tips & ideas to get the hood up?

Those would have been sweet! I don't drive anymore, so I don't need to worry about it. Nice that they have those things out there now though.

 

Are the helper springs worn out or missing? They're pretty simple to replace if so; one hook and one bolt on the Macks at my company. Two springs per hood.

I'm young, big, and rugged enough not to have experienced much trouble with this, but I've seen the older drivers at my company go with the fender push method. They grab at the bottom of the fender and push up, once it reaches the tipping point, gravity does the rest.

I did have to use my full body weight on a Mack CL700 with worn out helper springs though, man was that embarrassing. "HEY ROOKIE, YOU NEED ONE OF US OLD-TIMERS TO SHOW YOU HOW IT'S DONE?" (I'm the youngest driver by about 50 years)

 

For sure, Peterbilt needed to do something, though. Their new bumper design for the 388/389 omitted the large hole for the tow hook, and their new design around all the emissions crap made the hood 4" taller than it used to be lol.

 

My suggestion would have been to learn how to do olympic lifts, and transfer it over to lifting the hood. That, or get bigger. However, I think what others posted might help you more, and be a little more immediate.

 

We've got one W9L thats a real pain. I'm 6'1 and 240, somedays the hood won't raise without grabbing each fender to "break it loose" then go round to the front & pull from the emblem. Guessing somethings fouled up with it but it's an 05 and should be gone soon.

 

Well you can unlatch the hood. Haul arse in reverse and slam on the brakes.. Should pop the hood loose. LOL

 

Well heck all that means is that he can skip all the stuff thats in there

 

Wouldn't that secure the hood, instead of popping it loose? Just asking.

 

That's what I was thinking....wrong direction!

 

i think its much easier to go around the side and push up...you are standing next to the steer tire when you do it this way