I’ve only been driving for 3 years but I’ve drove about 3 different trucks in that time span. But my favorite so far is the one I drive now. It’s a 99’ flat top Freightliner FLD120 with a red top Cummins with 550hp. It’s got a 10 speed Rockwell tranny. I love this truck. I’ve been driving this ol girl for about a year now and I haven’t had any problems.
My favourite truck of all time was an R model Mack, 350HP Mack engine, 15 speed with deep reduction. I loved everything about that truck. I used to move heavy construction equipment like gravel crushers that were up to 60t, and so you had to be smooth and careful not to break anything. With the Mack you could feel everything the chassis and drivetrain was doing...it really fit like a glove and visibility in tight areas was excellent. The cab was nice and low so conveyors could swing over the cab with the stack folded down. Fuel economy was great and when you need the power and the boost came up she shook like a freight train. Man I loved that truck. Thanks for another great video!
Working for a Pete dealership and admire the heck outta them 389 and 379s. It's just a truck that for some reason never gets old and you can look at it forever. Very nice trucks. Not to mention the respect you get from other truckers when you own one (from what I hear).
I love my 379. I’ve driven 22-24 model year trucks and hated them then went back to the 05 379, favorite dash I’ve ever sat behind and it rides so smooth
Here is my top five list of the best and favorite trucks that I have driven over the years. #1 1990 Marmon 57P - 3406 Cat ,13 speed #2 1988 Ford LTL 9000 - 444 cummins ,13 speed #3 1986 Mack Superliner RW 713 - 500 Mack E9 V8 , 12 speed #4 2002 Kenworth W900B - C15 Cat , 18 speed #5 1998 Freightliner FDL 132 Classic XL- 3406 Cat ,15 speed
I drove a 91’ 379, beat all around truck I ever drove!!! 7 months without a single break down, surprisingly good turning radius, triple digits on the dash, pull 50K lbs cranes up hill like it was empty.... dream truck
R Model Mack, one of the best trucks Mack ever made. I have a 91' year model and use it as a dump truck and pull a tag along trailer with it even to this day. I bought it at auction for $10, 000. Put a dump bed and hoist on it and have been using it since 2003. 350 engine with a 9 speed Mack trans, 44,000 lb. Mack rear ends with camel back suspension. Dayton spoke wheels all around. Blows a lot of smoke when you work it hard but has paid for itself over and over. Very dependable truck with low maintenance requirements. Starts right up in cold weather, no glow plugs engine heater or starting fluid. Wonderful on-off road truck. Not the fastest thing on the highway but will get you there and back. I love this truck.
the Volvo F-12, grew up in my dads 78 mod, chassis nr 253 i think so very early. rebuilt in 80 after it burned and he got it then. ran it for 20 years my dad for it was such a good truck.
I used to have pictures of longhood Kenworths and Peterbilts on my bedroom wall as a child. They looked so exotic compared to the Bedfords, Fodens, ERFs and Seddon Atkinsons I would see when I was growing up in 1980s England. I'd love to drive one at some point in the future :) My favourite truck of all time is the Ford Transcontinental, a 1970s European truck which looked great and was way ahead of its time in terms of technology and driver-friendliness.
I remember the ford transcontinental. I was desperate for yank trucks after seeing Convoy and the transcontinental came out around that time...i tried to love it as much as a cabover Pete (with a reefer on) but as you say, there really was nothing to compare with American lorries. Having said that, we had an Amey gravel pit near our house and i did love watching the ten wheel Scammel tippers come past the house
R model Mack would be my number one. Really amazing work truck with great reliability. Not a super fast motor but by God it sure could pull. Mack tough wasn't a joke...at least back when Mack trucks were Mack trucks. I just loved my grandfather's R model he drove for Chemical Leaman Tank Lines many, many moons ago.
Mack's are great construction trucks, dumpers, mixers, and garbage collectors. Work hard every day, very few breakdowns. High torque engines pull good down to 1100 rpm. Too bad they got bought out by Volvo but nothing seems to stay the same in the trucking industry very long.
