GearheadGrrrl Posted June 20, 2011 Share Posted June 20, 2011 Couple Mack advantages I've noticed lately:1. Real world aerodynamics: The so called aero trucks like the ProStar and Cascadia come with flimsey plastic bumpers. After the 1st encounter with a deer, etc. the front of the truck is defiled with a giant "roo bar" in hopes of preventing the next multi thousand dollar repair bill and days out of service waiting for parts. With the big 'ol "roo bar", the truck is no longer very aerodynamic. Mack provides real world aerodynamics in the form of sturdy metal bumpers... Which explains why one doesn't see many "roo bars" on the front of Macks, except for the ones that ply the outback roads. One sees this advantage across the Mack line... While sturdy as all get out, the Granite is much more aerodynamic than KW and Pete's obsolete boxy riveted aluminum cabs.2. Vocational specific models: At the Minnesota ATHS show yesterday the local Navistar dealer displayed a new dump truck. This was what I think they call the "Workstar", and it uses the medium duty cab. This thing had three steering pusher axles and about a 20 foot long box. In Minnesota, the legal GVW on this thing is almost 70,000 pounds. The frame on this thing? Single channel, 5/16" thick at most. Should keep the frame shop busy! With the Granite, even a newby salesperson can't underspec the truck- a 3/8" frame and numerous reinforcements are standard equipment. Compare that to Navistar, Freightliner, KW, or Pete where a dim bulb salesperson can spec an 80,000 GVW construction truck with the same 1/4" single rail frame and 12k/40k axles as an on highway tractor. 3. Engine packaging: As other forum members have noted, Navistar's supposedly simpler emmissions system isn't. Looking at the two trucks Navistar displayed, I can see why technicians have nothing good to say about them. There was a web of wiring and tubing all around the engine that got in the way of everything. It was in fact difficult to see the engine, never mind touch it. The local Mack dealer, Nuss, had a CHN axle forward conventional on display with the hood open, and what a difference it was- All the wiring and piping had been neatly tucked away to provide the best access possible for the technician. And even though it was a tractor, that CHN had more beef than Navistar's not-quite-up-to-the-job dump truck, with a 12 inch tall 5/16" thick frame. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theakerstwo Posted June 21, 2011 Share Posted June 21, 2011 Well sounds like the new Macks is still a work truck. Quote glenn akers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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