Tandem grain trcuk question

[Klause]

Bought a 2005 Freightliner 120 at the RB sale in Saskatoon... put it to work right away pulling superBs.

It has the 450HP Mercedes 460OM engine, and a 12 speed Meritor auto shift.

Bought the auto shift because my wife can't drive a stick.... and it's easier than teaching her (not that she has a hard time learning, BUT...)

You push down on the paddle to shift down, pull to shift up, or in auto mode the computer does it.


Works slick, no trouble coming out of a field...

As far as telescopic hoists... all gravel trailers have em. They work just fine, all you have to do is make sure the packings are tight, or they'll start to leak and then you need to rebuild the seals....

[Jagfarms]

A truck with box and hoist would be handy
around our seed plant.

we have tractor units with std trans and they
pull doepker tridem trailers with 3 hoppers in
middle that work pretty good.


Need a class 1A for tractor trailer not needed for
body job.

Not every one who works on our farm has a 1A .

[farmaholic]

We converted a 2006 Pete 386 (600,000K)
with a large bunk to a tandem. We wanted
pre 2008(?) because we wanted to get
away from all the pollution crap. The
bunk was removed and no frame
lengthening was required because of the
large bunk. The truck came with a 10
speed ultra shift Eaton transmission(no
clutch pedal). The box is 8.5X20 feet
by 65 inches high.

I would have liked a Kenworth, because
they seem to have better clearance.

I decided to stay away from the
telescopic hoists. I think it would be
easier to deal with a scissor lift.

I also decided to stay away from the
Mercedes engine--I settled for a Cat.
Just didn't think Mercedes were common
enough.

So far so good, but it is by no means a
replacement for a truck/trailer unit for
delivering grain to terminals.....

We have sunk a lot of money into this
thing but at least anyone can drive it
at harvest.

Not saying it is right but it is what we
did.......

[Jagfarms]

Klause How do you like the Mercedes?

[JDGreen]

I have a mercedes 450hp in a 2006 freightliner tandem. It tends to run on the hot side and forever cleaning the rads. Neighbor retro fitted his with wide core rads and still has same problem. Pull a tridem pup with that one and handles it nicely with a 10 speed autoshift. Does not pull like a cummins or cat imo. Does not start great in any type of cool weather,and you will be plugging it in sooner than you think. Have not had any problems with it but only has 2400 hrs.

[Klause]

Jag,

Haven't driven it long enough to give you a full report... however, in the 32hrs I've put on it I've really liked it.

(Qualifier here... I've driven semis pulling "B"s in MB OTR, and hauled gravel with Tri end dumps here in SK for ~3yrs on and off)


It has a little less low end torque than a Series 60, but you won't notice it in a tandem setup. The exhaust brake on it works better than any Jake brake I've ever used, and it's quiet so it can stay on all the time. It uses WAY less fuel than a Series 60 Detroit... It's also quieter.

Replaceables are also cheap... did fuel (2), oil (1), air (1) filters... Fuel are $23 and $21, oil is $22, and air is $55 from Freightliner for this truck

Mine doesn't have a block heater, but in -22 it started just fine... we'll be adding a wabaso anyway to it.

Any other Qs, fire away!

[Klause]

Should also say, this truck's got 1.1M KM on it.

[BTO_farmall]

Anyone and I Mean ANYONE Who Doesn't Know How To Drive Stick is Not Competent Enough To Be Driving a Machine of That Size, Stay The F#ck Off The Highway!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ALLFARMER]

1.1 million km's is nothing. Lots of trucks have
over a million miles on em.

I rode around in a neighbor's freightliner with
automatic tranny. He was hauling silage directly
from a sp cutter. Picking up silage on the go was
as easy as driving a car. Once loaded flew across
the field to the gravel road and floored it!! That
truck was gone! No one could come anywhere
close to keeping up with that truck driving a stick.
They also got an extra large hydraulic pump on it
and dumping took only seconds. There are many
good videos on YouTube comparing (side by
side) of various manufacturers automatics.

Why don't guys run teloscopic hoists??? Because
If you don't shut the pump off when it gets to the
top it blows the top off. I was at an alfalfa plant
one night and the guy pulls in and starts dumping
an end dump load. Starts dumping slowly and
decides to get out and walk around. Trailer pole
hoist gets to the top and 7 or 8 sections of pole
nearly shoot thru the top of the trailer. Trailer
frame majorly bent. Trailer was a complete write
off. Sounded like a series of explosions going off!

On most major grain farms a tandem is obsolete.
Tridem 53' trailer or drop the pup from a super b
and deliver with the lead.

[blackpowder]

Good grief BTO. I cut my teeth on a 5X4. Still love it.
Have a Mack 12 for 22 years it's just ok.
My greatest laugh some days is watching them
trying to find reverse, hell it's only got 6 of them.
I'm certain at 48 I'm the youngest person I know
who has ever even heard of double clutching.
When 's the last time you drove a 2 stroke Jimmy?
I love my old trucks, Jake shifting etc.
Tuff but antiques.
Sick and tired of watching anyone under 50 drop
the clutch etc. Newer autos are great, just some
expensive electrical crap. Otherwise hammer down.