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Semi tractors

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Ron 1456

03-27-2004 15:07:35

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Just wondering what you guys thought where the best looking and worst looking semi tractors. Personnally I think the 379 Peterbilt, Freightliner Classic XL, and W900 Kenworth are the best looking. The Kenworth T-600, Kenworth T-2000, International 9400, the Volvo's and the new Mack's are the worst. The classics are timeless but fads come and go. Just trying to stir things up a bit. It's raining today and I'm playing with computer.

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Newgen

03-28-2004 10:40:10

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Re: Semi tractors in reply to Ron 1456, 03-27-2004 15:07:35

Well I have a 377 Pete with 48"Unibilt and a 359 with 63" walkin flattop. For leg/belly room the 377 is a little nicer, but for looks and long term durability I'll take the old 359 any day. And it's more fun to drive too!!

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Bob M

03-28-2004 07:20:50

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Re: Semi tractors in reply to Ron 1456, 03-27-2004 15:07:35

Best classic: "B" series Macks...no contest. (Incidentally the Mack B was styled by Raymond Loewy - same guy who styled the Farmall letter series tractors.) The long nose Brockway (361?) look pretty sharp too.

Best modern: KW W900. Peterbilt 379 is a close 2nd. I'm also partial KW K100 cabovers - not because they look that good, but because I happen to own one...

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john

03-28-2004 07:15:15

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Re: Semi tractors in reply to Ron 1456, 03-27-2004 15:07:35

Best looking or turns the most heads?????

What turns my head in road trucks is anything that is old and has a hood. Just do not see them much anymore. In newer trucks it would be something some one took the time to personalize. Usually a Pete or KW with a special paint job, polished aluminum, chicken lights,(but most go over board here). Sorry Freightshakers just do not stand out. every Tom Dick and Harry has one.

After 1 1/2 million miles though I judge a truck by the seat of my pants and not looks. Worse trucks I ever drove were Diamond Reo; Brockway; and any thing cab over. I have a 379 Pete day cab now because that is the keys they gave me. Very ruff for a hood. Best truck I ever drove is a Volvo. Best riding truck I have been in hands down. So the seat of my pants votes for this one.

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Ron in AR

03-28-2004 06:50:57

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Re: Semi tractors in reply to Ron 1456, 03-27-2004 15:07:35

Worst truck I ever drove was a White Constructor! No spings, just solid rubber mounts all the way around! My boss at the time thought it would save him money on spring repairs. It did, but just about broke the back of anyone that had the misfortune to drive it. The one I liked best was an old 1960 something International gas job twin screw dump. Had a 540 in it with a 4X4 trans and I could outrun any of the diesels with a load on it. Just my opinion.

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shotgun

03-28-2004 06:05:51

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Re: Semi tractors in reply to Ron 1456, 03-27-2004 15:07:35

The LTL mack looked good to me

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Nate

03-27-2004 22:09:39

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Re: Semi tractors in reply to Ron 1456, 03-27-2004 15:07:35

the best lookin' tractor on the road is the old needle nose X-hood, small cab pete 351 model and to add to that a 1693TA Cat and 6x4 boxes. Please reply

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buck

03-27-2004 21:18:14

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Re: Semi tractors in reply to Ron 1456, 03-27-2004 15:07:35

Well since my daughter was on the design team I like the Volvo and since I was once a yard jockey I love the B model Mack. My hat is off to everone who drives for a living.

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Paw Paw Dave

03-27-2004 20:47:18

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Re: Semi tractors in reply to Ron 1456, 03-27-2004 15:07:35

International KB series is #1 for good looks followed by the venerable B model Mack.
The worst has many, '60s Chevy/GMC, Dodge Bighorn,
and anything modern (all the same, no class).

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Tim in NB

03-28-2004 06:33:30

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Re: Re: Semi tractors in reply to Paw Paw Dave, 03-27-2004 20:47:18

I think the Dodge Bighorn looks awesome. I love the big hood!! I also like the Mack Superliners.

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Davis In SC

03-27-2004 19:19:47

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Re: Semi tractors in reply to Ron 1456, 03-27-2004 15:07:35

Old Autocars were sharp,

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old

03-27-2004 18:53:53

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Re: Semi tractors in reply to Ron 1456, 03-27-2004 15:07:35

You guys left our the one that in its day made a pete or kw second rate. The Diamond-T as I said in its day was one of if not the best truck on the road. But I might be a little more on the Diamond side since I own a 1963 Diamond 990 twin screw

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Ron 1456

03-27-2004 19:01:50

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Re: Re: Semi tractors in reply to old, 03-27-2004 18:53:53

You have a very good point. There are sill a few Diamond-T's around here. Most have been lengthened and now carry a grain box. What ever became of the Diamond-T? I remember a few Diamond-Reo's then they just disappeared.

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old

03-27-2004 19:30:22

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Re: Re: Re: Semi tractors in reply to Ron 1456, 03-27-2004 19:01:50

Diamond_T had a goverment contract to build 6X6 but didn't have an inflation cluse so the goverment sort of put them out of buisness.
The Diamond -T I have was lenghten 24 inches and a dump bed put on, made a liveing with it up till 2000 and thats when my doctor found out what I was doing and he made me quit work period. Ben thinking about makeing back in to a road tractor and useing it to haul tractors to show etc.

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Hugh MacKay

03-27-2004 18:02:24

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Re: Semi tractors in reply to Ron 1456, 03-27-2004 15:07:35

Ron: For the shgarpest looking and most user friendly you all missed it, "WESTERN STAR". I've driven just about them all. All the set back axle jobies look ugly.

