CDL section?

[dirtflinger92]

Diesel is $3.67 here and the only thing cabovers are good for are show trucks I hate driving them. They suck to get in and out of and just no room

 

[Jason]

Yeah they still make the Argosy, which if I needed a cabover, would be the one to get. It is basically a century class/columbia cab, same interior, flat floor, etc., nothing like being in a typical cabover. They also have the staircase that swings out when you open the door.

 

[abbottfarms]

Jason, that's what I was thinking. Used to see them on the road some around here, but not so much anymore. See some older KW's and IH's but that's about it. Just like so many things, they are fast becoming a thing of the past.

 

[Dieselgeek]

I think 2007 was the last year in the US you could get an Argosy. I don't care to ever drive another cabover, period!

 

[7.3 rocket]

Always fun going across a lawn after 2 solid weeks of rain when someone stole the mats off the truck for another job.

There's plenty of us CDL guys here just didn't really notice the thread hiding up here in suggestions until now.


They're moving all our new trucks over to automatics and I can't stand it. They're ok when they have an engine brake but without an engine brake you're too reliant on your air brakes IMO. I like having a truck that shifts when I tell it to shift not when it decides it should shift. They are nice for backing up goofy driveways but that's about it.

 

[JoeDaddy]

I didn't like the auto at first but love it now.

 

[abbottfarms]

I've never had a auto truck, only driven one once. But I hauled for a company that has a fleet of auto dump trucks...and I have to say that it was pretty sweet. Got around at least 50% better off road then a manual.

 

[qcfarmer]

We bought an auto last spring and absolutely love it.

Here is our farm truck



Just push the D and go

 

[abbottfarms]

qcfarmer, I'm guessing that has a Maxxforce engine in it? Had any issues with it? What brand tanny is it, Allison or Eaton?

 

[Bobby@cp]

Always fun going across a lawn after 2 solid weeks of rain when someone stole the mats off the truck for another job.

 

[Cat_rebel]

Not a big fan of the heavy duty Internationals but I'm partial to the medium dutys. At one of my old jobs I had a 99 4700 10 yard dump with a DT466E & a Allison, also had a 93 4700 low pro with hyd brakes DT408 with a 545 Allison.

 

[Jason]

I like the 4700 lo pro's with the 8300 hoods, and 19.5's. There's a placw in Florida that always has a plethora of the short wheelbase ones with 7.3's in them. Waiting for a air ride 7.3/6spd to come across...would make a cool little hauler.

 

[abbottfarms]

Nothing wring with a corn field Cadillac!

 

[qcfarmer]

The truck is a 2005 so it has the HT570 (precursor to the maxxforce.) It is slightly underpowered as I can legally gross 32000 kgs (around 70000 lbs) but with the auto it isn't much of an issue. It is an Allison RDS something.

 

[abbottfarms]

What's the HT570 usually set at? 300 hp? That IH of mine I posted a few pictures of had a baby engine to, 855 series Cummins. When I bought it was only set at 240 HP, I turned it up to 290. Did a ok job for what I use it for when it was at 240, it was slow but steady. Worked good for doing local deliveries and hauling equipment on my 20 ton tag. Amazing what 50 HP will do, lot smarter. Didn't notice any difference in fuel mileage. Gets 6-6.5 average.

 

[qcfarmer]

I've read anywhere from 300-350. I asked the local IH dealer about tuning it and he said it wasn't a good idea on these engines as they are already pretty much maxed out. We don't have any hills here so it isn't that big a deal. I wanted to put a pup dumping trailer behind it at first but I don't think it would handle it. Instead, I am looking for a tractor trailer dump setup. You can haul more and they are much cheaper than a 12-wheeler straight body dump.

 

[Beans71086]

What's the HT570 usually set at? 300 hp? That IH of mine I posted a few pictures of had a baby engine to, 855 series Cummins. When I bought it was only set at 240 HP, I turned it up to 290. Did a ok job for what I use it for when it was at 240, it was slow but steady. Worked good for doing local deliveries and hauling equipment on my 20 ton tag. Amazing what 50 HP will do, lot smarter. Didn't notice any difference in fuel mileage. Gets 6-6.5 average.

I thought you could get those 855s to 400hp safely? My buddy had a cab over with one in, that was putting that much out. Weren't they called the "400" cummins? Maybe I'm thinking of a different one.

 

[qcfarmer]

Here is some info on the engine from Wikipedia
The DT engine has also historically been available in the following variants;

530E 530ST (8.7L); available in standard and high-torque configurations. Replaced in 2004 by DT/HT 570, which were replaced in 2007 by the MaxxForce 9 and 10, respectively. Used electro-hydraulic unit injection.

 

[abbottfarms]

I thought you could get those 855s to 400hp safely? My buddy had a cab over with one in, that was putting that much out. Weren't they called the "400" cummins? Maybe I'm thinking of a different one.

No your right, it is the 855 series. But in order to go much more then what I did I would need to change turbo and injectors. And on a truck that's 28 years old I just wasn't willing to put that money in it. If I have issues with it then I will, but when you start upping the HP almost 200 horse from factory settings you run into issues, such as tranny not being able to hack it and so on.

QC, 300-350 hp is respectable, can they tell you exactly what yours is? 50 horse does make a big difference, but I can remember the day when you had a 350 you had BIG POWER in a truck...

 

[7.3 rocket]

Looks like it'd be a little rough to run down the highway with. Might run into some bridge clearance issues. Definitely cool though.