Comments By Pat M.

This thread might've scared me right out of flatbedding I was thinking of TMC or Maverick some of these pics are overwhelming!

Don't let this tyhread scare you.my path was not typical. I am just as comfortable at 12' wide as I am at 8'6". Just another day to me. I could not do the dock bumping.

Actually there is no clutching when splitting the gears. Run rpms up move the thumb switch forward let off the throttle and then ease back into the throttle. You are now in the next highest gear. I rarely split all the gears, just leave it in low until the last two gears.

The only exception is being loaded heavy. By heavy I mean 130k plus. At 210k I did not split the lower gears until I had to climb a pass. I did split all the upper gears.

There are videos online where you can watch how it is done. Want a real eye opener? Find a video of someone shifting a set of twin sticks.

3 days at the dock, I mean on the dock fishing...

There is also a big difference in suspensions vs a Ford cab chassis. Basing an opinion on one encounter and no bed on the truck? Kinda dumb if you ask me.

I have mostly driven cat motors. One isx. I could get used to it with more time. Now I have a series 60 12.7 Detroit that has it's own characteristics. I am beginning to like this little girl.

13 and 18 speeds seem too complicated for me to learn on. I will stick with the normal 10. How do you shift those split gears like that? Also, how does one shift a "Super 10"?

Lol.. I will not drive a 10 or have one in my trucks. They are actually very easy to drive. Unless I am really heavy or on a grade, I usually only split the top two gears.

The other reason for those chains may be to keep the edges way out on the sides from cracking. Is that right or no, Pat?

Exactly. The load weighs about 30k and is 29 feet long so I need 4 chains for the length. And my comfort. The only reason to hook one chain to the other is to keep the chain pulling straight down over the strongest part of the piece. Chains go through the picking loops and connect together on top too.

I am going to guess that you have never pulled a heavy load or your opinion of CAT would be different. Each has their own characteristics and niche they do better than the other. Detroit is fuel economy. CAT is pulling power. Cummins falls somewhere in the middle.

Now with that said, I have made some changes to mine puts it right up there on power and on top for fuel.

Current load

This is how you get maximum down pressure on double T's

I'll be coming in on 90 east from Wisconsin. Destination is Watervliet, MI. I estimate I'll be hitting the greater Chicago area 0700ish. I know this sucks but I gotta do it. My company routing as well as my RM730 wants me to stay on 90, then up 94.

I'm thinking 90, 290, 355, 80, 294, 94

What say ye, oh wise ones? What would be the least painful route through this lovely area?

A helicopter unless it crashes...

Don't fall for the "we pay for xxxxx" you are the one paying for those "free" items in the form of lower rates. Tricky little buggars they are.