Freightliner Sport Chassis vs 4100 International

[The House]

Looking for input from owners on either the Sport Chassis or 4100 International.

What are you happy about when it comes to the truck?

Is fit & finish up to par?

What do you pull with it?

How is it for stopping power?

What motor did you go with?


Thanks
Mike

[Chief9-4]

I have a 2008 Freightliner with the 330 Hp Cummings. There is plenty of power and average an honest 10 mpg. I am very happy with the way it rides and handles. As far as fit and finish it is very well done. I am towing a 34' 5th wheel weighing in at 9000 lbs on the rear and a pin weight of 2400 lbs. Once i did not notice the trailer plug had come out of couse this was also coming down a 9% grade the truck stopped the trailer without a problem which would not have happened with my 1 ton pickup. I live in the Langley area so if you would like to take a look let me know.

[The House]

Where did you buy your Freightliner? Here locally or in the States?

Do you travel the Coquihalla often? I call it the highway of hills.

[Chief9-4]

I bought it in Phonenix Arizona at the Sport Chassis dealer it was used but only had 13000 miles on it.

I travel the Coquihalla to Calgary at least 2 times per year. Going up the snow shed the truck is in 4th and does about 50 MPH I can go faster but am in no rush. Going down the transmission brake will hold it at what ever speed you want.

I did consider the 400 hp but did not think it was worth the money or fuel economy for the extra power on the hills. The unit also has hydralic brakes which was a choice as my wife would not have to get an air endorsement if she ever had to drive it.

We spent a month in Alaska and the Yukon this year and was very happy with the way it preformed. I never thought it lacked power.

My wife loves the heated air ride seats and the view she has from the cab.

Importing it was a breeze and am happy to help you in that area or anything else you need.

[The House]

Thanks for all the info I really appreciate it.

[randyranger]

I don't know if anyone is still following this, but i too am looking at getting a Freightliner. Not to sure if i will go with Sport Chassis, Chariotrv or other manufacturer. I may get a base modle and get it mod-ed it myself.

So I know that the M2 106 (base chasis) is a pretty good truck for towing and braking and all that, I'm not to woried about fuel either. I would like to hear from other owners how thing like maintenace (i am my own mechanic, but work on ships mostly), handling (backing into smallish provincial park sites), what is their life expectacny milage wise, and licencing (know that i dont nessesarly have to have a comercial licence).

[Shaun and Amy]

I have a 2000 Freightliner Sportchassis that I bought new. I tow a Kountry Aire that ways approx. 23,000 pounds. I love this truck. I have done all the general maintainence on it and have had no issues with it.

They are not much longer then a crew cab dually pickup. So they manuever easily. I've never had an issue because of the truck being too large to get into a spot. It's usually the 40' trailer that's the problem. It's easy to drive and is very comfortable.

Here in MA it's registered as a pickup and with the air over hydrolic breaks, I do not have to have any special license to drive it.

I don't know what the expected mileage life is, but I've read that the CAT engines seem to do better. I have a 300hp CAT in mine and it runs great. Other then the general maintaince, I've only had to replace the exhaust break. After 10 years it siezed up, so I just bolted on a new one.

In my opinion, it's really the only way to go, other then a HDT. I have no complaints.

Good luck,
Shaun

[randyranger]

Thanks for the imput. I'm not quite ready to buy one yet as retirement and fulltiming on the road are a few years of yet, just getting ahead start on my research. I'm lookig forward to getting a MDT one day, in the meentime my curent rig is working out just fine.

[RWeigant]

I have a 07 M-2 with a 250 hp Mercedes. The lower hp only effects me when I start on a long hill. But, it's about the same as my 06 Ford duly w/6 liter engine. In fact I think it goes up hill better. The main thing is not how fast, or how much you can carry, it's how good it is at stoping. I almost hit a car two years ago because I couldn't stop fast enough doing 45mph. The Ford just doesn't have enough weight to hold it on the ground. Also the Ford scared the hell out of me going down long steep hills. I don't think a Diesel should be turning 4k. Now for the gas part. My Ford got 16mpg loose and 8 towing a 18k trailer. The M2 get's 16 loose and we get between 10 or 11 mpg towing. On the freeway we never go more than 62 or 65mph.