KW vs Volvo

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by WREN, Aug 23, 2019.

  1. WREN

    WREN Medium Load Member

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    Ok guys, I am about to pull the trigger on a new to me truck. Im not up to speed on aero trucks as much as I should be. Anyways, I am looking at two different trucks:

    2014 KW T680 w/ 455hp Paccar MX 13 and a 13 speed trans, 874k miles on it.
    2015 Volvo VNL630 midroof w/ 455hp Volvo VED13 and a 10 speed trans, 537k miles on it.

    Volvo appears to be cleaner than the KW (driver seat isnt great), but also smaller sleeper and $14k more.

    Not familiar with either engine, so I am looking for advice from those of you that have owned both.
     
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  3. buddyd157

    buddyd157 Road Train Member

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    stay away from PACCAR engines...da end.
     
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  4. Midwest Trucker

    Midwest Trucker Road Train Member

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    What’s your budget? I don’t think I’d buy either of them.
     
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  5. WREN

    WREN Medium Load Member

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    30 to 40 is what I'm looking at
     
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  6. mitmaks

    mitmaks Road Train Member

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    Stay away from Volvo engines as well. I wouldnt mind Volvo with Cummins but Volvo with volvo drivetrain-just say no
     
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  7. snowwy

    snowwy Road Train Member

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    Both are out.

    Stick with FL, KW, PETE
    Stick with cat, Cummins, detroit.

    Much easier to find shops and repairs.

    I watched a volvo leave Vegas for salt lake.
    No one in Vegas could fix his rear end. No one had the socket.
     
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  8. johnnyman1099

    johnnyman1099 Medium Load Member

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    Make sure to Dyno the trucks. $200 or less. If possible, test drive the trucks 200 miles. This should be enough miles to trip any check engine or emission error codes that was cleared by dealer.

    I test drove 3 trucks and two of them had emission lamps come on.
     
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  9. S M D

    S M D Road Train Member

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    Don’t impulsively buy. We have 2 paccar t680s

    Initial thoughts
    T680 paccar
    Automatic sucks but it’s what drivers want. Gets around 7.5-8mpg at 70mph comfortable nice tall dash
    Not a owner friendly motor to work on and really ugly

    We have 15ish Volvo’s not all mine but from what I see from mine d13 seems to be good around 6.5-7 mpgs (varies)
    More people willing to work on them over all + owner repairs maintenance wise I’d say pretty easy to work on.


    My Cummins Volvo
    Between 5.5-6.5 mpg(varies)
    It’s a Cummins anybody can and will work on it.
    All drivers drive different


    And for Volvo if you’re tall your knees will hit the dash and you’re also in a fishbowl hot summer sunny days might get a sunburn on your knees.
     
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  10. S M D

    S M D Road Train Member

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    Volvo d13s have been outlasting Cummins after 2012 by 300-500k miles Im a Cummins fan but my d13s have been really good
     
  11. WREN

    WREN Medium Load Member

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    Jul 17, 2017
    Florida panhandle
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    Im leaning towards the KW with the paccar. Im getting into it relatively cheap and it will have a small warranty (1 year, 125k) that will hopefully cover any major issue. Im a short guy (5'7") so not overly concerned with my knees hitting anything lol. I would prefer cummins all day long over anything but a cat, but Im trying to stay in a lower price/down payment that I can afford with out having to actually work the truck in case something happens and its not going down the road.

    @S M D its a 13 speed, do yall have any of those? I like the real world view by someone who actually owns one.
     
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