I find it a bit disappointing that the 6 wheel trucks cannot transport logs by themselves. You need a trailer so there is a big waste of space involved and so it looks and feels daft. There should have been a bed add-on for the six-wheelers and then it would have been fun to add a trailer for a double load of small logs. Or just go solo on very difficult routes. I think that's the way it worked with small logs on Mudrunner.
Yep, I used to do most of the log transport in MudRunner with double loads of small logs... for whatever reason I just found it more enjoyable to drive like that. Long logs were also interesting though, because they were actually
really long and required careful manuevering to fit them down some of the trails and around corners. Now, medium logs are kinda like short logs that you can't haul on a truck, and long logs are basically like medium logs from MudRunner.
To add to the annoyance, there is only one trailer store on each of the new maps, so it's a long drag with an unloaded truck to get to the logging stations.
Yeah, I feel this. I really enjoyed MudRunner, but this game is so punitive and slow to get going. I have only played it on and off as a result, but I still don't have proper off-road tires unlocked yet and can hardly get anything done. Ugh.
Yeah, the level restricted tires are stupid, especially if you want to play the game at a very relaxed pace and keep on-theme and use the American trucks in America. Adding to it, most of the American trucks can't even put on real mud tires and are just stuck with the off-road tires, which while they still work, is a silly arbitrary restriction.
Another thing that makes the start tough is that some of the starting trucks, aside from their crappy tires, are also severely limited without upgrades. Like the Kodiak you get early... it's actually pretty capable when you get some good tires and the AWD upgrade for it, but you have to go to Alaska and other maps to find those, so if you are trying to play through things in order you won't have those parts until late.
You can get all-terrain and off-road tires at a much lower level for the scouts... Some deliveries it doesn't work with as you need a crane, but it can be pretty fun to use little scouts to pull the flatbed trailers full of stuff, but you have to pick and choose missions/contracts as they can't transport concrete slabs or steel beams as easily as a big truck.
On the other hand though, it does make the first part of the game very tactical, and you have to heavily adjust your route to make up for your all-terrain tires, and Michigan maps do have quite a few paved roads on them. If you have a friend to play with, it actually makes the early part of the game very cooperative, as you will have to work together and winch and etc to get through some areas and, in hindsight, it was actually kind of a fun part of the game when playing with my friend.