Custom building my own straight

[jbrand]

I am looking at the new KW T680. Having a 96" custom sleeper put on with a 22' box with lift gate. I have done a lot of searching for the trucks with long wheel bases, but don't find much. Are these special order trucks?

I am also trying to decide weather to buy it tandem axleor get single and add a lift axle.

Any advise?

 

[davekc]

I think they can be done as a factory stretch but I would advise working with a dealer that has done these. What can and can't be done can be research through them. Many issues when doing a straight and most have to do with the weight. LDB has a guy in Houston that built him a nice 900
Send him a PM and he can provide the guys name.

 

[pearlpro]

Scroll Down to a thread called the Straight truck club, and look for a Post by Phil Madsen, Phils got the bases covered when it comes to the ENTIRE SPEC....while having Tandem axles is nice and allows heavier loads, youve got twice the tires, brakes and parts to wear and maintain....Ive been doing the same research and Ive called and gotten the specs from several builders. Lay these down and compare and see what you really need or can afford. The KW is a nice rig, I was reading the review just last nite in the trades mags, and while Im choosing a Freightliner, the next rig may very well be one of these new aero trucks, OOIDA gives a nice rebate on the purchase of these.

These so many things to spec, Drivetrain, Driver comforts, Durable and service-able, Cargo, Tires, etc...between Phils super truck, and the Dealers Im sure youll find all the parts and comforts you want.

 

[LDB]

I was talking to my guy about that a couple of weeks ago. He is THE guy to go to for a custom KW. Talk to Fred Sargent at Performance KW in Houston. Their number is 713-844-7111. He is a stand up guy. Tell him I said hi.

 

[ATeam]

Thank you for your kind words, peralpro. Our truck spec info and discussion is online here. They are not the specs to use on a KW but it will help you think your truck through bumper to bumper.

 

[Moot]

I have done a lot of searching for the trucks with long wheel bases, but don't find much. Are these special order trucks?

Talk with a dealer. You should be able to order just about any length frame rails within reason. Placement of the axle(s) will depend on sleeper size and weight, front axle weight, box size and weight, engine and other variables. Much of this a good dealer should be able to set up virtually with a computer program. You may want to consider a "double frame" as found on vocational trucks used for logging or dump trucks.

 

[lugnut1]

A much better idea for you than making a straight truck out of new KW T680 would be to stretch the frame to fit on a 120 sleeper with all the goodies you want, go with a fifth wheel and a pup trailer at 28 feet, forget about a lift gate, it will cost you to many high paying loads because you will lack a DOT bumper.

 

[zorry]

What'd he say ???

 

[pearlpro]

Ive considered the Semi and Pup trailer combo, since were not really carrying 80,000 lbs its a great maneuverable rig, and the Semi has the Sleeper, and Power options. Ive read many of these custom rigs do use the double frame rails. Although in the recent MAY Landline mag is a great article about frame stretching done by the Chrome Shop Mafia guys...

 

[moose]

I am looking at the new KW T680. Having a 96" custom sleeper put on with a 22' box with lift gate.
Any advise?

Yha, I looked on them @ the Truck show.
those things are so heavy on the front, KW had to go away with the popular set back steer option.
me thinking it'll be a 3 axle truck empty, with a real bad hang over.
BTW, you do plan on running team, right ?

 

[moose]

O.K, B4 we get carry on, lets just admit that most EXPEDITE carrier will not place a true EXPEDITE St. Truck load on a tractor trailer.
simply because it can be dumped .

 

[AMonger]

When I was with Panther, I checked, and they wouldn't consider a tractor-pup.

 

[AMonger]

You have to keep the overall length into consideration. Just the sleeper and box will come to at least 30.5 feet. Unless you're talking about a COE, you'll be flirting with being overlength.

 

[zorry]

Stykemaim Volvo,Defiance Oh stocks VN motorhome chassis. 40' long,double framed the entire length.D13, Volvo I-Shift. 500hp. 80,000 gvw. They keep 15-20 in stock to supply Renegade,Showhauler,etc.

 

[lugnut1]

When I was with Panther, I checked, and they wouldn't consider a tractor-pup.

Why would you want to work for Panther, the cheapest freight offers in the so called “big expedite” carriers.

 

[lugnut1]

O.K, B4 we get carry on, lets just admit that most EXPEDITE carrier will not place a true EXPEDITE St. Truck load on a tractor trailer.
simply because it can be dumped .

And yet, there are expedited ’53 trailer loads every day. Dumped?? And who are these “most EXPEDITE carriers”? And what the HAIL is a “true EXPEDITE St. Truck load”?????????

 

[zorry]

I'm still wondering about the high dollar freight that I'm missing by having a liftgate.
My COE as a tractor was probably 30' long oal. Leased to Trailer Transit I would sometimes pull a 28' pup or 30' beer trl. It made for a lot of jokes and picture ops.
I wouldn't expedite with it. If light,stability problems on ice/snow.
I once picked up a 26' welding trl. Could not scale due to bridge laws. Had to obtain overweight permits to run it.

 

[LDB]

go with a fifth wheel and a pup trailer at 28 feet.

Good luck signing it on anywhere. It would seem an excellent choice but for some reason carriers won't look at it. They want either a 40' straight truck or a 53' E unit and nothing in between. I imagine a few companies would take it but I've been told no even by ones I thought sure would be progressive enough to think outside the box as it were.

 

[AMonger]

Why would you want to work for Panther, the cheapest freight offers in the so called “big expedite” carriers.

This was years ago. Rates were still pretty good then.

 

[lugnut1]

Good luck signing it on anywhere. It would seem an excellent choice but for some reason carriers won't look at it. They want either a 40' straight truck or a 53' E unit and nothing in between. I imagine a few companies would take it but I've been told no even by ones I thought sure would be progressive enough to think outside the box as it were.

There is much to be said for bringing in “new blood” into an industry that thinks small, med and large is all there is to satisfying the needs of customers. "They" as you refer to them may need a transfusion of new blood.

Not Progressive. The carrier you inquired with about putting on a 28 pup could be viewed that way, but the simpler answer is "they" likely didn’t know how to integrate the new product offering for their customer base.

Maybe you should ask one of the Carrier owners directly on EO. Surely they would not turn down freight capacity like a 28 pup trailer pulled by a tractor, with min of 25000 lb. cargo weighting, 14 pallets of deck space.