Gearing a Truck to haul heavy loads?

[Peves]

I gave my truck the best available Engine and I still get warnings that it's not strong enough to haul heavy trailers. Do I just have to advance farther and unlock new engines to make heavy hauling engines available? I am confused by what I have to do since i'm not a mechanic and the game isn't clear about it.

[Shadow]

You'll always get a warning about making sure your truck can handle heavy loads, even if you have the most powerful engine, best transmission and a 8x6 chassis.

Broadly speaking, you should be good with a 6x4 and a 500 or 600HP or more engine. I've seen people mention they do fine with a 425 - 450HP or so engine, but obviously the more horse power you have, the better off you'll be.

FYI, for transmission, I think the most popular option is the one that gives you 18 gears.

I think you can still generally get away with a weaker truck though, as long as you don't mind going uphill at 4mph.

[Peves]

Thanks!

[luZk]

You will keep getting those warnings even when you have the strongest engine.

It's just a warning, you can do pretty much any job with the smallest engine with the right gearing, the 18 speed. You might have to use diff lock in some situations but its doable even if very very slowly.

[TW]

Transmission needs to be better.

[MagnusA]

Transmission. High enough gear ratio to get low enough gears. The high number in the Transmission Ratio interval. I think many low gears are good too.

You need that to get going from standstill. Sometimes you even need Crawl gears (extra low gears). Forget about high top speed when hauling heavy stuff.

[_KC76_]

Heavy Loads = Gear Low, and Gear many.

Unfortunately, without Mods, you only have the option of the 18 speed transmission (gear many).

The rear differential gearing is coded in to the Transmission files, and you only have one option with the better transmissions= 3.25:1 ratio (or somewhere around that ratio).

For dedicated heavy haul, you would want more like a 3.90:1 or 4.11:1 ratio in the rear diffs (gear low), and most O/O that haul a wide variety of freight opt for something in the 3.50: to 3.70: rear gear ratios .. the 3.25/3.28:1 ratios provided in-game are mostly what would be ordered by large fleet carriers for dedicated low-weight/high-volume freight at the best fuel economy.

[Wille Wilse]

I did a test once with the entry level New Actros. I only changed the gearbox to one with a retarder equipped. So I started a new profile and took a loan as soon as I could to get the before mentioned truck.
Then I finished all Heavy Cargo DLC with that truck with no upgrades. Thats including the super heavy locomotive cargo.
I was at level 7 when I finished. I just did the heavy cargos nothing else.
That little truck made it, it did struggle sometimes cause I did it mostly at the winding roads of Rumania, Bulgaria and so on.

Conclusion: Any truck can do all cargo.
(exception is the old maps picking up heavy cargo at the minings, those are difficult in whatever you use)

[_KC76_]

Originally posted by Wille Wilse:

I did a test once with the entry level New Actros. I only changed the gearbox to one with a retarder equipped. So I started a new profile and took a loan as soon as I could to get the before mentioned truck.
Then I finished all Heavy Cargo DLC with that truck with no upgrades. Thats including the super heavy locomotive cargo.
I was at level 7 when I finished. I just did the heavy cargos nothing else.
That little truck made it, it did struggle sometimes cause I did it mostly at the winding roads of Rumania, Bulgaria and so on.

Conclusion: Any truck can do all cargo.
(exception is the old maps picking up heavy cargo at the minings, those are difficult in whatever you use)

While your point is true and valid .. wrong game.

[luZk]

There is actually I spot I got stuck in with a low hp engine once and had to abandon, but it was before I knew diff lock was a thing. It was at a build site or logging site up north in Montana.

[_KC76_]

Originally posted by luZk:

There is actually I spot I got stuck in with a low hp engine once and had to abandon, but it was before I knew diff lock was a thing. It was at a build site or logging site up north in Montana.

You can also use the (fairly new feature) Air Suspension .. Raise both the front and rear suspension to help lift the trailer off the ground.

[Peves]

What i'm taking from this is "Buy a better transmission" That's the consensus.