I have no experience with the newer Petes and Kwhoppers, but I have driven Pete 386's, 379's, and up until last week, a Pete 389. I can't for the life of me figure out why drivers drool over them. Poor visibility, narrow cabs, etc. For me, they were the MOST UNCOMFORTABLE trucks I've ever driven in my 20 years in the industry.
Which Truck
Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by jac714, Jan 2, 2016.
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jac714 Thanks this.
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I'm short so I prefer freightliners
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The best truck I've ever driven was a T-680. I had a brand new one for about a year at my last job. That thing is the Cadillac of big trucks. And for reference I've driven Cascadias, Volvos, and Petes before also. Never driven a Mack or Western Star, but of all the ones I've driven, the KW is the best, hands down.
The only issue that I had with it was with the factory installed SatRadio antenna. It got no reception what so ever if the truck was pointed towards the NE. That made I-81 between TN and PA a loooong drive.jac714 Thanks this. -
a paccar engine is a boat anchor as far as i am concerned
i liked my kw 700 except for that
but when i got this cascadia almost failed the road test the turning radius is so much better
the DD15 with the mercedes DD12 auto is a great combination totally different then any previous configurations of trannys by Eaton etc -
Love my Volvo... Not listed but thought I would toss yet another opinion into the thread... Good luck choosing and Stay Safe no matter what you choose.
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Do a pretrip on all 3. Pick the one that doesn't leak oil. Check batteries. 5th wheel. Air leak. A/c. Avoid the auto transmission.
jac714 Thanks this. -
T680' don't like the looks of the Cascadia, and the 579,
jac714 Thanks this. -
Cascadia has been out since 2008, the 680 has been out since probably the 2012, which was the same year my 2013 Cascadia was built, actually June of 2012. With numbers sold, the FL is more reliable just from what I see on the hook and parked along the road with the hood up.
The Cascadia wiper switch is on the turn signal, it was on the dash on a Columbia, but the intermittent on either works good. There is enough on the steering wheel in the Cascadia and it doesn't come without, unlike Paccar making that optional.
DD 15 any day just for not having that noisy variable geometry turbo which fails sooner like any other engine has. Quick and quiet parked regens, for what few are usually needed, compared to long and loud roaring with particularly the ISX.
They all have trouble, and it could be said all can be bad, but the difference which matters to the people paying the bills is how reliable and how costly per mile.
jac714 and Bob Dobalina Thank this.
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