W900L - Right tool for the job?

Remember that this is first and foremost a business. A W900 is a good looking truck, but they are not very aerodynamic and heavy. From a business point of view, you would do better buying something that is easier on fuel. But, you are the one that will need to buy the fuel. Most W900's will get around 5 mpg or less. An aero truck can get 7 mpg or more. That is a HUGE cost difference over the course of a year. For instance, if you drive 100,000 miles in a year and average 5 mpg you will spend (100,000/5 mpg = 20,000 gallons of fuel). At $4/gallon for fuel you will spend $80,000 just for fuel. If your truck can average 7 mpg you will spend (100,000/7 mpg = 14,286 gallons). Again, at $4/gallon for fuel you will spend $57,142 to drive the same number of miles in an aero truck. That means that it will cost you $22,858 more to own and drive the W900 than the more aero truck that gets better fuel economy. In addition, you will likely pay more to purchase the W900. You will need to decide whether it is worth the cost difference to drive the W900. Some people would rather pay the difference in fuel mileage just to say that they own and drive a W900. I prefer making more money. You need to decide which way is best for you.

 

If your getting only 5mpg you need to learn to drive. i get around 6.8mpg pulling fac tanks. doing 70-75 the whole time
pulling my belly dump i get alittle over 6mpg but it's all hills at 84000#'s and never over 15 miles from crusher to oil fild pad
it all in how you drive.

 

My W900L weighs the same as a friend of mines T600, and I have been averaging 6.5mpg running 65mph. So they can get good mileage.

 

My buddy bought a nice '99 with an 86" studio and a 12.7L Detroit, that truck gets incredible fuel mileage over 7mpg many times when he fills up. He drives about 68mph max but mostly 65mph. I wish I had bought a nice W900 that I found back when I was shopping. I found a couple but ended up settling on T600. I like this T600 but I'd rather have a W900 with almost 4 years hindsight. Get what you want and drive it right.

 

I guess I better learn how to drive, my W9 is in the 5's all day at 62mph.

 

There's more to it than top speed. Shifting/driving habits, maintinence, and properly set up are big factors too.

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Also what you haul and where you haul it is a BIG factor in MPG , love to hear people telling the MPG they get only to find out they are pulling lightweight loads on flatland.

 

I would venture a guess and say my average load weight is around 42,000lbs, pulling a flatbed.

 

Id say thats about the average on my flatbed loads as well , but the areas they run in / out of vary and thats a factor in getting good MPG.

Back to the OP , the older W900's are holding decent resale $ right now compared to a few of the areodynamic models of KW.