I Can’t Believe I Just Towed 125,000 Pounds: This Is What It’s Like To Tow Super Heavy!

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( www.tfltruck.com ) I put the new Western Star 49X to the ultimate test! This "big red" rig weighs about 125,000 lbs all together! Here are all the new features and adaptive cruise demonstrations!
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#WesternStar #49X #HeavyHauler

[@arnoldis24]

Hey, that's what I do for a living. Cool stuff.

[@13x]

$150k, so about the same as a normal pickup truck at this point?

[@Parker53151]

Two words: Ike Gauntlet. Also, Tommy should buy a used 30 year old tractor and compare it to a new one.

[@eligreen9969]

I agree

[@flight2k5]

Light duty diesel owners be like “my truck can tow that”

[@Ethan-rg8py]

My truck could pull that backhoe and roller. Because that load isn’t even close to 125,000 lbs

[@flight2k5]

@@Ethan-rg8py I’m sure it could 🤣😂

[@Ethan-rg8py]

@@flight2k5 😂😂seriously though, that backhoe weights around 17,000lbs Ive pulled a backhoe plenty and the roller another 11,000lbs. I seriously could pull it

[@evillou94]

@@Ethan-rg8py Would it stop as quick as a semi tho?

[@jacehiggs3637]

@@Ethan-rg8py pulling is one thing, controlling, stopping, and maneuvering it is another. Sorry but that 50k lb load is going to wear the pants in the relationship between it and your 9k lb truck. Its an uncomfortable feeling when your load is in control not your truck. Even more frightening people like you are out there thinking you're in control in that scenario.

[@haulin-rick642]

As a lowboy driver for a paving company, a backhoe and grade roller arent putting you anywhere near 125,000 lbs gross.

[@Ethan-rg8py]

Thats what I said

[@haulin-rick642]

@Akira S he’d have to weigh probably 35000 lbs to make it that heavy

[@maxracingteam23]

@@haulin-rick642 that’s exactly what I was thinking! I bet they are around 95,000 lbs gross.

[@haulin-rick642]

@@maxracingteam23 really not trying to say anyone is clickbaiting, someone may just not know what equipment weighs.

[@fewworddotrick]

@@maxracingteam23 yeah you can be pretty liberal in counting that up and still not come over 100k

[@jasoncook2207]

I like how you can remove the switches without tearing apart the whole dash. That is an awesome time saver

[@bradcoddington1679]

That truck and load is no where near 125k. The 125k is the gvwr of what it's capable of doing not how much it's weighing as shown. With that roller and backhoe your probably right about 80k

[@Ethan-rg8py]

Not even that. Id say around 60,000lbs

[@Memeteam903]

Andre is in the big time. I still remember him being the token Russian checking brake temps on the IKE.

[@jakes5530]

Andre is the best presenter on the TFL team. He really knows his stuff when it comes to pickup trucks but doesnt come across as condescending to his co-workers who may not know as much

[@tuurd]

Detroit Assurance is garbage. All of that crap is guaranteeing the industry is overcome by steering wheel holders and forcing actual drivers out of the business. There are some features that could be useful, but being an "all or nothing" system that can't even be disabled makes it garbage.

[@Ethan-rg8py]

Yup, I’m 18 but I’ve been around trucks my whole life. All the guys who taught me pulled bull wagons. And I hate the way things are going. Im about to get an 05 pete long nose with a cat

[@bradcoddington1679]

Yep I agree with you Big Terry there are some things that are good about these systems but they have way too many bad things about them like slamming on the breaks when someone wip's in front of you and the system decides to slam the breaks on in inclement weather and you jackknife because of it.

[@isaacwannebo8144]

That is not even close to 125000. More like 80000.

[@13x]

That left/right "rumble strip" sound is a really great way to do lane departure warnings.

[@flight2k5]

They don’t have rumble strips on the inside of the lane

[@tuurd]

@@flight2k5 the hell they don't.

[@flight2k5]

@@tuurd not on any highway I’ve driven on 🤣😂

[@sking2173]

@@flight2k5 - So since you’ve never seen it, it doesn’t exist ??

