Specing a new truck, need advice

Dakota · Jul 8, 2010

Penske has decided to get me a new truck and I need some advice, this is going to be a class 6 under 26000 under CDL air brakes truck
International or Freightliner?
Automatic or Eaton Autoshift? both are 5 speed
If a Freightliner and I get a choice of engines, cummins or mercedes?
Not sure I have the option but if I do what gear ratio in the rear axleor what ratio for transmission. All the straight trucks I have driven have always been around 2200 to 2500rpm at 65, and since half of my driving is on the highway I'd like to save fuel if possible.
I know some of these questions are personal preference, but I'd like to hear all sides
Thanks

Wolfeman68 · Jul 9, 2010

I can tell you how my trucks are doing and you can go from there.

I have a 2007 International 4400 under CDL with the DT466 engine and Allison 6 speed auto. I've had it for two years and it has had the least problems. A turbo linkage problem that International wanted $1500 to install an update kit. A $5.00 can of Liquid Wrench solved the problem. An A/C blend door motor that failed, $350 installed. The rest has been normal maint.

The Mercedes engine I have is the MBE900 and it's in a 2006 Sterling Acterra. The turbo went, $2,000., the EGR cooler failed, $4000., and the fan clutch failed, $1,000. It also has the Allison 6 speed auto.

If it were me, I'd go with the International and the Allison. If you notice on the highway that most service type trucks are International's. I also know that cummins is having problems with their engines, more specifically the turbo's and heads. I know a fleet owner with four straights he bought new, and most weeks at least one is in the shop with engine concerns. I can't recall what exact engine is in his, but they are class 7 straights. As for Mercedes, I'd never buy another one. No shop I've been to stocks the oil or fuel filters for mine, you have to move an a/c line to access one of the oil filters, and the Germans cannot design a reliable EGR system. As for the Allison's, I wouldn't have anything else. Of course, I'm a bit partial to them since I used to rebuild them.

Hope this helps you in your decision.

greg334 · Jul 9, 2010

Dakota,
If you do the cummins thing, get the rpms down to 1750 at 65 but also check with Cummins, they can advise you what ratio to get for the ISC.

From the DD people, the Mercedes EGR system was designed here at DD, not in Germany by the way.

highway star · Jul 9, 2010

My experience with the MBE 900 is pretty good so far, at 345k. The EGR cooler was replaced under warranty and I've had a belt tensioner failure. Fuel mileage is excellent with the Mercedes 6-speed auto-shift, commonly 10.5 to 10.75 and as high as 11.5 occasionally. Speedco stocks the filters for it and there's no A/C line issue. For '07 they did away with the spinner filter on the back of the engine.

Having said that, I'm getting into the mileage on the engine where more things begin to happen. I'm hoping things continue to go well.

Dakota · Jul 9, 2010

I wonder why all the trucks I've driven come with the 5 speed and not a 6 speed Hmmmm
The International Prostar I am driving has the Maxxforce DT engine, I believe it's just the newest version of the tried and true DT466
After being in that Hino I realized that I don't have to floor the truck all the time to keep it at speed, it's nice to have reserve power.

Jack_Berry · Jul 9, 2010

whatever you get make sure it has a good warranty period.

Jack_Berry · Jul 10, 2010

i guess you are gong thru penske again? not really clear BUT i talked to a fella running a c with fed and he had a misu or a ud. came comes with an allison trans. he is out of cincy. he said he has leased 5 trucks over the years and anytime he had a problem the mfg'er was right there to help. once the allison trans had a problem and he limped home and got it fixed in a day. he had his own box with a small sleeper that went from unit to unit. since you are regional maybe that is something to consider.

Dakota · Jul 11, 2010

I am 18 months into a 3 year lease, but the the truck is being replaced due to many problems, so at this point I can't really walk away, besides in the past Penske has been good to me. I know everyone there and have dealt with them for the past ten years(although I was driving trucks owned by my employer, not as an owner/operator)
I am shopping around just to get an idea of how fair the price is, but I think their price is very competative. My last boss was a cheapskate and after shopping around went with penske.
I am having a sit down with the leasing rep on Monday. I want to make sure if I get stuck with another problem child (what's the chance of two bad trucks in a row) that there is something in the lease that lets me out.
I will be looking at various options on trucks, transmissions etc.
BTW I have been calling the truck I have been driving a Prostar but it is actually a Durastar.
I am going to ask about Kenworth or Peterbilt, but the Freightliner and Internationals are more common
I am hoping the bugs in the DPR system are worked out by now, I've noticed I haven't had to regenerate the truck in the past week because I begin and end my day on the highway.
One option we are looking into is a new truck that has the pre DPR system it may be a 2008 not sure yet. If the price difference is huge I might go for that one instead of a 2010 or 2011

usafk9 · Jul 11, 2010

Wolfeman68 said:
I can tell you how my trucks are doing and you can go from there.

