2012/2013 Kenworths

as you guys can see Paccar offers small urban cabovers in the USA now, really they offer DAF LF with KW badge, so IMO, they may introduce DAF 105 soon and I sugest DAF CF too.

 

That truck is going to be a log truck. It's got a 500hp Cummins/1850 torque with an 18 speed. 46k rears with full diff locks on air ride. It's an extended cab with 3.91 gears.

 

Kenworth glider can be mated only EPA 2004 engines. No pre EGR.

 

Nothing against KW's but if leg room, good visibility and a truck that sits higher up is important to you you owe it to yourself to look at a western star. Not trying to be rude but there's more to life than paccar products, just take a look at a western star and you'd be surprised by the room in the cab. And the visibility is great, it's about like sitting in a fish bowl and compared to other trucks most western stars sit high enough that you may get a nose bleed when you climb up into one.

 

For me the KW T680 is the way to go. It has everything above, plus excellent aerodynamic.

 

Well, I just ordered a new 2013 T660 after getting out of a 2012 T660 company truck, ran out (700K miles) on a 2006 T800 and before that a 2000 T800, all with Cummins power. The 2000 had an old N14 in it, rode like a Lincoln, only probs were doing the valveseal thing every 200000 or so when the blow by got bad due to excessive idling. The 2006 hadthe EGR computer going out every 100000 like clockwork, I actually started preplanning the 1100 buck maintenance. Other than that, no probs-still had the same refrigerant in the ACas the day it rolled off the line at KW with 700K on it. The 2006 never idled much as it had a Carrier APUon it that ran 23000 hrs over the life of that truck. The 2012 T660 had the A/C fan clutch go out after 12000 m, got it replaced and had a heater core solenoid switch start leaking on the firewall at about 22000m repaired under warranty. Ditched that truck a couple of weeks ago back to the company and ordered a new 2013 last week, the 2012 had the new 450 ST and took a lot of waiting to wind up those last two gears on the 10 speed.

The 2013 I have ordered has a 550 2015 ft/lb torque Cummins with the 18 speed super tranny 3:08 rears with air ride front axle and 3 way lockers. I am like you Tank, I won't have anything but a KW, but I don't think the W900L will be around much longer as it is now simply because you just can't shift enough weight to that front axle...it'sjust too far out front of the truck. I like the looks of that truck, but the T800 looks good enough and still allows for that weight shifting to the front axle. As far as the Cummins power goes, I would not have any engine from the past in my truck over the latest technology. The EGR problem has been negated with the SCR technology now, and that 2012 450ST with a 10 spd 3:55 was getting 7-8 mpg cruising at 1480 RPM fully loaded to 79500 lbs! When I turned it in a couple of weeks ago it had over 125000 on it with 0 problems in the drive train. I can't say that for any of the other Cummins I have driven in the past.

The Glider thing may work for some folks, to each his own, but gimme latest technology! I have seen the reliability of Cummins improve since that ridiculous EGR era. Just my two cents.

Oh, I looked at those Western Star's, just don't like 'em. The part that really got me was if I needed service, I would have to actually go to Freightliner! I can't be seen around them parts, would RUIN my reputation

Keep On Truckin'

 

You would not have to go to Frieghtliner but if no Western Star place is close you can also go to Frieghtliner... Also any place that works on Pierce Fire trucks can work on your DD 13-16

 

Kenworth is offering the W900L in a glider kit.

As stated in an earlier post... the EPA certification requirement of a glider kit follows the year model of engine being installed, not the year model of the chassis. There is no restriction on the year model of engine that can be installed in a glider. The only restriction is the capability of the J1939 datalink on a given engine to be able to communicate with the new multiplex electronic cabs.

Kenworth is only offering PREP KITS (ie. engine control harness, CAC & Radiator piping, Air intake piping, etc) for engines back through 2004 EPA. However, with minor modifications/replacements of particular parts, a pre-emission pre-egr engine can easily be installed into a new glider kit.

 

Putting a non-electronic engine in a new glider is more than "minor modifications" if you want small features like gauges and speedometer! I just saw one done that took a senior Cat tech a long time to make it work as well as replacing the electronic gauge cluster with the old DIP switch speedo and tach! Not cheap if you gotta stroke the check for labor..............