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RodInNS
01-16-2006 19:44:41
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Re: Heavy Trucks in reply to DaveD3B, 01-15-2006 08:34:17
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Don't know about other fourms..... But like Old said, you can build a truck from an old highway tractor. That's what I did. That's probably not as common as it used to be though. Tractors now often have a light front, and not real heavy rears. The light front will be rather restrictive on your legal weight. The rears are fine. Also, a lot of guys don't like air ride for vocational trucks, but personally, I like it. You do need to be more careful though, as they probably aren't as stable on rough terrain when dumping. The biggest thing to watch for with old tractors today is the cab. Probably 75% of the tractors today have integral bunks, and it's a bugger of a job to pull the back out of the cab, chop the cab forward, and put the back in place again. Watch for many of the Fords (9000), the Eagle's with the small flat top bunks, most of the Macks, the "Star's, and some Freightliners. Of the Freightliner's, the Classics are probably the easiest to get with the removable bunk. It's hard to get one with a setback front axle though..... In my area, the old Ford 9000 was the most commonly converted tractor, followed by the Eagle.
Once you pass the mid 90's, tractors with removable bunks become more rare. Kenworth is another one to watch. If you're looking for Cat engines, the 3406 is surely one of the toughest engines ever made. The 3176 wasn't bad either, but is more of the disposable fleet engine... The 3176 is pretty good on fuel, especially at the lower power specs. Personally, I like Cummins. Not a Detroit fan, but they've come a long way since the old days. Realistically, most any of the engines in use in heavy trucks today are quite good. I would just watch out for the euro engines like Mercedes.... They're good, but if you've got to put money in them, they're going to want a lot of money.... sorta like a Cat... snicker... If I had my choice on transmissions, I'd go for a 13, followed by a 15, then a 9. Hardly a need for an 18 in a tandem.... Lots of guys like the 8LL too, but I'd rather the splitter on the high side with the 13.... Depends on what you're doing... HTH.Rod
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