Westernstar or Peterbuilt?????????

[Woodhauler]

Having a hard time making up my mind!! 2 trucks in stock local, both with same specs.Been in a star for 8 years,nice truck.. The pete has a smaller cab like my old freightliners did. People tell me pete has a high trade/ resale value.

[snowstorm]

starcar i dont buy the ....oh its a pete its worth more. looking at that pete of steves the inside looks like a chevy pickup

[bushmechanic]

I would go with the Pete over the Star just because the resale valve is top of the scale with the Pete not because there is any difference in the two trucks.What kind of engine/transmission set-up do they have?

[Woodhauler]

starcar i dont buy the ....oh its a pete its worth more. looking at that pete of steves the inside looks like a chevy pickup

The inside is as good as my star, and its all ready for a loader and body. The star needs a tag, air tanks moved and a few other things done. The pete is small inside like my 96 freightliner was.

[Woodhauler]

I would go with the Pete over the Star just because the resale valve is top of the scale with the Pete not because there is any difference in the two trucks.What kind of engine/transmission set-up do they have?

18 speeds , hedrickson 46,000 pound haulmaxx,Same as my star has now. 550 cummins in both.292 in wheelbase on the pete,295 on the star!On the pete loader would be closer to the cab, the star would be like 5 inches father back cause of the stacks,and fuel tank.

[snowstorm]

who has the ws daigle or freightliner?

[Autocar]

Just curious why do they put the loader behind the cab ? Ive always pulled a pup trailer and the loader on the back works great.

[Woodhauler]

who has the ws daigle or freightliner?

Oconnors.

[Bobus2003]

I'd get the Pete.. I drive a '03 Pete 379 for heavy Haul and I love everything about it.. The interior, Dash Guages, Seats.. and the looks.. Plus around here, Petes out number any other make in the woods prolly 3-1.

Just curious why do they put the loader behind the cab ? Ive always pulled a pup trailer and the loader on the back works great.

Thats how all the trucks are setup here, loader at the rear, and a Pup

[bushmechanic]

As a mechanic I always liked the long nosed trucks like the 379 Pete's or the Kenworth W900 because they are a lot easier to work on.The absolute worst trucks are the International's cause over half the engine is in under the cab,hellish to work on.It's all about preference,if I had a choice myself it would be Kenworth. 

[snowstorm]

who has the ws daigle or freightliner?

Oconnors.

they gave billy a new mack to try for a month. tell them you want the same deal.

[Woodhauler]

who has the ws daigle or freightliner?

Oconnors.

they gave billy a new mack to try for a month. tell them you want the same deal.

Don't think that would fly.

[snowstorm]

anyone know who started peterbilt??

[snowstorm]

who has the ws daigle or freightliner?

Oconnors.

they gave billy a new mack to try for a month. tell them you want the same deal.

Don't think that would fly.

my wife just wrote a check for 75 new freightliners   so i guess they werent to impressed with the mack

[snowstorm]

anyone know who started peterbilt??

al peterman          pete and kw are bolth paccar along with daff from holland.

[deastman]

Snowstorm, who bought the 75 new Freightliners? Richard Carrier?

[Woodhauler]

Snowstorm, who bought the 75 new Freightliners? Richard Carrier?

Hartts

[Tree Killer]

I always liked a Western Star,I hav'nt heard anything good about a pete in a while. I think that all the manufactuers arent what they use ta b.

[Maine372]

sounds like the pete is ready to go and the ws would need some modification. plus slightly shorter wheel base and the loader closer to the cab the pete should be marginally more nimble.

gotta vote for the peterbilt

which one has a steers tighter?

[Woodhauler]

I always liked a Western Star,I hav'nt heard anything good about a pete in a while. I think that all the manufactuers arent what they use ta b.

The salesman i bought my star from called yesturday and told me the pete was a heck of a deal! Imagine that from a competing dealership!

[Tree Killer]

I always liked a Western Star,I hav'nt heard anything good about a pete in a while. I think that all the manufactuers arent what they use ta b.

The salesman i bought my star from called yesturday and told me the pete was a heck of a deal! Imagine that from a competing dealership!

ha thats always nice when they do that, ya wonder why they wont match it?

[Woodhauler]

I always liked a Western Star,I hav'nt heard anything good about a pete in a while. I think that all the manufactuers arent what they use ta b.

