abtech, time to retire the PITBIKE?

ConqSoft · 09-08-2005, 12:14 PM

http://www.classrides.com/for_sale/tractor-trlr.html

phobiaphobe · 09-08-2005, 12:22 PM

You couldn't give him a Freightliner.

Red Rider · 09-08-2005, 12:57 PM

Odd...Reg was trying to get out of the business altogether, but this ad makes it sound like he's not.

Wonder if he'll trade for a 6 x 12?

abtech · 09-08-2005, 5:15 PM

That wouldn't be a step up, believe me . . .

CBR929RE · 09-08-2005, 5:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phobiaphobe

You couldn't give him a Freightliner.

all the freightliners I've driver (never a big one like this though) have sucked. The suspension and chassis in all of them just flat out sucked.

abtech · 09-08-2005, 5:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBR929RE

all the freightliners I've driver (never a big one like this though) have sucked. The suspension and chassis in all of them just flat out sucked.

They may have improved in the recent past, but I drove a 2005 Century Class with all the trimmings in May and it still handled like an office building, sucked fuel (3.5 mpg best case with half load pulling a 48' air ride trailer) and was so noisy I couldn't take more than 2 hours in the cab . . .

09-08-2005, 5:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abtech

They may have improved in the recent past, but I drove a 2005 Century Class with all the trimmings in May and it still handled like an office building, sucked fuel (3.5 mpg best case with half load pulling a 48' air ride trailer) and was so noisy I couldn't take more than 2 hours in the cab . . .

Sissy!

abtech · 09-09-2005, 8:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPEED

Sissy!

Drove it back to back with a new Pete 386 and to call them both trucks is a real stretch. The Pete handled 10 times better, had a tighter turning radius (same wheelbase), was much smoother, had more power and got over 6 mpg on the same run. The cab noise was order of magnitude lower than the Crateliner as well. Interestingly, the price difference between the 2 tractors was less than 12K . . .

sheepofblue · 09-09-2005, 8:20 AM

There's 385 other Pete's

abtech · 09-09-2005, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheepofblue

There's 385 other Pete's

I think so. I owned a 362 (Cabover) and a couple of 379 conventionals. Some of the models are special builds for a limited market (mining tractors etc.).

sheepofblue · 09-09-2005, 10:40 AM

+1 for me

Red Rider · 09-09-2005, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheepofblue

+1 for me

That one flew right over his head!

09-09-2005, 1:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abtech

Drove it back to back with a new Pete 386 and to call them both trucks is a real stretch. The Pete handled 10 times better, had a tighter turning radius (same wheelbase), was much smoother, had more power and got over 6 mpg on the same run. The cab noise was order of magnitude lower than the Crateliner as well. Interestingly, the price difference between the 2 tractors was less than 12K . . .

Everybody knows a Pete is a better made tractor but since I've been a company driver all these years I rarely get a chance to drive them. I've pretty much gotten used to road and engine noises, just turn up the stereo and they almost disapear, lol. The Freightshaker Century class did turn out to have a whole lot of problems from what I've heard but the Clasic XL is a pretty decent tractor http://www.truckpaper.com/listings/forsale/detail.asp?OHID=984835&guid=76721980DC89484A8BD493 1702B00254

abtech · 09-09-2005, 3:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPEED

Everybody knows a Pete is a better made tractor but since I've been a company driver all these years I rarely get a chance to drive them. I've pretty much gotten used to road and engine noises, just turn up the stereo and they almost disapear, lol. The Freightshaker Century class did turn out to have a whole lot of problems from what I've heard but the Clasic XL is a pretty decent tractor http://www.truckpaper.com/listings/forsale/detail.asp?OHID=984835&guid=76721980DC89484A8BD493 1702B00254

You know it and I know it (and everyone who has driven a Pete or KW knows it), but the word I keep hearing is how Freightliner has turned around and makes "better" tractors than the PACCAR group. I certainly don't log the miles I used to and you sure see lot's of the Freightslimers on the road, but you would have to be on drugs (and good ones at that) to say they are even nearly as good as number 1 and number 2 (Pete & KW).

