Need Dumptruck brand opinions

[clw1100]

Our tool rental company is expanding to do dump truck contracting and services. They have put me in charge of researching the best USED trucks to get - mainly looking for reliability. Our specs (so far) are Class 8, Tri-axle, 44k + rear GVRW, day cab of course- mainly specified for standard daily dump truck use. So far I have been looking at the Kenworth T800 series but not locked into any brand yet.



My biggest questions have to do with the engines. I have talked to several independent drivers + a few trucking firms and they seemed to recommend the CAT engines for power, reliability, and MPG. With me being a Cummins guy, that is a hard pill for me to swallow if you know what I mean. They were telling me that the Cummins is great in the medium duty applications but not the best in the heavy duty class.



Your recommendations from any of you guys with experience in this arena would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in Advance for your help.

 

[dmhollister]

My biggest questions have to do with the engines. I have talked to several independent drivers + a few trucking firms and they seemed to recommend the CAT engines for power, reliability, and MPG. With me being a Cummins guy, that is a hard pill for me to swallow if you know what I mean. They were telling me that the Cummins is great in the medium duty applications but not the best in the heavy duty class.

CAT engines are reliable, however, the newer ones with the computers are not as reliable as the older ones.



I have a friend in the business and he has put off buying a new truck because of the electronics. He currently has an mid 90's kenworth with the 600 cummins in it and has had very little problems with it. He has just turned over 500,000 and still strong.



At work all the engines are CAT and have had some computer problems under warranty.



Kenworth is an excellent truck.



Frieghtliner is OK



In my opinion stay away from the late model internationals. Have one at work that is always in the shop and is extrememly rough to drive.



But Peterbilt is the Cadillac of the trucking industry.



I also would look for a cummins engine.

 

[woodsrat]

Flame retard pants on. Go with the Cat. We run 26 trucks now with the majority being cat motors. Depending on your drivers peterbilt is the way to go we also have several kenworth w-900's they are nice also a couple of them have big cummins and run out good but for pulling power you cant beat the cats.

 

[clw1100]

Thank you very much on your replies. I initially put this is this forum, but realized it should be in the General Diesel forum. If anyone has a reply to this thread please look up this identical thread in the General Diesel forum. Thanks.



FYI- I have been getting a lot of Pete and Kenworth - Cummins and Cat responses