Just completed a walk around of a 2007 Freightliner Sport Chassis M2 106 with the MBE900 Mercedes diesel and also did a side by side with a 2006 SportChassis with the Caterpillar C7 motor.
Good move going with the SportChassis! I bought a 2006 with MBE recently and love it Just an FYI.....my 2006 MBE has the engine brake with 3 settings and top if front bumper riser. And not sure you've been told this yet, but the rear axle gets derated from 17,500 to 11,500 when sold to SportChassis for non cdl purpose. My point is your rear axle is really a 17,500 lb axle. These are capable of hauling 45k all combined. PS.....you can get suction cup interior window shades for all 6 windows. TJ
The 2006 cat sport chassis has an exhaust brake, it has nothing to do with the transmission. It is not using the transmission to slow the vehicle. An exhaust brake is a valve that is placed after the turbo. When foot is released from gas with switch on it closes the valve blocking the exhaust flow and building up exhaust back pressure slowing the truck. On the 07 mb sc it actually has a engine brake. An engine brake actually uses exhaust valves in the motor to retard timing and building up compression in the cylinders slowing the truck down. The high low option selects between how many cylinders it’s retarding the exhausts valves in giving you half the braking horsepower, or the full amount of braking horsepower. An engine brake is a lot more effective then an exhaust brake, but and exhaust brake can help get the job done and a lot more quite
Based on my experience in the Army with the Allison Transmission, mentioned around 15 min right before the exhaust brake comment, is that the first display window that displays a 6 constantly is not to indicate a 6 speed but rather to display the current maximum gear ( like when pulling up a grade). The arrow buttons should lower and raise this limit and then the right display does - like you mentioned - show current gear.
I live the Freightliners I enjoy seeing the CAT, but if I was to choose it would be the Mercedes. Only because it's newer. Love it! What kind of trailer was that you had?
So on CGVW and GVHR, I want to haul a gooseneck or a 5th wheel trailer. Mainly for delivering landscaping equipment to sites like skid steers, backhoe, tractors, mini escavator. Is this the truck for me?
So, quick question... what’s your advice for a young couple, full time RVers, looking to upgrade from the RAM 3500 Dually, wanting one of these type of trucks. Best bang for the buck... and will be using for every day driver... Thanks
How big and heavy is the RV your pulling? I would definitely recommend the Freightliner over anything but a Kodiak C4500/C5500 can also handle the job. The nice part about both the trucks is that they still have a good wheelbase. Meaning that when you unhook you can still drive the truck around and park it at restaurants. The Freightliner is a little longer then the Kodiak but manageable. Both truck are easy to drive but the Freightliner is more comfortable with a bigger interior. The main upgrade from a 3500 is the beefy suspension, brakes and real truck tires. But if your RV is smaller (40’ and under), just go get a new Ford F450.
Have you looked at the GM 6500 it is the replacement for the Kodiak. Also there are many youtube channels that have HDT or heavy duty trucks and they have gatherings that new people are welcome to go to and learn about the Medium duty and HDT trucks and see the other 50 or so trucks there. The HDT RV gatherings are east, west and combined.
Don't waste your money. No power, cannot stop as quick as a full size semi and do your homework.... you can buy a used semi cheaper than these. We call them baby trucks., BTW, We have a Freightliner Columbia, 500 HP motor pulling an 18,000 pound Heartland Bighorn. Don't even know it is back there. Total weight for us is 42,000, and 70 feet long.
Did the kodiak not have enough power? Which one is easier to park/back up trailer, m2 or kodiak? Looking at both but leaning towards the M2. Nice trucks.
M2 is the number 1 choice. Wish I would have gone to it sooner. They both have same hp but the M2 has a ton more tq. The kodiak does work well but if your gonna pull real weight the M2 is a lot more stable.
OMG, really. You want a Baby truck just to back up with..... You might rethink even being out there. A full size semi is easier to back up, you can see more and it will pull your trailer better. You only have 300 HP in that M2...really....Semis start at 400 HP up to 600 HP.
Beautiful Freightliners. I love the sport chassis and would love to own one just as a daily driver. I’m into big trucks and semi trucks also. The M2 is my favorite chassis when they changed design in 2004 I think but not sure on that. Do you race two cars, is this why you have the two trucks. I like the cat engine the best.
I bought the two trucks to see which I liked more. CAT or Mercedes. Turns out there’s many differences between the 2006 & 2007 models besides the motor. Most notable is the cab height. The 2007 is taller. Also the 3200 transmission is smoother behind the Mercedes. It’s a louder motor then the CAT but the maintenance intervals are less. I ended up selling the 2006 with CAT. The Mercedes also had less miles.
@@mantovaniracing I am trying to find a brochure on this truck and a website I went to frightliner and they told me that they do not make this type of truck and I want to learn more about it so I can research it more and check with the state of Arkansas see if I need a CDL license or not it is going to be my personal use truck to haul my 5th wheel camper trailer
In 99% of the situations you won’t need a CDL if the truck is registered to you personally to pull your camper and the truck says “not for hire” on it. That’s why you see 110 year old guys driving big Prevost buses. They don’t have CDL’s. But as always, check with your local laws.
You want to have an M2 with only 300 HP...???? My gosh man, semi trucks start at 400 HP up to 600 HP and don't cost you $100,000 for the Baby truck. Get a low mileage big truck.... $20,000 up to $50,000 would get you something to go down the road in style.... and a hell of a lot safer too!!!
Very loud music at start, then very soft voice then loud wind gusts. If you want success with youtube, you need to do better audio - we want to hear what you are saying. Get a wireless lapel mic with wind-sock (Rode or similar)
@@mantovaniracing Good on you! In professional audio, we talk about signal to noise ratio. If the mic is say 6 inches from your mouth, on a Tshirt collar, it should be loud enough over most background noise, so that we hear you. I have subscribed now.
@@mantovaniracing All good, hope that this helps the channel. I used to do corporate video production and am aware of how much work goes into a good video production. My work was done before digital editing came along. If fact you could not edit on a laptop because they had not been invented!