The salesman i bought my star from called yesturday and told me the pete was a heck of a deal! Imagine that from a competing dealership!

ha thats always nice when they do that, ya wonder why they wont match it?

They don't have a long wheelbase in stock and can't find one!

[deastman]

Got ya, figured out who Billy  was after i made the post, thats a lot of new trucks, never had a western star but i've had two peterbilts haulin wood and always had pretty good luck with them

[Woodhauler]

Got ya, figured out who Billy  was after i made the post, thats a lot of new trucks, never had a western star but i've had two peterbilts haulin wood and always had pretty good luck with them

They must be up near 500 trucks now.

[Tree Killer]

I always liked a Western Star,I hav'nt heard anything good about a pete in a while. I think that all the manufactuers arent what they use ta b.

The salesman i bought my star from called yesturday and told me the pete was a heck of a deal! Imagine that from a competing dealership!

ha thats always nice when they do that, ya wonder why they wont match it?

They don't have a long wheelbase in stock and can't find one!

Whats the wheelbase you run ? Have u tried looking on the internet? Truckpaper.com will let u search for any detail you want.

[Woodhauler]

I always liked a Western Star,I hav'nt heard anything good about a pete in a while. I think that all the manufactuers arent what they use ta b.

The salesman i bought my star from called yesturday and told me the pete was a heck of a deal! Imagine that from a competing dealership!

ha thats always nice when they do that, ya wonder why they wont match it?

They don't have a long wheelbase in stock and can't find one!

Whats the wheelbase you run ? Have u tried looking on the internet? Truckpaper.com will let u search for any detail you want.

290 inch would be the shortest i would go. The pete is 292, the star is 295.

[Tree Killer]

 That lenth wood make for a good self-loader for sure. I guess the Star dealer dos'ent want to sell a truck?  I don't understand dealers these days , they make it difficult to buy what u want.

[Woodhauler]

That lenth wood make for a good self-loader for sure. I guess the Star dealer dos'ent want to sell a truck?  I don't understand dealers these days , they make it difficult to buy what u want.

They want to sell but the one in augusta maine needs air tanks,air dryer,moved and tag axle put on. also when i looked at it today its atleast a foot taller ! I had a hard time reaching the hood to open it. The pete has a tag and needs nothing moved to mount my loader. Could have it on the road in 2 days. I have had 2 generals, 3 New freightliners and 1 new westernstar in my 30 years of trucking. My new plan is to trade every 3 years till i quit hauling wood. I am 50 now so i got a few trucks left in me.

[CTL logger]

I vote western star it's all I've ever owned they were originally built for the woods in Canada. The company that I work for has a bunch of newer Pete's the drivers hate them they're always broke one has 145000 miles the door hinges cracked on both doors dash fell on floor one day window won't work half the time and even the dealer can't figure why the a/c won't work. Star made for logging only truck still built by hand not on an assembly line.

[Norm]

I'm not a Peterbuilt fan but the name will get you a better resale value. They're a good semi but what turns we off about the Pete's is the same about Harley Davidson's....the name.

[Okrafarmer]

Just curious why do they put the loader behind the cab ? Ive always pulled a pup trailer and the loader on the back works great.

Thats how all the trucks are setup here, loader at the rear, and a Pup

Nobody from Maine answered this yet. I'm still waiting to hear what they say. Meanwhile, here's one of the front-mounted loaders, still ticking forty years later and far from home. . . .



 

Since this picture was taken last year, we have built 8 steel stakes for it and done a lot of additional work to it. We use it quite a bit.

My guess about why this style of loader setup is used in Maine: 3 thoughts.

First, probably this is how the first ones were sold, and nobody in Maine likes to change their ways once they get used to something.

Secondly, the roads are barely passable by the truck, adding a pup could be very dangerous?  ???  And have you seen the crooked little muddy landings these fellows have to turn around on? The pup would get bogged down something awful.

Thirdly, a front-mounted loader lets logs of indeterminate length hang off the end. With a little red flag, of course.  ;D

Those may not be the real reasons, just guesses off the top of my head.

[treefarmer87]

go with the peterbuilt, it doesn't need as much as the star. And the resale value is a big +. You have already had a western star, try a peterbuilt now. but its what you want woodhauler, and makes you happy ;)

[Woodhauler]

Just curious why do they put the loader behind the cab ? Ive always pulled a pup trailer and the loader on the back works great.