I have a 2007 International 4400 under CDL with the DT466 engine and Allison 6 speed auto. I've had it for two years and it has had the least problems. A turbo linkage problem that International wanted $1500 to install an update kit. A $5.00 can of Liquid Wrench solved the problem. An A/C blend door motor that failed, $350 installed. The rest has been normal maint.

The Mercedes engine I have is the MBE900 and it's in a 2006 Sterling Acterra. The turbo went, $2,000., the EGR cooler failed, $4000., and the fan clutch failed, $1,000. It also has the Allison 6 speed auto.

If it were me, I'd go with the International and the Allison. If you notice on the highway that most service type trucks are International's. I also know that cummins is having problems with their engines, more specifically the turbo's and heads. I know a fleet owner with four straights he bought new, and most weeks at least one is in the shop with engine concerns. I can't recall what exact engine is in his, but they are class 7 straights. As for Mercedes, I'd never buy another one. No shop I've been to stocks the oil or fuel filters for mine, you have to move an a/c line to access one of the oil filters, and the Germans cannot design a reliable EGR system. As for the Allison's, I wouldn't have anything else. Of course, I'm a bit partial to them since I used to rebuild them.

Hope this helps you in your decision.

If you paid $4k to have that EGR cooler replaced, I hope they threw in some free lube, or, at a minimum, a hug and a kiss. You got porked. I think your prices are backwards.

I have the small Mercedes 900, and have 480k on the clock. I am impressed with the engine. Won't win any races, but efficient and durable.

Wolfeman68 · Jul 12, 2010

usafk9 said:
If you paid $4k to have that EGR cooler replaced, I hope they threw in some free lube, or, at a minimum, a hug and a kiss. You got porked. I think your prices are backwards.

I have the small Mercedes 900, and have 480k on the clock. I am impressed with the engine. Won't win any races, but efficient and durable.

The prices aren't backwards, and I don't remember asking for your opinion.

It sounds like you don't know that the coolers can leak coolant into the oil, and they can go all at once. When it went, it dumped coolant into the oil and the oil pressure began to fluctuate. There was a Freightliner dealer within 5 miles of me and even though they would not have been my first choice, I wasn't taking any chances.

The actual cost was $3,628.66 which included the new EGR Valve and Cooler, oil, gaskets, filters, and labor including dropping the oil pan and checking for main bearing damage.

I confirmed the costs with the shop I use near home, and the only difference was in the labor hour rates. While I do consider the labor rates at dealer shops to be excessive, I wasn't going to risk the bottom end of the engine to try and save a few bucks.

Deville · Jul 16, 2010

Jack_Berry said:
i guess you are gong thru penske again? not really clear BUT i talked to a fella running a c with fed and he had a misu or a ud. came comes with an allison trans. he is out of cincy. he said he has leased 5 trucks over the years and anytime he had a problem the mfg'er was right there to help. once the allison trans had a problem and he limped home and got it fixed in a day. he had his own box with a small sleeper that went from unit to unit. since you are regional maybe that is something to consider.

That's a UD I have owned 3 of them since the 94' remodel, a 94' 1600 series, 99' 1400 & a 2004 1800 series. All Automatics, all really REALLY good trucks. the 94' was by far my favorite, it has the 6cyl engine which was so quiet & smooth & had decent power. The 99' was a 4cyl & actually has the same HP rating, but sounded like a truck. Again really good truck, took it every where & loaded it up. the 04' 1800 had the same 6cyl motor rated at 275HP that UD used in it's 2600 & 3300 series. It was ok, I could honestly not feel any diffrence in power. I often wondered if it was tuned down for the 1800.

In any even, the truck in the pic above is the type of setup I would like to get for my next truck. The only issue is that those models don't come with air ride & it's hard to find one with a suspension drivers seat. I'm pretty sure the truck pictured is an 1800HD, which has the suspension seat & the extended cab. none of mine had the extended cab.

anyway, to answer your question, get a cummins motor with the automatic. I'm told that the autos they use in todays trucks are the same trannies that they use in city buses & garbage trucks & that they are bullet proof.