Basic Trucks Are Getting Better Engines, Frames And Suspensions
Heavy goose neck transports, big livestock trailers, flatbeds and dump boxes — the workhorse medium-duty truck has always been versatile. Three of this year’s models are all that and more. The basic trucks are getting better engines, frames and suspensions. And as four-door crew cabs become more popular in this category, some buyers are choosing a customized medium-duty truck equipped with a pickup-style box and fancy trim to let them haul down the highway in style.
International 7300
The tough 215-hp DT466 International engine, full-time 4-wd versatility, and up to a 140-gal. diesel fuel tank make this medium-duty truck a favorite choice for municipal snowplowing and hauling. Transmission options include Allison automatic or up to a 10-speed manual shift.
Farmers sometimes pick up the used plow versions of these trucks at auction, but by that time, wear and tear on the old warhorses can be substantial. A new or slightly used 7300 might be a better choice if you need a reliable truck.
Rear-axle GVWR* rating of 17,000 lbs. plus front-axle rating at 10,000 makes this a Class 7 truck. An optional, 30,000-lb. rear-axle option takes the truck up to Class 8. Or International can de-rate the truck into a Class 5 vehicle to get it below the 26,001-lb. limit for Class B commercial license requirements.
This de-rated option has been popular with buyers who choose to customize the truck into a super “Big Red” pickup truck. Truck Trend magazine may have overstated the case by proclaiming that “the International pickup is back” in its October issue. This customized beast based on a dump truck frame is nothing like the International pickup trucks grandpa drove. But it might be a better alternative to a pricey Class 4 heavy-duty pickup. And it’s sure to be more reliable and useful than a Humvee. On request, International will contract with a third part outfitter that can customize the truck at International’s Garland, TX, assembly plant.
