Class 8 Road Tractor Question

SID297

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I was looking at some of the large Class 8 Conversion Toters at PRI, and it got me thinking. Who makes the best quality Class 8 truck? From just an outside look, it appears that Kenworth uses higher quality materials (metal instead of plastic) than most. I know some of you guys have hauled for a living, so I figured you may have some perspective here.
 

mc01svt

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I was looking at some of the large Class 8 Conversion Toters at PRI, and it got me thinking. Who makes the best quality Class 8 truck? From just an outside look, it appears that Kenworth uses higher quality materials (metal instead of plastic) than most. I know some of you guys have hauled for a living, so I figured you may have some perspective here.

Peterbuilt is the most popular cab configuration but i think this is because of brand perception.

Chassis/Cab wise i cant think of any that stand out as having the best quality. The variation comes in engine and trans. Ideally you want a new glider kit (new chassis certified with reman engine), that's a legal loophole that allows you to buy a "new" truck with a pre EPA 07 emissions engine which are far more durable and trouble free.

The best most reliable older engines are the CAT C15 and detroit diesel series 60. Neither are offered in new trucks anymore. If you need a newer emissions certified engine ive heard good things about the detroit diesel 15L (DD15) and the cummins isx.

i think the best bang for the buck right now is the freightliner cascadia with detroit diesel 13L. Just my 2 cents....
 

Rare40th

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I buy and sell em for a living so I'll try to give you some good insight.

I've always been a Pete guy. Kenworth being #2. Resale wise, those 2 hold up the best.
In all honesty it really depends on what you feel comfortable in.
A lot of drivers/companies like Cascadia model Freightliners and ProStar Internationals because of cab space and turning radius (probably something else to consider). Resale values are not good at all but they are best bang for the bang for Late Model year tractors. Pete and Kenworth overlook the practical things and build a truck for the guy that loves his quality of equipment.

For current model trucks, the Detroit and Isx is the most popular. At all cost, avoid Cat motors from 05/06 (especially ACERT) up until their last year, anything paccar motor and certainly avoid Internationals with Maxxforce unless you can delete the emissions crap.

Otherwise like Mc01svt said, any Cat 3406b, 3406E, C-15 with serial 6NZ, 2004 model C-15 single turbo, N14 Cummins, Series 60 12.7 or 14L detroit were the best and most popular motors of the last 30 years.

The truck markets in the tank right now, especially with the amount of bankruptcies this year. You can honestly pick up a good deal whether at Auction or wholesale.
 

SID297

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Peterbuilt is the most popular cab configuration but i think this is because of brand perception.

Chassis/Cab wise i cant think of any that stand out as having the best quality. The variation comes in engine and trans. Ideally you want a new glider kit (new chassis certified with reman engine), that's a legal loophole that allows you to buy a "new" truck with a pre EPA 07 emissions engine which are far more durable and trouble free.

The best most reliable older engines are the CAT C15 and detroit diesel series 60. Neither are offered in new trucks anymore. If you need a newer emissions certified engine ive heard good things about the detroit diesel 15L (DD15) and the cummins isx.

i think the best bang for the buck right now is the freightliner cascadia with detroit diesel 13L. Just my 2 cents....

I've been wondering why no one has tried to start building Super Duty gliders with a 5.9L Cummins? Perhaps there's a weight/class stipulation in that loophole.

I buy and sell em for a living so I'll try to give you some good insight.

I've always been a Pete guy. Kenworth being #2. Resale wise, those 2 hold up the best.
In all honesty it really depends on what you feel comfortable in.
A lot of drivers/companies like Cascadia model Freightliners and ProStar Internationals because of cab space and turning radius (probably something else to consider). Resale values are not good at all but they are best bang for the bang for Late Model year tractors. Pete and Kenworth overlook the practical things and build a truck for the guy that loves his quality of equipment.

For current model trucks, the Detroit and Isx is the most popular. At all cost, avoid Cat motors from 05/06 (especially ACERT) up until their last year, anything paccar motor and certainly avoid Internationals with Maxxforce unless you can delete the emissions crap.

Otherwise like Mc01svt said, any Cat 3406b, 3406E, C-15 with serial 6NZ, 2004 model C-15 single turbo, N14 Cummins, Series 60 12.7 or 14L detroit were the best and most popular motors of the last 30 years.

The truck markets in the tank right now, especially with the amount of bankruptcies this year. You can honestly pick up a good deal whether at Auction or wholesale.

Thanks. I was thinking Pete and KW were a bit higher quality.

Any thoughts on a 2005 C7 Cat?
 

mc01svt

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I've been wondering why no one has tried to start building Super Duty gliders with a 5.9L Cummins? Perhaps there's a weight/class stipulation in that loophole.
?

You can buy a used F-650 that came from the factory with CAT C7 so the cummins 5.9L would be a downgrade.

