Straight truck/ box truck

Therin · Jan 29, 2015

I'm looking into buying a straight truck/ box truck for LTL work and maybe some personal use I know a tuck under lift gate is a must but as far as engine or the best truck to work on is what I'm trying to figure out along with class 7 and class 8 chassis.if it helps I'm in California

Daffyduck528 · Jan 29, 2015

I'd go with a western star 4800 chassis with a dd13 engine and an Allison transmission. The dd13 is well built, handles your California emissions and sips fuel. The allison 4000 or 4500 transmission will give you the most enjoyable driving experience. Of course twin 80 gallon tanks should do fine. As far as sleepers I would go with a 120" ari sleeper with the condo walk through kit. This gives you enough room for a large bed/kitchen/closset and still provide space for a shower/toilet. Then for the box i would do a 20' supreme dry box, 5 rows of etrack, and barn doors. If I were you I would also only get a single rear axle, that way you can run 65 through the state and not 55. I think you'd be happy with this setup.

T270_Dreamin · Feb 3, 2015

If you're on a budget you could get a Peterbuilt 335 otherwise get a Volvo D11.

Daffyduck528 · Feb 4, 2015

I've been working with Volvo for the past few months getting some specs designed from the factory and Volvo engineering is working on an option for us for a factory designed, not sales person designed expeditor using the VN780 cab/sleeper. They are really being stretched because we have them a 33,000lb max gvw and a payload of around 10,000. That said the Volvo Engineers said not to use the D11, that it's really designed as a big vocational engine and that the D13 would give better fuel milage, lower maint cost and longer life span. I didn't realize the D11 was designed as such and was keen on going that route until they let us know this information. Just thought I'd pass that along.

Team FROG · Feb 7, 2015

Daffy, we've been looking at the Volvo too, for a future purchase. If you wouldn't mind, could you give a ballpark price of what an expeditor designed truck would cost? We been also looking at ARI.

Daffyduck528 · Feb 8, 2015

Still waiting on volvo engineering to finish the project to get the price point. What we are doing would be like asking ford to make a special F-150 just for us, it takes some time.

ARI is pretty awesome. I've not owned one of there sleepers but I have looked at many of them. They are the Cadillac of the industry. We build trucks for our fleet and really can't justify the ARI price tag, but if I was a typical owner/opp I would probably go ARI.