Favorite Trucks

I'll see if I can get some posted later. I just started a new job driving a company truck semi-local. Parked mine for now. OK?

 

The most comfortable truck that I have ever had the pleasure of piloting was a 1997 KW900L. Had an 84" condo, a big cat(never got the specs on her) and a 13 speed. It was all owner/op spec including the diamond interior. Man, that thing was nice. The boss had thrown on a Jones performance hood with the round lights and j&j brackets and a big stainless visor. The truck was painted Home Depot orange (the boss was a huge Tony Stewart fan) and had purple flames on the upper part of the bunk. Although I could have done without the flames being purple, it did off-set the orange quite nicely.

 

I started out many years ago driving a 1981 Ford daycab and loved the solidness of the truck. It had a Hendrickson rear suspension on a walking beam spread. Great ride for the day.

Then I was in cabovers. Reyco rear suspensions, ran a 1984 GMC Astro 95 that had an excellent ride (and great fuel mileage) for the day. Occassionally ran some 1985 International cabovers (Ryder rentals) and they rode amazingly well.

Always loved the look of Ford's longnose Louisvilles and saw a 1987 just the other day, all shined up and chromed out. Man, she looked pretty!

Western Stars caught my eye in the early 1980 and I have been a fan ever since.

What about the Marmons, Morgans, Hendersons, old Macks, the infamous Autocar?

How many have driven the CCC, FWD, Oshkosh or other AM Generals that were outfitted for military use? You get behind the wheel of one of those and you know you're in a real truck!!

Anyone out there remember the old Dodge trucks, with the swing-away fenders? And the old Chevy / GMC conventionals, or the old Whites?

I drove a Diamond Reo 5 Star years ago and man, was that a lumbering truck to pilot down the road!!!

MY favorite trucks aren't necessarily the new trucks with the aerodyne look, but more like the trucks of old.

 

First truck I ever drove was 66 pete cabover with a 250 cummins 4x4 trans seems like all I did was shift gears.

 

I was spoiled as a kid 'cause my 1st ride was a 359 Pete with a hot rodded 420 cummins from a crane or something, straight pipes and a 13 double over. It would blow by anything on the road, I mean anything! It had a sunroof in it which was totally unheard of in those days. No working A/C so the windows were down all the time as well as the sunroof mostly open, I think thats why my right ear has sum terrible ringing all the time! Of course all those Harleys have the pipes on the right side... Anyway, I was 16 years old and was king of the road. It was mostly downhill from there... hehehe

I drove lots of different trucks after that. Once I ran team nearly twice a week from FL to Toronto in a KW cabover with a V12 Deee-troit, 44000LB rears and hendrickson suspension, no A/C or power steering. That was a real He Man truck to drive.

Had a brand new Ford CL9000 cabover, 1979 I think. It was the 1st truck ever with air ride cab. It had a KT450 in it and was a hoss in its day, but that cab would flop around like a fish outa water. You could scare the h*ll outta a 4 wheeler by wiggling the steering wheel and making the cab whip side to side!

Now I'm 50 and going back OTR as an O/O. I'm buying a '05 W900L with a CAT, 72 inch bunk and an APU. I would love to have a Pete but man, they are cramped inside! In the KW I can get up and walk around, (when parked hehehe) turn on the A/C or heat, TV, or just about anything I want and burn almost no fuel running the APU. Runs like a top and rides like a dream! Trucks have come a looooong way baby!

 

Mark you bring up valid points. Just curious, what carrier are you leasing on as? Also, please post pictures of the rig when you get a chance.

Hunter

 

look at a 70" pete ultra sleper.it has as much room as the KW studio due to the way KW measures them.

 

I just got off a trip with a Freightliner Classic XL132 with 70" sleeper, 500 Det, straight 10 speed. You can have it. This particular truck was a lemon (shop told me so). Completely gutless pulling hills, cheap Bostrom branded seats (my butt would hurt after 2 hours), no lights for dash switches. If someone gave me a brand new one of my very own, I would take it to the nearest Pete/Star dealer and trade it. The bunk had room for the wife and I (barely), lots of storage space. I would avoid it.

 

Ill take a pete 379 anyday with a 82 inch sleeper 475 cummins motor and a 15 or 18 speed behind it, i drove a 2000 pete 379 the company sold it was white with rootbeer colored front fenders 82 inch sleeper who ever got that truck got a sweet ride the only thing it needed was the built in fridge,

 

Hi Kinghunter, I'm trying to lease on to a 100% O/O specialized/heavy haul fleet, but my lack of current experience may kill that deal. I have 10 years and a million plus miles experience hauling everything that would fit on a lowboy, step deck or double drop, as well as some van and reefer time. I was living in Costa Rica for the past 7 years and only recently returned home.

I have a very good friend who has about 50 years O/O experience, he's 71 now, and is retiring. He makes very good money. I can take over his deals but figure it's better to be leased to a company for a while 1st. But with the experience situation i may have to buy a trailer right away, pay my insurance and plates and run under his authority. He called his insurance carrier and they said it's no problem... its just alot to swallow after 10 years off the road.

Anyway, sorry to be long winded and off topic.