Heavy Loads

[Jegedillo]

Can't get up a hill with a truck I bought parts for specifically to pull heavy loads and go up hills. The "review" screen before you start a mission couldn't be less helpful. https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198126032047/screenshot/2466363899449658503/
Does yellow when I scroll over heavy loads mean it's good or that it needs to be changed? I feel like actually giving the player information on a review screen is a basic gameplay fundamental devs. Shouldn't be that hard to actually have something to explain to the player what this stuff means.

[RaceChevys-502]

Highest HP engine and lowest gear trans is what I have found pulls the heaviest loads easier. But, there are some hills that are a MF to get up.

[Jegedillo]

Originally posted by RaceChevys-502:

Highest HP engine and lowest gear trans is what I have found pulls the heaviest loads easier. But, there are some hills that are a MF to get up.

So is the yellow text in the screenshot optimal and white is unoptimal? There's a service station right where I accept the mission and have tried getting up the on ramp to the highway with multiple transmissions and multiple engines by reloading my game and trying different configurations. Haven't managed to more than half way up the hill even once.

[RaceChevys-502]

I don't remember really, but looking at that chart you put up looks to me you need as lower differential ratio. 325 not a good one for heavy haul. Also if you can fit an engine with 700 or so HP would help, but I think the biggest problem is the differential. Find an 18 speed, 1'st gear 14.40 or what ever and the lowest differential you can find. You might even have to drop to a 13 speed, depending on what selections you have for the truck. I used to haul a lot of the heaviest highest paying loads across country here until I earned a butt load of money and started buying garages and setting them up with the best drivers, so much money now I just pull for Walmart at night, no traffic..

[Jegedillo]

Originally posted by RaceChevys-502:

I don't remember really, but looking at that chart you put up looks to me you need as lower differential ratio. 325 not a good one for heavy haul. Also if you can fit an engine with 700 or so HP would help, but I think the biggest problem is the differential. Find an 18 speed, 1'st gear 14.40 or what ever and the lowest differential you can find. You might even have to drop to a 13 speed, depending on what selections you have for the truck. I used to haul a lot of the heaviest highest paying loads across country here until I earned a butt load of money and started buying garages and setting them up with the best drivers, so much money now I just pull for Walmart at night, no traffic..

I'll take a look at lower diff ratios and trying to get over 700hp then. Thanks. Don't know why they can't make this stuff more obvious for people that don't really know trucks. Understand it's a sim but it's still a game.

[ttower]

When you hover over the bar for Heavy Cargo, it showing yellow just means it is highlighted. This corresponds to the chart on the right. Anything on the right that is highlighted in yellow shows what is important to increase that statistic. For example, the number of powered axles you have affects your heavy haul, so getting a 6x4 would be better than the 6x2 you have now.

[Jegedillo]

Originally posted by ttower:

When you hover over the bar for Heavy Cargo, it showing yellow just means it is highlighted. This corresponds to the chart on the right. Anything on the right that is highlighted in yellow shows what is important to increase that statistic. For example, the number of powered axles you have affects your heavy haul, so getting a 6x4 would be better than the 6x2 you have now.

Do you know if there's anything that can give you hard numbers? Something like, "You need at least these values to have an optimal/suboptimal setup."

[Microsoft Word 2016]

Originally posted by Jegedillo:

Do you know if there's anything that can give you hard numbers? Something like, "You need at least these values to have an optimal/suboptimal setup."

I mean, it depends on what you're hauling, but I normally set up my trucks so the white bar under "heavy cargo" is full. Right now it's at about half way which is why it can't pull up hills well.

[timothy_gammey]

There is a mod that is called "real Eaton/ Fuller Transmissions" get that. Install the 11spd with the 26.08 first gear ratio, and with a rear end ratio of at least 2.86 (higher numerical is better, but that is the tallest gear I have tried) and literally any engine will move a heavy load. I have used a Caterpillar C7 (310hp/ 900tq) and a Cummins 6.7 (290hp 800tq) and had no issues getting the load moving. Keeping it moving was a completely different story though lol

[McSniperliger]

Your problem is you only have a 6x2 axle configuration. Run either a 6x4 or 8x6 configuration. That will help a lot. The more power and more axles you have pushing you the better. I run a Peterbilt 389 King of the Hill (vanilla) C15 625hp 2050 ft/lbs of torque with the basic 18 speed eaton with no retarder, and the large 8x6 axles, never have any issues.