09-09-2005, 3:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abtech

You know it and I know it (and everyone who has driven a Pete or KW knows it), but the word I keep hearing is how Freightliner has turned around and makes "better" tractors than the PACCAR group. I certainly don't log the miles I used to and you sure see lot's of the Freightslimers on the road, but you would have to be on drugs (and good ones at that) to say they are even nearly as good as number 1 and number 2 (Pete & KW).

I drove KW's for almost a year and never felt comfortable on long drives, I would get the worst stiff neck every time out.

The company I work for right now uses International & in the last couple years been moving over to Sterling (Ford) with Mercedes motors......they have the worst loud hum above a certain RPM http://www.sterlingtrucks.com/P.asp?...n&Line =ALine

HondaGalToo · 09-09-2005, 3:20 PM

What? That's not nice, saying PETE is built like a tractor!

RRWANTR · 09-09-2005, 3:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HondaGalToo

What? That's not nice, saying PETE is built like a tractor!

Ok Ok...the tractor's built like PETE.

BDA116 · 09-09-2005, 3:29 PM

Abtech, who owns Freightliner now? If I'm thinking of the right company they were started in the WWII era in Salt Lake City, but they were purchased and moved away quite some time ago.
Maybe it's a different company. Maybe I should just do a search.

EDIT: Yep, they're the ones. They were bought by Daimler-Benz in '81. I guess that's why they went in the sh1tter.

09-09-2005, 3:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BDA116

Abtech, who owns Freightliner now? If I'm thinking of the right company they were started in the WWII era in Salt Lake City, but they were purchased and moved away quite some time ago.
Maybe it's a different company. Maybe I should just do a search.

I'm not Abtech but here you go... http://www.forbes.com/2002/06/18/0618flint.html

Hammer · 09-09-2005, 6:00 PM

I used to drive OTR and drove a couple of different rigs but i've got to say Freightshaker is the closest thing to driving an 80k lb hay wagon i've ever seen. I drove a 660 Volve for about a year and a half and loved it. Long trips were a pleasure and the creature comforts were ok. If you are going from a largecar to a volvo as I did it takes some getting used to but it is worth it IMO. The torning radius is unbelieviable, about the same as a day cab. The ride was nice and very little noise, kins of like driving a passenger car. If I were to go back to OTR it would be in a Volvo.

CBR929RE · 09-09-2005, 6:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPEED

I drove KW's for almost a year and never felt comfortable on long drives, I would get the worst stiff neck every time out.

The company I work for right now uses International & in the last couple years been moving over to Sterling (Ford) with Mercedes motors......they have the worst loud hum above a certain RPM http://www.sterlingtrucks.com/P.asp?...n&Line =ALine

it was a dream of mine back in high school to own a Peterbilt with 8000 lights and drive it cross country.

I also like the KW but haven't driven either. I will say Macks are atleast a step above Freightcrappers, not by a hell of a lot but noticeably better. I have to say my favorite truck that I've driven was a Sterling. But I did only drive them for very short distances (friend let me drive his work truck one time and I drove one on a job driving test thing).

edit; after reading Hammers post I was reminded of how much I wanna drive one of them Volvos (yeah I know that sounds weird doesn't it). And the new ones are some nice looking trucks.

phobiaphobe · 09-09-2005, 6:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBR929RE

it was a dream of mine back in high school to own a Peterbilt with 8000 lights and drive it cross country.

...

Did part of that dream entail touring the national pro arm-wrestling circuit?

This thread wins the prize for "most creative use of derogatory pet names for a truck manufacturer".

CBR929RE · 09-09-2005, 6:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phobiaphobe

Did part of that dream entail touring the national pro arm-wrestling circuit?

This thread wins the prize for "most creative use of derogatory pet names for a truck manufacturer".

I never really wanted to go "Over the Top"
you also have to remember I'm one of the scrawniest people here (5"4' 118lbs wet) so I wouldn't have even won the women's competition (even taking away the huge lumberjack ladies)