1994 peterbilt 377

377 headlights are a pain. Make sure they aren't loose or broken

 

Freightliner will have more space, and there's a billion FLD'S out there. Parts easy to find. I'd definitely go FLD

 

Well I do like to kid the Peterbilt folk, because they're Peterbilt Folk... but in all seriousness here's the rundown. And this is serious not knocking the Peterbilt fellers.

Peterbilt will cost you more to buy. The extra that you spend you may get back when you sell it maybe, but you're not buying a truck to sell, you're buying a truck to get started. So not only will the purchase of the truck cost you more, every part for the truck itself will cost you more because of the name. Starting out you should buy the best truck that you can for the least amount of money, so it makes sense that spending more on something because of the name or because you can wear a certain belt buckle is silly.

I very briefly had a Peterbilt before I pulled the engine out of it and happily chopped it up into pieces and sold off the rest of it. I'm not someone that likes to see trucks become Salvaged or destroyed, but my disdain for Peterbilt made that one of the happiest days of my life chopping that truck up. It was a 1990 and I can tell you Peterbilt was absolutely zero help for parts. When I say zero, I mean they literally told me no we can't get you any parts for that truck can't help you at all. How about if I give you my VIN number? Okay give me your VIN number. Nope sorry can't help you whatsoever. Well mr. Peterbilt parts Guy where can I get parts? I don't know what to tell you but there is absolutely nothing we can do for you we can't help you at all not even a little bit. Have a nice day.

Guys that have those trucks maybe can direct you on Parts but that was what my exact experience was.

Now, fast forward to my nice 1995 fld120. Freightliner has something called dtna connect. Once you get set up with Freightliner and they know you are the owner of that truck you log online and it will give you all of the schematics and all of the part numbers, not just for a Freightliner truck, but for YOUR specific Freightliner truck. I go online if I need a part look up the part number I can buy it from Freightliner I can buy it after market no problem. And by the way this is completely free of charge.

Now I don't know about that particular model of Peterbilt you are looking at, but there are a couple things. I don't know how much time you've ever spent in one but that goofy clutch pedal is very hard to get used to. It has a very odd feel to it. If that model uses the brake with the treadle valve on the floor, dirt will get around that valve and one day you may hit the brakes and not be able to stop or at least not stop well. So you have to take your little air gun and continually blow dirt out of there. Peterbilt is notorious for the roof leaking and water coming down and shorting out your fuse panel. They are also notorious for the cabs being small and uncomfortable. They also are notorious for the HVAC system to either freeze you out or sweat you out or just plain not work at all.

Now, Freightliner has the nice hanging brake pedal no constant cleaning of the floor. Again I'm not familiar with that exact model of Peterbilt, but the ones that I was in you had to actually lean over to lock and release your brakes. Maybe it's me but it actually hurt my back. On the Freightliner everything is right at your fingertips comfortable and convenient.

Also the Freightliner has an integral sleeper made into the cab of the truck. That means you don't have a little hole like the Peterbilt or at least most of them that you have to step in and out of. If you ever have to buy that weather stripping that seals the sleeper to the cab, it is ridiculously expensive. Also the Peterbilt that is made with the separate sleeper there is a wall behind your seat, so unless you are very short your seat will constantly hit that back panel. Freightliner has no such problem, there's only space behind that seat.

Also if you're fortunate enough to get a Freightliner with the tilt steering wheel, that steering wheel has more range than any truck ever created in the history of trucks. No matter what size you are, you will have an adjustment that you are completely comfortable. Peterbilt has no such thing.

Now, so that the Peterbilt folk don't get upset, In fairness here are the things about the Freightliner. You will have to work on the doors but if you understand them that cab is airtight when you do shut the doors as long as you have the latches and everything correct. But you will have to replace them from time to time along with the weather stripping. The air conditioning works extremely well, however the ducts that run over to the left side of the steering wheel are notorious for either breaking or being kinked. I don't think that works on my truck on the left side yet on 100 degree days I am completely cool so it does not affect me. Also, Freightliners can get the Shake in the front end . If your front end is in good shape and your tires are balanced and not out of round you will not have that problem. That's about the downside of the Freightliner.

The parts Network for Freightliner is the greatest of all time. There are freightliner dealers everywhere. At least the dealer that I deal with the parts have been very reasonable and I have never had to wait more than one day for any part on my truck and I have rebuilt it from the front to the back.

So just to sum up my novel here, I would buy another fld120 in a heartbeat. I am not a fan at all of the Petro built, the truck itself, the parts Network, the quality of the truck, and who the hell wants to need 10 football fields to turn around if that's the kind of truck you are looking at.

By the way, Freightliner was so brilliant if you are fortunate enough to get an fld120 with a setback axle, Freightliner engineered that truck to turn sharper and maneuver better than any truck you will ever get into. Believe me, I've driven every kind of truck there is, and my truck is a big giant truck that fits into places you would never believe because of how Freightliner set it up. Their brilliant engineering make it unbelievably maneuverable while giving the most outstanding comfortable ride. And also while on that subject, I feel Freightliner rides the best out of all the trucks, and in my opinion they hold the road better than any other truck.

Do as you wish, but that is the tale of the tape.

 

I guess 1991 is the cut off. They usually have any thing I ask for in stock.


The gruesome truth here is the 377 is the FLD of the Peterbilt line. Their resale is not like other models. The one piece fiberglass hood with the plastic headlights is what done them in. Though a 378 hood isn’t too hard to put on them.