[@tuurd]

@@flight2k5 well you clearly don't cover the ground I do as a trucker, because most interstates and a lot of the newer stretches of US routes have them.

[@stephenwells2464]

Braking system is cool but at the same time really wanted to see it blow through that foam car

[@steveyork8069]

That must be on e heavy truck and trailer because that backhoe and roller are only go8ng to weigh 42,000lbs at most.

[@Ethan-rg8py]

28,000

[@clapanse]

@@Ethan-rg8py Nah, that roller is about 19k and that backhoe is 15k or so, so that's ~34k or so.

[@Ethan-rg8py]

@@clapanse thar roller does not weight 19k

[@Ethan-rg8py]

@@clapanse 14k most.

[@clapanse]

@@Ethan-rg8py I looked up the model number, and yes it does

[@nilsjohansson9739]

Give me a series 60 and a 13 speed any day. I know this is a heavy hauler, but yowsa, is that a ton of sensors and computers! That's just asking for trouble if you ask me.

[@xpatrick32x]

Definitely wouldn't want to pull steel coils with this truck. Someone cuts you off you're getting rolled over with your coil!

[@coachdavis799]

You can get the package without all those sensors.

[@theworldaccordingtochris4370]

Nice looking truck but I wish they'd have updated the dashboard. Volvo do a 16L inline six with 750hp and over 2,600lbs ft of torque and Scania are releasing a 16.4L V8 with 770hp and over 2,700lbs ft of torque next year in Europe.

[@patmason7276]

Glad to see them adding safety features on big rigs. Another good one Andre.

[@Ethan-rg8py]

Not many truckers are

[@dant387]

It's the most annoying feature on planet earth

[@Zack_-st3se]

Without weight tickets proving your 125,000 on only 6 axles is a little unbelievable considering your drop isn't down and you should probably have a booster and jeep for your lowboy.

[@robertgunnoe3099]

Yep, There is no way that load is 125k The Dirt Roller on the Front is 17K Max AND Max weight on the Deere Backhoe is 15K and Even if the Truck is Double Framed which it probably is... Truck and Trailer Probably not over 50K .... so your around 80-82K

[@jedironin380]

So I guess Andre finally got his CDL? I know he was working on it. Congratulations, Andre!

[@ConvoyBebop]

That would be cool if he did, this whole video was taken at what appears to be a testing facility

[@TFLtruck]

This is Andre. I plan to have a CDL class A with air brakes in January. This video was filmed at a private Western Star testing facility.

[@jacehiggs3637]

@@TFLtruck you got this Andre! Passing the written test is the hardest part of it. Pre trip test just narrate what you see to the instructor. Skills test just take your time and if they give you say 2 pull forwards without docking you, USE THEM! After that, commentary drive in your head on the road portion, float the gears by sound and you'll pass with flying colors.

[@Ethan-rg8py]

That is not 125,000 pounds no way

[@JonBecker81]

😂. Yeah I called bull💩 on that the second I saw it. The load maybe weighs around 29k lbs so that would mean the trailer and truck empty would weigh 96k lbs which is about 16k lbs overweight, EMPTY! They’d need an overweight permit just for the truck and trailer.

[@thunderroad7289]

Wait till the after treatment starts failing. These new trucks are money makers for the stealerships and mechanics and sorry no way that is 125 thousand pounds . I don’t think it’s even 80 thousand gross

[@americansmark]

Keep these reviews up. I love seeing how far my industry has come in the last decade.

[@sierravortec2494]

The shop I work at has Kenworths with blind spot monitoring and all that crap, they are a nightmare of electrical issues constant plaguing the fleet

[@davegriffin9083]

That stuff is pretty nifty but, I'd rather be the one driving the truck.

[@joewilliams8219]

These newer trucks are impossible to sleep in while team driving. All of the bell, buzzers, alarms, imitation rumble stripes are there for the company that forces the driver to work in these over sensitive tractors. I'm a driver and when the electrical problems start there's no fix while you're on the road. I've been braked checked by a owl one night, and the tractor slams on the brakes at 68mph, on a partially wet road. I miss being the truck driver and selecting my own gears for the conditions that my own eyes see and my senses feel. Can't wait to retire from this BS. Look up "Alarm Fatigue"! LET THE DRIVER DRIVE!!!

