

  1. pavrom

    pavrom Road Train Member

    Joined:
    Apr 29, 2012
    Messages:
    3,185
    Thanks Received:
    7,305
    Location:
    NE illinois
    0
    Freightliner been designed from the factory to be this way !
     
    Rideandrepair and D.Tibbitt Thank this.
  2. Cabinover101

    Cabinover101 Heavy Load Member

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2019
    Messages:
    726
    Thanks Received:
    1,166
    0
    When CF went out of business, I hauled a bunch of their double trailers to the scrap yard.
     
    Rideandrepair Thanks this.
  3. Cabinover101

    Cabinover101 Heavy Load Member

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2019
    Messages:
    726
    Thanks Received:
    1,166
    0
    That's back when it was "The Efficient Machine"
     
    Rideandrepair and Bean Jr. Thank this.
  4. Brandt

    Brandt Road Train Member

    Joined:
    Sep 17, 2012
    Messages:
    4,506
    Thanks Received:
    6,168
    0
    Any truck as it gets older will show age. I had 2000 Volvo I drove to 1.4 million miles. It was still ok on the inside. Would I still want to be driving that truck today. No, not even if it was new. The new cab design is better. The Freightliner FLD trucks were pretty solid trucks. I would not want to drive that today.

    I'm not a big fan of KW or Peterbilt. The trucks are good and well made. They don't have the room most times. The long metal hood it amazing but the cab is so small.
     
    Rideandrepair and bzinger Thank this.
  5. 201

    201 Road Train Member

    Joined:
    Apr 16, 2014
    Messages:
    12,330
    Thanks Received:
    25,214
    Location:
    high plains colorado
    0
    Um, ever spend any time in these? I thought they were miserable trucks. They rode terrible, had a generic dash, and the 1st of the crummy door Freightliners. I knew drivers that hated these trucks. They may look a bit like a Pete, but brother, it ain't no Pete. I remember passing these trucks, the hood was shaking so bad, it was razor sharp where it met the cab. The FLD was a much better truck than these. Sorry, I was there.
     
    Rideandrepair, Bean Jr. and MACK E-6 Thank this.
  6. MACK E-6

    MACK E-6 Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2005
    Messages:
    48,939
    Thanks Received:
    226,947
    Location:
    Baltimore, MD
    0
    Never drove one, but they sure do look nice cleaned up.
     
    Rideandrepair and 201 Thank this.
  7. 201

    201 Road Train Member

    Joined:
    Apr 16, 2014
    Messages:
    12,330
    Thanks Received:
    25,214
    Location:
    high plains colorado
    0
    In all fairness, generally those FLC's were spring ride. Air ride didn't become standard until the 90's.
     
  8. swaan

    swaan Road Train Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2009
    Messages:
    2,942
    Thanks Received:
    4,374
    Location:
    BC canada
    0
    And the first generation double pancake air ride was not much better then spring.
     
  9. 201

    201 Road Train Member

    Joined:
    Apr 16, 2014
    Messages:
    12,330
    Thanks Received:
    25,214
    Location:
    high plains colorado
    0
    Got that right. 1st truck I drove with air ride was a Louisville Ford with NeWay. That thing pogo sticked down the highway.
     
    Rideandrepair and bzinger Thank this.
  10. 25(2)+2

    25(2)+2 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 18, 2006
    Messages:
    18,750
    Thanks Received:
    45,499
    Location:
    the road less travelled
    0
    I drove a 9400 day cab, all the good manners of a saddle bronc, and the FLC was much worse.

    There's one sitting in Waterloo, setback axle daycab, has a given name, used for city work, and the driver finally refused to drive it and took one of the flat top FLD120s instead.

    Ssid it would turn on a dime and give you nine cents change,( if the bad ride didn't kill you first).