What To Do?

[mackdaddy]

My 92 CH has a million one on it. Overall I have done very little to this truck. It is still tight and good looking. I emailed Mack recently about the rawhide and if I could get the MP8 motor in it. No reply so I started to look around. I have been impressed by the dealer coverage Mack is building back up here in the west. The CH pulls a 50 ft traileze lowboy so we would like to get a truck to keep us legal in CA on a lot of the side roads. That is an overall lenght of 65 ft. I spotted a 05 KW with a 475 cat and the small integral sleeper. It gets us close to the mark but not quite. We do like the truck though. I got to feeling so guilty that I finally called the Mack dealer and let the sales person we have known for years in on my needs. His reply was a quick Mack is Volvo and so whatever you seen in Volvo we can do for you in Mack. My guilt was quickly gone and I will now buy based on what I think is the best product that suits our needs. A few years back I would have never even thought twice about buying a Mack. I curently have 3 mid liners an R model and the CH. I am letting the Mack dealer get me a quote on what ever he proposes to fit the need. But I really would prefer to get have a rawhide with the small sleeper and the new motor. I was waiting for the MP10 but now understand that it may be another 2 years before Mack is ready. The code name I heard Mack is using for the truck is the Steamroller. I just can't wait that long.

[Doug Maney]

I just got some inside on the Steamroller, apparently it is big, really big. It appears to be heavy haul / severe service much like the RD-800 Canadian logging trucks or West Virginia coal trucks. Unless they offer some more road freindly components, it appears as if they are targeting house movers. Lets keep our fingers crossed!

[GearheadGrrrl]

Mackdaddy, as a Volvo stockholder let me apologize for the parent company's arrogance. The MP10 has been available in North American Volvos for over a year now, those Volvos use the same frame as a CH, so it should be no problem to fit a CH cab on top and Mack axles. But Noooo... Volvo is keeping the "good stuff" for themselves and keeping Mack out of booming markets like eastern europe.

Despite Volvo's attempt at hobbling the bulldog, a Mack is still the best truck for your job. The spec sheets for a lot of Mack models have mysteriously disappeared from their web page again, but last I remember the Pinacle was available with the Granite chassis' 300 mm. tall frame rails in thicknessess up to 9 mm. Throw in Mack axles, and you've got a heavy hauler with a sleeper option that most competitors can't match. As for engines, the MP8 is more than a match for anything short of the most juiced up 15 litres from Cummins or Cat. Mack has the edge in transmissions too, with exclusive triple countershaft gearboxes including an 8 speed with double lows and 13 and 18 speeds. And of course nobody else offers double reduction rear axles in a highway truck. If you want a short sleeper, Mack offers one and with a sliding 5th wheel you should be legal with that 50 foot lowboy in 65 feet.

If the price is in the same ballpark as KW et al, I'd stick with Mack.

[mudslut28]

I just got some inside on the Steamroller, apparently it is big, really big. It appears to be heavy haul / severe service much like the RD-800 Canadian logging trucks or West Virginia coal trucks. Unless they offer some more road freindly components, it appears as if they are targeting house movers. Lets keep our fingers crossed!

Theres definitely a need here...but after the trashy junk supposedly heavy Granites they have been selling and touting them as the replacement for the rd800 when they are actually a doule frame r model with an extra frame rail. I would say the window of opportunity has passed. I have already seen several of these "trucks" with the frame broke. Complete trash!! Volvo should be thanked for this one as they have just about completely weaned anyone from ever wantin a Mack for off road coal haulage. I mean think about it..how many 07's have you guys seen with the frame plated already? Thanks again Volvo... The price just keeps climbing on the pre-98 RD800's and the DM800's are still bringin strong prices as well. They have allllmost accomplished their goal of destroying the Mack name.

The funny part is the guys around here just bust out laughing when anyone mentions a Volvo. Western Star, International and Kenworth are now the big sellers over here.....how pathetic is that? BTW Im still lookin for a Granite with anything resembling power...they tout these motors as being so strong but they are even in the way of the E7's. Completely gutless on the bottom and a powerband of about 1450-1800 rpm's...but hey they do have the edge on engine brake over the E7's.