Truck Topics

A new truck with a special heritage - The King Leisure

"The reviews of this new truck were astounding," says Heath Wood, General Manager of Macon, GA-based Middle Georgia Freightliner-Isuzu.

"People commented on the roof's sleek, aerodynamic design that provides stand-up height from the steering wheel on back to the sleeper.  They were equally impressed with the appointments of the sleeper.  We've really come up with a winner in this truck!" 

Wood was speaking of his dealership's latest offering, the King Leisure Expediter, which is built on the 2004 Freightliner M2 platform.  The truck was unveiled at the recent Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville.

Displayed in the FedEx Custom Critical booth, the shiny new truck garnered a lot of attention from the show's attendees and there was a steady stream of lookers taking their turns in the cab and sleeper.

Wood tells of driving the King Leisure back to Macon after the show and he says, "This unit is the quietest truck that I've ever driven.  My sales rep was riding with me and he had the same impression."

"When you close the doors on this truck, it's a solid sound; that's due to the double seals that the factory is using.  Freightliner has really stepped up to the plate and listened to the requests of the truck buyers."

This 33,000-pound GVW expediting truck features a 96" AA Sleeper and a 22' Morgan cargo box.

Power for this model comes from a CAT C-7 that provides 300HP with 860 lb-ft. of torque @2200 rpm.  Mercedes-Benz engines are also available.

This King Leisure was equipped with a Fuller 6-speed manual transmission with 6-speed Allison automatics available soon.

The truck also boasts air landing gear with controls that can be mounted in the cab.

The M2 features an air-ride cab and sleeper.  Wood says that this set-up is unique in that it utilizes a two-bag system with one bag in the middle of the sleeper and one in the back, along with a sway-bar.  For increased stability, this system also features shock absorbers that are not found on most add-on, air-ride configurations.

Heath Wood touches on the looks of this expediter:
"The King Leisure has the chrome bumper and the chrome headlight bezels with the chrome grill.  With the stainless steel wheels, this truck is very sharp."

"In keeping with the high-end nature of this truck, of course it has the power windows, power locks and power mirrors that you would expect."

The sleeper
  
"We can design just about anything that will fit inside this truck," says Middle Georgia's president.  "This design is based on what came from the late Ed Housworth of Housworth Trucking and Leasing.  He helped put together the original "King Leisure" sleeper from AA Sleepers."

The 96" double bunk sleeper has an inside height of 92 inches. Interior features include a 20" flat screen TV tied to a DVD/VCR, a large (54" tall, 25" wide) refrigerator/freezer and a microwave that doubles as a toaster, oak cabinetry, 3000-watt inverter, stainless steel sink and heated sleeper floor with controls in the bunk. 

The King Leisure's sleeper is appointed with black carpeting and a small couch in addition to cabinets above the bottom bunk. Wood says that these cabinets were added in response to customers' requests.

Heath Wood is justifiably proud of the King Leisure and invites expediters to contact his sales staff for more information about this beautiful new truck.  Call Louis Minter and Wes Hearn at 800 899-8696 or visit Middle Georgia Freightliner-Isuzu at www.gatrucks.com.