In reply to John Welsh :
That's a nice looking Ram. I believe 08 was the last year you could get a manual Trans with the gas engine in those.
In reply to John Welsh :
That's a nice looking Ram. I believe 08 was the last year you could get a manual Trans with the gas engine in those.
How much have medium and heavy trucks changed in recent decades, as far as how they drive?
bearmtnmartin's "faster fossil" thread reminded me about this question. I mean, my '97 F250 drives like a more padded and somehow floppier-feeling version of my dad's former '66, but with more power and better brakes. I gather the *real* '97-up (mine's an HD, so it's an Old Body Style holdover) trucks are finally an actual redesign on a larger scale that didn't really happen between '60ish and then...
And then I think about the Ford C-series, and how they didn't even change styling from '6x to '92. I'm sure engine and engine management changed. How 'bout the mechanicals? Seems like medium/heavy trucks are in some ways more standardized for axles, suspensions, brakes... If there were updates, would they just hang newer components on there next model year?
When someone finds an old '70s Peterbilt parked in a field by a retired trucker and gets it running, does it drive more or less similarly to a 2000ish truck, or are the brakes/steering/etc all as archaic as comparing an MGB to a later Civic?
03Panther said:In reply to frenchyd :
The same thought has gone around in my head a few time along the way!
After getting the FL50 conversion truck, for towing our camper, I found it has most of the same negatives as a Class 8 truck (or motorhome) but less power and MD trucks tend to be more expensive used. Around the same MPG and maint.as well.
The one I have does ride a bit better than a Class 8 as short as it would, and is a bit easier to find a parking space, but what he is looking for would be longer anyway. Both will take a bit of effort on the private insurance, as well.
Class 8 trucks very tremendously in how they ride and drive. The absolute worst are cab over. Cheap cab overs are even worse. The GMC cab over I drove in the late 70's was almost guaranteed to cripple you in a decade or so.
Conventional trucks tended to be easier on the driver. With Peterbuilt getting the most compliments.
I briefly drove an early narrow hood Peterbuilt. While the classic looks won everyone over, it was pretty gutless. Those early Detroit diesels needed a great mechanic to get them anywhere near the Cummins or Cat. Then when you did they really got thirsty. Both fuel and oil.
The later 1990's are really great trucks. Often getting a million miles or more out of the engines.
Over the road trucks are tanks. I am driving a 2019 Pete right now and even with air ride suspension cab and seat it's a spine killer. Everything vibrates and it's too noisy for Bluetooth. It was not uncommon back in the day to see guys with ear protection.
In reply to bearmtnmartin (Forum Supporter) :
I guess you've never driven a GMC cab over. But
In reply to frenchyd :
Is it worse than a Mack with camelback suspension?
Yes I've driven those.
Cab over you go up at least as high as the bump and drop the same. A conventional you're nearer the middle. So you go up&down less than the axle does. Think of a teeter totter. If you sit at the ends you go up a lot more than if you sit near the middle.
Plus the part that cripples most drivers is getting out of the cab. Compare the narrow steps of a cab over to the steps of a conventional.
After a long period on the road when you're stiff and trying to get out of the cab, the steps can be iced over or you just misstep.
The Peterbuilt conventional that replaced my Cab over was massive improvement in ride.
Not to mention the seat on the GMC was a spring unit compared to the air on the conventional.
In reply to bearmtnmartin (Forum Supporter) :
Mack suspensions are mostly decorative.
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