Would you upgrade a reliable dump truck?

Cat is the only one I can think of off hand that didn't run EGR until they put out the SDP. The '07 and older Acerts had their quirks but probably still better than the ISX with their cam problems, EGR and VGT failures and dropped liners.

If I was only going to upgrade to like an 02, I think i'd rather just keep what I have I don't think it would be much of an upgrade. I'd want something at least 2012 or newer to bother upgrading. At least here you can delete and avoid emissions.

But yea maybe I can find someone who needs to unload a truck at some point I don't need to sell mine first if I buy another so I could jump on a good deal anytime.

05 Cat started with a catalytic muffler and twin turbo acert, 05 Detroit started the egr DDEC V, 05 Cummins started
at the same time Detroit did with egr. But basically anything built from 05 through 2018 were problematic.
The Detroit DDEC V Series 60 was a total disaster, with the use of the VPOD and VGT turbo EGR system plus
trying to shove 50 psi boost through a engine designed for a max of 35 psi, blown head gaskets were very
common right along with cracked radiators.

So basically anything 04 and down is a decent bet, 2018 or better yet 2019 up are not too bad.

A great engine for reliability is a N14 Cummins or 12.7L 1995 up Detroit series 60, those can be rated
up to 500 hp and 1600 torque. Both are economical to run as far as parts go.

There are low mileage trucks out there pre-emission-but a arm and a leg.

https://bend.craigslist.org/hvd/d/spokane-2001-kenworth-t800-dump-truck/7547488839.html

Saw a few of those go through Ritchie's recently and fetch like $120k crazy money.

Got thrown a bit of a curve ball, my dad said he's finally going to get rid of his truck and wondering if I should buy it. It's a 15 international with maxxforce 9, now i'd never consider buying one of these trucks otherwise because the maxxforce is complete garbage but seeing as he bought it new and I know the trucks history that counts for a bit, I already paid for it to be plumbed for a trailer on air and I did use it for a bit to pull my hoe before I got my truck so I know it did it ok. I'm guessing it's worth around $50-55k, for a few unrelated reasons it would be beneficial to me as he owes me some money that he can't pay me back without selling the truck too.

Am I an idiot for considering it? It only has 130,000km, maxxforce scares me the EGR I believe it was went 3 years ago and it was just over a $20k bill when it dumped coolant into the engine, only had maybe 10-15km on it since. Other then that it's been a good truck. I would delete it immediately, and if I was going to buy get the engine checked first to make sure it's ok. It has the allision 3500 I believe and it's 330hp maxxforce 9, are those 2 up to the task of task of pulling my hoe around without blowing up? The tranny never heated up before, it was slow but it did it. I remember emailing the dealer before I did it and they told me as long as neither is overheating, it won't hurt either pulling that kind of weight as it's governed and safe to run at WOT for extended periods. Trailer is around 63,000lbs.

The only engine I've seen catch fire was a Maxx force, of course that's just anecdotal.

Even with it's your dad's truck I'd stay away, newer internationals trucks are just plain junk even not considering the engine. The wiring especially in canucastan is very susceptible to damage and corrosion. I don't think there is anyone that will defend a Maxx force engine. Under the hood is just plain terrible and cramped, you have to remove guards and fenders to work on anything.

I'm going off a sample size of 2, one m11, and one maxxforce, the Maxx force caught on fire out the exhaust and nearly tried to run away and then the turbos we're on fire and that's the first time I've used a fire extinguisher, and I'm 37.

If you put 20,000 into you truck I'm guessing it would be fairly nice and dependable. I'm not sure upgrading to newer isn't down grading sometimes.

Well if we won't be able to get diesel fuel, an $80 truck will end up sitting just like a brand new one.

I often wonder if the diesel fuel scare is like the toilet paper one

They said 30 days of inventory trying to scare people into thinking 30 days till we run out. As if they are not making it any more.

How many days of inventory are usually in the system? Is this even out of the ordinary?

I don't know, but I severely doubt it unless there's a refinery problem that I don't know about.

In the last 2 years I put on a ton of wells that were shut down +/-5 years, there should be more production of crude, so what's on the refinery end.

Diesel has dropped on price in my area under $5

suladas said:

Saw a few of those go through Ritchie's recently and fetch like $120k crazy money.

