Driving a Stretched Peterbilt

What cracks me up is the tire marks 5ft more to the inside from the guys in short trucks trying to make the turn without swinging to the left and then dragging their tires over that square edge on the concrete.

My FLD and W9 were both 280” and I never had any issues getting around with a 52ft spread. Lots of back roads, lots of tight farm yards. Getting around is just something you get used to. You know how you have to approach corners, if you need to drive past a little and back under the trailer so it cuts tighter.

Even now at FCC and doing dealer deliveries and having to back in off streets and stuff I’ve only been to one place where a long truck physically would not fit. You have to come in off the street, and when leaving go back the way you came in and not hit the retaining wall.

 

I got a 300 wb truck and haven't found a place I can't get into yet.. been to some really really tight deliveries too , have to back in off the street sometimes.. takes a little bit more finessing than a regular truck especially with a fully loaded spread . But it ain't that big a deal

 

No. You can do the Austin Powers move and get turned to the right to go out. That’s why in the one pic my truck is pointed to the left, I learned my lesson the first time I went in there.

 

Also the satellite view makes it look flat and open to the left, it is not. It slopes.

 

I'm not sure if I'm a dummy or a weirdo but I've never liked having my seat aired up. Even driving a spring ride cabover or a conventional without airride cab. The bounce in the seat always drove me crazy for some reason.

 

Or we are over 6 foot tall with a long torso so with the seat up at a comfortable height that puts these giant ### shifters level with the arm rest and quite comfortable to shift.

That said streched trucks do have a place. Though i personally prefer 220-230 as thw ideal length. Though i do admit my 260 lonestar rides nice on dirt compared to my 232 pete.

 

Same with me. It is more comfortable for me to sit on the floor with the seat pushed back in the sleeper

 

What is the advantage of say a 280 -300 vs a 230 -240 wheel base ? I hear long wb rides better and i get long wb when have 4 axle truck .