Nothing finer than 379Niner # 2 for light loads 1955 F 100 Thank you for all the great advice And for teaching my wife, how to drive a 15 speed with six horses and mules moving around in the trailer back there
I would like a video of his top five worst truckstops and I am sure there would be some stories on some of them old ones ... from back in the day ..😳 🤣
I am retired trucker from the netherlands. I love these big american trucks. My favorite? That would be my first truck in the picture left from 1973: Mercedes 1418. You never forget your first truck.
It's just something about Peterbilt that I love. Always wanted to learn how to drive a big rig. Even when I was little, but my pop talked me out of it. Might still have to consider getting my CDL license.
I agree on 379s as long as it's a big bunk opening, probably the best trucks ever made. Probably close 2nd would be W900L Arriocab. But my all time favorite was my 1949 Kenworth butterfly hood, that was by far the funniest truck I've ever driven and I regret letting it go. There was just something magical about a worm summer night, arm out window, balling down the big road looking out over the left finder! Dang, I sure miss that truck!
Great story, glad to hear that you made out pretty well. I drove the International 4070A when in the Army in 74-76 in Germany. We were the first company in Germany to receive the commercial Riggs. The 70th Trans Co. and those trucks could haul and turn on a dime. We had the 15 speed Road Ranger with the Detroit with 400 HP and 430 ft lbs at the flywheel. I loved every minute behind the wheel of that big boy. It looked exactly like the Trans Star ll that you showed. Very nice, thank you for this.
Drove 1977 W -900 for several years non-power steering and it took a barnyard to turn around really enjoyed it. Owned 1972 K100 one of the first double bunks on 4 bag airride good old truck. Bought a 1996 T-600 mid roof it was my favorite great ride and very comfortable great truck.
I'm 19 and studying diesel technology and I've never truly driven a truck other than in and out of the shop at school but anyways I love the ol Pete 379's. I want to buy one with a CAT in it someday just to have. Not necessarily planning on being a truck driver but I just really want to own a 379
1. A model Kenworth 2. 359 Peterbilt 3. W900L 4. 379 Peterbilt 5. 389 Peterbilt That’s my personal top 5 cause I usually pay more attention to Kenworth’s and Peterbilts.
379 BEST TRUCK EVER. I’ve owned 87 r model camelback w/300 own a 2000 fld120 freight shaker and now 2006 379. Driven 379’s since ‘04. Driven, international, freight shaker, kws, Mack’s, Volvo’s, and Pete’s. 379 best hands down
1-- B model Mack, love the look 2-- R model Mack 3-- R model Mack 4-- R model Mack 5-- K 100 There's my top 5, but my wife will beat me one if I come home with more toys☹ good video have a nice Easter to you and yours from me and mine 🐰😎😎
I learned how to drive in one of those old Internationals. The steering wheel was huge. My favorite truck was a 2000 Freightliner Classic. Loved that truck. Cruise and Jake were on the stick handle. Awesome truck, but wheel base made it hard to turn. You need to worry more about getting tractor around the corner other than the trailer.
My cousin has been restoring a K100 Kenworth COE. He got her stretched out to 300 inches. Air ride all the way around. All polished and chromed. Has the original 3408 cat been completely gone through. It’s going to be a beautiful ride for sure.
I learned to get my AZ license on an R-Model "Schmack" hauling 16 foot logs out the bush to the paper mill. 400hp "Something-Dyne" with only a 6 speed. You had to pull it at 1100~1200 in the hills. I used to drive an early 80's W900 KW with a 435hp 8-92.
Good list! The condo was decent. It set the trend for interior space for sure and was pretty comfortable. My only complaint was it was rattly. It just never felt as tight as my pete. I did like the room though!
The first one I ever drove on our farm was a U model Mack with a 300 and 5x4. The next one was a GMC Astro 95 with an 8v92ta Detroit and 13 speed, also on the farm. Those are 2 of my favorites. The first tractor I ever bought is a 1995 Freightliner FLD12064 with an M11 Cummins Celect Plus and Super 10. I still own it as a backup in case one of the other 4 Shakers has to go in for service. My 3 drivers all started out in that one too. I knew that your 379 would be your #1. My #1 is my 2006 Classic XL. It has a Cummins ISX15 @ 600 hp/1850 tq, Eaton 13 speed and 3.73 Eaton rears. Thanks to my wife, kids and, now grandkids, it still shines like a diamond after nearly 1.5 million miles. Be safe out there cab driver!