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That's happening around here, too, and I suspect with good reason. Older iron would not be fetching the price it is without good reason .. nobody buys a dump truck to park out front of the shop and admire. Pit talk on the CB with guys who run newer trucks revolves around how long the last one was down with emissions/electronics problems.

cfherrman said:

The only engine I've seen catch fire was a Maxx force, of course that's just anecdotal.

Even with it's your dad's truck I'd stay away, newer internationals trucks are just plain junk even not considering the engine. The wiring especially in canucastan is very susceptible to damage and corrosion. I don't think there is anyone that will defend a Maxx force engine. Under the hood is just plain terrible and cramped, you have to remove guards and fenders to work on anything.

I'm going off a sample size of 2, one m11, and one maxxforce, the Maxx force caught on fire out the exhaust and nearly tried to run away and then the turbos we're on fire and that's the first time I've used a fire extinguisher, and I'm 37.

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It hasn't had wiring issues yet, but it sure does look like a clusterfawk under the hood, rubbed threw a coolant line twice already cause of poor design. Well catching on fire isn't the worse thing, at least there is insurance. But yea I think it's better if I pass on it.

gwhammy said:

If you put 20,000 into you truck I'm guessing it would be fairly nice and dependable. I'm not sure upgrading to newer isn't down grading sometimes.

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True. I think i'm going to have it inspected early and assuming no major surprises discuss what will be coming up soon for repairs and where is good to put some money into it. I think the air ride cab is a must, other then that i'm not sure.

You haven't said what you are pulling with it (except for "my 'hoe"), nor have you said how the truck is equipped. I don't have much experience with Western Star. In fact, I have zero so I don't have much understanding of what your experience may be like. I can say this. The pre-emissions trucks are so expensive to buy used because they don't have the emissions, and the associate costs and headaches that come with them. I would not recommend buying into that potential nightmare. You said that you are familiar with the truck (your dad's truck), and then went on to talk about the issues that it has. Did you even hear yourself typing?
I currently have (2) dumptrucks. My first is a '94 Peterbilt 377. I bought it as a tractor, had the frame extended and put a rock tub on the back. It has the wrong suspension for a dumptruck but it rides down the road very well. It does not have the air suspension on the cab but it does have Pete AirLeaf on the rears. The other truck is an '86 KW W900. It has a good suspension for a dumptruck but it rides terribly when empty. It rides on Hendricks extended leaf walking beam. The cab of the W900 is quite a bit noisier as well. That being said, I am looking at upgrading the truck instead of buying a late model truck that comes with the emissions headaches. Putting a new rock box on it and trying to make the cab more comfortable looks like the better option to me.

IMO the pre-Daimler Stars were tough to beat. I'd take a Kelowna built Western Star over a similar year Peterbilt or Kenworth without question.

I ponder the concept of a bigger truck. I'm not a full time excavator, I only use equipment occasionally. I own it mostly to move the backhoe, it does that just fine. I've probably got $20,000. invested total. When I haul gravel, I make three trips where it'd be one with a full size tandem.
70% of my excavation jobs are underground wiring. I haul sand to bed conduit & I haul away rocky soil. Often, I bring in a load of screened topsoil. Mostly, that means 7 round trips for hauling. I do average two projects a month (excavation). It's manageable for me with a $20,000. truck. A $100,000 truck would be more efficient. I'd also need more income to break even.

I was complaining once to a mechanic friend of mine about needing bigger equipment to get done faster and he did point out that I get paid by the hour. That said I can't imagine using a single axle dump in the line of work I do. I think I hauled almost 50 tandem loads of material this week besides running equipment most every day.

I worked for a builder, bought a new 1/2 ton pickup every three years. It's almost true to say his pickup was his only expense. He lived on deer meat, lived in a very small house he built 40 years ago. His hobby was work & in truth, he worked 7 days, 11 hours a day nearly every week.
He was/is a wealthy man. Invested every penny he could hoard. He is now about 80 years of age. His logic is you have to show up in a new truck. If you don't, your customers doubt you.

I (an electrician) have always driven a van. Only an expert can tell the year of a van. I keep my vehicles in condition. My van looks recent, even though they average 13 years old at replacement.


Probably a stretch, but maybe you are being judged by the appearance of your truck?