Western Star is Freightliner, a division of Daimler Chrysler.

 

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PACCAR used to be just KW and Peterbilt-Don't know how it is now.

 

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International trucks are part of International Harvester. Western Star is part of Freightliner which is part of Mercedes which is part of Chrysler. Or perhaps is it Chrysler who is part of Mercedes. Detroit is also owned by Mercedes. As far as them looking similar, I think some trucks will begin to resemble one another as these manufacturer's are bought out. There are many parts which are interchangeable. I don't see that they look that much alike.

 

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Steve,

The next time you jump the truck hook the jumper cables to the first battery in the series. That way you don't have to push juice through 5 dead batteries to get the truck started. Also, buy yourself a good heavy duty battery charger with the engine start option. Saves on gas.

 

With a regular refrigerator, you will need to do more idling to keep the batteries up or remember to turn the refrigerator off. I have left my lights on over night and my truck still start, but with a refrigerator, it can pull the batteries down in no time. :?

 

OPTIMA YELLOW TOP BATTERIES.


Just sayin'. :wink:

 

6 batteries - yikes. I supposedly got 4 on my Kenworth. Haven't opened the battery box to verify it.

Ya, I always worried about running my frig overnight without the motor and alternator running. I tried it the first time in warm weather with the motor off for 10 hours and had no problem starting. There wasn't even a hint of slow cranking. Of course the truck and batteries were only a couple of months old so the batteries were fresh. When I started the motor, the volt meter was indicating about 15 volts where it normally works down to 14 when everything is fully charged.