Aero Truck Fever to make the most profit in trucking per mile!

Don't look now, Dice, but your jealousy is showing...what's with the need to brag about your plastic truck? You don't see us hood lovers starting threads bashing aero trucks.

You take your (1) 9mpg Volvo, and I'll take my ( 8 ) 5mpg 379s and 389. Betcha I make a whole lot more $$$ at the end of the year...and the best part is I have a blast doing it, even with the added responsibility of running a small fleet It's easy to make money when you enjoy what you do, instead of spending all of your time trying to figure out how to squeeze .001 more mpg out of your truck because you hate driving so much that your'e consumed with trying to profit the most out of every mile so you don't have to suffer 1 unnecessary mile in your "uber comfortable and quiet" Volvo.

Tell it to somebody at the truck stop lunch counter. They might buy your line, but I'm sure not.

 

Well I don't know about the rest of you but Dice convinced me! Selling the entire fleet tomorrow and going Volvo shopping! Better call my banker and accountant first so they can be ready for the HUGE cash flow coming their way!!!!!!

 

Alright, what the heck. I like the styling of some of the Hoods, yeah; but I also like the styling of some of the aero trucks... I like the looks of the Volvos, the 880 looks mean. Never driven one, but would consider it. I had a Prostar, not my favorite, and after switching to a Cascadia, I'd not want to go back. The styling of those two is pretty lame, no doubt. I like the classic/modern look of the Lonestar, very distinctive and not many on the road. But the quality difference between this Cascadia and the Prostar is stark, so I'm not sure I'd go back to International. The Coronado (before they squared the headlights off) is pretty nice as well. The main things for me with the sloped-hood vs. long-hoods is the view from the driver's seat. I like to see what's happening around me, enjoy the scenery. And I must say, you can't see very well from inside a visored-out Hood.

All the new trucks have the same mechanical issues, emissions stuff too. And you can take a new aero (or classic) truck and yank the emissions stuff off; better mileage and reliability. But there is no possible way that a classic truck vs aero truck, same driver, same loads, same terrain, could ever match the fuel economy. Because yes, aerodynamics does make a huge difference, and yes, it is possible to get over 9mpg, even with emissions junk... That difference is thousands of dollars. But that doesn't mean people shouldn't drive their choice of truck.

 

I know when customers complement me on how clean my truck is and tell me that dirty trucks that look like they have never been washed worry them make a difference. Yes I drive a big hood, so your assertion they do not care is invalid.

 

Sounds like a plan, by new and sold with low mileage since they will be in the shop so much.

 

Dice, I respect what YOU have done with your truck & the fact that it is getting a proven 9 mpg. You have done as much as anyone to push the envelope on fuel mileage for YOUR application.

However to say that some guy with no business sense, no business keeping a trailer loaded, lacked the bank account needed to maintain ANY truck scored a w900 financed at credit card interest who is failing is not a apples to apples comparison. Far more factors in there other than fuel are bringing that example down. What are the odds of you finding another 770 that turns out to be as reliable as your current truck? Same goes for any other brand, you start talking ten year old over the road machines & it can get insanely expensive bringing them back to life. People do not take care of things like they use to.

As for fuel mileage, I know there were posts on here when the 770's were relevant a few years back that could not get more than 4.5 mpg. Like I said, I respect what YOU have done to yours, but a sloped hood & air cleaner placement are not the only aspects of fuel mileage nor success in this business.

Aero, hoods & those in between have their fit in this industry based on numerous applications and nothing in this thread is going to sway anyone from one side or the other that is already in a established business.

 

Hey Dice, still waiting for you to explain why money pit "antiques" bring almost twice as much as "mega profitable" and "ultra comfortable" aeros on the used market...seems everyone who buys them seem to know something you don't.

 

You ever figure out how much money you've dumped into your truck to achieve that 9mpg?

You also have to keep in mind that you have an older Volvo with a Cat. Back in the mid 90's they still built trucks better than they do now.