Red Horse

I think classic case of corporate infighting. You are right-bizarre is the word. Think of it. How many millions did they spend on the design and as someone previously noted, he saw mules running around as early as 94. Think of the study that went into this BEFORE the huge expenditure was approved. The lesser profitability of heavy trucks was I'm sure a known factor when that decision was made-and understood-not all facets of the business produce the same rate of return. By 98 Jac Nassar was in control and doing all sorts of stupid stuff-like buying junkyards so.."we can study parts failures"- etc etc. And for sure there was a faction by then that looked at only one thing-the profitability of every vehicle. Not a bad thing-but it is a lot more complicated than that I'm sure. And recognized and accepted when HN-80 was authorized. Had Jac not have been on the throne at that point, my bet is Ford would still be cranking out big trucks in Louisville.

Wow- he should make them for the US. How many Sterlings still running around here. If the economics can work with the Aussie Sterling population, this should be a home run in the US

KSC I would hope that these guys have recruited someone like you who clearly understands how the old Autocar and OLD Mack as well did so well when it came to the heavy vocational business. It is one thing to have good engineers who understand for example the meaning of RBM when it comes to frames etc etc. It is another to market the engineers work. I see so much evidence today that most of the truck manufacturers are clueless when it comes to marketing.

Kevin - good history review-can never keep all the players straight! Thx

Does anyone offer rails that are over 120,000 PSI? And I'm not talking about some one of a kind Paccar. I'm talking about a true "stock production line option". Nothing like a heavy single channel frame when the in service years accumulate in snow country!

Kevin, What is the rating of that tandem- either I'm blind or the spec does not give it. And when you say proprietary, they actually designed it and build it or it is someone eles they produce under license?

Thx Kevin-did not know Bendix was in the cab business- this is a 2008 article and I thought the Autocar Expediter used the old White LCF cab. They still using that cab?

Likewise-if its vocational no need for aero-and besides, all that plastic fairing shit gets ripped off when you back into the job site that is half cleared of brush -trees😎

I see more International HX in that cab. How about it KSC- are the International cabs done by an outside builder? as for the grill IMO I think too much 40's A-car. Square that up a little and its looking like a true A-car! And let's face it-this thing is going to be a true vocational truck I would imagine so aero is the least of the attributes they would have to be pushing. Nuts and Bolts A-car toughness is what will sell. As well as simplicity.

I think the power train was getting a bit tired. But I hear you-when you listen to the horror stories today with new stuff, I always say, if you have old solid iron, put the money in that and you will be ahead of the game. In particular old Macks with true Mack power trains.

Joe-So this is start of a vinyl liner pool and you pour all around exterior perimeter to lock it in in addition to helicals with turn buckles?

LTS with spokes to boot! -and like 46 rears?

????either wrong caption or wrong picture. Looks like a Value Liner to me.

Well I went to my B model "Operation and Maintenance Manual" . No publication date but it covers, B, G, H and N models so my guess is late fifties. Two Mack Branches in CA- one in LA at 2001 S. Alameda St. and one in SF at 1745 Folsom. Again these were Branches so there could have been Mack dealers in the state

Got it. Speaking of that I was talking to the commercial/municpal mgr this AM at a local Ford store. He has done very well with DPWs using 550's and there is a lot of interest in the new F-600 for wing applications. Apparently while they liked the 550, the thought process is same truck as 550 but with heavier axles.

How can you say it is NOT the current product? They are not in class 8, their class 7 has no options to speak of, and no tandem. Class 5 and down they do okay, but even there, with the new GM/Navistar JV trucks, the competition just got a lot tougher. No doubt the competition is good- but let's face it, Ford is a "no show" today . Daimler bought a lot of market share for 300 mil when they bought Ford's heavy truck business.

Hah-well further to this, I'm overseeing a job at my homeowners association tennis courts-ripping up asphalt. owner/op backs in with a beautiful new WS (4700?). So I say to guy, "Nice truck-but I hate Freightlner-I'm an old Mack- Ford guy". He says I'm an old Ford guy too that is what this replaced - we talk some more and I pull up this picture from my I-phone. that I took two years ago--his old truck-Cat powered LT-9000

Ouch-so I would guess someone on the line failed to put a key zip tie in place? did they offer you an explanation at least? And maybe X hours of free service?

Hah- I was always of belief when you hit a deer, cow etc less chance you lost control as cheesy bumper would not be jammed into front tire Probably all of above were contributory reasons.

thx Jim & Hayseed

Beauty-and what did that have for power??

Nice LTL's but is it my imagination or are those cabs wider than the versions we had in US? And are those real two piece windshields?

Nice Jim-this a Nortrax site?

And in construction, heavy haul, etc etc.🙄

Right-and I dont see how those economics work. Another disruption to the Cummins production line I would imagine to paint them silver and tweak them however Paccar wants? takes me back to the late 60's when Cat designed the 3208-with I believe some Ford money??-and it started life as a Ford exclusive. But this is different. International is taking those same engines and sticking them in the MV-red color and all I believe. I would have to think they are getting a better price than Paccar. seems like a Hollywood movie set to me....open the door and there is nothing in back of it🙄