Thats how all the trucks are setup here, loader at the rear, and a Pup

Nobody from Maine answered this yet. I'm still waiting to hear what they say. Meanwhile, here's one of the front-mounted loaders, still ticking forty years later and far from home. . . .



 

Since this picture was taken last year, we have built 8 steel stakes for it and done a lot of additional work to it. We use it quite a bit.

My guess about why this style of loader setup is used in Maine: 3 thoughts.

First, probably this is how the first ones were sold, and nobody in Maine likes to change their ways once they get used to something.

Secondly, the roads are barely passable by the truck, adding a pup could be very dangerous?  ???  And have you seen the crooked little muddy landings these fellows have to turn around on? The pup would get bogged down something awful.

Thirdly, a front-mounted loader lets logs of indeterminate length hang off the end. With a little red flag, of course.  ;D

Those may not be the real reasons, just guesses off the top of my head.

Weight laws make a pup no good!

[Woodhauler]

I slept somewhat on it and i think i am going to stay with the westernstar if they can get it rweady for thursday noon time. That gives them 3.5 days to do it.

[julio]

i think you are doing the rite thing . Pete have always had wiring problem , and i would stay alway from cat engines

[thecfarm]

I have no idea about trucks, But I do want to see a picture of whatever you buy,please?? Loaded too?

[lumberjack48]

We never pulled a pup trailer, but we always mounted the loader on the back of the truck. You have so much more loading ability with out having to move the truck. The truck rides better when empty, better traction when empty.

Especially if your doing yard work, digging stumps, holes and ect, you have to have the loader mounted on the back. We put many septic tank systems in with our log truck, ditch work, put culverts in, endless use when mounted on the back.

[snowstorm]

almost nobody mounts the loader on the back up here. pretty hard to haul tree length well 25 to 30' wood with it on back. 25 yrs ago a few had them on the rear and pulled a pup. i never could see where a pup was a good idea . if you need to haul more use a trailer and a center mount loader

[loggah]

My Brother has two triaxles ,an International, and a Freightliner,both have rearmount loaders. The reason is there in the tree service business, and they use them to feed their chippers and service their crane trucks.  He has a pup trailer for one of his trucks but hardly ever uses it.The rear mount is also real handy for many other things also like lumberjack said. If you are just plain logging a front mount will let you get more long wood on the truck. Don

[Mark K]

Pups are pretty much standard around here. The mill just bought two new KW's with the 550 cummins and rear mounted serco loaders with pups. No complaints so far. In good wood they can get 6500 ft on doyle scale. Theres a couple guys running hay wagon style pups here but they are a pain to get around. Usually end up skidding them around with the skidder to get them in the landing. Alot of landings cant get a tractor trailer in where a guy with a truck and pup will drop his pup on the road and short haul wood out. We're doing that on the job im on now.

[Woodhauler]

Westernstar it is! Bought it tonite! Its in my driveway as i type!!!!!!!!!!

[Maine372]

are you swapping the loader and bunks?

[JDeere]

Woodhauler,  Good Luck with the new W.Star. Remember we want some pictures when you can get to it.

[sawguy21]

We gotta see this. :D Nothing like a new truck to gladden a man's heart. Here we don't see a lot of rear mount loaders except for specific applications. Too much weight behind the axles cuts payload. Also as snowstorm pointed out, can't haul tree length.

[Bobus2003]

Just curious why do they put the loader behind the cab ? Ive always pulled a pup trailer and the loader on the back works great.

Thats how all the trucks are setup here, loader at the rear, and a Pup

Secondly, the roads are barely passable by the truck, adding a pup could be very dangerous?  ???  And have you seen the crooked little muddy landings these fellows have to turn around on? The pup would get bogged down something awful.

With the Pups we have, They are Split into 2 pieces and loaded on the truck to be unloaded at the landing, so its just a Long wheelbase truck that needs to be turned around... We get them in some tight places around here

[Tree Killer]

Westernstar it is! Bought it tonite! Its in my driveway as i type!!!!!!!!!!

Congrats on the new truck !! Can't wait to see sum pics.  What good is a name like peterbuilt when the truck is no good ?

[Norm]

I can't wait to see it!