New chassis selection

[Gordy-TC]

I am considering purchasing a cab and chassis in the near future with the intention of having a conversion done in a few years. (The truck will be used for business for now) I notice that there are many Freightliner Columbia's used and very few others-why is this? I have demoed KW, Peterbilt and Freightliner and I put the KW at the top of my list. Looking to buy T600, C15,Meritor autoshift,tandems and chromed up.
Great site-look forward to the feedback.

 

[Doug-TC]

If you are considering an autoshift, take a look at the Eaton products. They are more likely to be easily serviced if you have a problem. It's not a matter of quality, as I am not familiar enough with the two to compare that, but simply of logistics.
I would go with the KW over the Freightliner, for several reasons, mostly quality and flexibility of handling special orders. Another you might consider is Western Star - if I get to that point, I'm going to look hard at WS due to the ease of addressing special order needs, and the possibility of a driving front axle.
If you do go with the C15, make sure you make use of the ability to have both the Jake and their Hydraulic retarder.

 

[Patrick-TC]

There are more FLs because more carriers buy them because they are the best bang for the buck rig!

 

[Gordy-TC]

Getting close to ordering the KW T600.
A few questions for the experienced owners-what gear ratio do you run in the rear axles, any idea what top speed the 3.90 ratio gives.
Looks like big torque motors require a Meritor 16 speed-ever heard of getting a 12 speed because it will be used as a motorhome?
You guys running the tall 295/75R22.5 tires or a shorter profile?
Thanks for the feedback.

 

[vapoppa]

gordy, every one will jump on me for this but i'm runnin' 3.08 with eaton 18 auto shift. the 12 is good probably better, i just wanted all the gears i could get. reason---- when we went to the rockies last summer i crossed the divide 4 times and i still would choose the same setup. top speed on mine is somewhere past 115, i'm runnin' 285/75R22.5. mase

 

[geof]

Mase....Technicle question here; Are you driving or flying at 115?...

 

[Gordy-TC]

Mase- thanks for the input.
What engine,HP and torque do you have? The 18 speed will skip shift, so it doesn't hit all 18 unless it is necessary-right?
The 115 may be a little too much for some people, but I have seen some race teams fly by me with 18 wheelers, at over 100 MPH more than once. Man just about stepped out cause I thought I was parked.

 

[Gordy-TC]

Mase-saw your rig in the gallery-KILLER.
I think I saw somewhere that it is a Kingsley?
Do they order the T2000 without the sleeper or is it removed at the factory? That is what I would like to have but KW won't sell it as a daycab.
PS looks like it is going 80 MPH parked.

 

[vapoppa]

gordy, mase the T2000 is a sleeper cab, can't be ordered as a day cay. we ordered the smallest boe with the least in it and cut 6' behind the door jamb. trashed the sleeper the top of my in-motion dish is 12' 2 1/2" above the floor. i use 12' 4" as my min. clearence.gordy and any one else who wants to talk call me at 540-672-4342. oh--- imho- why do you want a day cab? mase

 

[vapoppa]

geof at 112-113 it's as though you were easin' down a new bypass street at 50- 60. really and no i don't do that very often but i did want to see if it'd go by 110. yepit did and was sweet, drivivg, not flying-- i believe that with the short wings it'd take around 187 mph to get rotation. mase