Why are long nose Pete’s Preferred over short nose?

If you can lift the dang hood, that is. Old farts like me need that "air-assist" on those,,,

 

Well...

Some say for looks, but much like the robot in Lost in Space... that does not compute.

Some will say for a better ride. The ones I drove honestly did not ride any better than anything else. They may not have been the supergiant long Hood ones that I drove, it has been quite a number of years now, but they all were set forward axles and it couldn't even begin to compare to the way the Freightliner rode. And in no way shape or form did it hold the road anywhere near the way the Freightliner does. The Freightliner Engineers truly were brilliant when it came to suspension and steering. And I just remember them being incredibly unmaneuverable and just wishing I had the nice Freightliner. Because the Freightliner with the setback axle held the Road so much better and rode better and was so much more maneuverable. And of course was so much more comfortable... and I wasn't embarrassed to be driving it, LOL... if I would have been there any longer than I was I probably would have had to start wearing a disguise...

Anyway, even if the axle set forward gave you some small thing of a better ride, the lack of maneuverability just is unbelievable. To me that absolutely is not worth it at all. Even if that engine is a little farther forward and the back end of it is a little easier to get to, it's just not worth it because of that colossal lack of maneuverability. Many many many years ago I had a yard and there was a guy there that had one of those gigantic Peterbilts. Every day I sat there and watched him wrestle with that truck. I mean it was like watching someone wrestle an elephant. Day after day after day he just struggled and wrestled with that truck every which way. It was exhausting watching him. I kind of felt bad for the guy. And not even being funny about it but he was one of those guys that he would wrestle with that truck and it would go on and on and on and on and then he would jump out of the truck after he was all beat up from wrestling with it and say hey look at my belt buckle...

I guess that explains that.

And I guess that really is the answer as to why the longer nose trucks are preferred. I think most people make assumptions about those trucks and think that they will ride better and I guess they like the looks of them for whatever reason and I think some people feel there is some kind of a social status thing for whatever reason associated with that.

The most important thing I'm going to tell anyone right now is if you really like these trucks or you think you do that's okay. Just don't be the idiot that buys it because the guy at the lunch counter tells you you should or the guy on the internet told you that you should.

Do a little investigation and find out about the Myriad of problems and great expense associated with these trucks.

And before the under drawers of the Peterbilt Folk begin to constrict to the point they're going to pass out, relax. If you like it that's all that matters. I assume you worked hard to get it and you like it and I'm glad for you.

I don't get any of it, not even a little bit of it, but Different Strokes for different folks.

Be happy, enjoy it and if you want to buy one go for it.

Everyone please be safe in your travels.

 

Wiring.. the electric Germlins like living in Peterbilts
And the 379's are noted for the windshields leaking and letting moisture getting into the fuse box and relays

 

They're expensive as hell to fix. I don't know anyone who has a Pete who wishes they had a Freightliner instead.

 

There is maybe 1" between the firewall and the block. 379exhd, the engine is in the same place, so all the additional length is between the block and the firewall. Series 60 is a pain because the fuel line goes in back. Other engines, I don't know.

W900L, the engine is pushed back, but not all the way, so there is room in front and back

 

Interesting you bring up all the reasons my old man used to give for not driving his 359. Once he actually started driving it regularly he found out it actually rides better than his old Freightliner ever did, fifth wheel slid all the way back pulling a spread axle is the key to that, all of 9,500 pounds on the steer. We swapped his N14 out of the Fbomb into it and he now does about the same for fuel mileage as he did with that old pile.
Maybe I need to drive something that isn't a 270 inch wheelbase long hood truck once to figure out what this "maneuverability" term is I keep seeing.

 

Weight on the front axle is your enemy if you're looking for a nice ride.

 

Depends on the weight rating of the axle.

 

You don't want to be sitting right at the max weight all the time is what I meant by that.