Red Horse

"Cat-Navistar". Again everytime I think of it I say-"marriage made in Hell! Both companies created all kinds of bad press with engine issues- and they get together??? Shocker Kevin that the Cat site still mentions the on highway trucks. The one time the name "Cat" didn't work with the loyalists.

Maxi-I'm with you but I think this X12 is too big to stuff into a 750. I do believe its a 12 L designed to compete with 15L engines. What is crazy IMO is the fact that Ford is now using the old Super Duty steel cab for just 650 and 750. No clue as to where those cabs are stamped but they end up at the Ohio plant, along with the aluminum cab that is assembled on the 450-550 chassis that are also built there. All of this suggests to me-I hope- that there will ultimately be a new purpose built cab for 450-750 and select components will also be used to replace the E series cut aways that are still built at Ohio. MAYBE WE WILL SEE SOMETHING THAT WILL COME OUT WHEN THE NEW 7L+ V-8 gas engine comes out as that will be a home run for Ford as there is a big need for a low cost gasoline class 6/7 conventional. And while they are at it maybe time for a tandem as well. there are plenty of applications that need the GVW rating but just don't run the annual mileage to justify the diesel premium.

Isn't the downside of LNG very heavy tanks cutting into payload? (Even heavier than CNG systems)?? As for the cab itself, one of the better looking Euro cabovers IMO.

amen- was it a case of a narrow spec that precluded US firms from competing? If its any consolation, I'm sick of reading on the packaging of a tool I've purchased....." Engineered in US to (fill in the blank) specifications. Made in China". At least these things might have a plate that says-..Engineered in EU (Italy), made in US.!

Well then I stand corrected-it was the "answer" to the Maxidyne-so it was a CT.

I believe the Cummins was known as the PT 270. We needed a quick wreck replacement and found a White 4564 with Velvet Ride, that motor and a Roadranger RT -906. 3 holes, then pull the valve!. Only one I ever saw.

Jim-further trivia-correct me if I'm wrong but I believe the two speed control was not on gear shift but rather was dash mounted to discourage drivers from trying to split gears like a true 5 and 2.

good catch!

so is this the Navistar version? If so looks like they are sticking with old Terrastar cab and only commonality is chassis/power trains???

Surprising. The big driver toward front discharge here? IMO the customer. Once contractors have their first delivery with a front discharge, they don't want a rear discharge unless pour is a "big dump" into a concrete pump or a big form job, much less labor time to place concrete.

thx Kevin-somehow cab looked smaller to me in that shot-but in any case very "aero" and clean vs so many of the others that IMO are not.

Kevin-Now what is this one-? Not the big one due to be introduced in Sept. Never saw this before in any of the Ford world sites???

Kevin, Those conveyors are nice but for sure they can't compete with a front discharge. There are some rear discharge mixers in service that have an aftermarket conveyor system mounted on them and in some cases i'm sure they work well and can eliminate the need for a pump or a lot of hand labor (wheelbarrows, buggies or pulling concrete once in forms) but I'm sure these Liebharrs are costly from a first cost as well as maintenance issue. Front discharge? On many jobs truck gets on site and driver never gets out of cab and he is pouring -unless he has to ad chutes. And if pouring things like piers or individual pads, walls?- driver stays in cab-moves truck and directs chutes accordingly. Working my way through school I wheeled my share of concrete off the back of B-81's, LJ's etc. Would have made my life easier then. I saw Quickfarms comment about So Cal-here in Northeast for sure front discharge rules. Exception might be major cities where so much construction requires pumps. A rear discharge is much cheaper first cost, driver backs up once to pump and load is discharged into hopper. Boston Sand and Gravel is the big dog in Boston and they have plenty of new rear discharge units. As for outfits in outlying areas? Most new units are front discharge and the old DM-600s are the spares!

Kevin- given the fact they are over 20 years old, I still see a good number around here-for sure, plenty of LN-8000 fuel oil trucks-not surprising given the fact IMO they owned the household delivery market here in the Northeast-plus they are parked pretty much for 6 mos. a year. Also plenty of Louisvilles still in construction service around here. As for an evolved HN 80-and I'm thinking vocational-just like the R/RD -they would stand out in a crowd of OTR tractors posing as vocational trucks😎 I do agree with TS7-I can't imagine anyone is waiting for a class 8 cab over from Ford or anyone else-but I do think Ford is missing the boat by not bringing that LCF Cargo here in class 7 or even 8 as a vocational tandem. But I guess I'm living in the past

surface coal? What state?

Makes me wonder why the Europeans haven't discovered front discharge.

Kevin-ok sounds good- I guess I'm thinking worst case where the economy of same glass, floor pans etc would make for the least costly option. But to Maxidyne's point, I'm thinking -again, broken record-with OAP building 450/550 chassis cabs, Ford is shipping aluminum cabs to OAP for those trucks, and steel cabs still in use for 650/750. Should be enough volume to come up with a truly competitive "big truck" cab that serves 450-750, and future "850" tandems. And when the new GM class 4,5,6 hit the market in force with their tilt hoods, unless they are significantly more expensive than the old alligator hood Fords, Ford -and Dodge will be in a dog fight.

Kevin, IMO IF -big IF-they ever decided to get back in the conventional 7/8 market in a serious way, I would hope for a purpose built cab. What benefit is there to these ultra wide cabs with short mirror extensions? Now my B-61 is narrow and confined for sure, but in the old days, my experience with 4000/9000 Whites, Louisvilles, and R models worked well-enough- room all around and great visibility-in particular the Fords and the R models (U and DM's too). And for sure I'm not talking about a "large car" that never sees anything but interstates. I'm talking about the true vocational market. Perhaps the over the road guys like all that space between the side glass and aren't worried about backing into a ready-mix plant that was laid out 60 years ago with a load of bulk cement or an old bulk plant with a load of no.2 fuel. But the true vocational market I think has different needs.

Glad to see they abandoned the " Transformer" look so many "Euro" tractors have (IMO). Be interesting to see what the power trains are-and if this migrates to SA

Kevin, I wonder how they (as well as Ford) can compete in a market that has such low demand figures-at least I think the market is small based on numbers I have seen. Certainly nothing like the US class 7 and 8 numbers right? Or are the safety/environmental compliance regs easy compared to ours that developmental costs are relatively low?

10-4 on the "full time".! And OD, when did you plant that-? March 1st? Then again big difference between VA and MA-think we had more snow in March than Feb! In any case very nice.

I would hope if Ford is contributing to the cost of this training the number would be a lot higher than 40%. What is really sad IMO is when a couple of these political hacks (in particular Bernie) make a lot of noise about every kid's ..."right to a college education" but they never talk about an education in a meaningful occupation where there is a real need.

Amazing what you can do when you have talent!👍

Paul, On Cape all week but Rich will be a good visit..."5500 pick up"??? this a 5500 chassis you put a PU body on??

Blackdog2- where are you on this-guy lives in Cheshire and works in NH!