[@admranger]

Owls be like that. They only come out at night. Creepy.

[@MTCKIE68]

First off you didn't tow 125000 lbs. You might have drove it but I still don't think that's right.

[@andybrooks4070]

Some people may not be so impressed by the output numbers of some of these big ol diesels but your making that 1800+ lb. ft. at no more than 700rpm and your getting at least 800k+miles out of the engine

[@thunderroad7289]

800 thousand? You are really Lucky if you are getting that .I have got 3 ISX 15 liter engines and not one of them made it to 700 thousand before having to be rebuilt.. I miss the old none egr no after treatment engines where a man could easily get a million miles are more

[@andybrooks4070]

@@thunderroad7289 Yea back in the day with the 3406e's and N14

[@Mr5083]

It’s July 2024 That Western Star Tractor Shown Here is Beautiful and Cost Much More Than $150,000

[@Snowcatsrt]

I don't even need one but I am watching anyways

[@smokeu600]

As a truck driver myself, all these nannies would bug me.

[@1coolvideo]

Apparently it’s needed considering all the rigs I’ve seen in ditch lately.

[@The101Point1]

All you have to do is pull the fuse that's what I do and some of them you can turn off

[@brandonman2020]

@@1coolvideo better training is needed for that, Lane departure & emergency braking isn't going to stop someone doing 75mph in a whiteout

[@jimdownard7739]

Not to burst a hype bubble or anything here, but the Deere 310SK and Dynapac CA152 both together total around 31,000#. Now that tri-axle lowboy is possibly around 30-35k. Conclusion is that must be one heavy ass tractor. I’m sure with the heavy specs, the cheater axle and it’s likely double frame I’m sure it’s not light, but it’s not going to weigh 60,000#. I’m betting Andre meant to title this video as “I drive a truck that is capable of 125,000# gross”.

[@hall0341]

He put that because the guy riding with him told him they were at 125k @5:45

[@bradcoddington1679]

The blind leading the blind lol

[@hall0341]

@@bradcoddington1679 consider my comment being the blind pointing out the blind leading the blind. Lol, I wouldnt have caught that thing was no where near 125k if I had not seen Jim's comment.

[@lanceripplinger8352]

That automatic brake test gets the heart pounding! Great job, Andre! 👍

[@duggydo]

If we guess Andre’s correct weight, do we get a TFL hat?

[@alphaares6027]

Lol

[@yannisgouras4482]

I drive a truck that's got most of these safety features on here they are annoying as hell. The lane departure warning goes off while I'm still in my lane in the middle of my lane not departing the lane. The distance monitoring system does not only trigger for cars that are in front of me but also Triggers on cars that are in the lanes next to me so if I'm in the center lane going 68 miles an hour and I come up on a car that's in the right lane going 60 it will start to slow my truck down to 60 as it that car is in front of me. If I ever buy my own truck I'm either going to get one that doesn't have these features or I'm going to get them all disabled.

[@andreychuprin7365]

Great review as always, but I'll stick to my 379 with a ole cat in it and 13 speed, just can't get past the looks of new trucks. I guess I'm just too old school lol.

[@kenhorton3482]

Your lucky if total weight was 78000lbs sorry that's what I do for a living, and you have to be good at it to stop getting over weight tickets

[@JeepAndThings]

My Uncle was an independent operator. Probably from the 70's though the early 2000's. During his time he had all kinds of trucks, but the last few were Western Stars. They were his favorites.

[@ALMX5DP]

Women make up a small but growing percentage of truck drivers (3.5M as of 2018). Don’t leave them out Andre, be encouraging of everyone if they have passion for trucks! :)

[@LozzyTheTransporter]

Yes this is awesome my favourite truck channel finally reviewing the big stuff 💪

[@wesleylimtiaco2422]

Badass rig, but the auto-braking only helps you to hit the car in front softly? Call me crazy, but I would prefer to not hit the car at all.

[@winman1234]

I'm trucker and it's not dream job

[@bradcoddington1679]

Yea more like a nightmare you never wake up from LOL

[@mikkejalonen9050]

I think he ment when u are a kid.

