Long Hood Peterbilt 359/379/389 and Kenworth W900

Im a Pete 379 man. As far as being dependable, comfortable while going down the road, the pulling and just the general operation of it (it is very stable in curves), no truck Ive driven matches it. It does have a few glitches though. Sometimes you have to open the door to see where you are backing, it is a heavier tractor than most so you really have to watch the weight you pick up, and there is not as much storage space in the sleeper as say a Mack or an International. It is a little more difficult to back in tight places and you cant see as well over the hood of it as you can others(like others have said), they can tend to be more expensive to work on, but even with the disadvantages, in my opinion, the advantages far outweigh them.

 

Not sure why they would be more expensive to work on. They are easier to work on because you have way more room under the hood and not near as cramped up meaning less labor hours. I'm not arguing that point at all I am just surprised and I haven't paid any shop to work on my stuff in over 10 years.
Nothing to driving a long hood. Experience will calm your nerves and there's nothing anyone can tell you that you won't figure out on your own if you're a good driver. I learned when I was 14 hauling cattle and dad got sick. He had me parking trucks in the yard and let me drive the dirt road stretch to the blacktop way before that run ever happened so I knew how to shift just never had it in high range until then. If a kid can learn how with a 53' trailer then I think anyone can master it.

 

maybe its just me but love to sit behind a long hood I have driven the t600 also a nice truck but a long hood has something goin with it that I like

 

I drive Volvos and Cascadias for my normal employment, but occasionally jump in a 379 or T800 for a friend. My biggest problem is that I find myself driving on or over the centerline because of the much narrower cabs. Conversely, when I used to drive a custom chassis fire truck, I would find myself on the shoulder because the driver's seat is so far outboard.

The long hood never bothers me as much as the skinny cabs, air cleaners in the line of sight, and stacks mounted at the cab corners. And one of those 379s has a super 10, which I really despise. But then, after half a day of driving, none of it's a big deal.

 

Any of you guys know of much turning radius difference between a W900L and an Extened hood pete? Say if the wheel base is the same on both trucks.

 

W9 takes a bit more room to turn. 379 actually has a pretty good wheel cut

 

Think it would compare to a T800? I am trying to plan for the future and want to get out of my freight shaker columbia. I am going to go drive a friends T800 here in the near future. Its a farm truck so we have plenty of places to squeeze into, but a 379 sure is a sharp truck.

 

I bet 379 with 253" wb will turn as tight as a T8 with 244 wheel base.

 

You probably do that want to hear this but don't make a business decision based on an emotional thing i.e. what a truck looks like, or what it's turning radius is.... if you can make it work for you, great. Not always an ideal first truck though.