types of trucks
- Thread starter lilbear 1
- Start date
Well, let's see. A class 8 truck capable of specs to 46k bridge legal gvw with decades of track record that with proper maintenance is good for a minimum of 2 million miles versus a class 7 truck maxed out at 32k bridge legal gvw with basically zero track record that in an absolute best case scenario might be good for 1 million miles tops. No difference I can see.
Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB, OOIDA Life Member 677319
Owner, Panther trucks 5508, 5509, 5641
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
EO Forum Moderator
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Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.
Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB, OOIDA Life Member 677319
Owner, Panther trucks 5508, 5509, 5641
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
EO Forum Moderator
----------
Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.
Broompilot
Veteran Expediter
Your all killing me also, Wow how could you compare? Go to any Truck Stop and get a opinion of any of those long nose Pete drivers and ask them this question. I would love to be a fly on the wall when you get your answer.
Wana guess in advance for a Bonus Point?
Wana guess in advance for a Bonus Point?
Doggie Daddy
Veteran Expediter
And where did you get those sleeper sizes? Most sleeper manufacturers go in 1 foot increments,i.e. 72",84",96".
The top KW factory sleeper is the 86" studio sleeper.
Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB, OOIDA Life Member 677319
Owner, Panther trucks 5508, 5509, 5641
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
EO Forum Moderator
----------
Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.
Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB, OOIDA Life Member 677319
Owner, Panther trucks 5508, 5509, 5641
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
EO Forum Moderator
----------
Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.
nightcreacher
Veteran Expediter
since your talking straight truck,you know max. length is 40', front to back,bigger sleeper,shorter nose on truck,or sacrafise some of the box length
average w900 kw has 126 bbc,same with pete,classic or coranado freightliner is 132 bbc(thats before back of cab),the fld's and centuries more suited for D trucks,will cost more than Hino,but will last longer
average w900 kw has 126 bbc,same with pete,classic or coranado freightliner is 132 bbc(thats before back of cab),the fld's and centuries more suited for D trucks,will cost more than Hino,but will last longer
fortwayne
Not a Member
From experience the 2007 T600 Kenworth is a so-so truck. But, not compairing anything to the Hino as I have not been in on or drove it, but the KW has a few drawbacks as far as I was concerned.
First, the KW dealers will not tell you about a memo KW themselves put out after the release of the 2007 T600 Kenworth. That memo informed owners that it would be a typical situation for the engine to leak upto 1 gallon of oil every 1-2 days for the first 30-40,000 miles before the problem 'would resolve itself.' God only knows what resolve itself actually means.
Second, the outside storage boxes that come with the truck are of very poor quality when it comes to the locks themselves.
Third, as far as comfort, the truck drives and handles very nice and easy. The actual comfort of the bunk is OK but the space between the drivers seat and the passenger seat is a little tight - now I ain't small but I ain't no fat tail either.
The beds are excellent but I really think the storage areas are poor. On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the best I would rate the KW in the 6-7 scale. Above average but I would take a look at your other options as well.
Fort Wayne
'Stand Up For Yourself - Don't Wait For Someone Else'
First, the KW dealers will not tell you about a memo KW themselves put out after the release of the 2007 T600 Kenworth. That memo informed owners that it would be a typical situation for the engine to leak upto 1 gallon of oil every 1-2 days for the first 30-40,000 miles before the problem 'would resolve itself.' God only knows what resolve itself actually means.
Second, the outside storage boxes that come with the truck are of very poor quality when it comes to the locks themselves.
Third, as far as comfort, the truck drives and handles very nice and easy. The actual comfort of the bunk is OK but the space between the drivers seat and the passenger seat is a little tight - now I ain't small but I ain't no fat tail either.
The beds are excellent but I really think the storage areas are poor. On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the best I would rate the KW in the 6-7 scale. Above average but I would take a look at your other options as well.
Fort Wayne
'Stand Up For Yourself - Don't Wait For Someone Else'
The Missourian part of my ancestry would force me to see that memo. The truck has a Cummins or Cat engine. I'll acknowledge it's possible one might leak oil but I can't see that as being just because it's in a Kenworth. I also don't see it as a widespread problem. My truck has the ISX and it's a fantastic engine that doesn't leak a drop of oil, much less a gallon. I guess anything is possible but that doesn't sound right.
The new T660, which is the redesigned updated version of the T600, has a lot of nice changes. One is that the center armrests now fold up and then back behind the seatbacks. That gives an extra 4" of space to get through the seats to the back. For a factory sleeper I find the 86" Studio Sleeper very good. The only other sleeper to reach it's level is the Volvo 78" work center sleeper. If compared to a 96" Bentz or similar it might only rate a 6 but compared to any other factory unit it's at least an 8.
Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB, OOIDA Life Member 677319
Owner, Panther trucks 5508, 5509, 5641
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
EO Forum Moderator
----------
Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.
The new T660, which is the redesigned updated version of the T600, has a lot of nice changes. One is that the center armrests now fold up and then back behind the seatbacks. That gives an extra 4" of space to get through the seats to the back. For a factory sleeper I find the 86" Studio Sleeper very good. The only other sleeper to reach it's level is the Volvo 78" work center sleeper. If compared to a 96" Bentz or similar it might only rate a 6 but compared to any other factory unit it's at least an 8.
Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB, OOIDA Life Member 677319
Owner, Panther trucks 5508, 5509, 5641
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
EO Forum Moderator
----------
Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.
When the class 7/class 8 discussion has come up in the Open Forum before, the class 8 owners seem far more pleased with their trucks than the class 7 owners. While I am sure some can be found, I do not recall any owner-operator writing or saying he or she would go back to a class 7 truck after driving a class 8. Class 8 comfort and longevity are often cited as reasons.
The longevity (useful life) of a class 7 truck can be extended with diligent maintenance, but to be fair, you must compare maintenance apples with apples. A class 8 truck's useful life would be similarly extended with diligent maintenance.
The longevity (useful life) of a class 7 truck can be extended with diligent maintenance, but to be fair, you must compare maintenance apples with apples. A class 8 truck's useful life would be similarly extended with diligent maintenance.
Broompilot
Veteran Expediter
Everything beside the injectors on my Class 7 would have also broken on a class 8. The KW brand has done me proud!
I can see your point, but my point is this. For a Net Savings of $30K I do not believe I will spend anywhere near that over the lifetime and seriously not in the 250,000 miles in additional repairs.
So for Penny to Penny or Dollar invested. It has been a wise investment at least for my type of freight and driving. Maintenace is a top priority for me and do hope to make it to the million mile club in this truck.
I can see your point, but my point is this. For a Net Savings of $30K I do not believe I will spend anywhere near that over the lifetime and seriously not in the 250,000 miles in additional repairs.
So for Penny to Penny or Dollar invested. It has been a wise investment at least for my type of freight and driving. Maintenace is a top priority for me and do hope to make it to the million mile club in this truck.
JustUsTrucking
Expert Expediter
Hino's Suck...and they are butt ugly:7
silverdollar
Expert Expediter
Ft.Wayne, KW does not make an engine.
arkjarhead
Veteran Expediter
I've seen plenty of d units on a kw t-600 tractor. they are not a long nose tractor. I don't think it would be much longer than a century class but i could be wrong. i wouldn't own a hino. i've heard to many bad things. plus paccar makes a solid truck.
nightcreacher
Veteran Expediter
any class 8 will give you better everything than a class 7,the only thing a class 7 may be better at is fuel savings,and that is if they dont use a tandem axle,put that 3rd axle on the ground and the class 7 fuel economy isnt much better than a class 8
as far as leaking oil,if you idle your truck,and dont idle at at least 1000 rpms,some engines 1200,you get oil slosh,it will seep out of turbo and run down side of engine making you feel the turbo is bad,another thing,ive owned all the different engines,never have i had a motor leak a gallon of oil on the ground,espedially when brand new,if i did,hello warantee,going to spend time in the shop at their expense
as far as leaking oil,if you idle your truck,and dont idle at at least 1000 rpms,some engines 1200,you get oil slosh,it will seep out of turbo and run down side of engine making you feel the turbo is bad,another thing,ive owned all the different engines,never have i had a motor leak a gallon of oil on the ground,espedially when brand new,if i did,hello warantee,going to spend time in the shop at their expense
As the prices between the two start to narrow somewhat, the edge would go to the eight. But as Broom mention, he has a KW as we do, and the majority of the truck is class 8 parts anyway. So if the distance of money is $30,000 or greater, I would go with the 7.
Additionally, for a fleet owner it is more involved. A class 8 truck last longer, but that has little value on the front end. If you turn a truck every 4 or 5 years, I see little difference. A class eight will go ten years without a problem, but my luck of finding a team that wants to drive say a 8 year old class 8 truck starts to get thin.
They will pick a newer class 7 just about every time.
We have both so it just depends on how you are going to use them.
Davekc
owner
22 years
PantherII
EO moderator
Additionally, for a fleet owner it is more involved. A class 8 truck last longer, but that has little value on the front end. If you turn a truck every 4 or 5 years, I see little difference. A class eight will go ten years without a problem, but my luck of finding a team that wants to drive say a 8 year old class 8 truck starts to get thin.
They will pick a newer class 7 just about every time.
We have both so it just depends on how you are going to use them.
Davekc
owner
22 years
PantherII
EO moderator
arkjarhead
Veteran Expediter
if the truck is mechanicly sound why would the age make a difference if you take a job? i'll run a truck that's 15 years old if it's in good shape and the pay is right. i don't know why people are so picky.
nightcreacher
Veteran Expediter
jarhead
they are picky cause thats what they all want to own,a newer truck,so to keep your driver,one must trade every three years,and if you do,the truck has greater value at trade in and the drivers get to stay in a rather new truck,also after the 3rd year is when the truck starts to nickle and dime you,and you can probably at 3 years not have to put on new brakes,or drive tires,let the new owner do it
they are picky cause thats what they all want to own,a newer truck,so to keep your driver,one must trade every three years,and if you do,the truck has greater value at trade in and the drivers get to stay in a rather new truck,also after the 3rd year is when the truck starts to nickle and dime you,and you can probably at 3 years not have to put on new brakes,or drive tires,let the new owner do it