[dean07]

Hi all, i am thinking of getting out of my sprinter and getting into a straight truck, i would like opions from all straight truck owners as to what to buy thats reliable, and fuel effcient and fixer friendly, i more then likely will be buying something about 2 to 3 years old max, all your input will be well apprciated and thanks in advance!!

[gojack]

The never-ending question...

What are you going to do with this truck?
Lease on OR On Your Own?
Local, Regional, Long Haul?
Heavy Haul?
Air frate?
Live-in-it?
Home every nite?

[buckeyewildman]

i would definitly reccommend you look into a Hino although some people don,t like them i think they are a very fuel efficient and reliable at least from my experience

[Tuckster]

Good thread. Seems most are leary of newer makes and understandably so. I know nothing about Hino. My Kenworth has a cummings 300 which I regard highly. I've heard many many drivers swear by DD. I'd like to hear more about the Mercedes and Hino so everybody please put your 2 cents in.

[geo]

if you buy a used truck, if you can't have the maintance record's to look at don't buy that truck as you want to see what has been done to the unit, and like at it close to

[rdtrpn]

The Hino I drove had no power going up hill. I could be empty doing 55mph on, say a 1% grade and it wouldn't speed up more than a mile or two, EMPTY!! Although when loaded the performance is about the same. I think its just the way they're geared.

[Doggie Daddy]

Originally Posted by rdtrpn

I think its just the way they're geared.

I think it's not enough HP or torque.DD.

[x06col]

Never drove one myself. However, It might just be, the driving versus setting the taterslide, and aiming thing again.

[jaminjim]

And sometimes there is just not enough truck to drive

[garman351]

Originally Posted by dean07

Hi all, i am thinking of getting out of my sprinter and getting into a straight truck, i would like opions from all straight truck owners as to what to buy thats reliable, and fuel effcient and fixer friendly, i more then likely will be buying something about 2 to 3 years old max, all your input will be well apprciated and thanks in advance!!

Dean07:
I would look for the lowest interest rate that is available, = Hino at around 6% compared to Freightliner at around 12% calc that out at $95K big difference

Standard warranty: = Hino 3 year unlimited parts & labor and free towing, compared to Freightliner that you will spend around $4,000 for the same coverage as a Hino.

Fuel Mpg: Our Hino gets just a little over 10 Mph high, average around 9.5 Mpg. It's true they lack the big horse power to climb big hill's (SO-WHAT) to be the first to the top of the hill. But we make it ok and most of the time we carry around 5,000 pound loads so we enjoy the better Mpg than a bigger motor truck, and right now that is awsome for us.

We have 165K trouble free miles on our Hino, except the air conditioner pump just burned out? No big deal our dealer Interstate trucks out of Romulis, Mich. Makes it their priority to get us back on the road ASAP when ever we need anything from them. Dealer support is everything reguardless what you buy and from whom. That good deal don't mean nothing if you cannot get good service & support.

Keep in mind most Companys do not want trucks that are over five years old so be careful on how old a truck is you buy or the interest rate to purchase it and of course miles.

Hino's need a gear change before you buy one they come with a 4.10 gear we had ours changed to a 3.70 gear and buy good big truck seats, and we have been very happy and we will buy another Hino if we can last in this industry with-in the next couple of years.

Garman

[P51bombay]

$95K for a Hino? Seems like you could get a nicely equipped T370 for that kind of cash.

[dhalltoyo]

True.

You'll just spend another 95K keeping it operational.

[garman351]

Originally Posted by P51bombay

$95K for a Hino? Seems like you could get a nicely equipped T370 for that kind of cash.

Last time I remember you purchase options like sleepers, generators and tool boxes etc. Besides the truck & box? You can spend $150K on a Hino if you want it equiped like a pent house suite. (Get-It) Or as low as around $75K it's all part of (WHAT) you want to finance One truck compared to another. My point was comparing interest rates from one truck company to another.

Garman

[garman351]

Originally Posted by dhalltoyo

True.

You'll just spend another 95K keeping it operational.

Well that was an uneducated and bias answer to slam the Hino. We owned a 2000 Freightliner it was an awsome truck, the new ones are shoddy quality and lousy interest rates and expensive service contracts.

I'll stick with our American made Hino that has been a great vehicle going on two years now with no mechanical problems other than our air conditioner pump just burned-up? We called the dealership and when we stopped there we were out in three hours, and we received a loaner vehicle to go eat lunch and the dealership even paid for our lunch. Try that after fighting with your so-called dealership getting approval just to have the service authorized before they will even work on your truck.

Garman

[Tennesseahawk]

I wouldn't suggest Hino to anyone other than a local o/o. That's one city truck that has a helluva time making it a country mile. My nephew drives one, and hates it! He also says Interstate is inept as far as fixing them, always blaming him doing something to cover up their screw-ups.

Better trucks are out there.