Get rid of that lift mid axle for actual tandems or tri-powered axles and you should no longer have any issues. I've done heavy haul stuff with the lowest horse power and torque rated engine in game, with a 6x4 and 18 speeds no retarder, doable, but it is a slug fest.

The only real problem you will have with the larger truck is you lack maneuverability for the smaller drop off points. But you'll gain in hill climbs and uneven terrain.

Now the one thing that does not make any sense to me, is why when you put in the highest horsepower and torque rated engine, that the normal freight cargo just falls off a cliff. All you're doing is getting more power to get going from dead stops. Should not affect your ability to move any normal freight.

[ttower]

Originally posted by McSniperliger:

Now the one thing that does not make any sense to me, is why when you put in the highest horsepower and torque rated engine, that the normal freight cargo just falls off a cliff. All you're doing is getting more power to get going from dead stops. Should not affect your ability to move any normal freight.

In that case, it is not an ability issue, but its not ideal. For a normal cargo truck, a lower to mid power engine is better because it is cheaper and more efficient while still being strong enough to move the cargo. For the game, that efficiency doesn't really matter, but that is how it is figured out.

[mystickneon]

You want the higher-numbered-ratio transmissions. It's the number of crankshaft(engine) turns per driveshaft turn. So the higher the number, the "lower" the gear, and more "efficiently" torque is transferred to the wheels. Takes a bit off the top end of speed, though, the higher ratio you go. "Overdrives", the low engine RPM gearing, are usually lower that 1:1; like 1:0.9 or 1:0.8...

Also the above about 6x4's(at minimum) is key. You can get away with a more "road-friendly" setup using that chassis.

[McSniperliger]

Originally posted by RaceChevys-502:

I don't remember really, but looking at that chart you put up looks to me you need as lower differential ratio. 325 not a good one for heavy haul. Also if you can fit an engine with 700 or so HP would help, but I think the biggest problem is the differential. Find an 18 speed, 1'st gear 14.40 or what ever and the lowest differential you can find. You might even have to drop to a 13 speed, depending on what selections you have for the truck. I used to haul a lot of the heaviest highest paying loads across country here until I earned a butt load of money and started buying garages and setting them up with the best drivers, so much money now I just pull for Walmart at night, no traffic..

Largest engine for that is the 605hp 2050ft/lbs Cummins. Can't drop in the Cat C15 King of the Hill unless done with mods. Kind of sucks that these trucks aren't true gliders where we could drop in whatever engine without mods. The truck as configured would technically be correct, the problem is going uphill. If you look at the screenshot you'll see that the truck is configured as a 6x2, 6 axles, 1 lift axle, 1 drive axle. There needs to be two drive axles or three if that truck frame can be fitted like that. Truck doesn't have enough traction to get a heavy load uphill.

You can do heavy haul with the lowest horsepower and torque engine, with an 18 speed, but if you don't at least have two drive axles, good luck getting enough traction to go uphill.

[RaceChevys-502]

I also forgot to mention you should have a twin screw rear, and if tires are a problem there is a DLC for better tires, and a Workshop mod for better tire grip.. Just have to keep switching it around until you get the right combo, it's there. :)

[Cop Unit 12]

Originally posted by McSniperliger:

snip Now the one thing that does not make any sense to me, is why when you put in the highest horsepower and torque rated engine, that the normal freight cargo just falls off a cliff. All you're doing is getting more power to get going from dead stops. Should not affect your ability to move any normal freight.

The normal cargo "stat" is more about fuel efficiency with normal cargo then anything.

As for heavy loads, the only requirement you truly need is a 6x4 transmissions minimum and axle count.

[McSniperliger]

Originally posted by RaceChevys-502:

I also forgot to mention you should have a twin screw rear, and if tires are a problem there is a DLC for better tires, and a Workshop mod for better tire grip.. Just have to keep switching it around until you get the right combo, it's there. :)

I've pretty much written off the tire packs as just a visual aspect and to show off who you prefer as a tire brand. Do they actually have benefits other than just to show off licensing agreements and aesthetics? Because I've been running the vanilla tires and never had really any issue with them. If say the Goodyear tires offer better rain handling conditions (which would be accurate to the real world, some times are better rated for wet conditions than others), is it enough to justify purchasing that tire pack?

Not trying to derail the conversation, but it was a topic brought up that further expansion would please the audience (if only just me lol).