I Love This Truck
Posted on Feb 09, 2008 - 9:40pm by Tim Wylder in Trucks
Can you fall in love with a truck? For years as my over the road career was winding down, I didn’t think so. They all seemed pretty much the same to me. Well not any more! I love this new Lonestar from International! The styling is fantastic and makes me want to go back out on the open road. When my wife heard me say that she got mad as all heck! ( I gave up the open road last August) The specs on this truck show that the fine folks over at International left nothing out on this one.
THE HORSES
Whats under the hood is a big deal to many drivers especially when you are pulling 80000 pounds up and over The Grapevine. You can get either a Cat C15 with horses running from 435 on up to 550, or a Cummins ISX running from 435 to 600 horses. I would imagine that flatbedders who pull heavy haul would opt for the big 600. Imagine how good you would look pulling one of those over-sized Tonka Trucks with this beautiful truck. All that power bolts up to a Fuller 10 speed, other transmissions including heavy duty I would imagine could be special ordered.
FRONT AXLES AND SUSPENSION
There are ten different front axle configurations to fit all you needs. They range from 12,350 pounds all the way up to a Dana Spicer standard track I-beam 14,600 pound heavy duty. there are many options on the front suspension as well with hendrickson mono leaf being the standard up to International multi link front air ride for those of you who want to just glide down the road.
REARS
Put all that power to the ground with a set of Dana-Spicer 46,000 pound drive axles. There were a total of four axle configurations available at press release time and you may be able to custom order something else later but I’m not sure. I couldn’t see a reason to anyway with the quality that They put into their trucks.
GOT CHROME?
How about two 150 gallon polished aluminum fuel tanks and a full set of Goodyears mounted on some 24.5 highly polished aluminum wheels. If I am not mistaken there are two different fuel tank mounting configurations. One under the cab and then another mounted behind the cab, if I am getting this right they have a version with skirts and one without. It doesn’t matter to me because no matter how they do it, it just looks fantastic. This truck is chromed from front to back, so you better get those polishing rags ready and work those kinks out of your shoulders because you are going to want to keep this baby shined up all the time.
POPULAR OPTIONS AND MY THOUGHTS ON THE STYLING
There are some really nice options available as well on this hot new truck. You want some stereo sound? How about a Monsoon Premium Sound System complete with Blue Tooth capability and an optional 11 speaker system with a subwoofer and amplifier. If you have not heard what a Monsoon sound system sounds like, you are missing a lot of clarity in your listening pleasure. You can get the aero mirror package, designed to cut the wind more than a basic west coast mirror. There is a digital vehicle message center, keyless entry system, Frame mounted tool box option, an aero package complete with skirts, roof fairing and cab extenders, unique paint schemes and a Maxxsave onboard APU to keep your idling down to a minimum. I am glad to see someone offering an APU system option that can be installed at the factory. With fuel prices constantly being on the operators mind, an APU is a necessary option for todays driver.
I love this truck! The hood caught my eye first like it did with probably every body else the first time they saw it. The hood lines remind me of a truck from the forty’s. I always long for a simpler time and this new Lonestar is just that ticket. A big chrome bumper, a big chrome grill and styling that takes me back in time. Throw in the fact that International has been known in recent years for their sleeper interiors that look like a custom build, and you now have the total package. I’ll take mine in red please! I would love to drive one of these beauties but there are no dealers close to me that I know of. When I told my wife that I wanted to test drive a Lonestar, she started crying. This here is a man’s truck!
Oh yea. I almost forgot. It has a wood floor! Can you believe that?
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That was my first thought, why now? But the big 2009 pre-buy is coming and no one likes to buy the first of anything. It will be out for a year before 2009, prove itself for a year, get good reviews, have a non-SCR engine, BAM! They’ll go like hotcakes in ‘09. (just my opinion, not like I have crystal ball or an inside source or anything like that).
Cool your jets folks. This bad boy, fully equipped has a MSRP of $130,000.00
I’m wondering if International may have picked the wrong time to debut this beauty.
I priced a 4 axle, T-800 spec’d for heavy haul the other day.
$161,000……..
I’m so depressed.
This may not be the best time for the little guys to be buying new trucks, especially with all of the uncertainty in the next few years. But it’s not impossible either.
If you need a truck and you’ve been smart and have a trade-in plus some cash for a down payment and your pulling loads that make money and not leased to a $1 a mile company, it could work.
And if this truck is built to save money, all you have to do is be smarter than the next guy in making money.
It would absolutely be wonderful to own this truck….IF( a big IF) you could actually make a living with it. O/Os are still working for 2002 wages, truck prices have gone up about 30%. shop rates at all the major companies (Freightliner, International, Peterbilt, Kenworth) have doubled in the last four years, and then, of course, there’s that little problem of fuel.
So word of advice: Unless you just won the lottery and pay cash for this beautiful truck forget turning a profit with it. Another word of advice: If you just won the lottery and you are still thinking about staying in this industry, please seek some help or check yourself into a facility such as Mattawan.
I just saw this truck for the first time today. I’m so busy working I didnt even know that international was coming out with a new one. THIS TRUCK IS GORGEOUS!! It makes me want to get out on the road. I’m buying one!! I can’t wait!! WOW! That’s all I keep saying, is WOW…
Is it in production yet?
this is most beauty full truck i ever see in my live.am 27 years on the road in Europe In the east ,and now hire in North America.International congregationalist whit this most impressed piece of mean machine.This is the truck i gone bay when i become a O/O.
I agree with Jason, it looks like a locomotive on the front. All it needs is a big ol’ cow catcher to move cows (or 4 wheelers) out of the way! (In a kinder, gentler way of course).
Hrm.. It does look pretty sweet, however it gives me an eerie feeling.. it reminds me WAY too much (the front end) of that scary ass truck in Maximum Overdrive, you know, the truck with the clown on the grill. I hate clowns.
That International Lonstar is gorgeous in the pictures. It kind of reminds me of a train from the front. Who ever designed the grill needs to be rewarded with some kind of trophy. I hae not had the pleasure of sitting inside of th Lonestar yet but I hope to soon. I am not an OTR driver anymore, so I will probably never get the chance. But the first driver I see in a truck stop that has one, I am going to casually ask for a tour.
I never found the spec sheet on the apu but it is listed in the options on their website. They call it the Maxxsaver APU. I looked at the website and couldn’t find another reference on it. It is not on the Maxxforce and didn’t see it there either. It may not be in production yet, therefore there not being any specs on it at this time.