LSI

GATR Mack in Cedar Rapids Ia has a Pinnacle with 455hp,12spd M-drive single o.d.with 2:64's.This looks like good gear selection for running 62 to 65 mph with hills and flat ground.whats your opinion?

you would have 11 gears to run direct and 1 o.d. for running lite or mt.Maybe go with 2:50's.

Yeah don't expect much from Pete, kw is better but its still pa car. The newer ISX 13 and 15 Cummins is doing well from what I hear, actually from what I'm hearing they are the best of all of them for issues.

from what I see is the ISX's don't get the fuel milage as good as Detroit or Mack.I want at least 7.5 with 1750ftlb and 455 hp.with direct drive.

I was ready to go and order a new Mack road truck.This post stopped me in my tracks.I don't have many choices left.International-out,Freightliner-out,KW-out,ISX-out,Only left standing is Peterbilt with Paccar and Mack.Now Mack is on the chopping block.

Bottom line.When can we get these over here?

Great feedback

Is a double bunk available on the 70" mid rise Pinnacle sleeper?

I was looking at a new Mack.(road truck)Mack and Freightliner had the best fuel mileage.But after reading about dash problems and door problems,key lock not working on the 2013's,I am having second thoughts.One posting is having problems with several trucks.I really didn't want to go with Freightliner.I may not have a choice.

When the MP's first came out they recomended 5% bio ore less.Has this changed?Most fuel is advertised 5 to 20 %.

Looks good.But when will we get the Scania,Volvo and Renault over here?

Which would be better? I was looking to move my ThermoKing/Isbar from my truck to a new Mack.It may be cheaper to order truck with Mack heater and install the ThermoKing ac only.

several 2012 Macks(day cabs) are having trouble with air conditioners freezing up.Have to turn off for 5 min then it runs ok.There seems to be a real problem with these.Whats your take?

Sharkey Has IH's at Kansas City Ks.terminal.He bought 12 Prostars to evaluate for Kc.The company he aquired years ago at KC had IH'S and he kept them.He bought some small companys recently that had I believe had 4 black Volvo's.KC is Core.He has a Cummins dealership at Hannibal Mo,behind General Mills.He tried to buy the IH dealer in Quincy a few years back but I believe the going price was too high.Jack Sharkey I think is also a lawyer.

Direct top gear has more rwhp and tq the higher the top gear ratio in the trans the lower the torque multiplication. I would build one with a direct top gear 10 spd, MP8 505, and somewhere in the 2.50-2.70 rears. I would be looking for a cruising rpm of about 1400, if you have that kind of engine HP and tq and a direct trans you should get great MPG. I have asked why the Super Econodyne has an OD top gear trans and was told it was because they didn't have a direct. Take two identical trucks same engine same body/frame/weight, put an OD and 3:42 gears in one and a direct and 2:60 gears in the other. The direct truck will pull better and get better MPG because its not turning the drive shaft faster than the input which adds a lot of resistance thus making less rwhp/tq. Make sense? Turn your trans output shaft the same speed as the input or 1:1 direct you make more rwhp/tq, try it in the truck you have now. Take your truck out on the road with an OD trans and run it for a while in direct in most 9/10spds that's one gear down in a 13/18 its one whole gear down in high, keep the rpm down to about 14-1450 I bet it pulls better than in OD at that rpm. Of course at higher speeds you get more aerodynamic drag and rolling resistance but you'll get the basic idea. If you have a hill you go over often that drags you down go ahead and slow down before you start up it and go into direct in most cases you'll pull it out or wait much longer to drop a gear due to the higher rwhp/tq. Oh and for mileage id go with low pro 24.5 tires, 22.5's are great and 11R22.5's s are the same diameter, however the taller the sidewall the more rolling resistance so shorter sidewalls equal better MPG. The short sidewall concept works with low pro 22.5's too but also consider the friction of the differentials,axles and wheel bearings, with taller tires the axles turn slower creating less friction thus more MPG. Ok that's all for tonight I'm out.

Talked to a fleet in Iowa running mp8, 455hp,1760ftlb, M-drive direct,2:69 rears,S40's twin y and they are in the uper 7's.

Mack has a 2:49.Wonder how that would work?Sharkey is running mp7's, 1650ftlb,400hp, with m-drive O.D. and 3:32's and getting 6.8 which doesn't look that good to me.When you under power your fuel goes down as well as power.

The big muffler has something to do with all that emissions crap doesn't it? I was at Utica Mack one time and there was a Vision there that had that same muffler. And I think a Granite plow truck had that muffler. Don't the natural gas powered trucks have them too?

