Well, after much thinking and debate my 2 best truck choices are the Crewcab 6500 with the 7.8 diesel and Allison tranny or Freightliner m2 Business class extcab with the Mercedes diesel and 6 speed or auto tranny. The reason i want an extended cab is so that on my longer trips, I can hop in the back and get a nap when i get tired. This alone will save me anywhere from 150-250 per month in hotel bills. This alone is enough is just about enough to justify stepping up from my 2000 International. The kicker would fuel mileage. Right now i am at 8.5 unloaded or loaded. If i could get to 9.5 with either other combo it would seal the deal.

Which truck would you get and do you think either could pull better than 8.5 MPG? The price difference would be neglible as i have found an extended cab M2 with a 24 ft box with the big 250 MB diesel 6 sp combo for 54,900 and a similar 6500 with the 7.8 Allison lists for over 60K with no box or anything. I do realize there would be bargaining room in the 6500 though, so it would probably end up being cheaper, so which one would you go for.

If you purchase the M2, please post which one you bought and how much if you do not mind. Did they ever give you the actual warrenty information?

Also, I don't think popping in back to an extended cab is going to give you a legal rest. Only mentioning this because you said something about saving on motel bills.

Will you be hotshot driving, or some other form? Are you hauling now?

Talked to a driver hauling with a FL60, single axel about 10 weeks ago. He has the sleeper attached, and not much else. He says he is staying as busy as he wants to. They were so rushed, I did not want to keep him long. Never even found out who he was leased to.

braz

I'll let you know what the M2 Is like.

I take delivery of mine in 2 more weeks!

6 Speed Allison HS3000 for me!
5.22 Rearend, Full Air, EX and Jake brakes, ext cab sleeper W/ Flatdeck
onboard air etc etc etc.
I spec'd the Hi Torque engine

It will be interesting to see how she handles the load!

If you purchase the M2, please post which one you bought and how much if you do not mind. Did they ever give you the actual warrenty information?

Also, I don't think popping in back to an extended cab is going to give you a legal rest. Only mentioning this because you said something about saving on motel bills.

Will you be hotshot driving, or some other form? Are you hauling now?

Talked to a driver hauling with a FL60, single axel about 10 weeks ago. He has the sleeper attached, and not much else. He says he is staying as busy as he wants to. They were so rushed, I did not want to keep him long. Never even found out who he was leased to.

braz

I don't know if the m2 extcab will qualify as a sleeper berth, but as long as I show 10 hrs straight off- duty, not driving, it does not matter legally. Sleeper berths only help you if they are either 10 hrs straight, or if two adjoining sleeper berths are at least 2 hours each and total 10 hrs. You can drive 5, sleep 5, drive 5 sleep 5 and you never will go over your 11 hr driving limit.

I am hauling now with my International, I bought it at first just to feel the waters on how much freight I can get and now I am satisfied that I can do it. i want a truck that will be more comfortable on long hauls and run at least 72-75 as my truck is limited to 66. I could get it turned up , but I will be approaching the 466E's maximum RPM limit.

I recently purchased used, a 2000 Peterbilt 330 Crewcab with Allison 6 speed with double overdrive 4.33 Rear end and an ISC 8.3 Cummins. It has over 200k miles on it. I recently had it turned up to 300 HP, 860 Torque from 265HP and 800 Torque. It weighs 17000#. I recently did some experiments on fuel milage and was able to get 13.6 mpg (no trailer attached) as long as I kept it between 55 and 60 MPH. It has plenty of power!!!:ro)

Haftrek, was just wondering, I also have a 330 Pete, with a 275 hp Cat, and the Allison 6 sp. Did the dealer pump you up, or another mech. Did you notice a real increase in power, I would also like a little more juice (ours is a tandem gravel truck). Also, if you dont mind, what did it cost, and is the Allison runnin hotter than before?

I recently purchased used, a 2000 Peterbilt 330 Crewcab with Allison 6 speed with double overdrive 4.33 Rear end and an ISC 8.3 Cummins. It has over 200k miles on it. I recently had it turned up to 300 HP, 860 Torque from 265HP and 800 Torque. It weighs 17000#. I recently did some experiments on fuel milage and was able to get 13.6 mpg (no trailer attached) as long as I kept it between 55 and 60 MPH. It has plenty of power!!!:ro)

Bwwahhhaaaa, :ro) I really think the trick is with these big trucks is to get an engine with enough torque to where you don't have to stand on it every time you take off or go up a hill. This keeps the RPM's down and preserves fuel mileage. This why the power programmer's tend to increase fuel mileage at lower power levels because under normal driving, it takes less throttle to get the load moving. I am thinking with the Mercedes engine and 6 sp, I can short shift when unloaded to get a little more mileage.

I first took the truck to an 'Binder dealer who screwed up the program and caused the cruise control NOT to work. They (in error, gave my truck a manual transmission with a wrong rear ratio with an incorrect engine with wrong parameters)they worked an arrangement with Cummins of Little Rock (Very knowledeable group of people). They pulled my serial number revealing the bill of material off my engine block that my engine was built with. Based on those parts, they then told me how much power they could program it to. Using the parts list, and dozens of variable parameters like rear end ratio,tranny type,size tires, cruise control parameters,mph maximums etc.

