Retired the Pete 379 but brought the new verision 389

I personally like the mirrors mounted on the door instead of the cab. When sight-side backing I open the drivers door to move the mirror where I can get the best view of the back of the trailer. I find that easier than playing with the switch on the dash.

 

While that is nice, door mounted mirrors tend to buzz when crawling along (at least in every truck I've been in they have).
The solution: Give it some throttle and slip the clutch gently, so your mirrors are clear and you're not doing 20 mph backwards.

BTW, the 389 I saw (at MATS last year) had the aerodynamic style mirrors from the 387.

 

I hate the new headlights....yuck!!

 

They'll perform a lot better though and that's what counts. The sealed beam 4 headlamp system like what was used on the 379 are some of the poorest performing headlamps.

 

Yeah, they are very different from the old ones, but PackRat is right. Paul Abelson (of LandLine Magazine) did a test of the 389's lights side by side with a 379, and the 389's were much better.

personally, the best look for a 379 is quad rounds on some drop brackets, IMHO...

 

It goes without saying that fuctionality takes priority over looks. I guess I just love the older styles.

 

359 style double round on JJ hangers - coooolll!!!!!!

 

The older single round 359 Peterbilt headlamps are actually better performers than the 4 beam 379 lamps as well. The 7" round lamps have sufficient reflector space to put out a good beam. The lack of reflector surface in the small rectangular lamps is what causes them to be poor performers.

We found that out at Stevens when we switched to T2000's from T600's. A lot of drivers were afraid the single round headlamps on the T2 wouldn't be as good as the 4 lamps on the T6. As we all found out, the single round lamps on the T2 were far superior.

 

Just can't get past the headlights. can you say ... International! then again I'm a purist. I have never liked the ultra cab either