Aside from that there are weight limitations as far as GVWR/GCWR. Superduty has no configuration that can be legally loaded like a class 8 truck. Ford's last class 8 truck was the L9000 i believe but that was 30yrs ago.
 

SHOdown220

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Peterbuilt is the most popular cab configuration but i think this is because of brand perception.

Chassis/Cab wise i cant think of any that stand out as having the best quality. The variation comes in engine and trans. Ideally you want a new glider kit (new chassis certified with reman engine), that's a legal loophole that allows you to buy a "new" truck with a pre EPA 07 emissions engine which are far more durable and trouble free.

The best most reliable older engines are the CAT C15 and detroit diesel series 60. Neither are offered in new trucks anymore. If you need a newer emissions certified engine ive heard good things about the detroit diesel 15L (DD15) and the cummins isx.

i think the best bang for the buck right now is the freightliner cascadia with detroit diesel 13L. Just my 2 cents....

Company my dad works for strictly uses glider kits for all their trucks, I didn't even know that was a thing until my dad was telling me about it awhile back.

Volvo is supposed to be real good.

My father in law has an older Volvo and it is pretty trouble free. He bought it well used but from someone who had folder after folder of maintenance history and he also maintains it extremely well. He is a owner/operator so if his truck is down it's costing him big bucks, he can't just jump into another one in the fleet some someone working for a company could.
 

mc01svt

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Company my dad works for strictly uses glider kits for all their trucks, I didn't even know that was a thing until my dad was telling me about it awhile back.

the feds are working diligently to close the loophole. Soon gliderkits wont be legal for sale new.
 

SID297

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You can buy a used F-650 that came from the factory with CAT C7 so the cummins 5.9L would be a downgrade.

Aside from that there are weight limitations as far as GVWR/GCWR. Superduty has no configuration that can be legally loaded like a class 8 truck. Ford's last class 8 truck was the L9000 i believe but that was 30yrs ago.

I was talking about pickups.
 

mc01svt

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I was talking about pickups.

Oh, i thought we are talking class 8

Anyways, no one who uses a superduty for commercial use is going to swap in a cummins. It is easier and quicker to just buy a ram and you get full warranty.
 

Rare40th

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Honestly a 24v swap in an SD would be a sweet setup.

Right now the gliders are getting away with it because they only look at the vin number and "assume" the truck has a motor compliant with epa regulations. So your truck could be a 2017 vin check digit as G but the motor could be a 99 serial stamped Cat or Detroit and wouldn't be a question as the trucks are stamped CARB legal.
But now it's slowly going away, insurance companies are starting to get a bit involved as well as they have a truck running around that's essentially not what's advertised (Like a terminator swapped Sn or something)
Right now a lot of drivers with equipment not CARB certified are given like 1000 miles into CA per month(?) and then they either get fined or you have to pay for a trip permit (from what I've been told)

The C6 and C7 were more medium duty motors for Class 6/7 trucks. The C7 was a bit better than the C6. On something light duty like that, the DT466 International motors were stout.

I've had lots of good luck with Business Class Freightliners, just stay away from Mercedes engine trucks.
And ISB Cummins were good, not so much with the ISM motors.
 

SID297

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Oh, i thought we are talking class 8

Anyways, no one who uses a superduty for commercial use is going to swap in a cummins. It is easier and quicker to just buy a ram and you get full warranty.

LOL, there's about three different conversations going on in this thread.

I was talking about a pickup glider kit. I'm surprised someone hasn't built a company doing that. I assume it's due to regulations that the larger class 8s don't fall into.

On the Class 8 topic, I was just curious about who as the best rep for build quality.

And I was just looking for opinions on the C7 since I have one.

Honestly a 24v swap in an SD would be a sweet setup.

Right now the gliders are getting away with it because they only look at the vin number and "assume" the truck has a motor compliant with epa regulations. So your truck could be a 2017 vin check digit as G but the motor could be a 99 serial stamped Cat or Detroit and wouldn't be a question as the trucks are stamped CARB legal.
But now it's slowly going away, insurance companies are starting to get a bit involved as well as they have a truck running around that's essentially not what's advertised (Like a terminator swapped Sn or something)
Right now a lot of drivers with equipment not CARB certified are given like 1000 miles into CA per month(?) and then they either get fined or you have to pay for a trip permit (from what I've been told)

The C6 and C7 were more medium duty motors for Class 6/7 trucks. The C7 was a bit better than the C6. On something light duty like that, the DT466 International motors were stout.

I've had lots of good luck with Business Class Freightliners, just stay away from Mercedes engine trucks.
And ISB Cummins were good, not so much with the ISM motors.

What's the issues with the Cummins M-Series. I know they are stout in marine applications (available up to 715HP).
 

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