INPUT WANTED ON KW T660/680

Mar 02, 2013 at 01:54 PM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. I would like to have some input from anyone who has or is currently driving a Kenworth T660. I am looking into getting another OTR truck and this is the model we are looking at now. It's a 2009 with 400k miles, Cummins ISX 15 with 485 hp, 1850 torque, 3.55, Eaton 13 speed, 72" bunk with APU. We currently have a W9 and it's a great truck for pulling hoppers, but the mpg isn't the best, but the scale weight is only 17,500#. We will be keeping the W9 as we look for another OTR truck. The ride in our W9 is very smooth, so if we were to replace it, the next truck needs to be just as good. Some of the features I like about the T660 is that it is lighter than the W9, more aerodynamic, and on paper should get better mpg, but at the same time have the durability of a Kenworth truck. I would like to hear about others experiences with mpg, the ride of the truck on rough interstate roads, sleeper comfort and quietness during the night. The APU should help, but if the truck has to run at night, how quiet is the sleeper? Also, if anyone is driving a T680, I would like to hear about that as well. Thanks, Ryan

Replied on Sat, Mar 02, 2013 at 06:08 PM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. 17500#....is that the dry stamped weight....I have 5 W9's 3 of them with Cat c12-13's, full of fuel with pto for hyd and aux air compressor they weigh 19500# and the other 2 with C15's are 20600#plus....I bought a T800 with a C13 last year all loaded up its 18500# also bought a Pete with a C13 and its 17800# loaded up....Love the W900 bought the weights and lack of tight steering suck

Replied on Sat, Mar 02, 2013 at 06:08 PM CST

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

17500#....is that the dry stamped weight....I have 5 W9's 3 of them with Cat c12-13's, full of fuel with pto for hyd and aux air compressor they weigh 19500# and the other 2 with C15's are 20600#plus....I bought a T800 with a C13 last year all loaded up its 18500# also bought a Pete with a C13 and its 17800# loaded up....Love the W900 bought the weights and lack of tight steering suck

Replied on Sat, Mar 02, 2013 at 08:06 PM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. My W9 stamped weight on the inside door jam is 17,900#. When I weighed the truck on a scale with no driver and backed off the fuel in the tanks, it weighed ~17,500. I think the wheelbase is around 235"-240", dual wheels on the tandems, lo pro 22.5's. Cummins ISX 450, 3.55 rears, AG380 frame (this is lighter and helps), 72" raised roof (not hi-rise condo) sleeper, single bunk, all aluminum wheels. I originally thought this was a heavy truck, but the more research I do, the more I realize this is a light truck for a W9. With fuel, driver, and empty HHS Timpte hopper, it usually scales out at 28,500 +/- a few hundred pounds depending on how full the tanks are. Fuel mileage is usually 5.5-6.0 mpg, which my driver does a good job at for a wide front and constantly pulling 80k# loads with not too much deadhead. Truck runs and drives great, so I will keep it around for a while as we research other potential OTR trucks. We are set on finding a KW that can help us do better OTR for fuel mileage, if we can find one that rides as nice as the W9. The KW's are good durable trucks, local KW shop does good work and customer service (very important to me, just as much as the truck itself), and they hold up well over time and abuse. I have other trucks that are Volvo's and they do not hold up as well, but with same motor and rear axle, I have averaged 6.7 mpg for all miles since the first of the year. So I am set on the Cummins ISX 15 and 3.55, it should be a good combination to get us 6.5+ mpg in any aerodynamic truck. I spec'd out a new T800 and could not get it under 18,400# with the Cummins, Eaton 13, 72" bunk, 225" wheelbase. I don't know if the new SCR equipment is that heavy, but I wanted the T8 close to my W9 at 17,500# and we were nowhere near that weight, you can only trim so much without compromising the integrity of the truck. It's been much more of a challenge finding the right truck for our operation than I ever thought it would be. Ryan

