Best freight trucks around?

What are peoples opinions about freight trucks in HO? I'm VERY fond of Athearn's Genesis freight trucks, I have a few Kadees and love them too. The rest are just plastic stock ones which I intend to replace over time. What do you guys suggest? Stick with Kadee? Or is there other brands out there which I should explore? Also, does anyone know where I can pick up the Genesis trucks individually?
 

Russ Bellinis

Active Member
I think the Genesis trucks are available in pairs from Horizon through your local hobby shop. If you don't have a local hobby shop, an online shop that has a store front building-ie a local hobby shop that sells online as well, should be able to order them for you. I think I would tend to look for a smaller dealer rather than the big discounters, since special orders are probably going to be handled much more expeditiously by the smaller dealer than the big discounters who seem to specialise in volumn sales of production locomotives, cars, and track.

As for changing trucks out, I would just get one of these:

Tools and Supplies for Building Scale Models | Micro-Mark: The Small Tool Specialists

Then just change to wheel sets, P2K and Intermountain both make wheelsets with metal wheels that are reasonably priced and work well. Kaddee wheelsets can also be used, but are generally a bit more expensive than the other 2 brands.
 

MasonJar

It's not rocket surgery
Depending on the type you want, I would recommend the Proto2000 trucks and/or wheelsets. I have used both with no problems.

Andrew
 

jbaakko

Active Member
If you like Genesis, but want a lower value, get Accurail frames, you can buy them in bulk, then get Branchline fine scale wheels (to match the finescale of the Genesis). Thats what I use on my Boxcars, Gondola's, Covered Hoppers, ect... I usually save the cost of the Genesis for open cars, like Tank cars & Spines.

If you want though, P2K, Kato & Kadee are nice, as are Jaybee, & NWSL wheels.
 

Gary S.

Senior Member
I find that alot of times, when rebuilding older cars, I need to use Atlas trucks. The reason why is they are the only ones I know of that have a hole that is sized for a 2/56 screw. All the others have a larger hole.

The same thing holds true if I am using screws in place of the friction pins used on some cars to hold the trucks on.
 
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