Posted 2009-11-05 4:52 PM (#112828 - in reply to #112822) Subject: RE: freightliner
Member
Posts: 26 Location: Kingsland, TX
I know this isn't an M2...but I have a Freightliner FL70, 4 door, CAT 3126 (330hp), 22.5 lopro's, 10spd tranny and 3.73 rears and I get in the 10-12mpg neighborhood running around 65mph (thats where this truck likes to run).
Posted 2009-11-05 4:52 PM (#112829 - in reply to #112822) Subject: RE: freightliner
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Posts: 346
your gonna get 6 to 8 depending on how you drive. 6 to 7 for 75-85, 7 to 8 for 60-70. You only get about 10 unloaded and bobtailed. doesnt matter a whole lot about rear end gear and fuel. gear may help pull if you are heavy. they all burn more fuel than a 3500, but not alot more. my 3500 got same mileage above pulling same trailer.
low gear just easier to gain speed and maybe not loose quiet as much on pulling up hill. anytime truck above 2k rpm's is lower fuel.
Posted 2009-11-05 9:50 PM (#112839 - in reply to #112829) Subject: RE: freightliner
Expert
Posts: 1351 Location: Decatur, Texas
Originally written by threeman on 2009-11-05 4:52 PM
doesnt matter a whole lot about rear end gear and fuel.
I have to ask where you got this information from?
The above items will make a difference on ANY truck! Just for quick proof, we had 2 2005 Dodge's with the same engine but 1 had 4.10 gear the other had 3.73 gears. The truck with 4.10 gear would take off faster and while unloaded it would get around 15 mpg, the other would get almost 20 unloaded. All because it was running LOWER rpms at highway speeds. Lower RPM, better fuel mileage.
Same goes with the M2, if you have one with say 4.30 vs 5.17s, yes the 5.17 is going to have better perfromance in TOWN, but will be gear out on the road meaning unless you like to drive 60 and get 6 to 8 mpg don't buy it. If you dont mind driving normal in town and being able to run with traffic on the road and get over 10 mpg then get something around the 4.30 to 4.44 range. Same goes with transmission, if you have the same truck and gears but 1 has a 5 speed auto and the other has a 6 speed auto, the truck with the 6 speed with get better fuel mileage......
Posted 2009-11-05 10:01 PM (#112841 - in reply to #112822) Subject: RE: freightliner
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Posts: 346
know one in there right mind would buy one of those trucks or probably find a dealer to sell you a 5:xx gear truck. Most will be low 4's to mid 4's. Gear is not going to matter within that ratio.
Posted 2009-11-06 10:44 AM (#112852 - in reply to #112822) Subject: RE: freightliner
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 399 Location: Ottawa, Illinois 61350
My brother runs an FL70 with a Cummins and a 6 spd. He gets better mileage with it than I do with either a 2001 Ford 350 7.3 auto or my 97 Dodge 3500 Cummins auto. He pulls either a triaxle flatbed about 36' long or a 4H large LQ with it. So, I don't beleive that all "baby semi tractors" get poor mileage.
Posted 2009-11-06 12:13 PM (#112857 - in reply to #112822) Subject: RE: freightliner
Location: Central Arkansas
I am getting 10 to 12 mpg on trip average with my Sportchassis pulling a Bloomer 3H MT 17' SW w/slide. It is 35' on the floor and has corian counters, wood floors, wood ceilings with beams, etc.
My M2 is a 05 with a stock CAT engine. It dropped down below 10mpg with this same trailer. Sportchassis installed a new aero turbine muffler system and it boosted her back up to over 10mpg with the trailer. I usually run 70mph on the interstates when the weather and traffic allows it.
A friend of mine says her M2 with the Mercedes is doing a little better than that but she isn't pulling the weight that I am.
Posted 2009-11-06 12:15 PM (#112858 - in reply to #112822) Subject: RE: freightliner
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Posts: 346
I knew you guys would know before I posted probably why I hardly ever reply, and shouldnt have this time. I currently own one now, the second one to be exact neither of which get good fuel mileage. I also stated above 2k rpm they all suck fuel. It doesnt matter what brand, load, or anything else. My 2500 gets crappy mileage above 2k rpms, but you wouldnt want a really tall gear to make it better. I was speaking from experience of actually owning one and or driving others cross country.
Posted 2009-11-06 2:06 PM (#112862 - in reply to #112858) Subject: RE: freightliner
Expert
Posts: 1351 Location: Decatur, Texas
Originally written by threeman on 2009-11-06 12:15 PM
I knew you guys would know before I posted probably why I hardly ever reply, and shouldnt have this time. I currently own one now, the second one to be exact neither of which get good fuel mileage. I also stated above 2k rpm they all suck fuel. It doesnt matter what brand, load, or anything else. My 2500 gets crappy mileage above 2k rpms, but you wouldnt want a really tall gear to make it better. I was speaking from experience of actually owning one and or driving others cross country.
You may need to have your 2500 checked out... My 3500 C/C truck is getting around 15 pulling a Sundowner 8010 3 horse trailer and it has 4.10 gears and runs around 220 to 2300 @70mph...... Unloaded at the same speed I can get around 18..... And yes this is all from experience!
Posted 2009-11-06 2:59 PM (#112864 - in reply to #112863) Subject: RE: freightliner
Expert
Posts: 1351 Location: Decatur, Texas
Originally written by calfroper on 2009-11-06 2:40 PM
What kind of warranty do these trucks come with?
If I remember right, they have a 100-k engine warranty and I think a 3 year 250-k tranny warranty. Do a truck search on here and locate a dealer close to you and they can tell you for sure.
freightliner