I'm from Australia so some of these models may sound strange, but here we go.. 5. Mack V8 superliner 4. Scania 113m 3. Kenworth k200 big bunk 2. kenworth t409 SAR 1. Kenworth c509 I could go on to list another 5 😆
From 1997 till 2005 i drove a 96 379 pete with a 475hp c15 and and 18 speed. That was my favorite ride! Lots of power nice ride very few problems. That truck had 50,000 miles on when got 825,000 when I got rid of it
Great list! Those K100's were so beautiful. I always loved seeing one of those come at me. I also agree, Pete really came into it's own with the 379 Pete. That's my favorite of all the rigs I've ever driven. It rode great, was tough, looked good, comfortable, and it was the right mix of price vs performance. And it held on to it's classic vibe when more and more rigs were turning to plastic in the 90's. Fun video!!
Great video Dave, as always. My favorite truck was the Kenworth. To me it didn't matter what model as long as it was a Kenworth. I never got the chance to drive a cab over but I heard that they were a very solid truck. Well driver keep the wheels a spinning and the girls a grinning. Thanks for sharing and God bless
Very good video. I loved them older trucks. I had four Internationals in my life time. The best and last international was conventional that I bought off of Strimbu Trucking. It was a slant hood and very easy to turn and you could see everything in front of you.
Daf was my learning truck, then I drove international, REO and Ford in the army, and later at work there were DAFs, Volvos and Renaults. Couple Ivecos. Now all the Japanese trucks are very popular, Isuzu and Hinos and Mitsu... My personal favorite is the Volvo and DAF. Lifelong dream for me is to drive a KW or a Pete.
My favorite truck was the last logging truck I drove. It was an '03 379 like yours. It was set up perfectly for what it did. C-15 cat, 18-speed, double lockers, and the Pete air ride. You could baby her easy all day and still get lots of work done. Couple of CH model Macks I drove in the nineties were really good highway trucks. After a number of new Freightliner fleet trucks that you needed to have a notebook to write down all the things wrong with them from the factory, the Macks arrived brand new and ready to work.
One of my favorite trucks was a Mack superliner 82, i used to drive one of those back in 88 with 800 bags of cement 40 tons in mexico with a 350 big cam cummins and 14 speed, I loved that truck a little bit hard on your back because of the tipe of suspension.
My top 5 has 2 tied for best ride those being the 9400i international with the 72” midrise sleeper; better be in the center lane on the Newburg/Beacon bridge when the crosswinds are blowing the way the air ride cab sways; and the last big cabover that Mack made the MH . That truck ride so smooth on a rough road that you could leave an open cup of coffee in the holder and never have any slosh out. Both of these were tight turners for the east coast delivery’s. My next was a 92 Mack Superliner with the E-9 500hp V-8, after having the air pressure turned up in the Williams air throttle I had 690 horses on the ground pulling 80,000 up the ravine on I-81 at 65mph. Best looking had to be the 04 W-900L with all the bells and whistles and everything that could be chromed or stainless steel or polished aluminum this one had it. And favorite for beating the system on the east coast was the 2014 Pete 389 glider with the 99 block series 60 putting 530 horses to the ground and getting 6 mpg overall. Hope everyone likes my list
My father used to talk about his first truck, an F8 Ford i dont recall what year it was built. And the Autocar which was in its day a huge step up from the F8. Oh yeah that was a few years ago.
As a kid my first love was the R- model Mack and the Freightliner cabover. As far as the one's I've driven, (and a lot will disagree) I had a '94 FLD-120 Freightliner that had 600K miles on it when I got it. It was a great truck, the cab was air tight, no rattles or squeaks and it was a pleasure to drive. I would easily take it over the 2018 Cascadia pile-O-junk I drive now.
I started in a 92 international cab over in 2000 and loved it. The T-600 ISX super 10 ran good at Contract Frieghters... Freightliner classic Detroit was a good truck. My worst truck was the 07 Columbia twin turbo CAT at Marten... I always wanted to own a Pete or KW cab over and still do.
