Pete vs freightliner vs KW

I just don't get why people gravitate to the lowest common denominator. Have you thought about resale? I know it's the last thing you think about when buying one, but that Frightliner won't be worth diddly in a few years, that Pete is ALWAYS going to trip someones trigger. Not a fan of brown, but a cool truck. And if you buy it, and it gives you problems, I don't want to hear all Pete's are junk, it just ain't so. Just remember, Freightliner drivers don't wave to other Freightliner drivers!

 

Now that I've seen the pics, I would probably choose the KW.
I like the extra clearance of the bumper and the half fenders, which can be easily changed, but why spend more now and up the payments.
Besides, I'm really a KW guy, Peter Cars are way too common, right up there with Vole Vo and Cascadia.

I suggest the OP pop the hoods on all 3 trucks then take a real casual stroll around the trucks and look very carefully at the detailing.

Observe the access to engine and components, wire routing and bundling, quality of hoses, harnesses, fittings, clamps, connectors, plumbing and routing, wiring harnesses and frame routing, take note of how well the trucks are thought out.

I would tell you to crawl under the truck too in case you might be the one greasing it and making repairs, nice to know how difficult it may be.
While you're down there have a look see at how easy things are to get at and how well it's built, sealed or greasable U joints, how well protected is the electrical system, have a real good look at everything, pay attention to detail.
Ask yourself questions that may come up like, what's it gonna cost in time and/or money if I have change the air compressor?
Is it cool to put the compressor on the back of the engine and does it really matter?

I've been wrong before, but I'm betting you see a neater, more accessible engine bay and less clutter with the big hoods and X-15 engine.
The FL will have a cheapness about it, cheaper than Paccar, a slapped together on Monday morning production line kinda look.

I don't know about that Pete, looks kinda rough to me for a new truck, might just be the lighting in the photo or the angle.

 

Not knocking on the KW’s......(still have my 79 K100 parked)...... but from my research, Paccar uses the KW’s to perfect a “PETERBILT”.

 

Petes must be pretty good trucks then if they get all their ideas from KW.

 

There you go OP. Get you a 6nz with 2 million miles on it. You should have no problems.

Start looking around Idaho, Minnesota, Washington. They have them by the bushel basket.

 

I would get an APU installed on whichever truck you purchase.

 

Agreed on freightliner being disposable.

The pete is easier to get to with tool box me thinks.

KW is a strong show. I tend to think on choices carefully. And still would look carefully at the pete.

One mentioned buying trucks and throwing them away. Thats Freightliner, Volvo etc. Plastic. Now if they remembered the 80s and built a basic durable truck tractor in that tradition then maybe sure. If I managed to insult the engineers working there then that's 30 years of plasticky junk.

We had a Century until 10 months and 210,000 miles essentially mountain in the west and flat 40 and 81 on the coast. She started developing squeaking and other creaks etc and ready to be handed off to a solo to beat around in for a year or two in 2001. The performance and endurance of the original pads, tires, wiring to a certain degree (Not alternators... and such was impressive. but the rest of it? eh. When have 1200 pounds of team and stuff init, it's tough.

I am also thinking the geometry of the drives on the pete would offer a better bootheel off road and 5th wheel sliding possibilities than the KW drives all the way back.

Small thoughts like that.

 

I have a 280 wb truck leased onto Mercer with no issues.

 

If you get in it and stand on the big horse and abuse it all day shes gonna eat. Like 40 or 50 gallons per hour upgrade in the steepest our country can offer. Get to the top of the hill and celebrate but now hurting for fuel. Big tanks big horse. They idle awful easy so forth.

The 515 Detriots is the minimum working engine I would take off in today if necessary. I learned to rely on them. Its pretty much all we got in the better companies. She'll do Cabbage upgrade at 45 maybe more at 80000. Depending, that 18 speed though can do quite a bit of options.

It's when you try to live with a little engine. Say 430. You wind them all day and you wonder why you love on them, wrench on them, leak on them, fix the alternator and belts and feed oil all the time and so on. Working engines pushed to their max need lots of love. And just rot when abused or neglected. It's sad to see. I tried to break a 330 cat several times and it didnt. Except a water pump that broke one time. CAT is for dummies.

///TEASING....