Specs for a B-Train Hauler?

My 379 Pete has a 3.36 rear, 600 CAT and a 18 speed trans. Loads of 120,000 lbs are no problem at all.

 

i think it is the 18 speed that is helping there--but that would probabely give you the best fuel economy--with a 13 i think somewhere around a 3.70 or 3.90 would be better--but with a 10 spd--i think it would really suck pulling that weight

 

Go as much hp as you can. 18 speed is my personal preference but I am sure a 13 speed would do alright. As for gear ratio depends on the terrain I have never been to Michigan and probably never will but for the heavy haul I do in northern Canada I have 4.33's but that is probably too low for Michigan.

Go with heavy rear ends I run 46k lb rear ends the nice thing about heavy rear ends is you know they will hold up to the big loads.

 

You don't need heavy rear suspension for MI because they have light axle weights. But big HP is almost a must.

 

when i was in MI pulling a 6 axle tanker we had cummins 550 13 speed with 4.33s and the 4.33s were overkill your runiing 1750 rpm at 68 mph

 

with super b's we had 13 sp with 3.70 rear end--it seemed pretty good--but then that is all i was used to--so i imagine if you were going thru the rocks a lot--an 18 with 3,90 would be better--but i am not sure how that would work for fuel mileage as for which set up would be better--and this was with turned down detroits-so like the the other guy said the more hp the better

 

Yes, when your over 80k axles spaced 9' apart or more are allowed 18k. Axles spaced more than 3.5' but less than 9' are cut back to 13k but one tandem axle set per truck is alowed 16k (usually the drives). So while your allowed 164k gross on 11 axles, the weights are pretty low.

Here is a link with the rules.

Biggest PITA with Michigan is the frost laws. They LOVE to write tickets for being on the wrong roads/streets at the wrong times of the year.