Peterbilt 589

Peterbilt will announce the end of the 389 when they unveil the 589. A good many people, including some here, will not believe anything until it comes straight from Peterbilt. For good reason, I suppose. They’ll likely do so at either MATS or GATS, though I lean toward GATS since it’s just a hop skip and a jump from Denton to Dallas. And that they can move the new models in under cover of night if they want to make it a “surprise” party.

On the other hand, talk to any salesman about the 389. They will all tell you this is the last year for the 389. Could it be they are ALL blowing smoke to sell more trucks? Possibly. But Occam’s razor says no. Easier for them all to have been given internal memos that the 389 is leaving production than for them all to band together and drum up a myth to sell more trucks. I could be wrong on that, Lord knows I’ve been wrong before.

 

I’ve only ever personally bought standup sleepers. I’m 6’5” and like to stand up when putting my pants on and tucking my shirt in. I really dig the looks of a flat top Pete or an Aerocab flat top KW, and since I pull my flat most of the time a flat top would make more practical sense.

The 70” or 78” or however the hell they want to measure the big standup Pete sleeper is the best blend for me between length and height. I really dig the KW studio sleepers and have been tempted to buy one on occasion, but I’m convinced the studio sleepers are the gateway drug to custom sleepers.

If I only hauled light loads (under 40k net) and never needed to hook to a hopper or cattle pot from time to time, a 120” ARI would probably be on my frame rails. And that would be almost entirely so I could have a kitchen versus just a microwave. I’d stay out a hell of a lot longer and run basically wherever the wind blows me, but I don’t know if I could find enough light, good paying freight on my own to justify it.

Regardless, I prefer height over length, but I need a balance of both.

 

Looks pretty good to me.

 

I don’t hate it. Could have been a lot worse.

 

After spending 45 years in a narrow cab it seems wrong……

 

Way better than KW’s update to their flagship model. I like it.

 

They did good on the 589 in my opinion.

I confess I am not a Peterbilt fan. While I know they built a good truck with the 359, 379,389, they just weren't my thing. Every one I ever drove resulted in a trip to the chiropractor.

But when I heard they were going to give the 389 a wider cab and update things a bit, I was intrigued. And from what I see, they did well.

 

I don’t like it.