But then Moonlite does make a good point on the B-61. Guy down thr road has a fleet of Macks. He has a completely restored B-61 that for the most part, just gets admired these days. Last year he pressed it into service during grain harvest. As he was leaving grain terminal Highway Truck Inspection pulled him over. He thought great these guys are going to pick this old truck apart. Not so, like everyone else they just wanted a closer look.

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Ron 1456

03-27-2004 18:35:33

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Re: Re: Semi tractors in reply to Hugh MacKay, 03-27-2004 18:02:24

You are right about the Western Star. There are a couple others that I forgot also. The Mack B-61 was indeed a classic. Even the "R" models had a look that kind of grew on you. The new ones on the other hand look terrible. I agree with you about the setbacks. The only one of those that even comes close to looking good is the FLD120 and it leaves something to be desired. (I had to say that because I own one.) Someday it will be gone and a 379 Pete will take it's place.

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Hugh MacKay

03-27-2004 19:48:16

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Re: Re: Re: Semi tractors in reply to Ron 1456, 03-27-2004 18:35:33

Ron: I drove a 379 Pete for awhile. This guy owned a fleet and had some kinky ideas. 35 tractors, 85% of his work was Super B train. Tractors were all either Black 379 Petes or Red Stirlings. All tractors were 475 hp Cat with LL8 transmission. All tractors had 46,000 rear and 18,000 front susp. Forget the ratio, but 60 mph was 1650 rpm. He personally drove either a red F-150 or a black Lincoln. You were not allowed to use Armourall although we all did. You could have your tractor washed daily but never the trailers. Those 18,000 fronts were a poor introduction to a Pete. We grew to hate them quite easily.

Couple of trucks you don't see anymore are Hayes, Brockway Husky. Here in Canada we had the Scott, now that was an ugly thing. Didn't even need a setback axle to make that ugly.

The guys that drive them speak quite highly of Volvo. I went about 50 miles one day as a passenger in a Volvo. Just about as smooth a ride as there is, my opinion.

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rustyfarmall

03-27-2004 15:44:45

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Re: Semi tractors in reply to Ron 1456, 03-27-2004 15:07:35

I will agree with you on the 379 Pete and the W900 KW, however, I still think the best looking trucks ever are the old IH KB series.
Been raining all day here also.

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moonlite

03-27-2004 17:10:27

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Re: Re: Semi tractors in reply to rustyfarmall, 03-27-2004 15:44:45

Would you get mad if I said B-61 Mack?

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Ron 1456

03-27-2004 18:47:33

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Re: Re: Re: Semi tractors in reply to moonlite, 03-27-2004 17:10:27

Not at all.

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Alberta Mike

03-27-2004 17:23:18

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Re: Re: Re: Semi tractors in reply to moonlite, 03-27-2004 17:10:27

Your post reminds me of a story from back in the 70's when me and my family were on holidays. Can't remember where we were, some lunch break somewhere at a truck stop and I went into the John and on the wall someone had written in felt marker (in what was bordered and appeared to be a highway speed sign), "Cars 70, Trucks 60, Macks do the best you can". Obviously the author wasn't a Mack fan. I thought that was pretty funny. Were Macks known to be slow, often wondered about that?

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john

03-28-2004 06:41:28

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Re: Re: Re: Re: Semi tractors in reply to Alberta Mike, 03-27-2004 17:23:18

Well obviously this sign was put there by a truck driver; most likely a owner operator road driver so you have to look at it from his point of view.
When most think of a Mack this picture comes to mind. A R-model day cab, dump truck or maybe even a garbage truck.
For a owner of city or short haul trucks it is a dream come true. Tough as nails, can get off road in dirt pits and city dumps, geared to pull the load with a small motor even in soft dirt,(this makes them slow) harder to get stuck with full time interlock rears, can take the abuse of a rookie driver better than most, ect..... ..
Now from the drivers point; ruff riding, slow because its geared for pulling, usually not decked out with all the latest toys for driver comfort, embarrassing because your friends have faster trucks, ect.....
Plan and simply drivers make fun of some trucks just like they make fun of some companies.

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Ron 1456

03-27-2004 18:43:45

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Re: Re: Re: Re: Semi tractors in reply to Alberta Mike, 03-27-2004 17:23:18

When it comes to Mack trucks it seems that people either love them or hate them. Around here most of the older (R model) Mack's are gravel haulers or dump trucks. They really seem to hold their valve. I never thought of them as under powered but then I never drove one.

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Mike w J

03-27-2004 18:26:43

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Re: Re: Re: Re: Semi tractors in reply to Alberta Mike, 03-27-2004 17:23:18

OK I been looking to buy another we have 2 375 peterbilts with cat engines we have had really goood luck with but a lot of times I see cummings and detroits for a good price how do they stand up and if a overhaul is needed which one is the cheepest to do

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Phil Munson

03-27-2004 19:30:17

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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Semi tractors in reply to Mike w J , 03-27-2004 18:26:43

Both will give better fuel performance than the kitty and are 1/2 or less as expensive to overhaul

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pat

03-27-2004 20:50:08

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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Semi tractors in reply to Phil Munson, 03-27-2004 19:30:17

got my 379 in 97 got rid of it on a 20002 379 and if i could id like to drive it up peterbilts butt it sure as hell my last pete 170.000 peace of junk

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Greengo

03-29-2004 08:04:33

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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Semi tractors in reply to pat, 03-27-2004 20:50:08

Modern trucks I would go with 379 Pete
W900 KW, Or 9900I International
Classic would be Most older trucks, Diamond T
International, Mack B model

Worst truck on road, Freightliner, Volvo
Sterling, They are the biggest piece of
crap I have ever seen. Fleet I work for has
VN Volvo's and would never recommend them
to my worst enemy! We have around 3000 of them.
They are going to all International, 10 times the truck than Volvo could think of being.

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