Thoughts on buying a glider from Fitzgeralds

The CAT oem dampers sourced in China use inferior silicone prone to premature failure. The standards are lower. But you're right we're all forced to pay the same price as made in America for inferior products and they make off like bandits.

 

I'm wanting to purchase the KW T660 glider. I see it comes in a 236" wheelbase vs the Pete 389 which has a 275". I haul chemical tanks as a company driver right now. First of all I would want the wings removed. They have been a real challenge for one of our owner ops who has the T660 and they've gotten bent up pretty badly! My question is about the short wheel base. Seems like a short wheel base tractor would beat the driver up a lot more than a longer wheelbase. Is this true? As well, and this question may be particularly for mike3fan, since you haul tanks, would a much shorter wheel base than you have, while hauling liquid and jostling the truck..., cause a lot more wear and tear on that tractor with the much shorter wheelbase than with your Pete?

 

A 236" wheelbase with a set back front axle will ride fine...

I had a t-600 with that wheelbase . Now I've got a T800 with the same wb and heavy front and rears... No problem. And I do a lot of tank work.

And you can fit the 72" sleeper and a fitting box behind it.. With a 18" pin on your tank .

 

my t600 has 232. If I bought glider fitzgerald, I would take t660 studio sleeper or coronado. No matter with 12.7 detroit or cat 6nz.

 

That oughta ride fine. Try a 214wb W900B, 20K steer, with 46K Chalmers rears. Bobtail that a little ways then talk to me about a rough riding truck!

You should be able to get a glider at whatever wheelbase you want though. Not sure how it works going through one of the outfits that builds them, but I'm actually spec'ing a glider from KW right now. Only thing that they won't do that has came up so far is hang drop axles at the factory I've gotta do that on my own.

 

Can get a t660 with a longer wheelbase from Fitgeralds, than their standard 236", but it takes 5 months to get it in and costs a couple thousand more. We've got a owner op who has the 236" t660 and he's really had some problems first of all mounting the pump and compressor needed for tanking, and secondly has bent up his sleeper due to making too tight of turns with the tank. This is why I will seriously consider paying for the longer wheelbase! Their Pete 389 raised roof weighs in at 18,163, and the KW t660 weighs in at 17,800 (360 lbs less). The t660 gets .5 mpg better than the 389. I've had some consistent pressure from owner ops at my company to go with the 389 vs the t660. Personally, though I have never driven a long hood (only been driving 21 months total, in a Prostar). I don't think I would get used to it very easily, the tractor is much longer, and seems like the limited view would make it more dangerous to drive. I may be speaking in great error but that is my limited perception! The half mile per gallon difference in fuel mileage though, makes a huge difference in operating expense! Over 120,000 miles per year at a cost of $3.00/gallon, the increased fuel use on the 389 would cost me an extra $3955 per year in fuel expense, verses driving the t660! As far as sleepers, the 389's is 6 inches longer. What I like though about the t660 is it has an upper bunk vs the 389 which has open air above. Sleeping on the upper bunk would allow more efficient use of all that open air above and increase storage space by using the lower bunk area for that. Just weighing my options... Thanks for listening! Any input would be appreciated!

 

Bent his sleeper cause he wasn't pay attention.

 

Just ran into an Owner Op from a different terminal who has a 72" sleeper t660 with a 236" wheelbase. He said bending the sleeper is absolutely ridiculous! Just pay attention, as you said! No longer wheelbase neccessary! And mounting the pump and compressor, if the right outfit does it, shouldn't be a problem either.

 

Visibility in a 379/389 is actually quite good in my opinion. I have done about 1.75 million miles in big Peterbilts and the only thing I hit was one suicidal deer.
Pulling onto narrow scales can be a challenge at some places. If u try to look out the driver side window to check out how you're lined up, the air cleaner blocks your view. Just gotta line up and hope for the best.
And of course the hood creates a blind spot just in front of the truck, which only matters when maneuvering in a tight place.
And that fuel mileage penalty : it's only money. I'm out here to look good. If I make some money, that's like a bonus