Here is an update on the new 2012 Cascadia/Bolt Sleeper truck we are now driving.
All opinions on this truck will be weighed against the 2007 Columbia SST.
Both units are Class 8 DR units 22' box, 2007 has a MB4000 10 spd auto GVW 30800 the 2012 DD13 w 10 spd auto GVW 31000.
Both units were picked up new by us at Stoops in Ft Wayne.
Over all, so far, we like the 2012 better than the 2007.
Newer is better, right?
Well okay it smells nice.
The handling is better, a firmer feel on the road steering with the 2012.
The DD13 responds well but so far just an even match to the MB4000. The newer 10 spd auto is a different story. Markedly better than the old.
To date: MPG 8.6 diesel and 396 DEF.
We run at 65 mph. MPG is about the same as the MB4000, should get better as we break the DD13 in.
We have been torpedoed by the T1000 THERMO KING Reefer.
IT DID NOT PASS the Thermal Mapping Test done at Fedex.
A MAJOR disappointment as now we have to once again have the unit looked at by THERMO KING to have (as Jason put it ) "known issues" resolved.
For the life of me, I dont understand how a vendor puts its product on a "SHOW" truck and not have it meet Fedex standards.
No gripe against Fedex TVAL standards, they are what gets us the good paying runs........when the T1000 is accepted.
At the same time our T1000 equipped unit was being TVAL tested so was our old 2007 for the new buyer.
The 2007 equipped with a Carrier passed no problem.
We will just bend over for a couple more lost days wages on a situation that in my non humble opinion never should have happened with a new T1000.
Okay that is the worst of it. Maybe.
Lets talk ONAN APU.
I would not recommend one of these if they were free.
The 2007 had to be rebuilt ( $2500 each time ) twice in a 4 yr period.
The 2007 ONAN was broken down 50% of the time over 4 years.
The 2012 ONAN, while still running, has some issues we need to have addressed. You might ask, like what?
1) it seems if the % of available charge falls below 82% our refrig WILL NOT turn on. Yep, our new bigger nicer frig begins to thaw. WHY?
The default set-up has a range you can set an auto start feature.
When you toggle thru this screen your options are: 50, 60 and 70%.
If 80% were available I believe the frig would be okay and my ice cream wouldnt be yukkie.
Also, we have 2 AGM batteries for the condo. My observation is they DO NOT charge as we are driving down the road. We have done a couple cross country runs with the new truck and I have observed the condo batteries had discharged to aprox 72% while we were on a 24 and 36 hour straight thru runs.
Melted my ice cream again.
I dont like ONAN.
Okay, thats the major stuff.
We still like the new truck very much and once the mentioned conditions are taken care of it will almost be perfect......hmmmmmm he said almost.
Okay, now I can be petty.
1) No Fantastic Fan. I was told there wasnt any place to put it.
MY RESPONSE, then its a poor design. Find a place as it gets hot in the box with thos really high ceilings holding way more hot air than the 2007.
A microwave with an exhaust fan was installed and said to replace the FF. Not even close. It gets hot and sticky on a nice 72 degree day or evening where a FF will make it comfortable.
2) Cheap privacy curtain in the cab. It is a much larger curtain than the one we had on the SST but unlike the SST the Bolt unit uses a flexible plastic track where you pull tiny wee little plastic "T" clips along the track.
This may be okay in a RV setting that is used a couple of times a year but we pull the cab curtain shut every time we are stopped for more than a few hours. The tracks are already wearing and the "T" clips are popping out.
3) Noisy AC and micro fan. If I was making a condo for the trucking industry, I would try and understand what happens in the sleeper area. One guess would be SLEEP. Now I know a loud AC fan above your head or and exhaust fan on a microwave that sounds like a propane torpedo heater shouldnt disturb your sleep, but it does.
4) Front window controls. On the 2007 you could open and close the windows anytime without turning on the key. Not so on this 2012. A minor point but just wanting to close an open window say if its starting to rain means turn on the key, listen to all the beeps and bells an then close them where as before all you had to do was push the button and they closed.
5) The nice looking battery and fuel tank covers pose a couple of issues. The battery covers have the steps to get in and out of the cab. This new design has a much narrower step. I will wait until winter and slush and ice season to have a final opinion. Also, the fuel tank covers do not allow the pump nozzle to securely nestle into the tank during filling. Never had a problem on the 2007 but twice already a nozzle has popped out once while fuel was being pumped. To try and remedy this I use the fuel cap as a wedge under the handle. So far so good. Not the best solution but it works.
So the Flag Ship has taken on some water.
Nothing so bad as to sink us, delay us a little, yeah but that can be expected with any truck.
This is written as a critique to help others if they are in the market for a Cascadia/Bolt truck.
You might want to look into the things that are bugging me or not.
ALL IN ALL, I RECOMMEND THE CASCADIA/BOLT TRUCK.
We are happy to be driving it and will be happier when the T1000 has its "known issues" resolved.
