Freightliner vs Kenworth

HA! Sadly, that's what it's become.

 

I just don't see the problem with a small cab. Leg room wise yes. Otherwise no problem. I would much rather have a small cab and drive something with class and character (359 or W9) than drive an ugly slopey nosed piece of plastic sheet.

 

While I drove for Swift I drove both Cascadia's and T680's.

@Toomanybikes pretty well summed up the "issues" with Freightliner ergonomics, mirror positions, etc. I will address handling. I LIKE running in foul weather and slick roads add an element of zen. The Cascadia is squirrelly, even with the power divider engaged. You really have to concentrate to keep from yawing into a jacknife.

The T680 was as stable a truck in slick conditions as I have ever driven. Engage the power divider and it's DIFFICULT to get it to yaw. The turning radius of the Cascadia is better, but you learn to compensate for the longer radius in the T680.

The quality of the interior in the KW is much better. Mirrors are positioned right. You can play the Jake switches like a piano, without having to reach out for a switch. The T680 was just plain fun to drive. If it wasn't for the fact it's a plastic body, I would be shopping for a mid roof for flatbed.

 

I never been in any truck yet but when I see a Kenworth I get the impression it glides down the road like a cruiser motorcycle. When I see a freightshaker I imagine hard plastic dash rattling and harsh ride like a hard tail chopper motorcycle. These aren't like riding motorcycles I know you get what I'm saying.

I do like the Kenworth styling too.

 

That's not entirely true. "Freightshaker" moniker came from the old cabovers with spring ride. Fact is, a '99 Century was the nicest riding truck I ever drove. My Pete Air Leaf, really didn't ride that well, and the KW is right up there with the Freightliner too. I think the KW is a better setup.

 

While I'm not going to sit here and claim a FL is the best truck on the road, it's not as bad as people are led to believe.

I don't know who keeps dogging DD15's but at 79800lbs I've blown the doors off KW's and Petes going up a slight grade.

We have 800 Cascadias in our fleet. They do keep our mechanics busy and employed, but its usually nit picky stuff, nothing catastrophic. The trucks in our fleet that get the least use are our company owned tow trucks. Very few need a tow.

I find the mirrors to be decent, can't compare with another truck but I've never had an issue with them. The only time the windshield leaks is if you hit it with a pressure washer. I find the interior roomy. I like the car-like dash, I don't feel like I'm in a big truck when I'm in it.

The sleeper is roomy with lots of storage space. You want a truck with a crappy sleeper and no storage space, look at an international pro-star. That's not a sleeper, that's a coffin.

 

Just build your own truck lol. I'm doing a "Kenliner" lol. Kenworth tractor with Freightliner running gear. Freightliner has one of the best air ride suspensions on the market.

 

My 1st truck was a Westernbilt, a Western Star conv. that I had the rear spring ride cut off behind the sleeper, and grafted a Pete Air Leaf to it. Changed the whole truck overnight.

 

You and me both, nothing like a comfy 379 to work in. Although I might amend that a tiny bit considering how many years have passed.

 

Freight shaker is another reason we had OSD people. Sometimes the entire trailer and it's stacked pallets collapse back there into single pile this high front to back. You know that is what happened when you hear that very special rumble sound.

Oh the sounds... I used to get angry at it because I just added 8 hours of manual labor back there to myself...

Another thing about the old iron and freightshakers is that those of us, a small percentage past a certain age acquire shaky hands. It has nothing to do with lack of strength, drive or motivation etc inside but everything to testify to decades battling the wonderful old iron on the bad roads...