Kenworth T300?

I've been hauling hay with a 1 ton dually, and have outgrown it. I don't want to go to a full size semi because I have to get into and out of some pretty hairy places. This has been a long time coming because I didn't want to get away from 4wd. Even with 4wd, I've had to put on chains several times. Its now gotten to a point that I'm overloading and working a dually to death, so I'm gonna try a medium duty truck. It must have locking differential, and I'll definitely carry a set of good quality aggressive chians. I was thinking a 12 foot bed, or even no bed at all - just a gooseneck ball

I like the looks of the Kenworth T300. There aren't a lot of them out there it seems. I'd try to find one with an 8.3 cummins and a 6 speed.

Any thoughts?

I don't know about the KW but the 9or 10 speed would ba a much more popular transmission and probably easier to get parts for if needed. Also they should not need much for parts till around a million or more miles on them. Just change the oil and use the synthetic 50 wt in them will shift much better in cold weather. Using the synthetic in the rear end will work much better in the cold. When I once used regular oil you could feel the drag when cold taking off. Once warmed up not a problem. Deoending on distance why not just use a couple of big wagons hauling about 15 or so bales each?

(quoted from post at 06:59:22 02/29/20) I don't know about the KW but the 9or 10 speed would ba a much more popular transmission and probably easier to get parts for if needed. Also they should not need much for parts till around a million or more miles on them. Just change the oil and use the synthetic 50 wt in them will shift much better in cold weather. Using the synthetic in the rear end will work much better in the cold. When I once used regular oil you could feel the drag when cold taking off. Once warmed up not a problem. Deoending on distance why not just use a couple of big wagons hauling about 15 or so bales each?

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I m hauling hay to customers up to 100 miles. Tractor is gonna be a tetch slow

I delivered kenworths to the dealer for 30 years , if you could find a used fed-EX t-300 they have a single rear axle full locking diff. I delivered a lot to salt lake city

Look at the JCB fast trac and maybe others out now. They will do 50 MPH maybe 55 ?

How about an ex military 6 wheel drive truck ?

Are you lacking in power or in carrying capacity?

-C6500 with the Cat diesel, the bigger rubber would give you a lot more capacity.

They are hard to find but I have a 2006 Silverado 3500 with the 8.1L and the Allison 6 speed, it has the power to comfortably pull way more than it was designed for and you have 4x4 for the nasty spots.

We have a Freightliner FL 70 at work. C7 Cat and 9 speed. 12? ft
bed with gooseneck and bumper hitch. Pulls an overloaded 35 ft
gn trailer like a piece of pie. You WILL miss 4x4, but a locking
diff and chains will help alot. That FL70 has a very tight turn
radius. Better than a pickup I think. Great for backing into
driveways. Good luck with your search!

If I understand correctly, you need a truck to pull a gooseneck loaded with hay on 1-200 mile trips?

I would look at a used single axle day cab tractor, full size. There are tons out there for dirt cheap. Just make sure it is air ride. The medium duty?s tend
to be cheaper built, but cost more on the used market.

FWIW, I use a regular tandem tractor as my hauler.

We discussed medium duty trucks verses single axle tractors and trailers on another forum a couple years
ago. Peterbilt medium duty's were the most favored, I know Pete & KW are related but don't know how much
actual DNA and parts they actually share. I personally think a single axle tractor and a gooseneck or
short flatbed trailer would be the easiest to get into and out of tight places. Guy my tractor show buddy
works for gave up on his converted Peterbilt tandem tractor with air-ride stretched to handle a 20 ft
dump box for two single axle IH tractors pulling short single hopper grain trailers. And he's bought a
short flatbed, a short drop deck, and a short dump trailer. He uses those little tractor/trailers all the
time.
Word of caution, last company I worked for had just signed a 4 year lease with Penske when I started
there on an FL70 Freightliner, 20 ft dry box straight truck, series 50 Detroit which leaked more oil than
the old 2-stroke Detroits, and an Allison auto. In 175,000 miles in 4 years it needed worked on in the
shop about every 2 months. Had to be towed once when every leaf in the left rear spring broke when it had
about 8000# of tooling on board. Normally carried less than 6000#. It got replaced with a Navistar 4300
with DT466, air ride seat, air ride rear suspension, 20 ft box, Lots of chrome and polished stainless and
aluminum, also had a great heater/defroster and AC, great radio, stereo, and CD player, driver took his
breaks in it at the plant at the dock! It turned much tighter than the FL70, didn't leak oil, never broke
down. I suggested they get lower numerical gears in the Navistar, less rpm at highway speeds, think it
ran around 70, no problem running with traffic. The Freightliner vibrated so bad with that 4 cyl Detroit
the driver had to crank his window down and steady the mirror by hand when he backed into the dock. The
FL70 looked 10-12 yrs old after 4 years, the Navistar looked 6 months to a year old after 4 years and
200,000 miles. The new Navistars are not like the ones were, that's why the Peterbilt recommendation.
Any added length to the tractor just makes it take more room to turn. More gears the better, 250 hp
should be plenty for 50,000-60,000# local loads.