Replied on Sat, Mar 02, 2013 at 08:06 PM CST

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

My W9 stamped weight on the inside door jam is 17,900#. When I weighed the truck on a scale with no driver and backed off the fuel in the tanks, it weighed ~17,500. I think the wheelbase is around 235"-240", dual wheels on the tandems, lo pro 22.5's. Cummins ISX 450, 3.55 rears, AG380 frame (this is lighter and helps), 72" raised roof (not hi-rise condo) sleeper, single bunk, all aluminum wheels.
I originally thought this was a heavy truck, but the more research I do, the more I realize this is a light truck for a W9. With fuel, driver, and empty HHS Timpte hopper, it usually scales out at 28,500 +/- a few hundred pounds depending on how full the tanks are. Fuel mileage is usually 5.5-6.0 mpg, which my driver does a good job at for a wide front and constantly pulling 80k# loads with not too much deadhead.
Truck runs and drives great, so I will keep it around for a while as we research other potential OTR trucks. We are set on finding a KW that can help us do better OTR for fuel mileage, if we can find one that rides as nice as the W9. The KW's are good durable trucks, local KW shop does good work and customer service (very important to me, just as much as the truck itself), and they hold up well over time and abuse. I have other trucks that are Volvo's and they do not hold up as well, but with same motor and rear axle, I have averaged 6.7 mpg for all miles since the first of the year. So I am set on the Cummins ISX 15 and 3.55, it should be a good combination to get us 6.5+ mpg in any aerodynamic truck.
I spec'd out a new T800 and could not get it under 18,400# with the Cummins, Eaton 13, 72" bunk, 225" wheelbase. I don't know if the new SCR equipment is that heavy, but I wanted the T8 close to my W9 at 17,500# and we were nowhere near that weight, you can only trim so much without compromising the integrity of the truck.
It's been much more of a challenge finding the right truck for our operation than I ever thought it would be.
Ryan

Replied on Sun, Mar 03, 2013 at 12:31 PM CST + 1
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. You can get a KW glider I have been told. I have a 2005 with the 4 bag suspension and 2 (one 2001 and one 2007) with 8 bag. If you are used to the 8 bag you will never like the 4 bag. It doesn't come close to the ride of the 8 bag, especially if you are running shorter wheelbase. The bags on the 8 bag trucks seem to be a lot more durable, but harder to change. Everyone that I know says that the newer DPF..EGR...DEF trucks are siginifcantly heavier to carry all of that garbage. My 05 W900L with an ISX- Wet kit- and fuel tanks are 150 each weighs just over 20,000. The tanks are to big and therefore add a little weight. My 2007 T600 Cat Wet kit short wheelbase weighs right at 17,000 My 07 379 Pete is just a little heavier but has an APU.

Replied on Sun, Mar 03, 2013 at 12:31 PM CST

+ 1

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

You can get a KW glider I have been told. I have a 2005 with the 4 bag suspension and 2 (one 2001 and one 2007) with 8 bag. If you are used to the 8 bag you will never like the 4 bag. It doesn't come close to the ride of the 8 bag, especially if you are running shorter wheelbase. The bags on the 8 bag trucks seem to be a lot more durable, but harder to change. Everyone that I know says that the newer DPF..EGR...DEF trucks are siginifcantly heavier to carry all of that garbage. My 05 W900L with an ISX- Wet kit- and fuel tanks are 150 each weighs just over 20,000. The tanks are to big and therefore add a little weight. My 2007 T600 Cat Wet kit short wheelbase weighs right at 17,000 My 07 379 Pete is just a little heavier but has an APU.

Replied on Sun, Mar 03, 2013 at 09:29 PM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. If you want a glider better get ir on order anything after April 1 has to be wired for 2013 + motors EPA put that in about 2 months ago only reason I found out I asked a Pete salesman about ordering one and he said I can call but have to be asap so waiting to hear if could be built in time just the frame and body specked the way I want

Replied on Tue, Mar 05, 2013 at 02:45 PM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. I am driving a 2010 t-660 pulling a 43x102x72 Wilson. Empty weight is 27500-28200 depending on fuel load. Truck is on singles and duals on the trailer. On the road i am lucky to see 7mpg and is genraly closer to 6.5mpg. With a 219 wb and the 8 bag it rides very good and the 62" flat top is plenty of room if you don't live in it full time.