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Aero truck with the best build quality?

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by Petros, Dec 21, 2017.

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  1. Dec 21, 2017 #1
    Petros

    Petros Bobtail Member

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    May 23, 2012
    Bangor, Maine
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    Are there any aero trucks with a design that makes a long-term ownership (reasonably) possible?
    I would have guessed KW or Pete or a 'Star, but a lot of drivers/owners have been surprised by the ... weight saving / money saving construction ... T2000 anyone?
     
    Petros, Dec 21, 2017
    Petros, Dec 21, 2017
    #1
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  3. Dec 21, 2017 #2
    HighwayD

    HighwayD Light Load Member

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    Nov 15, 2017
    Pennsylvania
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    Oh heck yeah man. If you get a reputable truck and treat it well it can last and last. The company I work for has 6 or 7 2001 Volvo VNs with over a million miles on them flopping and rattling down the highway.
     
    HighwayD, Dec 21, 2017
    HighwayD, Dec 21, 2017
    #2
  4. Dec 21, 2017 #3
    rollin coal

    rollin coal Road Train Member

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    T2000 has poorly engineered doors prone to failure and the exact same issue with 387 Pete's.

    My vote goes for T600 and/or T800. Mine has almost a 1.5 million miles and cab/door integrity is not a problem. The truck rides smooth (AG380 suspension) and has no interior rattles, squeaks or anything like that. It's easy to work on too.
     
    rollin coal, Dec 21, 2017
    rollin coal, Dec 21, 2017
    #3
    slim shady, Joetro, southcalidriver and 2 others Thank this.
  5. Dec 21, 2017 #4
    Petros

    Petros Bobtail Member

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    May 23, 2012
    Bangor, Maine
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    We had a bunch of (abused) T800s and by 500K they had folded paper shims tucked here and there around the dash to reduce the squeaks and rattles ... no tightening of screws to fix it, like in older trucks.

    My '05 379 has a lot of plastic but is solid despite the bumps, vibration and flexing on dirt roads.

    Still, I am leaning toward a T6xx ... as you suggested.

    I talked to a guy in a Pete 567 ("severe duty") the other day and he's disappointed with the very flimsy and cheap plastic that's already rattling after 50,000 miles ... and he yanks tanks on-road.

    It seems 'Stars too have had some recent fit and finish QC issues as of late (the ones from Mexico, evidently?)

    Most of the new trucks look like they have a lot of snap-in-place plastic interior molding ...

    I know we can get similar economy in a hood as an aero if we spec' and drive right ... but if we spec' and drive an aero right ... $$.

    I would rather add trucks, instead of replace trucks, every few years ... or bank the cash.

    So I am looking for aero longevity but it seems that mfgs are giving what the mega companies want: disposable trucks (that wouldn't be worth repairing after 5 years of wheel-holder abuse any way).
     
    Petros, Dec 21, 2017
    Petros, Dec 21, 2017
    #4
    Oxbow Thanks this.
  7. Dec 21, 2017 #5
    rollin coal

    rollin coal Road Train Member

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    T800, T600 and W900 have the exact same dash, cab, etc it's all exactly the same. Mine is an '03 and there are screws that can be tightened on dash panels etc. I guess maybe the newer cabs 06 or newer might be different? The only thing I don't like about T600 are the fairings. Over time where they connect to the truck they end up cracking, breaking from road vibration which makes them loose and floppy my solution is zip ties and baling wire to keep them snug :-D T800 with no fairings would be ideal. You can take them off of a T600 but they look stupid without the fairings.
     
    rollin coal, Dec 21, 2017
    rollin coal, Dec 21, 2017
    #5
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  8. Dec 21, 2017 #6
    Mike_77

    Mike_77 Medium Load Member

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    Sep 23, 2017
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    Well said. Modern trucks are engineered down to the lowest possible cost. Big fleets Run them 3 to 5 years then dump them on the US market or export them to a 3rd world country.
     
    Mike_77, Dec 21, 2017
    Mike_77, Dec 21, 2017
    #6
  9. Dec 21, 2017 #7
    boneebone

    boneebone Road Train Member

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    I have a 2001 Volvo VNL 770 and it's still solid.

    I would say the worst trucks that are known for rattling and falling apart are Freightshakers, second in line after that would be Intertrashional.
     
    boneebone, Dec 21, 2017
    boneebone, Dec 21, 2017
    #7
  10. Dec 21, 2017 #8
    Star4900

    Star4900 Medium Load Member

    607
    521
    Mar 16, 2015
    Northern Ontario
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    Count out Western Star. My 4900 had horrendous build quality and I have seen enough 5700's at my dealer and read about them to know my 4900 wasn't an isolated lemon.
    Our Mexican built freightliner Coronado 122SD was a way better built truck than the Star.
     
    Star4900, Dec 21, 2017
    Star4900, Dec 21, 2017
    #8
  11. Dec 22, 2017 #9
    Caterpillar Cowboy

    Caterpillar Cowboy Heavy Load Member

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    Nov 11, 2010
    Wyoming
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    My 00 T800 has less interior rattles than my 07 T800.

    I don't consider a T800 to be an aero truck though myself.

    I think Kenworth screwed up when they stopped making dashboards flat with an easy reach box, and it's been a downhill road the rest of the way.
     
    Caterpillar Cowboy, Dec 22, 2017
    Caterpillar Cowboy, Dec 22, 2017
    #9
    Oxbow Thanks this.
  12. Dec 22, 2017 #10
    Petros

    Petros Bobtail Member

    30
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    May 23, 2012
    Bangor, Maine
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    Petros, Dec 22, 2017
    Petros, Dec 22, 2017
    #10
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