[@michaelchristenbury552]

This truck almost makes me want to start driving again!

[@martiniv8924]

Middle East = no enforced weight limits or speed limiters, so you’ll find the roads full of Semi / Artic trailers grossing 100+ tons and traveling at 120Kmph/70mph ... Stopping is another matter 🙈

[@BigInjun05]

And to think its about 2.4 times the size of the powerstroke with only 125 more horsepower and almost double the torque. Built for longevity. This engine is easily capable of 800-1000hp and 3000 ft lbs. What a rig.

[@benilk5716]

Hey Andre, can you make a comparison between the freightliner and volvo trucks?

[@donleamon8653]

Ask Andre, he is the one into the class 8 trucks and I'm sure is the primary driver of this TFL channel...

[@TFLtruck]

We can if you guys find it interesting.

[@bradcoddington1679]

@@TFLtruck Show real quality trucks like Kenworth and Peterbilts. Volvo and Freightliners are throw away trucks.

[@benilk5716]

The Fast Lane Truck absolutely! This is great content!

[@MultiHondaa]

I just purchased a 2022 49x. I'm loving it.

[@alphaares6027]

Its a semi truck what did you expect!!😂😂

[@CathodeRayNipplez]

Welcome to everyday Australian grocery trucks. Heavy here means something completely different.

[@CathodeRayNipplez]

@Me. Me Hahahah true that for the 300,000 pound 175 foot road trains but all our interstate rigs are 85 foot 100,000 pound B-Doubles that get thru the mountains just fine 😄

[@jakes5530]

More big rig content would be cool -- it's fun to learn about something new. There aren't many channels with informational videos like this about semi trucks.

[@LifeWithChase]

I don't know what lb scale ya'll are using but that isn't anywhere near 125,000lbs Truck and detach trailer should be around 38,000lbs backhoe about 17,000lbs, dynapac probably 25,000lbs. Looks like pretty close to legal load to me 80,000 to 85,000lbs ish

[@MrWiseinheart]

Love the design of the truck looks really good👍👍

[@AnontheGOAT]

"I gained some weight recently, but I'm still under 300lbs" - so 299 then?

[@jasonlarsen3515]

In the next video Andre visits a Flying J and picks out a lot lizard

[@fletch4813]

Damn I want to buy this rig and im not even a CDL

[@joeychaseable]

Definitely need a "BIG Truck" Auction site for semi trucks. Also.... An auction for just Van life/overland vehicles. Ya can make the check for my ideals payable to Stan Chase Fort Wayne, Indiana.... Cha-Ching!?! Or since I'm currently laid off you could simply offer me a Job....

[@DODGEDETROIT]

Great review, can TFL do this more often? Greetings from the Netherlands

[@arbiter1]

350 lbs isn't really that much on those trucks.

[@FireHawkGaming]

Trucks/Lorrys in the UK need the blind spot tech big time. Twice I nearly got taken out by some doofus "Proffesional driver" in a HGV not checking his bloody mirrors, and I am far from the only one.

[@s1283]

Welcome to club heavy! I only tow that heavy for the Guard when I’m on duty. Usually we pack our LET and 40ton low boy with a cat d7 and an up armored humvee or roller or something else that fits lol.

[@ECIDtrucket]

I haul 20 foot containers in b train configuration 100k cargo only..trailers are around 16k. I'm grossing 130k pounds with a 2007 Columbia. Detroit S60, 18 speed transmission...off course a 49x would be awesome.

[@blueryxfalls7949]

good guy andre

[@haroldgupwell2868]

I'm only asking because we pull 170 - 220 tonnes over here an that's just normal every day trucking , I dont think Detroit's motors can handle pulling that type of weight, and AUTO!!!! nope definitely. Prefer Cummings or Cat motors any day of the week

[@aaronbritt2025]

I don't know how I feel about these newer trucks going to automatics. On one hand it allows for things like smart cruise control, but on the other, it lowers the bar for the amount of skill and training required to drive a truck.

