kscarbel Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 Fleet Owner / March 20, 2013LOUISVILLE, KY. Kenworth Truck Co. unveiled two new truck models at the 2013 Mid America Trucking Show this week – the T880 vocational truck and a 52-in. mid-roof sleeper configuration for its T680 tractor.Kevin Baney, Kenworth’s chief engineer, said key attributes of the T880 include: a stamped aluminum cab with more interior space; a panoramic windshield for enhanced visibility; triple-sealed doors; a 5-piece hood for easier and faster repairs; air-assisted hydraulic clutch; complex reflector headlamps; and new lightweight, factory-installed lift axles.The T880 is available in a 116.5-inch BBC and a 122.5-inch BBC standard length with two hood configurations: one designed specifically to better accommodate the company’s 12.9-liter Paccar MX-13 engine while the other larger hood covers the Cummins ISX15 engine option, which offers up to 600 hp and 2,050 lb-ft of torque.Baney noted that Paccar updated the MX-13 for the 2013 model year, reducing its weight by 100 lbs. and improving fuel economy by some 3.5% over the previous version. It also offers onboard diagnostics and more engine ratings; up to 500 hp and 1,850 lb.-ft. of torque.The 52-in. mid-roof sleeper configuration now being rolled out for Kenworth’s T680 tractor is designed to accommodate the need of tanker and flatbed fleets. However, the OEM offers an aerodynamic roof cap as well for its mid-roof sleeper for dray van trailer operations; a configuration that offers more upper bunk storage space as well, Baney noted.Kenworth is also assessing aerodynamic cab roof and side fairing modifications for its K270 and K370 medium-duty cabover trucks designed by its brother company Leyland in the U.K. Those fairings, combined with an aerodynamically tapered truck body, helped improve fuel economy by 8% for the vehicle at highway speeds in U.K. road tests, according to the manufacturer.Finally, the OEM showed off a special demonstration vehicle dubbed the T680 “Advantage” to demonstrate the possibilities for fuel economy savings if fleets engage in comprehensive spec’ing efforts integrating the powertrain, tractor, and trailer as a single unit.Fitted out with a battery-powered Bergstrom engine-off air conditioning system, aerodynamic enhancements to reduce drag, wheel hub covers, and other improvements, the T680 “Advantage” is designed to show fleets how Kenworth can help them optimize the entire tractor-trailer to maximize fuel economy for their particular operation, Baney told Fleet Owner.“We’re trying to show fleets how to develop tractor-trailers as a complete package, one that maximizes operational savings for them,” he said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green Dash Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 Certainly not the best looking trucks, but i guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder one paying for the fuel. Quote Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2stacksuperdog Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 The T880 kinda looks like the CAT trucks 1 Quote Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glenlunberg Posted August 15, 2013 Share Posted August 15, 2013 Looks good, but still Mack trucks are always best. Quote Heavy Hauling Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsb502 Posted August 15, 2013 Share Posted August 15, 2013 I talked to the KW guys at Mid America about that T880 truck one of them told me flat out he didnt like the new looks either but they wanted a vocational truck with the wider cab to compete with Freightliner and Western Star interior room, thats what they came up with as a compromise of the T800 and the wide cab line, it is roomy inside but I just hate the front end. Quote "Any Society that would give up a little LIBERTY to gain a little SECURITY will Deserve Neither and LOSE BOTH" -Benjamin Franklin"If your gonna be STUPID, you gotta be TOUGH" "You cant always get what you want, but if you try sometimes you get what you need" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kscarbel Posted August 15, 2013 Author Share Posted August 15, 2013 I talked to the KW guys at Mid America about that T880 truck one of them told me flat out he didnt like the new looks either but they wanted a vocational truck with the wider cab to compete with Freightliner and Western Star interior room, thats what they came up with as a compromise of the T800 and the wide cab line, it is roomy inside but I just hate the front end.Nothing wrong with a wider cab, but the front end is absolutely terrible looking. It's shocking that Paccar would put that front fascia into production. Talk about Paccar engineering (ordinarily quite good) losing face in the marketplace.It's amusing that their own people don't even like it and would tell a prospective customer so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slpwlker Posted August 15, 2013 Share Posted August 15, 2013 I wonder what they are going to do for the wide hood option now if they are still going to do the 800 or not. I kinda like it. Idk something about the 680 I like. Might be it kinda has the old freightliner sleeper look with the windows on the sleeper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green Dash Posted August 15, 2013 Share Posted August 15, 2013 I think it looks much better than the T2000. That was the ugliest Pacaar product I'd ever seen.I saw a daycab tractor version of the T880 recently. It had a long wheelbase, no roof faring (pulluing a van trailer), and no visor. That was one nasty looking beast. Quote Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsb502 Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 Nothing wrong with a wider cab, but the front end is absolutely terrible looking. It's shocking that Paccar would put that front fascia into production. Talk about Paccar engineering (ordinarily quite good) losing face in the marketplace.It's amusing that their own people don't even like it and would tell a prospective customer so.I made it quite clear, unless they had an older Mack or W900A model, I wasnt a prospective customer I was just a guy talking trucks with them Quote "Any Society that would give up a little LIBERTY to gain a little SECURITY will Deserve Neither and LOSE BOTH" -Benjamin Franklin"If your gonna be STUPID, you gotta be TOUGH" "You cant always get what you want, but if you try sometimes you get what you need" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoClueJoe66 Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 I think it looks much better than the T2000. That was the ugliest Pacaar product I'd ever seen.I saw a daycab tractor version of the T880 recently. It had a long wheelbase, no roof faring (pulluing a van trailer), and no visor. That was one nasty looking beast. Yea my boss has a T2000 in the fleet, they are the ugliest things i've ever seen....supposed to get good fuel mileage though. The T880 just look funny to me, but the T680's are not bad looking trucks....They just need to get away from the Paccar motors....my .02 Quote This message was brought to you by Hargraves Potted Meat Product. Chopped full of "Peckers & Lips" since 1933 - John Boy & Billy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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