My New Tractor
 

I will be ordering my new tractor in September and want to start to spec it out. Here is a list of what I am thinking about. I would love your comments about how it will be equiped, both positive and negative.

I am not really interested in "Buy a Pete, or Kenworths rule" kind of thing. I am going to buy the tractor and the power train the way it is. How I am specing it are the comments I am interested in.

The unit will be used to haul a 48 ft step deck from Alberta to the USA all the way from Louisiana to Calirornia. I will be reseting my log book in all the states and Alberta when neccesary, so I need an APU, and not battery operated as they run out of juice at 12 hours.

2011 International LoneStar

244 inch wheelbase
Air front suspension

475 HP Maxxforce engine (not negotiable, as the Cummins is no longer available in Canada)

18 speed Fuller Auto shift ( I might go with a 13 speed auto shift if it is lighter)
3.25 rears
22.5 inch low resistance tires (good years or Michelins)
(that should give me 66 MPH at 1300 rpm in 8th OD)
The truck will be run with the cruise control on the Interstates at 65 mph

APU fuel and electric ( not sure which Brand yet)

There we go, it is a start.

Thanks for the help.

Hold on, we can no longer buy a CAT, now we can't buy a Cummins either?

What the dealer has told me is that the only way to get an International of kind with an ISX is to get one that is already built. He said that the new 15 ltr engine from International, the one based on the Cat 15 ltr block, will be available next year.

Have you look at Macks?? I dunno if you have alot of dealer support up in Canada. I know the CHN613 is used alot for flatbed truckin. Maybe give it a look. 2007 MACK CHN613 RAWHIDE Conventional Truck w/ Sleeper For Sale At TruckPaper.com Thats just one to give you an idea. The mack motor now is more or less a volvo.

BTW why an auto shift??

The International dealer in my home town is a good friend of mine, and has supported my Driving School for years. And I like farming equipment. Especially now that they have a truck that looks 70 years old to go along with the ride. ; )

You SHOULD be reseting (sic) your hour at HOME, not on the road!!! That's a really dumb idea!

Home can be a 5,000 mile rounder for me. It can be tough to get that done in the hours.

Simple solution: Tell them you refuse to go that far!

Simple solution. Stop bothering me.

When I saw it I thought the whole thing looked like a C-15, or real close to it