Which truck is best to pull a tanker?

12.7 S60 should pull it just fine. What trans/rears ?

Pull an oil sample on the engine - CAT/Blackstone, whatever, and either inspect the truck it or pay for an inspection. Not a DOT inspection, a 'crawl all over it' inspection by a competent mechanic.

I'd consider a dyne too - depending on how much you're paying for the truck.

 

3.42 and up rear ends would be nice. Also rear ends must be Meritor . If they are Alliance Axles don't buy that truck.

 

Why only 20k miles? That’s very suspect. It’s 7 yrs old. Even a local Truck would have at least 100k if only driven 60 miles per day 5 days a week. Doesn’t really matter. 20k or 200k, or more. Price and condition is all that matters. A Dealership can give you all the warranty info via vin #. Also original build date, and first In service date. 20k? Maybe a little old lady bought it and only drove it to the grocery store, church once a week, and an occasional Dr.s appointment. Best to know what you’re getting. The 12.7 won’t disappoint. Very reliable. Less torque than some other engines that start with a C. But much less cost for maintenance, parts, labor, and rebuilding. Sounds like a great combination to me. The WS are good solid Trucks. Parts availability and prices for brand specific items are still a problem. For a local Truck, not a big deal. Offset by the condition of the vehicle and the 12.7. Word of caution. Who built the engine? Who put the glider together? Some are unique and not very reliable. Put together with a hodgepodge bunch of parts. It’s a real problem. Only the builder knows what parts were used. Fitzgerald built engines serial numbers are of no use to Detroit or the Dealerships. Do more research, try to figure out exactly what you’re getting. Sale price should be set accordingly.

 

Well what hp is the engine rated at? Will you be driving in hilly, or mountainous conditions? If its very flat country you can get away from having to use a higher hp engine it will be a bit more sluggish on take off and take a bit longer to get rolling to hit top speed but it will still work, I've seen this proven at my most recent job where we where hauling around 130 metric tonnes of iron ore with trucks rated at only 550 hp, which is way to low for hauling that kind of weight however if it was flat country with short distances covered at lower speeds then up to about 15 th gear it still pulled ok, it was only when we got onto the highway and tried to get it up to top speed at 90 km per hour (55 mph) that it struggled, So you will find if you have at least 485 hp or higher it will be fine even up hills. And more than enough to run a pto pump. And when your watering roads if that's what your doing you'll be driving at much slower speeds anyway.

 

No, don't get a Western, yes to Freightliner... Worked pulling cement tankers for 4 years..... started in a daycab Western Express, if it ain't new, you'll have alot of serious problems..... bought a Freightliner and pulled for the same company.... going up hills in PA, didn't have any trouble .... everyone going up hills was dropping to 35 miles per hour, but I was doing 45 - 50 miles per hour and holding.... and that's what I do know.

 

Freightliner and Western Star are essentially the same product.......

Company trucks are usually castrated for fuel economy and to keep drivers from tearing up equipment.