W900L Towing/Hooks

Discussion in 'Kenworth Forum' started by gltech, Jul 26, 2014.

  1. gltech

    gltech Bobtail Member

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    Aug 23, 2009
    Atlanta, GA
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    Hey guys,

    I'm a 25+ year O/O, and have a 2001 W900L. I run mostly eastern US based out of Atlanta. I've done everything from stock vans to oversize lowboys, but here's something I have NO knowledge about. Here's what I'm after: If my truck dies out there, I want to be able to get the thing home myself (tractor only - no load, about 20k lbs). I have two old 80's model Pete's that are VERY healthy running collectable-type non-revenue trucks. I have driver friends that can come rescue me. And my brother-in-law is an ace iron and steel fabricator/welder.

    Can I put a pintle/etc. on one of the Petes and use the two factory KW tow hooks, and have my bro-in-law fabricate some sort of a (triangular-shaped?) tow bar? I want 100% safe, no-fail setup. Something like a http://www.protote.com/ would be ideal, but too expensive.

    I feel my bro-in-law can make something REALLY stout (he fabricates 100-ton overhead cranes and such). So that leaves the factory KW tow hooks. Will they do their job absolutely? Interstates? Hills?

    Here's an eBay pic of one of the KW tow hooks like mine (K143-313). Man they look thin on the sides of the rearward hole.

    [​IMG]

    Looking for advice from you experts -- thanks in advance!!!

    -Glenn
     
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  3. nb629

    nb629 Light Load Member

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    Aug 21, 2012
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    I'm no expert but I've seen these tow hooks used to pull fully loaded (78k-80k)trash trucks up and down landfills countless times. Never seen or heard of one breaking. They should handle the weight of a bobtail with no problem.
     
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  4. Mooose

    Mooose Light Load Member

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    Apr 13, 2014
    Sherwood Park,AB
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    If you had a Herd or Ali-Arc moose bumper on the front of the KW you can single pin the truck. That's one the features of them, removable single pin for towing or being towed. I'll get a picture off one of mine.
     
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  5. gltech

    gltech Bobtail Member

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    Aug 23, 2009
    Atlanta, GA
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    Hey nb629, when you've seen the tow hooks used, were they using one or two? What did they use to hook the truck doing the towing to the truck being towed?

    Also wondering what you think about my arrows in the picture to the "thin" places. Man they scare me.
     
  6. oicu812

    oicu812 Medium Load Member

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    Sep 24, 2010
    Wisconsin
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    Not sure what they are made of, but A36 mild steel has a yield strength of at least 36,000 psi. I am going to guess that there is at least a 1 square inch of steel between the 2 sides. Keep in mind that the tensile strength is going to be at least 60,000 lbs/in, so you could hang the tractor in the air from one of them.
     
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  7. W900AOwner

    W900AOwner Heavy Load Member

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    Jul 2, 2014
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  8. nb629

    nb629 Light Load Member

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    Aug 21, 2012
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    I have seen some guys use just one but I personaly always use both. I have a heavy 9/16 chain that I use because its when the land fill is to muddy we're being towed by dozers and such so I cant help with rigging to another truck. As far as the thin sides go on my truck they would be the top and bottom with the tow pin dropping in from the top like a wagon tongue. Also the end of the tow hook your concerned with slides inside a piece of square stock that is mounted to the frame eliminating any extreme stress on the thin spots. I'm not sure if this set up is standard or was modified by our shop. I will take a closer look at some other trucks and see what I find.
     
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  9. Oscar the KW

    Oscar the KW Going Tarpless

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    Those tow hooks will take more stress than your truck will. It has been known to happen that guys who do job site work doing heavy haul have been pulled on so hard by a dozer that the truck cannot handle it and it will get pulled apart.
     
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  10. gltech

    gltech Bobtail Member

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    Aug 23, 2009
    Atlanta, GA
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