Smart Trucking I made some good money at marten. They hired me back 3 times in 6 years... I’m from NY and they liked to run me out west all the time. $600-700 a week take home.
I don' t have any problem with this list, classics for sure. I got a soft spot for a cab over Freightliner. Autocars were cool and so were the early White Western Stars.
#5 is also the international transtar II. 4# peterbilt 362 double wide sleeper. This was a great work horse. Enjoyed driving this truck. #3 k-100 double wide areodine kenworth. Had 2 trucks back to back. #2 international 9300. #1 kenworth w-900 L. Inbetween the trucks i had a pet 359 and 379. Great trucks also
Good list! When I logged we used a contract trucker that had 3 K100 KW’s with the big double bunk cabs. The were 3406B’s with 13 speeds and all 3 were solid black. That was a kool looking fleet. We used every combination of R model and Superliner Mack’s to haul with from 237 5 speeds to E6 350 9 speeds. My all time favorite is aW900L with a C15 Cat.
Great list Dave! Mine has to be the KW’s now days. I owned a 2012 389 glider with Deteoit series 60 hwy spec and 2013 388 heavy spec deleted ISX600, both flattops. Couple years back I’ve converted to 2018 KW T800 X15 605 heavy spec, that’s what I own now and it’s #1 truck on my list especially in a tridrive configuration, as it looks meaner with floater tires up front, rides smoother as well then tandem. Pretty much drove everything in between during the years, from Volvos tandems to KW and Petes tridrives.
My dream truck would probably be a Peterbilt 389 glider. 600 horse cat, 18 speed, 270” wheelbase, 44” flattop, 24.5 Alcoa wheels. Pearl white, blue frame blue tanks, white straps. This list could go on, and on.
Great picks, Dave! I still love the old cabovers. Some of my Favorite trucks are the Chevy Bison/GMC General and the Ford LTL9000. Also the Mack Superliner. Thanks for all the great videos!
My 1st semi was a 1965Ford c800...390 gas & 5sp 2sp rear. Talking about room on that bench seat to sleep. For a gas engine it had the power to pull a 1953 Dorsey pup loaded with tires/wheels. I even used it as a wrecker at times by installing a 5th wheel boom. And I love cabovers...yeah! I own a 1951 REO and a 95 IH cabover ex Walmart truck.
379 pete is and allways will be an absolute legend, nothing will touch it,it looks good , easy to work on,reliable, and holds its value like crazy, a w900 is very close but in my opinion i dont like the glass hood, intergrated headlights, wiring is a little more confusing and the 8 bag suspension can be a ruff ride if not tweaked properly
Dave, I'm not a trucker but I kinda miss seeing those old slab-fronted cab overs. They, like the older KW and Pete conventional tractors had an in-your-face aspect that just said truck. Now with trucks it's the same as cars, I guess, in that fuel efficiency through aerodynamics means everything looks bland. Thanks for the story, and I can relate. Worked in shipping for a company and it was routine that the guy driving the truck was the last to know anything (usually non-communication within their company). Still, must have been frustrating to have busted your nuts across the continent and not even get an attaboy. Hope you and your co-driver took the scenic route back to TO.
I'm glad that a Trans star was on this list, I spent a lot of my childhood climbing all over one at my God fathers repair shop that had a blown engine. I spent so much time sitting in that truck thinking that one day I wanted to fix her up and drive her for years, unfortunately by the time I was old enough to do so the poor girl had been vandalized and destroyed to the point of no return by the local teens. :( I'll remember that rig for the rest of my life despite never even seeing her move.
I love your stories, I owned a 1980 Kenworth the LW924 model winch tractor. I had a 380 A block Cat engine but the people I bought from installed a 400 B block in it. I ran it with the factory settings for a couple years then I had opened up to 475 hp in about 1990 or 91 which was big power back then! It had a 6 & 4 transmissions double over drive. 265” wheel base and yes it took 40 acres to turn it around. I hauled mostly heavy equipment back then so had a few extra pony’s was nice!
