Kodiak or Freightliner?

[tractorseller]

Anybody have an opinion on either of these haulers? I hate to admit it, but I'm looking at them. I like the Kodiak C5500 with the Duramax and the Allison 2200 transmission (not much more than a loaded up, tricked out 1 ton). I also like the Freightliner Sport Chassis, but they are awfully expensive.



Just starting to look so if you guys have any comments/ideas/suggestions I'd appreciate them. My 1 ton Dodge seems like it's sitting on the overloads half the time anymore. I want to get a 40' gooseneck and haul eight compact tractors at a time. I'm afraid this Dodge is overloaded with four of them, although I've hauled six at once with it for about 1,000 miles (no loaders or implements though).

 

[jwduke]

If you buy the Freightliner, stay away from the MBE engines. They are JUNK!

 

[burndog]

Go drive a Kodiak,it will beat you to death. M2 Freightliner is the way to go.

 

[hammersley]

What makes you say the MBE's are JUNK??????

They have been making Diesels a very long time -

 

[Mhannink]

well i would go w/ the freightliner we have a 4500 chevy dmax and unless theres a big diff in the eclectrical stuff i would stay away from it its got 40,000 on it and its been in the shop for a new allision transmission, the factory exhaust break stoped working, the fuel guage and oil gauge are not right and the fuel tank transfer pump for the rear is not working i think there is some other computer/electrical stuff but i forget exactly. basically its a bunch of problems and im not impressed w/ the engine. the new transmission isn't bad tho.



of course if ur going that size u could step up one get a 650 w/ a cummins or cat in it and that would do real well idk about the price diff but i would be something to look into. fords are good trucks just not the psd engine

 

[GWBourne]

have you thought about a ford F650/F750? you can get a cummins in them.

i priced one out and with the few options i wanted it came to 45,500 out the door with a lot of bargaining at the end of the month.

Grant

 

[tractorseller]

I haven't looked at the Fords, but I will. Didn't think about them much because I hate that PSD junk engine.



My cousin tests and buys trucks for U-Haul and he says to stay away from the Kodiak 4500 and go with the 5500 because it is beefier and has the Allison 2200 transmission instead of the 1000 which is found in the lighter GM trucks (I've owned two of them, one good, and one complete junk that they had to buy back under the Lemon Law). He helped design the 2200 transmission and say it's bulletproof. He did tell me about the electrical problems and said that it was a "Delphi" problem. Something about the wiring harnesses not being put together right.



U-Haul tests the diesel engines, but mostly buys the 8. 1 Chev gas rigs now because customers complained about the "smelly diesel" when they had to refuel . Like gas doesn't stink. What a bunch of panzees :{ .



He has looked at the Freightliners and raves about them. He said the MB engine was "phenomenal". I just don't know if I want to spring for that expensive a truck. They are nice, without question.



I'll have to check on the transmission that Ford is putting in their heavier trucks. Is it the TorqueShift?



Thanks guys. All this helps me decide. Keep it coming.

 

[SnoKing]

Buy a good used class 7 tractor. Many like the Volvo. SNOKING

 

[DHorton]

Check out the pricing on www.truckpaper.com



That is where I was looking for medium duty trucks and they have a wide variety of pricing and places that you could play off of one another to get the deal you are looking for. My vote would be for the M2 with the ISC Cummins in it.



http://www.truckpaper.com/listings/...=955811&guid=FE59662DAF0540229EEFC8FCE69168F3



They don't advertise that they come with them very often, but they can be found. Just a thought.

 

[RustyJC]

If you're looking at the Freightliner, Google around for the Peterbilt 330 and 335. There are some of these set up as RV haulers that look really nice - crewcabs and all.



Rusty

 

[Will24]

The freightliner will definitely be cheaper than a Pete. If you're going to buy a freightliner, and you work on your own vehicles, consider looking at older FL-70s and FL-80s, they can be had with Bs (P pump and VP44) and Cs (p pump or CAPS. The older freightliners are pretty easy to work on, TONS easier than Ford F-650s and the Kodiaks (more of the motor sits under the cab in an F650 or Kodiak than in a dodge pickup!)





-Will

 

[AHughes]

Go with the Ford with the Cummins and Allison 6 Speed. THAT'S THE ENGINE OF CHOICE AND WITH THE 6 SPEED ALLISON IT'S A GOOD COMBO EVEN THOUGH THE transmission IS MADE BY G. M. YUK!!!! IN MY OPINION

 

[Mhannink]

Go with the Ford with the Cummins and Allison 6 Speed. THAT'S THE ENGINE OF CHOICE AND WITH THE 6 SPEED ALLISON IT'S A GOOD COMBO EVEN THOUGH THE transmission IS MADE BY G. M. YUK!!!! IN MY OPINION

the transmission is not built by gm i belive its a stand alone company or affiliated w/ a big engine maker like detroit or something im not really sure i just know its not part of gm. at least the bigger ones like the ones found in our hay squeezes or some of the bigger trucks like the 650 and 750.



idk tho i think i would go w/ a manuel and not a auto but maybe the bigger allisions are better then the little ones ive dealt w/.

 

[jwduke]

They have been making Diesels a very long time -

Well the one that is in my work truck (Freightliner M-2 w/MBE-4000 450E), spends more time in the shop than on the road. And 100% of the problems have been with the engine... .....

 

[BNeathery]

Check out a used Freightliner, a 4 door with an Allison auto can be had for <$50K.



The one in the link below is a 2000 with 47000 miles for 49K. Its a FL60, 8. 3 cummins, 3060 transmission, air ride w/air ride seats, eby aluminum bed,

My brother-in-law got one for $29K and loves it. I'll bet you could get it for less... Good luck, My vote is for the Freightliner.



http://www.horsetrailerworld.com/home/truckdetail.asp?ID=1923

 

[nps]

the transmission is not built by gm i belive its a stand alone company or affiliated w/ a big engine maker like detroit or something im not really sure i just know its not part of gm. at least the bigger ones like the ones found in our hay squeezes or some of the bigger trucks like the 650 and 750.



idk tho i think i would go w/ a manuel and not a auto but maybe the bigger allisions are better then the little ones ive dealt w/.

Actually Allison is owned by GM - always has been.



Detriot Diesel was also owned by GM, but they sold it to Daimler Chrysler. So maybe the next Dodge will have a Series 60 in it. :-laf

 

[TGibbs]

I am a dealer for the freightliner sport chassis. There are two versions, one is a 300hp with an exhaust brake and such. The next version is what I love to pull our 17k horse trailer with and it is a 330hp mercedes engine with a factory exhaust brake, a factory jake brake also. It has the go and the whoa!! It will smoke a duramax too, no comparison period.

 

[hemijustin]

Freightliner... . KODIAK IS JUNK

 

[PatrickCampbell]

What is the latest on the 2006 4500 ? All rumor?

 

[Mhannink]

Actually Allison is owned by GM - always has been.



Detriot Diesel was also owned by GM, but they sold it to Daimler Chrysler. So maybe the next Dodge will have a Series 60 in it. :-laf

apperantly i was misinformed oh well u live u learn thanks for correcting me.



tgibbs why does the mercades have an exhaust and jake would either one do.



how is it w/ both. lol always wondered how well that would work