Thoughts on KW T660 with 86" Studio pulling a 53" step?

I pulled reefer with a 2007 T660. I had C15, 18 spd, 72" sleeeper, Battery APU, 150 gal tanks and 3.25 rear gear. Truck scaled out at 19,980 lbs with all my ish in it. With 53" Utility reefer I could haul 42 - 43k in the box. 43k I had to watch my fuel to make sure I wasnt over gross.

I recently bought my first truck, pulling a 53" Fontaine step deck. My truck is an 05 Columbia. C15, 10 spd, 3.56 rear, 150 gal tanks. Trailer is a little heavy at 11k. I'm 34,400 lbs full of fuel. 45,6k puts me at gross, but I can do 46,500 easily cutting fuel back. I try not to book any loads over 45k, but there have been times when I ended up scaling over 80k and had to dodge the first scale till I burned enough fuel off to get legal.

I'm already looking at buying my next truck. My wife likes to come out on the road with me. We've been out almost 5 weeks now and she is loving it. Only issue is the bed in my 70" sleeper isnt that big. About the size of a twin bed. I'd love to get a 386 just for the weight savings, but the largest sleeper simply would not work.

So I am leaning toward a 2011+ T660 with the 86" Studio. The trailer I currently use is not mine, I lease it. I'm sticking with a step deck, but with the T660 Studio I'm thinking I will need an all aluminum trailer to compensate for the added weight plus adding a headache rack and all my gear. Anyone have experience with an all aluminum step deck? I've pulled an all aluminum Benson regular flat with a 386 Pete. I never had any issues with weight, even with the heaviest loads. Trailer would flatten out on heavy loads, but still carried the weight just fine. I'm concerned that with a Step it may not be as sturdy.

What do you guys think about this for hauling legal loads? Should I just stick with a 386 Pete and 70" or will I still be able to haul the same weight I do now with the T660 and Studio? I'm really on the fence. I'm looking at making a purchase some time next spring. Trying to do as much research now, but I feel experienced advise is always welcome.

Hurst

 

Most Studios have a couch that folds down into a bed in the back. Its a miserable and uncomfortable thing. But,.. you can lay a queen size mattress on top, or yank it out all together and swap in a queen size bed, provided I frame it up. Getting a queen size mattress in requires some finesse. It wont really fit through the side door on the sleeper,.. it comes in best through the passenger door folding the mattress almost in half. The mattress will be right up against the cabinets. But for a couple sleeping together, it makes all the difference in the world.

Hurst

 

I've looked at a couple WS with the Stratosphere sleepers. A little on the fugly side with the way the sleeper bulges out, but nice truck all in all.

The only concerns I have with a WS and Statospher set up is again,.. weight. The WS will have a longer wheel base then the T660, and the T660 turn radius is much better in comparison. But if I knew I could haul 46k with out an issue, I'd consider buying one.

The truck is just a tool for me to make money,.. I could care less what it looks like.

The other side of the coin is fuel mileage. I averaged 6.1 mpg in my 07 T660 with C15. I dont think a WS pulling a Step deck would come close. Hell, I'm struggling to average above 5.5 now with my Columbia.

Also,.. I wont buy any post emissions CAT powered trucks. Thats a deal breaker. I'd probably settle for an ISX powered truck. Though,.. I have been reading some good opinions about the MX motors set at 485hp. I drove a 2010 386 with a 430hp MX and it was gutless and in the shop more than it was on the road. That left me very apprehensive about that motor.

 

The only difference between the 72" Aero and 86" Studio in terms of space behind the seats, you get an extra cabinet in between the regular cabinets and the back of the seats. Its roughly 16 inches or so. I've never really measured it. But you also have some more room after the cabinets and the back wall for a larger bed. The 72" condo is a bit more limited in terms of what you can do back there. The couch in the Studio frees up a good bit of real-estate and leaves some wiggle room for customizations, especially if I removed the front cabinets and put the rear up behind the seats. This is why I am really leaning toward wanting to buy a T660 with the Studio.

But if I cant haul the weight,.. then thats a deal breaker. Thats why I'm asking for experienced O/O's or drivers who are or have run this combination to shed some info on the subject.

Hurst