Your thoughts on Peterbilt 387 (13 or 18 Speed)?

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by vijay, Jul 21, 2011.

  1. vijay

    vijay Bobtail Member

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    Ok, to answer your question on "lose everything" ...it is for a personal business...it will take over the job my pick up Ford f-350 dually is doing now or at least trying to do. Only this time, it will sleep two and have full kitchen ....basically a toterhome. I intend to put less than 7K miles a year, so used ones are the best option for me. The trailer that I have in mind will carry ton of gear and ATVs, UTVs, buggies,off roaders and turn into a display/office etc.
    Above all, my only question is, your thoughts on a C15, 18 speed versus 13 speed, MPG etc...
     
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  3. Cowmobile

    Cowmobile Medium Load Member

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    Your right if it's fleet specs, but a 387 with o/o specs and all the bells and whistles is just as nice as a 379, with one exception, the hood as you mentioned will rattle unless you put the regular latches on it like others trucks... Other than that I loved the 387 I drove..
     
  4. vijay

    vijay Bobtail Member

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    Jul 18, 2011
    California
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    Which brand/model- trans is your personal preference....just curious.
    Trying to learn as much as I can.....
     
  5. midnight_trucker_1971

    midnight_trucker_1971 Medium Load Member

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    go tear up someone elses junk for a few years!! atleast they will fix it!! you'll go under and go out of bussiness if you have a engine blow out!! as well as some load boards look to see how long you had your operating authouirty. fuel will break the piggy bank as well as insurance. :biggrin_2551:
     
  6. rollin coal

    rollin coal Road Train Member

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    Kenworth. I own a T600. You cant go wrong with that a T800, or a W900. 387 is poorly designed doesn't matter what "o/o specs" it has. The doors are fiberglass and prone to getting sprung after a short time. A friend has one currently you cant even open the pass door it did that when almost new. I've driven several myself in the past all were brand new when given to me. Yes they are roomy and don't look half bad but everything in the cab squeaks and rattles. Check one out on a lot and see what awful sounds you hear when you open the doors. Note how Kenworth doors have a raised edge all along the outer perimeter. My t600 has over a million miles and the doors are no different than when new. The interior doesn't rattle. I done care if parent company and many components are the same. Cabs and suspensions are not. 13 speed is all you need. Only heavy hauler or offroad trucks really need ability to split the bottom side, unless you just want one. Nothing wrong with that.. Most otr drivers with 18s never split the bottom.
     
  7. ProduceHauler

    ProduceHauler Light Load Member

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    Well, most drivers have no clue how to keep truck for longer then 3 years - after that everything bothers them. Because thats about what it takes for a wheel holder like you to turn ANY truck into ratting and squeezing piece of *hit

    Myself - I do split every gear every time and don't even feel like going into discussion about it, I mean it's basics. Those gears are to save driveline, to make it last longer with no clutch replacement every 200k miles.

    I have some rattle from cabinets, but W900 I was driving was way louder anyway. My (387) passenger side window failed around half a mil, door lock at 750k. Thing is, that's all what failed already.

    All your stories about how 387 is worse than 379 are pure bull*hit and starts with lack of basic skills - I mean, who skips the gears that are already paid for? Only idiots do
     
    Last edited: Jul 25, 2011
    Cowmobile Thanks this.
  8. black_dog106

    black_dog106 Road Train Member

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    Learn something everyday in these forums...:biggrin_25520:
     
  9. ProduceHauler

    ProduceHauler Light Load Member

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    I'm sorry, didn't think that your million mile T600 is not paid for :biggrin_2559: Couldn't make money with it? :biggrin_25522:
     
  10. black_dog106

    black_dog106 Road Train Member

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    all this exceptional and valuable knowledge
    How do you do it?
     
  11. Jfaulk99

    Jfaulk99 Road Train Member

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    I was kind of thinking the same thing. Can you imagine shifting an 18spd using all the gears every time the truck moves, even downhill and empty.:biggrin_2556::biggrin_2559:

    Wonder what his thoughts are on lift axles? Would that qualify as "not using tires/brakes that are already paid for"?:biggrin_2559:
     
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