By pushing the mode button under light pedal application, I can drive the truck down less 1200 RPM (being an allison).

I have also had the truck up to 85mph (unloaded) and still had more power.

Do I recommend turning the truck up...ABSOLUTELY YES!!! with a qualification...only to in your case, Caterpillar engine shop...NOT just a dealer that is an authorized shop that works on Petes or Freightliners as they are really the only ones that KNOW their unique electronics, NOT just somone that THINKS he knows :o:the electronics.

I forgot to tell you, the cost...about 300 bucks!!! (to the oiginal dealer). I assume the Cat can be turned up) Again it depends on your engine parts list.

I am convinced of the old expression still hold true...you buy horsepower but drive torque!!

I am convinced that the larger the displacement the slower you can run the RPM.

I feel that a MBE 4000 witha low HP rating but a high torque rating, on paper would be the ideal combination.

I think an engine that electronically could be programmed to a reduce the torque rating during certain parameters and increase it temporarily for other parameters. Kind of like Cummins has...Smart Torque...that increase torque under certain needs, ( transmission gear selected). Come to think of it why not just buy a CUMMINS. The truck that I bought has a Cummins in it with just under 6000 hours on it and still doesnt burn or use oil.

Thought this was a Chevy truck forum. Guess I need to move to the Freightliner, Peterbuilt forum.

If the subject is about REAL TRUCKS ,you will need to move. Because GM doesnt make one. My 4500 is in the shop for the 10th time in 18months,this time for rear axle seals,wireing shorts, cracked door panels,broken wheel well panels.Im going broke with the down time on this HUNK OF JUNK. animal 4500 rvtransporter

Animal I thought you had a 550. By the way did you ever get your Mor/ryde on? How's it working out?

jo9702 Iwas planning on getting a mor/ryde,but everytime I make a run this PIECE OF JUNK breaks.I have a 4500 with a 17500 GVW. With all the down Im having,Im having second thoughts about spending more money on this RAG. ANIMAL 4500 RVTRANSPORTER

I have put 40,000 miles on my truck in three months its been to the dealer 4 times for. 2 Down Pipes, One Air comp. Relay, One Turbo, One Drag Link. For a total of 12 days of service work (down time). still like the truck. Wish the down time was better

Just got my truck back today,this was the 14th time its been in for warranty work.Im glad gm gave 2004 lb7 200000 miles on injectors. animal4500 rvtransporter

I prefer the interior of the freightshaker..seems better thought out for the long hauls

These trucks literally fall apart,when used commercialy. animal 4500 rvtransporter

These trucks literally fall apart,when used commercialy. animal 4500 rvtransporter


Your 6500 7.8L I6 GM is falling apart? Or your Freightliner?

Perhaps you should just start your own GM Sucks website. I do agree, if I had ANY truck that was down 14 times for warranty work, I'd replace it. Brand does not matter, that's WAY too many faults.

:exactly:, McRat... Animal it seems you have more problems than you know what to do with. I dont mean any offence, but rather than constantly complaining, lemon law the truck or just dump it and get what you consider a "real truck". If your Kodiak has really been in as many times as you say it has, you should easilly be able to lemon law it. Again, I dont mean to sound like an a$$, but complaining that your truck sucks in every single post will not fix it...

---ben

:exactly:, McRat... Animal it seems you have more problems than you know what to do with. I dont mean any offence, but rather than constantly complaining, lemon law the truck or just dump it and get what you consider a "real truck". If your Kodiak has really been in as many times as you say it has, you should easilly be able to lemon law it. Again, I dont mean to sound like an a$$, but complaining that your truck sucks in every single post will not fix it...

---ben Well said....Lime lemon dud.. how about misuse or ... um use not apprpreiate for application?? is he using his truck as a tug boat?? what the?? I have never hear of so many problems..

I guess its possible he got a lemon...he must have because every post is a complaint about the truck. Dump the durn thing if its that frustrating, I know if my truck had that many problems I would have dumped it a long time ago...

---Ben

OK Iam going away ,3 other owner operators I work with that have the same trucks are having more trouble than me.These trucks are ok if used as toys,but in the real world of trucking there junk plain and simple. Yes i will get shed of it when the warranty runs out.So good bye. animal 4500 rvtransporter

I'm still waiting for delivery of ours #!@)$#%)*(#@$_)(~~~~!

Something about the Hurricane delaying the Box Building.

Total crock of BS

Generally the lemon laws do not apply to commercial use vehicles. I had the same experience as animal with a Ford. No one is sympathetic. You can't sell it and get another truck, 1) no one wants a lemon, 2)you are spending so much on downtime, you have little money left over for a downpayment on a new truck.

I actually tried trading in my Ford... dealer would not take it becuase they could not keep it running.