KW GLIDER

What is all this noise about how long the hood is?

Get a few K200 gliders on a boat up here from 'straya and I might be compelled to buy a new truck for a change.

 

I'd love to get my hands on a 660 with a 6NZ !!

I've read that for a glider to be offered that truck must have at one time come with the desired engine. I believe this was so the factory wouldn't need to re-tool or redesign a wiring harness.

Does anyone know if there's any truth to this ?

 

Probably is some truth to it. The factory is not going to stock every possible combination of engine/chassis harnesses that could be done. That being said, there are companies that will make custom wiring harnesses to fit just about any need. And, for those so inclined to do it, you could design your own. The factory is set up to provide harnesses for the majority of engines that most customers would put in. Some obscure engine model would be least likely to be supported. But I know you can get wiring harnesses from the factory for at least Cats from 3406E on up, Detroits from DDEC III on up, and Cummins from N-14 Celect on up. Notice that these are all electronic engines. I have heard of some putting in mechanical engines, but not sure if factory has support for that and you wouldn't have to do your own fitting work. Harnesses are just one of the factors. All the other stuff required to fit the engine in would have to be custom done as well.

There would be no problem with putting a 6NZ in a 660, that is if KW offered the 660 as a glider, which they don't.

 

That would be nice if KW offered the W9 as a glider. As of now, if you want a big nose, you are limited to the Pete 389, and for a little less nose, a FL Coronado.

But who knows, maybe KW will offer the W9 as a glider when they wake up and realize the glider market is going gangbusters right now. But then, maybe one day pigs will fly.

 

I hope that KW makes a glider for the T-800! I have owned 2 of them in the past and they are great trucks!! The T-800 looks really good all chromed out, I just wish they would put the full height doors back on them instead of the ball scratcher doors

 

If any of you believe that 6 MPG big hood trucks will be around forever, ask yourselves how Volvo has been building a COE with 750 HP that gets 7.5 MPG in Europe for 4 years now.

As sad as the death of big hoods will be for all of us (i have owned plenty of 379's) it is inevitable soon.

If you think Paccar doesnt profit from building gliders for $40K and selling them for $120K you need to buy a calculator. Its not profitability its "fleet average" that keeps them from building them in the future.

New fleet mileage standards begin NEXT YEAR ! Paccar can not continue to be profitable while paying $50K fines on every truck that rolls off the line. They MUST build more efficient trucks, and it can be done (it is already being done).

Read the link below \/

http://www.thedetroitbureau.com/201...-first-ever-mileage-standards-for-big-trucks/

 

The new 2014 regulations are based on a fleet wide avg. So if KW & Pete need to raise their avg, logically the hoods would be the first to go. Although, its not just the hood that causes the areodynamic issues- external bresthers, pipes , bumper etc. Every little percentage in wind resistance adds up, therefore the classic styled trucks days are numbers strictly due to the overzealous EPA and their mandates. There is and will always be a demand for these trucks, but it wont out pace the fines and problems for producing them. Thanks to the enviro nazi's.

You cant compare a Euro trucks mpg to US truck mpg, its completely apples to oranges. Different weights, length, speeds, transmissions, etc. Look at their tractor to trailer gaps vs. ours, that alone makes a huge mpg difference.

I can see KW offering the W9 as a glider only option once the 2014 mpg regulations come to. That would be the only way they probably can sell them.

 

Doesn't a T660 have a much larger radiator than a T600? I like the 600 and 660 just don't care for the limitations the small radiator on my 600 impose on my hp ambitions and addiction.

 

Weights higher.
Length is a little shorter,max 45 foot to 53.
But in volume the EU trucks gain because they are running lower trailerfloors.
Speed can be compared to the slowest states.
Trailer gap is nearly nothing.(except canhaulers)

 

Thats my point.The only way mpg can be used as a comparion is if everything else is equal. Just saying a European COE is better because it gets 7.5 compared to a W9 pulling a spread reefer, at 6 mpm, is rediculous. Same Speed, weight, spec, route etc is the only true way to compare.