Long Hood Peterbilt 359/379/389 and Kenworth W900

How can you not want to drive such a classic. Rides like a dream and nothing sounds as awesome as that big kitty kat. Never had a problem putting it where it needed to be either.

 

Paid my bills just fine and I enjoyed paying them in style. I never once even considered buying anything but.

 

I have nothing against them. I'm also not a fan of John Deere or Harleys. Seems like paying more for a name, or a perceived value. There may be some truth to the value, but all trucks run the risk of breaking down, I would simply prefer to break down in a truck that doesn't cost me as much.

 

My partner and CEO, Sydney. Got the world by the ###.

 

I just had the chance to drive an extended hood 379 for a couple of trips to the river with grain. I will say it turned way shorter than I would have guess and was much easier to see cars in what I would of guessed were blind areas, but weren't. The truck was normally used on a low boy and was set up for heavier loads, had wide singles on the front so Im guess it had some stiffer suspension, because I was really kind of expecting a better ride. Since everyone claims they ride so perfect. Getting used to sitting almost in the middle of the lane was the hardest thing for me, but luckily I read in here to put the hood ornament on the zipper and she was perfect. What I normally drive is a short hooded freight shaker 200" 10spd and the pete was probably 220-230" with a big kitty and an 18spd (first time driving an 18) but sure was nice being able to split gears where needed. Over all a very nice ride, had 2 times the miles as my truck and didn't squeak or rattle at all. The clutch is still backwards going into the floor though. I wonder if a truck that wasn't set up for hauling heavy would ride a little nicer or if I was just expecting to much since all the good I've read.

 

i would say based on my experiences---W-900, Freightliner Classic XL, yes there are a bit more difficult to maneuver especially in tighter spots. i think the only advantage to a long hood is easier access to the engine. But then again, you're not working on the engine everyday----or shouldn't be anyways.

They just aren't my thing.

i have however, driven a peterbilt 378 (shorter hood than a 379 i think) and that was very comfortable and as easy to drive as an FLD 120.

i also have a suspicion that the Coronado even with a bit of a hood is easy to drive due to the angle of the hood. i have not driven one yet.

i like the more modern conventionals-----freightliner fld, cascadia, columbia, gmc general, ford louisville, mack U +R model etc.

 

I've heard stories of some of the older mechanical engines being able to have entire heads swapped out on the side of the road. It isn't that you are working on it every day... it's that you don't have to fork out for a tow, shop time and wait for parts to ship to get back on the road.

 

I belive a regualr 379 has a 119.5 BBC so its pretty much the same as driving an FLD 120 minus the slopped hood and set back axle but pretty much the same BBC, the x model has the longer hood on it.