Posted 2007-05-02 4:21 PM (#60323) Subject: Kodiak or Freightliner
Member
Posts: 19
Location: Boone iowa 50036
Could anyone tell me what kind of luck they are having with a Kodiak pulling a big trailer. I am not sure if i should lean toward a Kodiak or a Freightliner.
Posted 2007-05-02 4:25 PM (#60325 - in reply to #60323) Subject: RE: Kodiak or Freightliner
Regular
Posts: 79
Freightliner no question! All you have to do is look at the resale value of Freightliner versus Kodiak. That will answer all of your questions. There is no comparison.
Posted 2007-05-03 8:32 AM (#60350 - in reply to #60323) Subject: RE: Kodiak or Freightliner
Veteran
Posts: 115
I agree, the FL is heads and shoulders above the Kodiak...but it's also quite a bit more $. I have a Kodiak and it handles everything we hook it to with no problem...but....if there hadn't been such a significant difference in $ I'd have the FL instead. The Kodiaks are great trucks and are light years better than a dually for pulling and most importantly - stopping, but they are not on the same level as the FL. The Kodiaks are also known to be problem children, mine's been in and out of the shop SEVERAL times and it only has 32K on it. Most folks add performance chips or mods to them to get more power out of the motor and I think in a lot of cases that can lead to a lot of the problems they have with them (that was the case in my situation anyway). Check out the medium duty thread at www.thedieselplace.com for more info on the Kodiaks.
Posted 2007-05-03 9:23 AM (#60356 - in reply to #60323) Subject: RE: Kodiak or Freightliner
Member
Posts: 11
I just went through this same thing 3 months ago. I ended up with a used Freightliner. What sealed it for me was the fact that the Kodiak 4500 and 5500 had the same motor and transmission that my 3500 had.
Posted 2007-05-04 7:42 AM (#60392 - in reply to #60323) Subject: RE: Kodiak or Freightliner
Veteran
Posts: 246 Location: Northern IN.
Freightshaker, without a doubt! I pull the Bullrack with one everyday, been a good rig, not sayin' that I don't, sometimes wish it were a KW or Pete, but NEVER a Kodiak! matter'n fact, it's about time to go fire that big kitty cat up for the day. Talk to y'all later...
Posted 2007-05-04 8:36 AM (#60394 - in reply to #60323) Subject: RE: Kodiak or Freightliner
Regular
Posts: 79
Didn't have much time to post the other day, but it looks like everyone else mirrored what I was going to say, anyway...
The Kodiak has the same engine and transmission as a one ton truck... the fit and finish of a Freightliner is light years ahead of a Kodiak... the Freightliner is going to last at least twice as long as the Kodiak. The medium duty engine in the Freightliner are million mile engines.
Posted 2007-05-04 9:11 AM (#60400 - in reply to #60323) Subject: RE: Kodiak or Freightliner
Location: Texas
Kodiak- more power, better braking, significantly quieter, only one available with 4 wheel drive, half the price. Sold a 2004.5 for $42,000 with 150,000 miles, paid $48,000 for it new. Check resale value of FL's on this site.
Posted 2007-05-04 12:18 PM (#60404 - in reply to #60323) Subject: RE: Kodiak or Freightliner
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 346
If you do decide to go MDT (FL or Int, etc.) I suggest buying a used one. You can find one a year or so old for at least 30k less than new. Most of the 4500's I looked at over the last month new are 60 to 70k. i bought international 4400 for a tick over that with 6k miles.
Posted 2007-05-04 12:37 PM (#60405 - in reply to #60323) Subject: RE: Kodiak or Freightliner
Regular
Posts: 79
Te Kodiak has more power than a Freightliner? That's a good one! The standard engine on a Kodiak has 300hp and 650ft-lbs of torque. The Freightliner is 300hp and 860ft-lbs of torque... and I'm not even sure if Freightliner hasn't done away with that engine and made the 330hp/1000 the standard engine now as I've not seen a 300/860 for a long time.
None of that even matters, though. The Duramax is a LIGHT DUTY engine. The Mercedes is a MEDIUM DUTY engine. Pulling the same loads, the Freightliner is going to outlast the Kodiak in any situation.
Posted 2007-05-04 1:12 PM (#60407 - in reply to #60404) Subject: RE: Kodiak or Freightliner
Location: Texas
3man, congratulations on your international, they are great trucks. Glad you didn't end up with a valve spring breaking, valve swallowing, injector spitting Mercedes. I'll stick with this FREE LIGHT DUTY Duramax 500 hp/ 1000+ ft/lbs. for awhile. If it blows, I'll replace it and still have money left. I didn't go to LA., made Wildfire in Salado and Tex. championship in SA. then went to an invitational deal in Santa Fe.
Posted 2007-05-04 3:13 PM (#60414 - in reply to #60413) Subject: RE: Kodiak or Freightliner
Location: Texas
I thought you were asking if I went to the USTRC roping in W. Monroe and I just refered to it as La. I did not go, but heard it was plenty tough with a lot of teams.
Posted 2007-05-06 11:09 PM (#60491 - in reply to #60323) Subject: RE: Kodiak or Freightliner
Regular
Posts: 70 Location: Northern, CA
Husband asked me that same question, a year ago. Champagne taste, beer budget. We got a Kodiak and it pulls, without any problems. We are in the Sierras, and don't have any problem with power on mountain roads. Been hauling the LQ, between a thousand and two thousand miles a month. We keep up with the routine maintenance, and no problems. Do carry an extra fuel filter, just in case (I have changed it on the side of the road, once). If money is no object, the FL is nice, but it sure isn't a necessity.
Kodiak or Freightliner