[@MyWatchIsEnded]

The truck I'm laying in right now as I type is a 2020 Volvo VNL 760 tractor with a Volvo D13 13-liter 6-cylinder engine with 455-hp/1,850-ft lb torque mated to a Volvo "iShift" 12-speed automated manual transmission and driven through a 2.64:1 differential. Max load tonnage on the two drive wheel axles is 45,000lbs and the max weight on the steering axle is 13,000lbs. The truck is rated to haul at least 120,000lbs in non mountainous conditions. Currently at a weight total of 68,000lbs on my way from Tennessee to Washington state.

[@rssdefensecorp8756]

Where is he pulling out the 125K lbs out of CA152 weight. Is 18K lbs the 310sk weight Is 20K pounds that’s 38K lbs. Truck and Tariler may be 35K lbs that’s under 100K 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬

[@joedoakes8307]

ALL this technology , when it MALfunctions is EXtremely expensive to FIX ! SO , how long are the Mfgers Warranties on the major component groups ?

[@JonBecker81]

That truck does not weigh 125k lbs. What kind of bull💩 is that??. 😂 that roller is like 16k and the backhoe is around 13k. So that means the truck and lowboy alone would weigh 96,000 lbs which would require an overweight permit just for the truck and empty trailer. Plus no company in their right mind would let an inexperienced Andre drive a truck grossing 125k lbs even on closed roads.

[@americansmark]

Heavy haul is the one thing I haven't done. I've driven a tanker, hazmat, flatbed, reefer, dry van, droondeck, and a double drop like this trailer, but I never fotntonhaulnwide or heavy. I bet that truck is a beast

[@Achilliez]

That’s cute, we would let our kids drive something that little here in Australia…. Also a Volvo FH16 would wipe the floor with that thing in terms of acceleration. Although I do like the look of the truck. It’s also good to see new trucks coming out 👍🏻👍🏻

[@brianaustin6184]

IMO the whole rumble stripe sound I’d annoying. Mine beats threw the speaker which being 6’6 is right in my ear lol,besides that when I pass other vehicles and trucks I move over to the edge of the lane to provide more space between me and other vehicles,simply being close to it sets it off which can be annoying when you run 700 miles a day. Adaptive cruise,is okay if somebody cuts me off the truck will beep loudly as/or brake hard like in the video.very annoying lol Almost everything showed here has been in class 8 rigs for the last 5+ years. A lot of technology in pedestrian vehicles were in trucks first.

[@deere7227]

Call BS on weight. Backhoe and packer combined max 50,000lb more like 40,000. Truck and trailer another 40,000

[@GATORADDAM]

Yes Andre you are now officially an American with the extra weight! But you still have the Russian cool factor!

[@sketchyssk8shop]

That cruise control is a pain. Everytime a car switches lanes in feont of you they slam on the brakes.

[@blotafton]

Only if it also stops right?

[@graumail]

@@blotafton That’s automatic braking you’re thinking of. Adaptive cruise will adjust your speed based on the vehicles in front of you. I’ve found it to work great in cars (use it in our Impreza all the time) but it sounds like in these big trucks it isn’t as nice of a feature. It’s a lot easier/ less jarring to drop a few mph off of a 3000 pound sedan than a big rig so I’m guessing that’s part of the problem. The Impreza lets you choose a variety of follow distances which may also not be available on these due to the load/braking distance they’re dealing with. With how cars dart around big trucks I can see why this would be an issue.

[@Terror1Void]

They will always maintain the present following distance, so it will react quickly if it sees that the newly lane changed car has taken off that safe space.

[@sketchyssk8shop]

@@blotafton that tech is for lazy drivers. I got out of the truck i was i with that bs aftee 2 weeks. Trucks have been on the road for 100 years never needed it before

[@bryanpayne3455]

That looks like Madras Oregon I deliver there once a week I wish I knew you were there

[@michaelmorgan5303]

I do the same thing for a living and I hate to tell you that truck trailer small load you have doesn't weigh 125,000 lbs. You may weigh 80000 or so

[@captainredneck0683]

You do know that’s just a Cascadia disguised as a Western Star right? They have a difference in appearance, but it’s still just a Cascadia.

[@charmagnecassar3888]

That won't last in Australia!! Why on earth do you think Aussie like Detroits ?? BAD move Western Star for us outback truckers.

