biffidun Posted September 16, 2014 Share Posted September 16, 2014 I've been told my old DM685 needs too much to safety this year, so I'm in the market for a replacement. I'm looking at a 1998 RB688S, but it has 388K miles on it. I use the truck to haul woodchips twice a week to our farm - so low mileage once I have it.The question is, do these trucks need overhauls every 300K miles (like Internationals) ?What should I look for when I go check out the truck? I usually just look for leaks, rust and how it feels when I drive it.Specs are400HP (not sure which engine)8LL22K front44K rearHendricks Rubber block suspension.Thanks for any and all help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobo Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 hey biffidun where are you from? that truck is local to me. it an ex-Rexdale disposel. my 2000 Rb has 970k if your not gonna be pulling a trailer thats all the motor you need, the rears are most likely 4.35, that is a very common spec for an Ontario roll off. my buddy looked at that truck and said its not too bad bobo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biffidun Posted September 17, 2014 Author Share Posted September 17, 2014 Yup, I'm in Ontario. I think we are talking about the same truck. There have been a few of those ex-Rexdale trucks around. I think I will go have a look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_martell Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 They keep their equipment in decent shape for the age. Bobo; where you been hiding ?! 1 Quote Lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigdogtrucker Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 Good looking truck condition wise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james j neiweem Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 That truck is good for a lifetime. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbigrig Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 Rexdale keeps their rolloffs in decent shape. I would be more concerned about engine hours rather then miles. For those who have not operated roll offs in Toronto, Ontario, we overload and work the heck out of those Macks. No scales in Toronto and lots of construction work (full to the brim 20 cubic yard boxes of dirt) is a regular load for those trucks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biffidun Posted September 17, 2014 Author Share Posted September 17, 2014 What would be an acceptable amount of engine hours (assuming they can tell me what they are) ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbigrig Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 Shouldn't matter too much for your intended use. Assuming it's an E-tech being a '98 they get more internal issues the higher the engine hours in comparison to other Mack engines. If it's under 20,000hrs you should be fine. Over that is where things can start happening. It's a rolloff, so lots of revving it to pick up the bin for the hydraulic system. Best to go have a listen to her running for any chirps, squeaks, rattles or abnormal idle issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobo Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 I have over 29,000 hour on my rb 460, front pump pto I seen them go well over 30+ hours, and when we droped pan to change they were like new! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biffidun Posted September 18, 2014 Author Share Posted September 18, 2014 Thanks for the advice guys. I hope to inspect a couple of trucks in the next week. I'll let you know how it goes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_martell Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 There's a guy around the tri cities that has run a 2001 R? since new with an etech and has supposedly (never seen the odometer to confirm) over 1,000,000km (couldn't even guess the hours)....also a roll off and we didn't chat to length about rebuilds etc, but he did say that it has been a very good rig to him....Sad they are thinking about phasing in CNG trucks....he thinks Petes with cummins motors;( Quote Lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biffidun Posted September 19, 2014 Author Share Posted September 19, 2014 Well I've gone and had a look at the truck. The cab doors are a mess (need new locking mechanisms, windows fall down). The center rod (?) that holds the rear suspension beams to the chassis is snapped. Both axles are leaking. Power steering gear box is leaking badly. All of the above is repairable. The big problem was the 8LL. I could hardly drive the thing. I thought it was me so I had the other guy drive it and he had to pull over to get it into gear a couple of times. I think the shift forks are shot. I have no idea what it would cost to repair the trany. I've used 8LLs before and they were WAY tighter than this thing. It all makes me wonder just how many miles are really on the thing.I think I'm going to pass.I might even keep my old beast. "Better the devil you know, than the devil you don't" 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigdogtrucker Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 Sounds like you dodged a bullet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbigrig Posted October 6, 2014 Share Posted October 6, 2014 Roll offs that spend their life hauling bins in Toronto get the snot kicked out of them day in and day out. Glad to hear you went to look first. A fresh coat of paint on an old dog always make me nervous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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