[classicxl]

i would prefer a volvo

[Mackman]

Out of the 3 i would take a 379. But i really like the 9900ix.

[LOAD IT]

Originally Posted by geomon

IronEagle,

You wrote:

What advantage did the heavier load capacity offer you? Did you win business that you would not have had with the Pete? Did loads sit until a carrier like you came around that could haul that heavy load? If you charged by the pound then I can see the advantage. Thanks.

Lettuce pays by CWT!!

[tag along]

In the few years that I have driving,I only have run Pete's. The 379 is less roomy than the 387 and it's turning radius is not that great, but overall is a good truck. The 387 has alot of room and has a good turning radius. The 387 is like driving a car,and is also a good truck overall.

This contract did it was for raw matriel for bagged salads and the more weight the more we got paid.

[geomon]

Is that typical for lettuce to be paid? Why? Any other produce pay that way?

So two "other" loads (that don't pay that way)....both produce and both going to the same city (ex: Calif to Boston)....One's 40K and the other is 45K. Would you expect them to be offered at different rates or would you, in looking at your costs being different (wear 'n tear, more fuel) bid your price up on the heavier load?

[Truckdobe]

I didn't want to vote twice; in 15+ years I've driven at least one of each brand (even the ones not listed). For the right money I suppose I'd drive whatever providing it was safe, clean and sound.

As far as paying for one, I'll only have a W900 or 379.

That said, I am VERY disappointed with the changes that Paccar has made to both. After just over a month in my new KW ('07) I'm really sure that I should have reworked my old one ('96). The difference in quality is HUGE, my old truck (1.2million) was all wood, stainless etc with only one mystery squeak/rattle in the passenger door. My new one looks like it had a bad shaving accident from all of the pcs of paper I have stuffed all over this plastic dash to stop the squeaks and rattles. KW is going to have a lot of fun fixing this crap when I get it in under the warranty wire.

The hood is 1/3 the thickness of my old one as is the roof. All in all much more cheaply built. Both were spec'd and bought as daycabs (custom sleepers), the difference in build sheet price was about $30k between the 2. After a month I think the '07 should have been the cheaper of the 2.

Not to just pick on KW... the tranny is as close to the same as I could get. It's a 'new generation' 18, it has as much play and more whine than my million mile 18 that I just got rid of. I don't know what they've done, but I don't see a million+ out of this box.

On the good side... I like the daylight doors (miss my vents though)
dash is well lit and easy to read
seats are slightly farther apart
boot opening is slightly larger
turn radius is a bit better (wide track front axle)
heat a/c blower is much better
quiet cab package is better

absolute WORST
-floating throttle pedal... I HATE it!!
-steering tilt sux compared to the old, totally in the wrong place
-plastic everywhere


As far as the Petes; I have 5 friends that have upgraded this year or last to '06 or '07 Petes, all had '95-'00 Petes before. All have the same opinion of their new Petes that I have of my new KW. Cheap, cheap, cheap!

Lat Pete I drove was a 98 and I hated the dang thing no room could not get comfortable in it in the drivers seat and everytime I turned around in the shop with a blown A/C recevicer dryer. I want to meet the engineer who decided to use a single nut to hold a A/C charged line on in a semi bouncing down the road at 70mph.

[joasis]

My second OTR truck was a 359 Pete, the first was a Transtar cabover...so I know a little about the iron. I have driven all except a Volvo, and if I were buying a new power unit today, it would be a Freightliner Classic, hands down...for the room, comfort, ride, and importantly, weight of the tractor...since I was a flatbedder doing LTL, it was really nice to have a 4000# cushion if needed, and yes, it does make the revenue go up. I like Petes, I like KW's, I love Western Stars, but all factors of the road added up, my choice would be easy.

[ratchet]

I have also had my chance in all brands except volvo and I prefer the freightliner classic also.