To Pete or not to Pete,,that is the question.

Pete and re-Pete!

 

I've averaged 6.2 mpg for 830k miles in a '03 Pete 379 pulling flatbed freight. Sometimes, in the 4s with hi profile freight, 7s with lightweight low freight.
I bought my first Pete in '99 simply for resale value and it worked when I traded in '02.
As has been mentioned before, one should have a truck they enjoy and the job should be easier. IMO, Pete's have a mystique kinda like Harleys, they accomplish the same goal, just more stylish
Granted, these 379s don't make any better rate than an FLD.

 

Last week my fuel average was 5.4... I was loaded to 80+ twice... both return loads were about 77K gross... I pull a 13'6" insulated van. I ran 2400 miles between WI and IN.

I run my ESPAR 24/7 (no other bunk heat) so that takes a little fuel... plus I had a little more idle time than usual last week...

The winter blended fuel always takes a little away from my mileage, too.

Two weeks ago I did 6.5...

 

you mean the whale tail? I was wondering the same thing actually

 

Well... They say that the "whale tail" helps with aero dynamics to reduce drag at the top of the truck from the trailer. But in my experience either one doesn't really make that much of a difference in fuel mileage. There are so many places on a big truck that can create drag so really you would have to stream line the whole truck just to reduce the drag to less than 50% which would only show fuel saving of about 5mpg. Which if you are at say 8 mpg then you'd be around 13 mpg on a non windy day.

 

Don't they have a brother named Little Pete?

 

Hey there blackw900, you posted I believe a thread about pete's and kw's a few months back bout kw's was the first to come out with it before pete did, in other words, pete was a copy cat.....lol. Well Im here to tell you, that after kenworth experimented with or you would say, "came out with it first", But, "PETERBUILT" perfected on there trucks.. WE ALL KNOW THERE THE SAME COMPANY. Did I HIJACK this thread ?

 

I need your opinion, I want to buy this truck to pull reefers all 48 states, is this a good setup to pull 53 reefer, Thanks Mo

70 in Ultracab Unibilt; C-15 Caterpillar Engine 550 hp; 476,718 mi; 18 Spd; Engine Brake; Pete Flex Air Suspension; 3.23 Ratio; 24.5LP Tires; Polished Aluminum Wheels; 275 in Wheelbase; Tandem Axle; 12,000 lb Front Axle Weight; 40,000 lb Rear Axle Weight;

 

You can always tell if a truck is ex-Werner by the end of the frame... they have a very flat taper to allow a driver easier access to the trailer that the previous DA dropped too low... take a look at two trucks parked next to each other.... the Werner is different. That goes to all of their trucks regardless of brand.