Hoping to have a new KW ordered in the new year.....what do I expect?

Hey all,

I haven't been on this forum since 2013 as I haven't seen much need to post and whatnot, but as I'm now considering possibly going owner-op more seriously than I ever have before, it seemed prudent to ask about things that people who do this would know, particularly with the truck I'm wanting, the T800. LLC, DOT number, all that has not yet been reserved, and I still need to ask the bank what sort of numbers could possibly be run on a loan if I were to decide to bite the proverbial bullet. If it were to happen, I'd be contracting out to the company I currently work for, delivering trailer parts from Michigan to western regions. Current plan for a truck, if blessed enough such that it can be ordered without putting me into the poorhouse, is a Kenworth T800 with the 550hp Cummins, 10-speed stick if possible(otherwise 18-speed stick), full length Studio Sleeper, fully locking differentials, and 300-gallon fuel capacity with a Tripac.

But what I'm not sure about this is, assuming such a truck can be procured,
is a 6.0-6.5 mpg average realistic?
What would the average maintenance cost be per week or month to factor in and set aside $$$ for so oil changes and tire rotation/replacement, and occasional more complicated things, can be done on time and paid for upfront?
Are they still as reliable as the years of production for this model implies?
How well do those of you who own T800s or drive as a company driver like them for day-to-day use?

 

Sit home and file yourself a job. You will not, yet, lower your standands

 

funny thing, you don't get it, the main thing, we are screwed up with weather. with deliveries, it is just patience

 

T800? Do they still make them? I know they stopped making T660 about 4 or 5 years ago.

 

Yup. I googled it. They still make them.

 

Yes they do, but not for much longer.

 

Why full lockers? I have only once needed them in over 20 years of driving. If you're going off road, but delivering trailer parts? Sounds overkill.

 

The T660 was discontinued after 2017. T800 they can still order, but they don't know for how much longer.

As for full lockers, I've been in a couple situations in winter when they would have been nice. Once pulling out of a truck stop in SLC, other trucks lined up behind, but couldn't go forward due to only having the one locker. Could back up though, so once other truckers convinced the guy right behind me to go around so I had room, they had me back up and get moving once traffic cleared. Second time was the next morning at the TA in Mill City, Nevada. I'd parked in the dirt section of the lot(which had a half inch of snow on it) no problem, but couldn't get the truck to move. Finally managed to get moving by easing on and off the clutch just right to rock out of the potholes. Seems better to have and not need such a feature than to need and not have it. Much more useful to me than some radar thingy in the front bumper like these company trucks seem to always have these days.

 

They've been saying the T-800 is going away since 2013. Still a pretty popular model.

I just hope they don't discontinue the C-500.

 

Your funeral, pal, I read a 2022 T800, studio sleeper ( who cares what motor it had), 2400 miles, $164,900. 2400 miles,,,hmm, nice truck NICEST truck, and it better get more than 6, I got that with my old BC's, I'd expect 7-8, easy, but seriously? For the life of me, I can't imagine what payments would be, fuel going to hit $5/gallon( don't think so?) I don't mean to question your intelligence, but with all the great jobs Chinatown posts, and GOOD jobs too, not the fly by night ones I worked for, if any left, why on Gods green and blue earth, would you go into one of the most fickle industries today? Truck ownership. Heck,,you're better off selling RV's. I'm not bashing your initiative, reminds me of me when I bought my trucks. Biggest difference, I had maybe $20g's invested, and a catastrophic event, that never happened, luckily, I wouldn't be strapped with $164 grand debt, and the insurance mysteriously cancelled you a day before. That's the biggie, insurance will rob you blind. They have to, to make up for all the pileups. YOU'RE PAYING FOR THAT! Look, you want peoples advice, you came here, and I'm only offering another opinion. Choose wisely, pal, it's a lot easier buying a truck than selling one, trust me. Good luck, and let the boss worry about repairs and fuel. They have 25 other trucks to offset when one goes under, you're going fishing,,,