looking at 2 trucks any advise?

ctkiteboarding · Sep 5, 2010

took a ride today to see an inter 1989 s2500 tri-axle, orig owner, 45k miles, 17' body, l10 300hp cummins, 8ll trans,

the truck is in perfect shape other then abit faded,, guys wants 25k ,,

the other truck is a 2000 sterling 17' body cat 300 8ll 58k miles

paving co is orig owner , it will need a lift axle installed but plenty of wheel base, guy will take 20, truck has bumps here and there body is good, needs exaust and some cosmetic repairs but its a 2000 and much newer truck and cab a/c etc. im worried both truck will struggle w 300hp and advise would be great

MOUNTAIN MAN · Sep 6, 2010

I'm not a huge fan of Sterling, they are going out of business here in Canada(must be the low sales??). I trust Internationals very much, they are a solid truck, I'm also a mega Cummins fan so thats a huge plus on the International for me, but it looks like to me that he's asking a little too much. What is the application intended for these trucks, paving and gravel dumping? Yeah 300hp might be a little on the low side for that application if you are maybe hauling a pup. Hope this helps!

mitch504 · Sep 6, 2010

I own a couple of Int'ls, one is a 1985 S2300 w/ an L-10. I bought it in 1997 and an amazing amount of parts were obsolete already. The L-10 has been very good, and all the engine, trans. and rear end parts should be readily available. A lot of the body parts, and the other international parts are really hard to get. The truck itself is very well built.

On the hp question, hp is really just about speed. We used to pull 100,000 lbs with 237 hp everyday. 300 was normal even in the 80's, There are still a lot of trucks doing 80,000 pounds and more with 300hp everyday. You will not take off from a traffic light or climb a hill as fast as a 400, but if the truck is speced right you will be able to do whatever you need, just a little slower.

I once came up out of the bottom of a quarry at about 90,000 or so infront of two road trucks at 400hp+. My little Mack took off and left them, I shifted up to 2nd,then 3rd, they were still in low. They were all over the CB, asking what I had, I told them 300hp, they didn't believe me. We got on the interstate in the big hills, I left them up to 50 mph, then they passed me, cause that's hp.

GOINGBROKE · Sep 6, 2010

Even though the Sterling is a newer truck I would check out the parts availability for them. Have a very hard time finding parts here for Ford/Sterling and they dont come cheap.

ctkiteboarding · Sep 6, 2010

the inter is a dump spec truck very nice, older, but the guy took care of his stuff and you can tell,, if he would go to 20k i would own it already, the sterling is a really nice newer truck , just looks like the driver/pedal presser didnt give a **** about it and the owner is kinda clueless but the price fits my cash on hand, that being said the addition of a lift axle will cost a pretty penny, has anyone turned there l10's up to 350? or the cat which was 275 up 50hp or so

GOINGBROKE · Sep 6, 2010

What engine is the Cat? Have a serial no. by chance?

ctkiteboarding · Sep 6, 2010

inter is a 1987 2674 model# 1 HT2VGDTOHH 483303. fuller road ranger 8LL

i have a call into the owner for the vin # on the sterling

ctkiteboarding · Sep 6, 2010

owner doesnt know the model of the cat im thinking 3126??? working on that info now the vin # on the sterling is 2fzxbj bb5yaf 88707

Hendrik · Sep 9, 2010

I would go for the Inter, based on being better looked after (which may extend to servicing). 45K in 20 years??? Was it driven to Church on Sundays by a little old lady?
I used to pilot an Inter with a 230HP 855 coupled to a 9 speed RR, pulling 40 tonnes, no worries. Ya gotta consider also, more HP = more fuel burned. 300HP in a dump truck is plenty unless you want to pull a trailer in hilly country. However in the world of engines having more cubes is a good thing, the 855 is about 14 liters whereas the L10 I believe is about 10 liters but the L10 you are looking at is set to 300HP so it should be alright.
However I also spend many an hour in a Steiger with a 10 liter cat motor and that had a lot of pull.

ctkiteboarding · Sep 9, 2010

i offered the inter owner 21k this evening he is going to sleep on it ,

also looked at two smaller dumps , one autocar 6 wheeler, volvo 350hp, 9ll 13' body with lift axle 80k on it, guy sold it tonight before i could see it up close

then a fl80 cat 300hp 8LL also 6 wheeler with lift axle, barn door, loaded ,orig owner wanted 29k but said today 24k and i can have it , really nice dump
im struggling with the size of the tri axle but in theroy I could go out on truck rental here and there when the 6 wheel w/ lifts will only work on my projects

yash · Sep 10, 2010

The trucks found these days come in with an array of safety features like drive train slippage, anti lock brakes, air bags and others. Various truck models will offer you with different range of safety feature. Depending on the usage of the truck, whether for family or commercial purpose, one needs to choose the safety features. While purchasing a used truck, you might want to ask the dealer about the safety equipments that are included. In case there is no safety equipments included in the used truck, then you might either consider going for other truck model or adding safety equipments separately to ensure safety of drivers and passengers.

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Monster Trucks

ctkiteboarding · Sep 10, 2010

yes safety first:usa

therealjohnboy · Sep 10, 2010

Its a truck load it with muck and cart away if your drivers cant drive to the conditions with out all the safety crap put them back on a shovel. Back up support is the most important as all trucks breakdown so you gotta get the parts pronto and at a realistic price to get rolling again if you wanna earn a living.

Hendrik · Sep 10, 2010

yash said:
The trucks found these days come in with an array of safety features like drive train slippage, anti lock brakes, air bags and others.

And the trucks found these days come with a price tag which is not within the budget we are talking here.
As the realjohn said, you can have all the safety do das in the world but if the nut holding onto the steering wheel is loose you are going to have trouble.
The best safety items in a truck are the driver, the tires being good, the brakes being maintained 100%, the engine brake working, the wipers work well, the headlights are good, the steering is tight and aligned, if you are going to really on modern gadgets to stop the ruck from crashing..........

ctkiteboarding · Sep 11, 2010

went with the fl80

pics to follow:drinkup

ctkiteboarding · Sep 12, 2010

here she is :usa

DEERE310SG · Sep 12, 2010

Nice truck I like FL80's good old truck's:thumbsup

MOUNTAIN MAN · Sep 12, 2010

Thats a nice truck, I like the lift axle and the dump box a lot! Its real nice, even better than the Sterling and INTL any day!

Hendrik · Sep 12, 2010

MOUNTAIN MAN said:
Thats a nice truck, I like the lift axle and the dump box a lot! Its real nice, even better than the Sterling and INTL any day!

And it's red, so should go faster

MOUNTAIN MAN · Sep 14, 2010

Hendrik said:
And it's red, so should go faster

Thats true, isn't it one of Newton's laws also?:bouncegri

rofessor:beatsme

looking at 2 trucks any advise?

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