All opinions on this truck will be weighed against the 2007 Columbia SST.
Both units are Class 8 DR units 22' box, 2007 has a MB4000 10 spd auto GVW 30800 the 2012 DD13 w 10 spd auto GVW 31000.
Both units were picked up new by us at Stoops in Ft Wayne.
Over all, so far, we like the 2012 better than the 2007.
Newer is better, right?
Well okay it smells nice.
The handling is better, a firmer feel on the road steering with the 2012.
The DD13 responds well but so far just an even match to the MB4000. The newer 10 spd auto is a different story. Markedly better than the old.
To date: MPG 8.6 diesel and 396 DEF.
We run at 65 mph. MPG is about the same as the MB4000, should get better as we break the DD13 in.
We have been torpedoed by the T1000 THERMO KING Reefer.
IT DID NOT PASS the Thermal Mapping Test done at Fedex.
A MAJOR disappointment as now we have to once again have the unit looked at by THERMO KING to have (as Jason put it ) "known issues" resolved.
For the life of me, I dont understand how a vendor puts its product on a "SHOW" truck and not have it meet Fedex standards.
No gripe against Fedex TVAL standards, they are what gets us the good paying runs........when the T1000 is accepted.
At the same time our T1000 equipped unit was being TVAL tested so was our old 2007 for the new buyer.
The 2007 equipped with a Carrier passed no problem.
We will just bend over for a couple more lost days wages on a situation that in my non humble opinion never should have happened with a new T1000.
Okay that is the worst of it. Maybe.
Lets talk ONAN APU.
I would not recommend one of these if they were free.
The 2007 had to be rebuilt ( $2500 each time ) twice in a 4 yr period.
The 2007 ONAN was broken down 50% of the time over 4 years.
The 2012 ONAN, while still running, has some issues we need to have addressed. You might ask, like what?
1) it seems if the % of available charge falls below 82% our refrig WILL NOT turn on. Yep, our new bigger nicer frig begins to thaw. WHY?
The default set-up has a range you can set an auto start feature.
When you toggle thru this screen your options are: 50, 60 and 70%.
If 80% were available I believe the frig would be okay and my ice cream wouldnt be yukkie.
Also, we have 2 AGM batteries for the condo. My observation is they DO NOT charge as we are driving down the road. We have done a couple cross country runs with the new truck and I have observed the condo batteries had discharged to aprox 72% while we were on a 24 and 36 hour straight thru runs.
Melted my ice cream again.
I dont like ONAN.
Okay, thats the major stuff.
We still like the new truck very much and once the mentioned conditions are taken care of it will almost be perfect......hmmmmmm he said almost.
Okay, now I can be petty.
1) No Fantastic Fan. I was told there wasnt any place to put it.
MY RESPONSE, then its a poor design. Find a place as it gets hot in the box with thos really high ceilings holding way more hot air than the 2007.
A microwave with an exhaust fan was installed and said to replace the FF. Not even close. It gets hot and sticky on a nice 72 degree day or evening where a FF will make it comfortable.
2) Cheap privacy curtain in the cab. It is a much larger curtain than the one we had on the SST but unlike the SST the Bolt unit uses a flexible plastic track where you pull tiny wee little plastic "T" clips along the track.
This may be okay in a RV setting that is used a couple of times a year but we pull the cab curtain shut every time we are stopped for more than a few hours. The tracks are already wearing and the "T" clips are popping out.
3) Noisy AC and micro fan. If I was making a condo for the trucking industry, I would try and understand what happens in the sleeper area. One guess would be SLEEP. Now I know a loud AC fan above your head or and exhaust fan on a microwave that sounds like a propane torpedo heater shouldnt disturb your sleep, but it does.
4) Front window controls. On the 2007 you could open and close the windows anytime without turning on the key. Not so on this 2012. A minor point but just wanting to close an open window say if its starting to rain means turn on the key, listen to all the beeps and bells an then close them where as before all you had to do was push the button and they closed.
5) The nice looking battery and fuel tank covers pose a couple of issues. The battery covers have the steps to get in and out of the cab. This new design has a much narrower step. I will wait until winter and slush and ice season to have a final opinion. Also, the fuel tank covers do not allow the pump nozzle to securely nestle into the tank during filling. Never had a problem on the 2007 but twice already a nozzle has popped out once while fuel was being pumped. To try and remedy this I use the fuel cap as a wedge under the handle. So far so good. Not the best solution but it works.
So the Flag Ship has taken on some water.
Nothing so bad as to sink us, delay us a little, yeah but that can be expected with any truck.
This is written as a critique to help others if they are in the market for a Cascadia/Bolt truck.
You might want to look into the things that are bugging me or not.
ALL IN ALL, I RECOMMEND THE CASCADIA/BOLT TRUCK.
We are happy to be driving it and will be happier when the T1000 has its "known issues" resolved.
Last edited:
