Single Axle Truck

[nac]

Was woundering if i can get any help or opinions for selecting my next truck. I am in the the market for a single axle truck (33,000lb) looking at Frieghtliner (M2), Peterbuilt (335) and Kenworth (T300) in that order prices seem to range from 48,000 to 62,000 for chassis only. My problem is I would like to get a short wheelbase since I do a lot of additions on homes so it can get into tight areas. Also a hooklift would be the bestbody for me so i can haul dirt and demo and also pit a flatbed body to put my skid steer and mini excavtor right on the truck. But also I want to pull a 20ton tag along trailer to move my 160 excavotor around. I from the reserch I have found the truck wieghs from 12,000 to 15,000 (varies from manufactor) the trailer wieghs 8,500 ant the machine weighs 36,000 for a total 56,500 to 59,500 GCW Frieghtliner say no problem There truck so spec out 60,000 to 66,000 GCW Peterbuilt and kenworth say If Frieghtlner can do so can we. Also since my heavy demand for this truck I am trying to built the shi# out of it. 330 hp Cat/ 8LL or 12 speed trans over rated suspension the works. Any help or susgestions would be appricated. Sorry about the long post.

Nuccio Construction, LLC
PO Box 345
Lincoln Park, NJ 07035
P:973-305-1227 F:973-305-0384
http://www.nuccioconstruction.com[/URL]
Concrete, Masonry & Excavation

[gslam88]

Nuccio,

All good machines... as far as the MB I would talk to John Banks.. as he just bought one...

My personal opinion on the Kenworth is I dont care for the tranny combo most of the time that they put in... not geared right.. or maybe just the ones I was in

I would also think about International. A friend just sold his 8100 with a cummins 300hp+ single axle.... Nice combo...

I personally like the International truck line...

I would also think about getting a used truck to set it up as you like, air to rear, pintle and receiver hitch combo.. etc...

Hooklift would seem like a good combo body for you.. flatbed, container, whatever.. so you would need a C&C,

however I could be wrong but if your doing some heavy hauling the body could be light ... depending on what you load....but it may not be a problem either .

I would stay with a spring suspension or its manufacture’s named version... and if your going offroad air bag suspension can be more a pita on a longer rig.. but I would stay away from that....

Another thing would be if your planning to do additional or different work with the truck... paving, sanding for ice, delivering trees or plants.. whatever.. think about what the most versatile body would be... just not to cut your self short...

Food for thought...

Pete

[cat320]

Well right now I would stay away from the international Garrelic farms just canceled a 30 truck order with them because of all the problem they are having with them and I know this for fact. they went with the frieghtliner. As far as the MB engine glsam88 is right take to John . But the hook lift is a great way to make your truck more productive in my opinion. But a real short chassis I would not do I would like to have atleast a 12' body on my truck and maby put a lift axel in to suport the extra wieght.

[gslam88]

Cat,

Althought 30 truck order is a good size... what model was the problem .. maybe its the 4200 series or may not be..

I will add to my post and say... go sit and talk with your local MB, Pete and who ever else you are looking at... and start there.... drive one also... the particluar setup ...other than the body that your looking for ... it might make a differnence...


Pete

[cat320]

I'm not sure on which series it is it could be the 42/4300 they are all tamdam trucks for local delivery .

I would also look at the Pete's all aluminum cab the 335's look great . But I know that they are big $$$

[SunServicesLLC]

I currently am running a 2000 Fl80 Freightliner w/ a 120-16-20 Stellar hook system.(33,000 GVW) It means it will fit a 120 CA truck, will carry up to a 16' bed and will pull 10 tons up onto truck. I absolutely love the setup on the truck.

I use it for my small 16' 20 yd dumpsters that go all over DC and other tight areas. A word of advice don't waste your money on a flatbed. I never use mine. Always just use a container or whatever type of bed you buy, and if it makes you feel safer weld some hooks in the bottom to chain things down. So far haven't had any of the skidsteers or excavator move at all while driving. I also have a shorter 15yd container that is the only one that will let me pull backhoe trailer with it on because of the bed overhang, so keep that it mind.

I recently saw a hook truck with a mason dump style box w/ fold down sides on it, looked real nice. Let me know if you hace any questions about anything Oh yeah while shopping around for a hook system i def felt like Stellar was the best. IMHO

[nac]

I was looking at Hook-All The CA would be 108" so the wheel base would by about 178". I could use 12' with no overhang or 14' boxs. Also do you think that truck can pull a 20 ton tagalong trailer or schould i go with a tandem.

[BKrois]

This would be a nice rig for you nac, i was loading stumps into it, and i rode with the driver it was a long time round trip. I believe the truck had a 300 or 330hp motor with an 8LL tranny. It had an exhaust brake and spring ride suspension i believe. I packed the can pretty well with stumps and the truck climbed hills with ease.

I think it fit a 12' can on it, not sure exactly.

[SunServicesLLC]

That wb is kinda short for that heavy of a trailer. I pull a 12 ton and it has its way with the truck when its loaded. Also will a single axle allow you to grow bigger and without a doubt do everything you need.

[gslam88]

Ed,

I had no problem with my 4900 and a 20 ton trailer pulling a hibatchi 120 on it.... It may be a difference in trucks a little or something else .. but it never really was a huge thing for me with the trailer....


Pete

[nac]

In a perfect world I would get a tandem tractor and 35 ton lowboy. But at this point I can not afford to have a truck just move my 160 around and not do any thing else. Thats way I want to try get away with the single axle for now I the future I tandem tractor wit a low boy is the way togo.

[wfd44]

That 330 in Ct looks like its around 120 CA. I would think you would want a bit more wheelbase to offset the 20 ton tag along. The Freightliner M2 (and International) seem to be a bit shorter BBC so that would help keep your overall length down. Sterlings are good trucks too although they tend to be less visually appealing.

I have been doing some research along similar lines and look forward to what everyone has to say about the hhoklifts.

[cat320]

I would probaly go with that pete that Bryan posted but I would put a pusher axel in it .

[nac]

I was thinking the same thing; put a 10,000 lift axle but will that jump my gvw to 43,000 at the time of purchase (now I have to pay tax) and will it fit in that short of a wheelbase?

[cat320]

Well you can always put a tag axle instead of a a lift axle. That will give you a shorter wheel base the only draw back to doing it that way is that you have that axel always pulling the back down if you do not use it vs having a lift axle in front of your rear wheels.

[John Banks]

nac, you're more than welcome to come up and drive my truck. It's pretty well loaded up and like I said previously, I love it. Manuevers well in tight areas, great pulling power, etc.

If you want, I can fax or scan the spec sheet and send to you. I too looked at the Pete, nice rig but I was not crazy about the air suspension, as I have witnessed some problems. A friend runs a couple of Pete 330's, single axles, with the hooklift setup. I looked at the Sterlings, and Internationals too. Another friend has a Sterling and it has had it's share of troubles. The International was probably the nicest and the one I liked most, but the cost was much more than the M2. Overall I am very pleased with the M2 and would not hesitate to do it again.

You probably read too, that Daimler Chrysler is phasing out the CAT motors once the contract expires to go completely to the MBE/DT motors.

[NNJSnow]

My boss runs a Peterbuilt 335 and has a dump body on it. Truck really is awesome. The size of the truck is perfect for residential work and commercial work. He can haul up to 10 tons in the dump and he pulls a 20 ton trailer and a john deere 310, mustang skid steer. Come fall he pulls a leaf loader and the truck really is just an awesome truck. Lots of power.

Jeff

[nac]

Hay Jeff whats up is your boss's truck have flames painted on it? Also a 310 weights 16,000 lbs? and the mustang 8,000 lbs? total of 24.000 lbs still a lot lighter tha 36,000 lbs

[NNJSnow]

Nah my bosses truck is all red with yellow lettering. Are you looking for something to pull your big excavator around with? What to you plan on using it for mainly? Hows your winter going, we only got out once so far, using the mustang skidsteer and a 10' pusher.

Jeff

[nac]

YES I am looking for something to move my John Deere 160 around with and just a truck in general all I have is my pickup and its just to small even for my mini excavtor. Been out one this year just me and my truck with one shoveler and my salter. Have to skid steer at CVS to load my truck with salt.

[NNJSnow]

Yea that machine you have is pretty darn big. Looks at the peterbilt web site and the specs youd probably need a tandem axle rig to pull that machine. Either way you need a bigger rig such as a single or tandem axle rig to pull your exquipment and materials around. Maybe look to see if getting a little be smaller model machine would be more cost effective. Yea this snow year hasn't looked to promising so far which s**ks.

Jeff

[cat320]

Here is a demo unit at steller


120-16-20
Installed on 2002 Peterbuilt 330,
Cat 3126B, 33 GVWR,
Chassis and hooklift only (Body not included)
$74,539.85
Contact Tony Jolly at Cascade / Cascon
1-800-628-8722