Take a close look.The DPF is still under passenger side.The muffler behind the cab is the DEF mixing chamber.

I wonder whats up with that giant muffler? never seen one like that before......................................Mark

It is the DEF mixing chamber that hangs on the frame rails.I see a lot of these on day cabs.It allows you to have a shorter wheel base.

I am thinking about putting one of these on my new truck so I can keep my wheel base below 224" with 150gal tanks.I need the space for my APU.Instead of being on the frame its located behind cab

great answers !

For sure, ours are geared pretty even, spicer to mack, we try to keep the trucks evenly speced to keep the drivers happy.we try to spec 3.91 ratios

What kind of fuel mileage are you getting?

WE are in the process of delivering 16 2014 CXU613 56" flat tops with MP8-445, 12 speed M-Drive "direct" and 2.64 rear end gears to a tanker fleet. Beautiful trucks - drove one yesterday for about 20 miles - smooth as silk.

I test drove the Super Econodyne at Louisville truck show with a smooth bore tanker loaded.It shifted great.The drivetrain engineer said I should spec with 12spd O.D.with 2:69 rears.My dealer says 12spd O.D. with 3:25 rears.Kevin Rutherford and Bruce say maybe 12spd Direct with 2:50 or 2:59 rears.I would like to run the 505 hp,1760ftlbs and get 7 to 7.5 mpg.I run 62 to 65mph from Il to Columbia SC via Atlanta.I see Freightliner is going with the 12spd auto Direct with 2:50's.

Postings say The Volvo 13 engine has a lot of issues.A lot of problems with EGR system and DPF.I dont see this with Macks.If the systems are the same why doesn't Mack have problems?

Whats the sweet spot on a 2013 505 hp MP8?

Heard on radio today from driver that called in to show with Bendix reps.He said when he came to a stop sign the last 100 feet the brakes would squeal real loud.Bendix said this was caused by new larger drums for new stoping regs.Dealer said to push harder at the end of stop.I have not heard this on the Macks.Bendix said this was a engineering problem.Going with discs will solve this problem.

Mack must be doing something different.Anyone heard anything.I will spec disc brakes to solve this.

I am on a somewhat dedicated run.Central Illinois to SC via Atlanta.Cruise speed is 62 mph.I'm looking at the M drive.Should I go with the Direct or O.D.?With the hills I'm looking at the direct drive.If so which rear end ratio should I go with?I'm going with the 505 hp.My other run is on 2 lane road 55mph from Peoria Il to Toledo OH to Canton MI back to Peoria Il.

My friends are running 2013's at Sharkey.Two of the drivers run dedicated Galesburg Il to Denver.They avg 7.5 to 8.There 455hp,12spd O.D.auto,3:55 rears.Jacabson of DeMoines Ia running 13spd od,3:25 rears.Fleet avg is 7.7 455hp.

Don't know if to go with 12spd od or 12spd direct with 2:66rears.Kevin Rutherford says better mpg with direct

drive.However Mack has program that when you hold foot pedal down 3 seconds you get 200ftlbs more torque.

I currently have 08 International 9200 with 525hp ISX,13spd double od and 3:58 rears and it will hold 45mph on Mt Eagle.Fuel avg is 6.2.I need 7.5 to justify new truck.

Want 2013,505hp,224"wb,auto.Would like to avg 7.5mpg.Whats the rest?My local dealer is not up on the new models.

I run 62 to 65

79000lbs

Run Central Il to Atlanta and SC.and back

want to maintain 45mph on Mt Eagle Tn

I said the same thing then went to work for Comcar industires out of Auburndale,Fl. 62 flat out on the pedal. it sucked. But tricounty it wasn't bad actually. Then I went to work for other people some governed trucks and others not. Last guy I drove for on the last truck he didn't cut it back. all his others where supposed to be 78 Mph but I got them to leave it up to 80.

Now you say you'd never drive a 63 mph truck. I swore that also. Then I became an Owner Op. I rolled at 65 to 75 when I have to go I cruise at 75 to 80. But my normal speed now a days is 55 to 58 sometimes 60 and sometimes 65. I burn a hell of a lot less fuel,My tires and brakes run considerably cooler. and I find I am not as stressed. With the heat now it is no more then 55 and maybe alittle slower. When I can get out of the truck and wipe rubber off the tires you know they are hot. Also I run heavy and do keep up with air pressure as that makes or breaks tires,mileage and a few other things.