Red Horse

Well-not always-

It is the solicitation for another book listing all the members with your vehicle picture-just like the one published in 2011. So this one will be 2016. SOS- schools -colleges do the same thing-every 5 years its a money pit! Harris is the name of the outfit that does this- I have received two post cards and two e-mail requests-haven't called yet.

Saw news footage today-not sure which cities but one in China and one in India-could NOT see buildings because of the inversion-people walking with surgical masks on! This loon we have does whatever he can to side step the real issues that confront us. And the next loon waiting in the wings will do no better-and she will win unless the Republicans get their shit together-and quickly! This is our last chance. If you think the electorate deck is stack now, if we lose this next one its a done deal IMO.

This raises a lot of questions. First and foremost, a 50% increase in manpower? That says to me they are either going to blow GM and Dodge away with existing vehicles or they will add a new vehicle. Or is the overtime at KTP totally out of control? Wishful thinking on blowing the competition away by that much. As for another product, given the move of mediums to Ohio, (OAP) and the fact that OAP is currently underutilized, not likely that any new vehicle would be added to KTP. In fact, all of the news I have read mentions 250 , 350, Expedition and Navigator. No specific mention of 450 and 550. I could see the 450 dually pick up remaining at KTP, but it seems logical to me that 450 -550 chassis mprph into some sort of vehicle based on some 650/750 cab structure-and a move to OAP. Keep in mind, GM is about to get back into class 4 and 5 with Navistar. My bet is that truck will not be derived off a Silverado pick up but rather will be more "medium duty" as were the old 4500/5500 GM's before they pulled the plug. Compare an old 5500 GM with an F-550 chassis. the Ford clearly showed its pick up roots while the 5500 was much more substantial-from its tilting hood assembly to the heavier running gear-in spite of the fact they both had the same GVW ratings. There has to be a lot more to this than we are told

Didn't see it but one of my boys saw it-said look very good!

Jack/KSC I can't see how you are viewing this as a "low cost,cookie cutter move". I can't think of anyone who has more engineering capability/technology capability than Daimler. What am I missing? Who has the best big engine rep right now? Volvo/Mack?-Cummins? I do believe it is DD. Think the halo effect won't rub off on these medium duty versions? I hear you KSC on that cheap world truck- but I think that starts for example with this Arkane (sp?) cab over which you recently educated me on in terms of its China sourced cab. I really can't see the F'liner M2 and the SD mediums as falling into that pool. IMO- as always my opinion and two bucks will get you a medium in Dunkin D.

Amen- and think what this does to Ford's attempt to make the 6.7 Power Stroke work as their sole engine in class 6 and7. The Daimler gorilla gets bigger and bigger sad to say.

Good info guys- now I have my tax payer hat on. so what are the best "bang for the buck" pumpers these days?

Non fire service guy here but always interested. So what is the story? My first thought is this should be a matter of good PM. Boot has as hole? Hmnn-grit gets in-replace it before you have a bigger problem. Or is Pierce noted for this? Are these trucks IFS? I have read of wheels coming off in this area.

So whose cab? Hino? Isuzu?

Hmnnn....What's that beeping noise??? What's that bright red light???????

Makes you wonder? More expensive, heavier u-joints, drive shafts, clutch facings etc at what point have you gone overboard? All the while driver skill levels seem to be going down. Bottom line, no such thing as a free lunch!

I guess the key phrase is...........".Watson said the civil engineering work on the two proposed improvements — the docks and facade — is done, and next is getting the "business case through the Volvo executive group." Sweden-based Volvo Group is Mack's corporate parent." Once again, Volvo will make the decision. Big question is what is the utilization rate at the Volvo plant in Va? If they have to spend X dollars at Macungine, what would that same expenditure do for the Volvo plant? Plus if the Mack CH cab is to be replaced with a Volvo cab (ugh!) and with common engines in both trucks, I have to believe this will be a key decision. The more Mack loses its specific identity, the tougher the case for long term survival I'm sure many at Volvo think this is a no brainer and they can easily pick up the Mack volume. IMO, don't bet on it! If Volvo pulls the plug, I have to believe the big winners will be Paccar and F'liner-and in particular Western Star.

Ok guys-so what is H62X program? Never heard that one mentioned on BlueOvalNews. As for the current class 8 market, hopefully if Ford does anything, they will stick to the vocational market. Let Freightliner and Volvo flood the large sleeper market for the Swifts, Cedrons and JB Hunts of the world with their Cascadias and VNs, let Paccar feed the owner operator market with 600 HP "large cars" but have at the rest of the market-namely vocational and regional haul. Just thinking about changes in the last 20 years- or should I say since 1980. Drive I-90 in 1979 and it was one Roadway or CF or Yellow or Carolina after another. And in the case of I-90 in the Northeast, one turnpike double after another. And those big union carrier tractors? Conventional non sleeper Fords, Macks, Whites, Binders etc. Today??- a parade of Cascadia sleepers. And I still say-that too will change as intermodal just continues to grow as the rail infrastructure is improved to eliminate the low bridges that restrict double stack containers and as new trackage is added in the high travel lanes. The 90" BBC linehaul tractor-that was run as a slip seat operation in the 70's/80's has been replaced by the Cascadia sleepers and I say those Cascadias will be replaced by the low cost regional tractor that picks up the box at the intermodal site,and delivers it to the distribution center or end user. No reason why Ford can't be a player in that market-as well as the true class 7/8 vocational business. Hopefully this time they will keep their eye on the ball and not get distracted trying to appeal to everyone and every market.

I'm talking about the 2629. It doesn't have all the puffed out panels and the roof is flat. Downside it has a 6.7 Cummins as apparently the only power plant but it does have a Meritor tandem, and an 8LL Eaton. and I'm not suggesting the 650/750 is the "One Ford" extension-rather I'm saying that some of the Ford Otosan/Ford Brazil engineering gets translated at Avon Lake.

Exactly. that is what I meant by....If you believe in "One Ford" the Ohio investment has to mean something is up.

Yes- the amount of investment is 250 million-which I believe is considerably more than the investment to bring 650/750 in from Bluediamond. Various articles referred to the investment for "new product". That could be just a new exclusive medium/heavy duty cab-which really makes sense as Super Duty at KTP goes to an aluminum cab. Are they going to continue building a steel Super Duty cab just for 650-750? Doesn't make sense to me. And KSC- there is that Heavy cab in Brazil that looks nothing like the big "plastic clad" Turk-more like the old KTP Cargo. If you believe in "One Ford" the Ohio investment has to mean something is up. Plus a lot of money is being spent to upgrade the 6.2 liter gas V-8-also potential good medium duty news.

When you read all the economic news in South America it is a wonder anyone attempts to compete. It is one thing to deal with economic cycles- then add the corruption factor and I say if I were a CEO, would I want to make any kind of significant investment? In particular when you know the Chinese will do anything to gain a foothold.

Barry-this topic could go on forever. Here is mine-yesterday from the cab of Deere and a couple of months ago under the bucket of a 966

Hmn-you sure thats a Binder in back of the LTL? Looks like an old Super Duty fender on that truck

Very nice- does clock work and if so what does it show for mileage? National Guard-kind of like buying a used fire truck -no miles, washed frequently but better than a fire truck- no pump hours on it!

Somali recently fired and won a law suit??? And someone hires this dude???-unless the owner was also a Somali Lets see-triaxle KW about 160,000US?? How hard up can you be to hire someone with a history like this?

Kwhopper of recent vintage-my bet-not only a light but a buzzer. I would imagine his pee in the bottle results were not good!

Nice-and where was this?

Hah! juice brakes-above all make sure they have good chock blocks!