New Truck Day 2026

Glad everyone is ok!

 

Not sure what yr your Pete was that went up, mine I believe was a 18' when something similar happened to me about 4yrs ago.
It is/was a known factory issue which dealers had a recall on, main wire from battery box on drivers side was routed up & over top of the frame which as we all know will move and rub the frame causing ^^this^^.
Not saying that was the culprit but a good place to start, my truck was 1 that slipped through the cracks about getting to dealer to have the wire rerouted under the frame with aggressive hangers.
We did have a twin to my truck have the cab destroyed because of this, which you would think they would go out of there way to make sure all trucks with wires routed the wrong way were properly taken care of.
Luckily for me my experience was fast & a best case scenario, slow day so i pulled into yd for fuel & a quick rinse to knock crud off we had a after hours outside wash bay.
Jumped out grabbed the pressure hose walked around back of truck to the passenger side after half way down started smelling something that wasn't right, came back around to drivers side to see a small plume of smoke closer I got to the cab a seen a orange glow.
Grabbed fire ext opened hood & there it was bigger flames now, couple quick blasts of fire ext was put out quickly but still hearing the sizzle I tuned into where it was to find the main wire cooking on top of the frame.
Luckily some hoses & plastic parts on drivers side due to melting is all that needed replaced along with a brand new main wire harness.
Timing is everything just glad it didn't happen 10min sooner at freeway speed would definitely have been a different outcome.
Glad everyone is safe you can always replace stuff, stay safe & enjoy your new ride.

 

About 8 years ago,winter in North Pole AK,they dragged a peterbilt into the shop to thaw out,it was covered in snow and ice.They were going to get it ready for a job.In the middle of the night it caught on fire,burned the whole shop down,a couple other trucks and a Crane were in the shop at the time.
They caught it on video,there was an orange glow starting on the firewall,then it burst into flames.

 

Had an old machine in the washbay a couple years back that I noticed started smoking a few minutes after I was done washing it. Noticed fire under the back of the engine, around the battery cables. Grabbed the pressure wash wand since it was closest and yelled at the guys in the next bay over to grab wrenches and get the batteries disconnected while I kept the flames down. I luckily caught it so early that the only damage was the cable that caused it. Rubbed through on the bottom of the flywheel housing due to broken securement clamps. I guess the water either allowed the electricity to flow easier or I washed away whatever dirt there was that kept it insulated.

 

Usually when an owner is that quick to replace something that burnt down he knew exactly why and it was an insurance job. Lol.