[@paulwicklund5044]

You need to do the Ike gaulet with this truck.

[@deejayimm]

If Andre wants to be a trucker, gaining some weight is a good move. That's an easy way to put on some weight, even packing your own healthy food, you're still sitting on your ass all day.

[@Malc664]

Wow that's impressive. Sounds like a truck made by truck drivers. I love the lights checking system. Something we have to do every morning so makes it much easier.

[@phoenixsui]

Love the red X49 Trucks. Wish i could drve one here in Europe. I might would become a Trucker. But European Trucks are boring.

[@bandzz9361]

Yesi ts a cascadia.. but damn I love the looks of the 57x I want one with the work station.. but I'll take a cascadia as well im not picky

[@BlueDually4x4]

All of those sensors would annoy the hell out of any driver. If the side radar picks up a person it is going to alarm at every thing on the side of the road, like fence posts or trash cans. The adaptive cruise is crap and annoying as hell in stop and go traffic. The systems are so awesome we only have two trucks with them, and they will be the only two trucks in the fleet with them; as one has been in the shop more than a dozen times to fix the adaptive cruise system. My supervisor and I both are trying to get the boss to just throw a reman engine in the semi I already have, as its the most reliable truck in the fleet. Honestly with all the press Western Star is throwing out with this truck, I wonder how bad it is.

[@angrypanda9133]

My goodness, I wish all big rigs came with those safety features, there's a lot of so called professional drivers that need the truck to drive for them cause they can't.

[@GenerJ777]

They didn't show the sleeper. I was hoping they did. Nobody is showing that on the 49x or 4700. Only on the 5700

[@MidwayGuy]

All these safety features are great, as long as they work. I would hate to be dependent on them when they break.

[@jspeed5373]

I just towed 147000 over ice roads to a diamond mine! Got ya beat a little bit:))

[@briansnipergx8012]

DD16 shit engine, I run circles around them with my Cummins N14

[@andrewgriffith2173]

My guess for Andre is 230lbs. What is everyone else guessing?

[@TwinTurboToyota]

As a class A driver that’s no way 125k . Without a cat scale ticket I call bs.

[@CraigSmith568]

I can't believe Andre didn't blow that horn when he was driving.

[@fnkdrmr86]

😂 That’s not 125,000 lbs. What a joke!

[@haroldgupwell2868]

What is 125000pounds converted into tonnes

[@DH-mf2lv]

Thoroughly enjoyed the video. Thank you!

[@letterpool]

Lane warning is garbage. Goes off on my truck all night. Picks up road cracks. Goes off randomly. Pain in the ass. All these sensors in trucks I don't like them. On the older freightliners guys had their trucks lock the breaks cause it would pick up road signs. Dangerous.

[@trenton.tchannel1810]

Sounds like they need to let the passenger car makers do the lane keep and emergency braking systems. They seem to be over sensitive on these trucks

[@Agent8450]

Very cool. Keep the truck content coming team!

[@JoseOctavioBarcacio-qc9gv]

A Jose Octavio barcacel Acevedo comionero patanita de República Dominicana le gusta el máster estar llobibo ese camionaso megusta

[@JoseOctavioBarcacio-qc9gv]

El waster estar

[@jeromep3182]

This is a really good look vocational Truck

[@JohnSmith-zi9or]

I can tell you right now, this market of truck reviews is badly needed. Also, none of my big truck driving friends like the audible warnings and beeps. It drives them crazy. My best friend has a Mack and the turn signal sound is piped through the speakers and is annoying LOUD.

[@SledgeHammer43]

that wasn't 125'000 lbs total truck and load, it might have been 125'000 lbs of GWVR. I use to move one large duel drum steel wheel vibratory rollers 74'000 compaction rating, a Cat 224 Backhoe, and a Small duel steel drum vibratory roller and my total CW was 92'000 lbs using a Steel Paver Lowboy.

[@98Pete]

Id like to try one out as a dump truck

[@heartofdixie67]

I’ve been driving a semi truck for just over 31 years now and can’t believe the technology in trucks today !!! Come a long way since my first trip back in 1989 driving a 1985 Ford LN9000 !!!