Kenworth T700 Review

[MustangLX]

I also watched the show on Speed. The floor is balsa wood and coated with a polymer.
The detail that stuck in my mind was the mention of a ten hour build time, start to finish.

 

[Racer X 69]

I just caught an hour long program on SPEED about the new T700, and got curious enough to look into it here. Thanks to the OP for the review and his input. Although they're finally catching onto the true aero design, and they improved on the T2000 (ugliest truck ever built IMO), I was unimpressed by the direction they took with it.

Just another mega company team truck. I can't see any owner operators buying one. And I am still baffled why my company just bought two.

For flatbed work!

First off - lame mail-slot windshield (STILL). Nothing like reducing your view while the industry is hitting safety harder every year. I've seen drivers practically climb onto their dashboards trying to see an object in front of their truck. And no visor? good luck with that.

It is all about aerodynamics. Who cares about the sun glaring down on the driver, right?

Balsa wood floor..... umm yeah - considering I've seen about anything you can think of laying across the road (including a 4 foot piece of 4x4 treated lumber), I'll take good old steel anyday. I hope I never see a disaster news story because of this. And I can't imagine how this would hold together in a crash - another "big fleet, who cares about the driver" compromise IMO. What'd they save there anyway, 20 pounds?

Balsa wood? Sounds like the model airplanes I used to build. As for weight savings, probably more than a measly 20 pounds, and hey. here a pound, there a pound everywhere a pound. It adds up.

When I built my race car I trimmed every single tab, bracket, lip and fastener I didn't need. I even took the wiring harness apart and removed all the wires except what was needed to run the lighting and items the rules required. I removed so much weight from the car I had to add ballast to meet the minimum race weight.

And the "80's GM steering column" - wow - who needs steering anyway?! I'm sure they could find a better design out there somewhere (VOLVO) in the industry. Maybe it chewed into profit a little.....

What is this? Are the building this truck "off the shelf"?

And the DEF engine...... I could go on for days on that topic by itself - but let's just say i'll never buy one. We live in a country that still burns coal for electric power, and flies in big kerosene fueled jets whenever we don't feel like driving a few hours away. Attacking the emissions of the trucking industry past 2003 standards is just a waste of time and money.

Interesting analogy. Makes great sense, and it would be great to ask the suits at the EPA why this is.

Overall, I think the T700 is a Cascadia copy with a different name. After 2+ years with my Volvo 780, I'm still convinced it's the best compromise for long haul trucking out there. Is it the cheapest, lightest, etc? NOPE - but it's comfortable, safe, and easy to operate. Safety was huge for me - the Volvo may be heavy, but I like to think they didn't save a few pounds somewhere that I might need someday. A few pounds could've been saved in the drivetrain, but the ISX and 13 speed I have are worth the weight in the mountains. The windows are large (and probably heavy), but I can see anything I need to without moving in my seat - and the A/C has never failed to keep up no matter where I am. Overall, the only other truck I've ever thought about was a ProStar - but I wasn't ready to fork out the extra cash for one new enough to have the comfort my 780 has.

Aside from the lack of looks, the greenhouse effect is the only other real complaint I have about the Volvo I drive.

KW has always been a good solid truck, and I'm sorry to see them slipping in quality. I'm unconvinced that the world needs another brand of Freightliner.......

Perhaps Hangman would like to weigh in and defend the new KW, seeing as how he works for PACCAR.