Western Star and Maxi Cube review

Jason Snell purchased this 4900 Western Star a little over two years ago to join his father’s transport business Snell Trans, after searching trucksales.com.au for a CAT powered unit.

“I thought I’d try and keep up with the big timer,” Jason told us, recounting his decision to join his father’s business.

“Basically we deliver fresh fruit and veggies through the Riverina and the Snowy Mountains regions of NSW each week,” Jason explained. We generally do our pickups out of the Werribee and Dandenong districts of Melbourne over the weekends and make the deliveries during the week.”

In the winter, treacherous icy weather conditions, remote mountain locations and steep gradients are all in a day's work for Snell Trans, in the summer months it’s much the same with heat replacing the icy conditions.

Covering between 160,000 to 190,000 kilometres each year, these trucks are pushed to their limits on the harsh roads through the mountains, where rapid changes in weather are common.

“Our Western Stars are the last of the Canadian models and are a terrific truck to work with. I think when they (Western Stars) came from the Kelowna factory where the people building them had pride in their workmanship, and it shows with the durability of the product.

“They allow us to be reliable as well as delivering prompt service to our customers no matter what the conditions and there’s some steep country up in the Snowy Mountain area," Jason said.

The Western Star’s generous dimensions do not hinder its drivability, according to Jason. "My 4900 is a great all-rounder and the perfect fit for this produce run," he said. "The vision from the cab is surprisingly good for such a big truck. Changing lanes and going around corners is effortless – the steep 'A' pillar provides excellent forward vision.

"Getting in and out of the cab is also a breeze with the well placed foot steps and side hand-holds." In addition to the truck's performance, Jason was very pleased with the ride and handling of the 4900 as well.

A passion for trucks
For the youthful Jason Snell, the risks his father sees in trucks are equally clear but with a younger man’s perspective and an affinity with trucks forged by lifelong familiarity and mechanical qualifications, he’s excited rather than troubled by the prospect of eventually taking over the reins of the entire operation.

While Jason admits to a life long passion with trucks that stems back to hanging around with his father and the trucks he drove since he was able to walk. He concedes that he really cut his teeth in road transport when he went to the Northern Territory to drive cattle roadtrains a few years back.

“That was an education,” Jason recalled. “The conditions trucks operate in up there is a real eye opener. One thing that really stood out was the number of operators with those old Western Star trucks and how reliable they were.

“That’s really what sold me on Western Star trucks was their reliability and if they can keep working in those tough conditions up north then I’m certainly not going to have any trouble with one down here on my bitumen run,” Jason said.

“One thing I will say,” Jason added. “Is keeping our older Western Stars going like a new requires a meticulous maintenance routine and that’s something we trust to Gerry Collet at Gerry's Mechanical Repairs in Wangaratta.

He runs a small workshop and is one the better mechanics in the northeast of Victoria. We have a long term maintenance schedule which means we don’t get nasty surprises or embarrassing breakdowns and that is so important when you’re carry fresh food.”

When it comes to fuel consumption, the Snells have mastered the art. Their produce haulage contract generically claims high fuel consumption due to the stop-start and low gear work. Snell’s Western Stars however, are averaging better than 2.4km/l on their single-trailer operation.   Jason believes that a thorough understanding of the vehicle, its specification and maintaining low engine revs are the keys to better fuel economy. “I drive under the theory where revs are kept down and you get into top gear as quickly as possible,” Jason stated.

“The same goes for climbing hills; you have to let the engine’s torque do the work. For instance if you split a gear or two early in the climb and have the engine revving on the governor then all you’ve done in that case is lose road speed. Essentially, I think it’s just a case of drive a bit steadier.

“Fuel is a large expense, if at the end of the day you’ve poked along and have done all your work and consequently saved half a mile per gallon, then you are a long way in front.”

Maxi-Cube trailers
“Maximising our equipment to the limit is one of our prime focuses at the moment. This Western Star 4900, complete with the new Maxi-Cube Slide-a-Side refrigerated trailer gives approximately a 0.72 tonne payload advantage over some other vehicles that we investigated. While that doesn’t sound like much, at the end of the month all those point sevens add up,” explained Jason.

With so many elements critical to achieving success in our current financial atmosphere, persistently searching for obtainable advantages is the only way to foster significant and sustainable growth. This paradigm for success in mind, Snell Trans opted for Maxi-Cube trailers in preference to any other brand.

“The cost effectiveness and reliability and safety factors are higher on Maxi-Cube trailers due to their choice of component brand equipment. That reassures me that it’s worth the investment,” Jason said.

“I just love the simplicity of the Slide-a-Side with its simple push-button air operated door lifts as well as one handed opening and closing door mechanism,” Jason explained.

The Slide-A-Side’s unique design offers flexibility to operators in short leg, multiple drop environments, such as Snell’s regional runs. It can also dramatically reduce operating costs, through its ease of access from the side or rear in the field or at the dock, with no buckles or curtains to fasten and no gates to worry about.

“It combines the load restraint characteristics of a rigid wall van with the all-round flexibility of a curtain-sider,” Jason added.

When asked if he has any plans to replace his 4900 he concluded by saying he probably wouldn't at this stage. “However if our deliveries continue to grow then I’d certainly be looking to update the fleet.”

Truck Specs:
Make: Western Star
Model: 4900 6x4
Engine: Caterpillar C15
Horsepower: 550 hp (410kW) at1600rpm
Torque: 1850lb/ft (2508Nm) at 1100rpm
Gearbox: Eaton RTLO18918B 18-speed
Front Axle: Meritor FG941
Front Suspension: Taper leaf 7.258T
Steering: TWR TA85
Rear Axles: Meritor RT461-60
Rear Axle Ratio: 4.30
Rear Suspension: Airliner
Main Driveline: Dana Spicer SPL250HD ‘XL’ with half round yokes
Interaxle Driveline: Dana Spicer SPL170 ‘XL’ with half round yokes
Turntable: Jost JSK37 Fifth wheel
Brakes: WABCO Antilock Braking System with traction control
Fuel Tank: Alloy 4 x 473L
Extras: 40” Stratosphere ‘walk-through’ sleeper, CR Turbo 2000 air dryer with heater, Bendix Westinghouse DV-2 auto moisture ejector   Chassis checker plate, Fresh water tank, Ice Pack 2000 bunk air conditioner, Stainless steel high-rise air intakes, straight exhaust stacks, LED lights