sterling or a dodge

[KDoerr]

Well I was on the sterling web site and found the sterling bullet. View attachment 62830 the Web site is http://http://www.sterlingtrucks.com/SterlingBullet/



It looks Nice but it is the dodge 5500 just with the different Grill.

 

[betterthanstock]

Oo. That way people who have sworn to never own a Dodge may still buy one :-laf :{

 

[16919]

I like the grille!!!

 

[n7gxz]

The Sterling will probable be classified by the insurance companies as a commercial vehicle where the Dodge may not be.



Kevin

 

[AKaiser]

The Sterling will probable be classified by the insurance companies as a commercial vehicle where the Dodge may not be.



Kevin

I'm not an insurance guy, but why would the difference in manufacturer's nameplate mean the difference in treatment by the insurance companies? It's essentially a commercial vehicle either way, based on it's configuration. If it has a pickup bed on the back, perhaps not, but based on the design of the truck, I doubt you will see many of them like that.



Here's a link that will work: http://www.sterlingtrucks.com/SterlingBullet/

 

[EMD-Run8]

Who wants to bet that Ford guys will buy it and claim "it's not really a Dodge"! :-laf

 

[AKaiser]

Who wants to bet that Ford guys will buy it and claim "it's not really a Dodge"! :-laf

Of course, and denial is not just a river in Egypt

 

[rumblefish]

Makes perfect sence due to Ford owning both Sterling and Cummins!!!

 

[BDanner]

Either one, the sooner the better!

Dodge may be the only place to get the heated leather seats and that third level of refinement with the Laramie Pkg. My guess is Sterling will offer 2 packages.



Would really like to see an air ride seat option in the Sterling. That could be part of a swing vote.



Bottom line will fall on the price. My guess is about 75K msrp for a 4x4 4500 Laramie Quad cab "loaded". Minus tow body, rollback or whatever else you add.



Looked at that beautiful Business Class Freightliner with great engine choices, but it is just too big for toten locally and pricey $90-$135.



We have decided we are are waiting for the 4500 or 5500 Dodge and we will sell or keep the old 100k mile '01 3500 with allot of extras most people do not appreciate. The DTT is going in for a freshening up rebuild April 1.



Have had a great time building up the 3500 but it still lacks the brakes for the big grades even with the exhaust brake. My wife has seen the U- Tube videos of the new Dodges and decided we need that next class of hauler.

 

[n7gxz]

I'm not an insurance guy, but why would the difference in manufacturer's nameplate mean the difference in treatment by the insurance companies? It's essentially a commercial vehicle either way, based on it's configuration. If it has a pickup bed on the back, perhaps not, but based on the design of the truck, I doubt you will see many of them like that.



Here's a link that will work: http://www.sterlingtrucks.com/SterlingBullet/

From what I have heard the insurance companies did that with the Sprinter van, if it was badged with a Frightliner badge it was a commercial van, Dodge badge it was not. And of course the rates went up dramadically with the commercial rating.



Kevin

 

[SnoKing]

I thought it was the "type of use" that you told your agent that effected your rates! SNOKING

 

[cyborg]

Am I missing something.
Sterling is a Ford marquee?
And Sterling is selling it, but DC finances?

Okay fine

 

[cyborg]

Am I missing something.
Sterling is a Ford marquee?
And Sterling is selling it, but DC finances?

Okay fine

DOH!

http://www.sterlingtrucks.com/P.asp?Loc=CompanyOverview

 

[JTCHess]

I think it will all boil down to service. Sterling I would think offers a service department catering to commercial use vehicles and as such more responsive whereas Dodge, is more about selling cars then servicing commercial accounts. Me, I'll go with a truck dealer adept at working on diesels vice a dealer whose service department is adept to working on minivans.



John

 

[Shadrach]

"Makes perfect sence due to Ford owning both Sterling and Cummins!!!"



Lets tread carefully there. :-laf Ford of course doesn't own either. Cummins, as most of us know, repurchased the stock that Ford had bought, then Freigtliner "bought" the old Ford big trucks and renamed the division Sterling. Sterling ia a division of Freightliner, as is Western Star, who are all owned by DC. Since DC owns both Dodge and Sterling the 'new truck' I believe will be similar to the Chev/GMC setup. A customer who is used to buying 6 and heavier trucks will now be able to but a class 3/4 truck at the same dealership. Sterling is already a Cummins dealer so this means they should be able to service the engine with more expertise than a "car" dealership:-laf Does that mean they will be able to 'talk' to the engine computer on the other HPCR Dodges? I don't believe the engine in the Dodge will be any different than the one in the Sterling. When a Sterling Bullet arrives at the local dealership I will check and compare the two engine serial numbers. Shadrach

 

[JJuday]

The manufacturer has nothing to so with the insurance, title, or the plates. I just bought an International S-1600 dump truck with the ol' 7. 3 non-turbo, or the 444 c. i. d. for the guys that can't stomach the thoughts of having a "7. 3". Any way my insurance and plates were based on use and physical weight of the truck and the name had nothing to do with it except in identifiying it.

 

[redfuelrules]

I think it will all boil down to service. Sterling I would think offers a service department catering to commercial use vehicles and as such more responsive whereas Dodge, is more about selling cars then servicing commercial accounts. Me, I'll go with a truck dealer adept at working on diesels vice a dealer whose service department is adept to working on minivans.



John

Amen to that. Seems like most of us gripe about DC service, or lack thereof, more than anything else about these trucks. Big truck dealers and service centers spend alot more time working on diesels, and are most likely alot more concerned about how they treat their customers, as the commercial truck market is IMO much smaller and alot more attuned to how themselves and others have been treated in the past.



Ben

 

[AKaiser]

"Makes perfect sence due to Ford owning both Sterling and Cummins!!!"



Lets tread carefully there. :-laf Ford of course doesn't own either. Shadrach

This has become the longest running gag on TDR It's like the Godzilla gag on Bob and Tom. It's always funny.