opinions on buying a used truck?
 

These are what im looking at 2000-2004 cost $30-40k, milage 500k or less
KW t600
Freightliner Century class
pulling van or flatbead

what engine, hp, ratio, gears etc? for best mpg 60-65mph
what to check b4 purchase?
where to buy?
extended warranty worth anything?

ive been doing alot of reading on here, would be nice to get all this info under one topic, im leading towards a kw t600, 430hp, 10sp, 3.55, mid roof, all comments would be appreciated....
Rich

mpg is everything!!

If you're going with a 10 speed, get a direct drive 10 speed with 2.64 gears. Run 22.5 lo pros (XDA energy for the drives) or super singles. With a detroit 430 hp. That would be the most efficient operation for you.

When you find a truck, pull an ECM report first thing. If it shows anything less them 6 mpg, run away. Look at codes and other stuff too.

Do an oil sample, and get an independent mechanic to check it out. You might want to do a "shake test" as well.

To be honest, ex-schneider trucks would fit the bill perfectly. But you'd probably prefer a flat top.

http://www.truckpaper.com/listings/d...456D27BFF01B7F

There's a non-schneider truck with those specs. I can gaurantee if it's in good mechanical shape, with the right tires, and driven properly, it will get 7.5 MPG.

Just to qualify, a direct drive transmission is more efficient. It will save you about $2000 a year in fuel costs. A direct drive with 2.64 gears is actually the same as the specs you were talking about(3.55 gears).

Another tip:

Go to truckpaper, into the search, and type in "2.64" in the keyword search.

175 trucks will show up.

I'd also recommend a 2001-2002 truck.

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p...13speed355.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p.../direct264.jpg

Just to give you an idea of what it would rev.

Hey Allan (sorry to hijack here) but I personally still don't understand the gear ratio etc but I'm reading what you write and I just took off the cover on the dash and it says:

455/525 hp/ 1800 RPM, 2100

and I have a 3.55 gear ratio and a Detroit D 60 engine 14. L

What is it with the RPM's? I never run it at 1800 or 2100 unless I'm going downhill ? I run at 1400, am I doing this right?

Also btw, I just got the results back from Blackstone on my latest oil sample. It all looks good but they were basing it off a 12.5 L engine I need to call them to see if it makes a difference.

Thanks

1400 rpms is good for that engine. How fast are you going at that speed?

You only want to be above 1600 rpms going downhill with the jake on.

The rpms is just where you make PEAK hp. You don't want to be there though!

Man that was fast! Thanks! As for the speed, depending on my mood really between 62 and 68.

Just out of curiousity what happens when you over rev an engine?

Also for the above mentioned specs that I have, I assume this is geared to fuel efficiency? It's a Frightliner Columbia. My thinking was that these big companies spec these things out for fuel efficiency (it was a Covenant truck).

Thanks again I appreciate it.

You have 22.5 lo pro tires right?

Over revving an engine is impossible EXCEPT if you're going downhill.

My engine revs to 2100 on the foot, and it is safe that high otherwise they wouldn't have designed it to do that. I take it up to 2000-2100 using the jake. Mercedes need to go to 2500.

thanks for the input guys.

Well I checked and they are 22.5 and the steers say low profile. They are Bridgestone and the drives are General. I don't see low profile on those. They all came with the truck.


I am 30 miles from home (man a long time, only been home 1 night since September I think) and tomorrow I am going to get those cat's eye things installed to equalize the tire pressure. Do you feel this is a worthy investment?

Also if it's safe to rev the engine up that high why does everyone say not to? Is it more of a fuel economy thing rather than danger to the engine?

Sorry with all the questions :oops:

Cat's eyes are good, but big $$$.

Yes, revving an engine won't hurt anything but your pocketbook.

Do your drives say 11r22.5? or 275/80 22.5?

Back outside with the flashlight :) . Good thing I'm back in Florida and it's nice out. 295/75R. 22.5. I noticed you said 295/80, which are better?

I didn't want to spend the money on Cat's eys but I can't get myself to get out there in the freezing cold airing up 18 tires with that slow a** thing that connects to the glad hand so if I can cut it down to 10 I think I will be more apt to do it.

Btw, I have cut down on my downshifting coming to a stop from reading on here about reving up to downshift causes poor fuel economy.

There's just very small differences in heights, but they're all lo profile if they have something like 275/80 or 285/75. If they have 11R then they're regular profile.

Lo profile 22.5 are the shortest

11R22.5 and lo profile 24.5 are the same height, and in the middle

11R24.5 are the tallest.

You might want to consider michelin XDA energy tires. The most efficient conventional drive tire out there.

OR you can go to super singles without any change in RPMs.

Well now you lost me but I was hanging in there for a while. I am going to switch to all Michelin when the time comes. Hopefully that won't be for a while.

Thanks again for all your help.

Merrick, go to Walmart automotive section and buy a new air filler end, They have ones that clamp on and hold without having to keep your hand on it. Just cut the end off you old one and hose clamp the new one on. They work great.

You know actually you mentioned that before but I wasn't sure what you meant. What's a new air filler end? Is this a product designed specifically for that? If that's what it's called then I'll just ask for it by name in Walmart. Any problems I'll be here asking again :wink:

It's the end of the air hose that fits onto the valve stem. The one that you have to bend down and hold it on until the tire is filled. The one at Walmart has a little lever that holds the air nozzle on so you can stand up and wait for the tire to be filled without having to hold it on.

Ok I'll look for that. I read on here someone has one of those air hoses that connect to the glad hand on a reel in his sidebox. I think mines too small for that and I don't see how he connects it from his side box but I thought it was a good idea.

http://www.brandsonsale.com/ht-002170.html

Do you have one of these hoses???

i think steve is saying to buy a new air chuck at walmart where is won't blow off you tire stem when you put air in your tires...