International Tractors.....I dont get it.

[Odie]

It seems most truck makers have their nitch in the market but, I have yet to figure out why some companys/drivers may preffer International trucks. IMO, they are subpar in about everyway to the rest of the industry and they have no real redeaming qulaitys. I just dont get it? I might add, the newest one I have driven was a 1999 but, it still seems like they are making the same truck now and that truck was nothing special then.

Discuss.

[Fozzy]

It seems most truck makers have their nitch in the market but, I have yet to figure out why some companys/drivers may preffer International trucks. IMO, they are subpar in about everyway to the rest of the industry and they have no real redeaming qulaitys. I just dont get it? I might add, the newest one I have driven was a 1999 but, it still seems like they are making the same truck now and that truck was nothing special then.

Discuss.

I've driven Internationals in the past, and I drive one now..could you be more vague on exactly what the point is? You don't drive one now.. then what is your beef? Internationals are just like any truck out there. A set of frame rails with practically all the same components bolted to them.

[PackRatTDI]

If they're such junk then how come I can still see 30 year old Transtars still running?

Lets see here Last company to get rid of the WHALEBELLY FRAME. 1st to break the 70 inch intergrated sleeper highrise barrier. The only one to still be able to offer all 3 engines Cat Cummins and Detroit. They also build some of the heavist duty trucks out there. Sorry best riding truck I drove was a 88 International second was my 2000 Century roughest would have been any of the Peterbilts I drove and I drove both the 377 and the 379 and got the hell beat out of me in both models.

[Jackrabbit379]

We have '02-'03 9200i Internationals. They are pretty nice. No motors, though. :? :P My only complaint, is that the cab is so wide. You have to get up to unlock the passenger door. The windshield is quite large, too. Over all, they are pretty nice trucks, for SYSCO trucks. :P

[Mackman]

The nicest truck i ever drove was a 2000 or 2001 9900ix eagle man was that thing a nice truck.

[Odie]

I guess you guys have all had good expereinces. I have not. It just seems to me about every part on one is under-engineered and old technology that wasnt any good when it was new. I have never driven one that I thought was comfortable, rode any good, and the ergonomics were even close to being right in.

I need to correct myself, the most recent model I have drove was a 04. I used to haul fuel for a brief period and honestly, that was the single worst riding truck EVER. Both of them on the yard rode worse than any truck I have ever driven.

Like I said, I dont get it.

[jiptwoo]

The only problem with a cornbinder is their weight, outside of that it was basically the smoothest riding trucks I've driven and I have drove them all. You need to learn how to adjust the air suspension on the sleeper compartment it makes all the difference in the ride. I like the solid feel of a truck as in w900 not the light feel as in freightshaker, and IH has a solid feel all the way around, imho.

[GMAN]

I think if a style works you don't mess with it. That is one reason Peterbilt and Kenworth have done so well over the years. I prefer the openness and layout of the International. A friend of mine just put shelves up around his sleeper similar to my 9400 Eagle. The layout is very functional. As was mentioned, they do tend to be a bit heavy, but are real work horses. I think International is under rated as a truck. They will take most anything you throw at them. Another major attraction is the rapid depreciation if you are looking for a good solid used truck.

[Kranky]

Well, heres an opinion from a life long Mack fanatic.

About 6 months ago I went to work as a mechanic at a company with an exclusively International fleet (Dump trucks and semi tractors). Some have Cat, and some have Cummins engines.

I'm impressed!!!

Very well put together, parts in strategic areas actually seem stronger than they need to be. Easy to work on. Good accessibility to major components.

I drive them sometimes too, and IMHO, they are comfortable with a good ride, and are a good truck all around.

[PhuzzyGnu]

The only one to still be able to offer all 3 engines Cat Cummins and Detroit.

Not true. Freightliner offers all three.

Anyway, International sells because they make solid, (for the most part) no frills trucks.

-p.

[Odie]

The only one to still be able to offer all 3 engines Cat Cummins and Detroit.

Not true. Freightliner offers all three.

Anyway, International sells because they make solid, (for the most part) no frills trucks.

-p.

OK, maybe I just got the answer I was looking for. So, that is their nitch huh?

[Odie]

The only one to still be able to offer all 3 engines Cat Cummins and Detroit.

Not true. Freightliner offers all three.

Anyway, International sells because they make solid, (for the most part) no frills trucks.

-p.

OK, maybe I just got the answer I was looking for. So, that is their nitch huh? I think possibly they just havent agreed with me. We all have our favorites and dogs for whatever reason right.

uhm, do you think the rough ride from from the fuel sloshing around in the trailer??????

[Splitter]

Been driving a 1999 i9100 for the last 2 years, and aside from being a bit under powered. It's a pretty darn good truck.
I'll give IHC a thumbs up.

[Odie]

uhm, do you think the rough ride from from the fuel sloshing around in the trailer??????

Nope, the Petes and K-whoppers on the yard didnt ride anything like that and I would fill a pot as close to full as possible to prevent surging and such. Seriously, you could not feel slosh if loaded right. I will fill or try to fill each pot as close to full as possible without probing out.

In the Internationals I drove, it seems for the most part the biggest things that got on my nerves was the designs of them and how unergonomic they were laid out. Also, just like Freightliners shake, after you get some Miles on a Intl, the doors dont want to ever seem to open and close properly. I didnt think their electrical systems were all that great either.

[duck]

A mechanic friend of mine was working on a new Int - think less than 10k on the clock. He is a Pete mechanic and mentioned to me "You never know how good you have it till you work on something else".

This guy is a mechanic not parts changer so he has seen some stuff and says the Int. is't put together all that well.

I drove Int's. and while they are servicable - I don't think I could do any serious time in one.

[Mtc_Is_Hell]

I drove 4 different Internationals at Hogan, Drove brand new straight from the factory, I really don't see what the problem is, other then rattles here and there in the older ones that I fixed.

[Mtc_Is_Hell]

Oh and Every truck is rough, Just north of the Arkansas State line on 67.. Its so ridiculous, 12 miles of speed bumps.

[Fozzy]

A mechanic friend of mine was working on a new Int - think less than 10k on the clock. He is a Pete mechanic and mentioned to me "You never know how good you have it till you work on something else".

This guy is a mechanic not parts changer so he has seen some stuff and says the Int. is't put together all that well.

I drove Int's. and while they are servicable - I don't think I could do any serious time in one.

Maybe he was just out of his league? I have had more problems and crummy workmanship problems with the Petes that I drove over ANY International. Pete's are like those junky overpriced Harley's. They have a blind following.