T800 KW FLD120 classic 9300i international DM690s Mack Ford LTL9000 Haven’t had the chance to drive one of those fords but it’s always cool to see one on the road today
I know where there are 3 LTL 9000s around Bangor, Maine all working construction. One used to be a milk truck when I was a kid my Dad used to haul to the same dairy as the original owner and a couple years ago I was working on a construction job and that truck was hired on as an extra truck.
like the story of hurry up and wait.... I have lots of them, but different loads. Learned first hand, your lack of planning does not mean a crisis for me. By the way, I have a 86 w900 with air-o double sleeper, and a tired cat motor. Yes, it takes a lot of land to turn, unlike the Transtar2.
I love my 2001 379 flat top with a 6nz c-15 ! Hood pretty much down to bare aluminum but at the elevator it still gets the looks. And no emission crap. Open the hood and nothing but Cat .
I love those old Mack’s. You put your foot in the throttle and the just went. While the old cabovers look cool I’ll let someone else drive them. All the trucks from the 70’s and early 80’s all had unique character just like the cars
ITS THE AUTOCAR FOR ME! AND YES , EVEN WITH THE PIT FENDERS ALSO CALLED THE CONSTRUCTOR FENDER! REGARDING THE WIDE TURNING RADIUS MOST STEER AXLES HAVE STOP BOLTS TO KEEP THE SPINDLES FROM GOING TOO FAR! WHEN THEY ARE TOO FAR OUT YOU STEER WIDE! PRETTY EASY TO CRAWL UNDERNEATH AND SCREW THE STOP BOLTS IN! SHORTENING THEM 1/4 INCH CAN HELP A LOT! IF THEY ARE ALREADY BOTTOMED OUT, GET A LITTLE SHORTER BOLT!
Starterd In 92 , I’ve driven 5 million miles mostly Wisc to southern Cal , 379 Pete was my favorite trk ever . But my new Volvo 780 is the best riding , most quiet @ best mpg trk I’ve ran . . Still miss the looks of my 379
I owned a “80” K100 big cab. With the industrial cat. It’s was an awesome truck. I purchased in March of 87 when I slowed it down it had well over 5 million miles. I was the second owner and only the third driver. I sold it in Oct 2017. I sit in the same seat for 14 years till I put another seat in it.
I drove a 73 R Model probably same specs as yours. Slow but pulled great. Probably my favorite truck was a 1994 International 9200 12.1 Detroit with 9spd since it was the first new truck I bought. Also liked the Marmon my brother had. He was always buying the fastest largest trucks he could. Scared me when I rode with him because he liked to show me how fast that thing would go. That Marmon was intimidating for me to drive. Hood felt like it was a mile long and it just felt like a truck on steroids. Would love to have one now since they are a rare truck.
5 Mack gas turbine truck prototypes, simply because most people forgot that those were ever made. 4 Scania T142 with the V8 engine that sounds so great, a rare European conventional. 3 DAF 3600 ATi SpaceCab, with the full aerodynamic options package and preferably an Australian style kangaroo bar. Youth sentiment! 2 Kenworth W900, my all time fave 1 DAF XF Euro6, in my opinion the best truck on the market, but opinions are like asses: everyone has one.
thanks for sharing, have a great long weekend, my fav truck would be the peterbilt 379, 2 would be the kw-w900a,3 international lone star, 4 r model mack and 5 would be freightliner fld 120 condo sleeper
My 2007 379 Pete 550 cat got 1.5 million miles before I decided to overhaul it .And my 1982 KW with a big cam 2 400 Cummins backed by a 5 by 4 transmission to this day my favorite transmission set up
The best truck ever made, is a truck that's paid for
I still own a custom 1976 Kenworth K100 with a tridem axle (three live axels) and a custom 750 HP Detroit Diesel engine. Great truck as you say.
I’ve only been driving for 3 years but I’ve drove about 3 different trucks in that time span. But my favorite so far is the one I drive now. It’s a 99’ flat top Freightliner FLD120 with a red top Cummins with 550hp. It’s got a 10 speed Rockwell tranny. I love this truck. I’ve been driving this ol girl for about a year now and I haven’t had any problems.
Glad to see Mack on the list! Pete/KW guys tend to look down on the solid trucks Mack used to build!
My favourite truck of all time was an R model Mack, 350HP Mack engine, 15 speed with deep reduction. I loved everything about that truck. I used to move heavy construction equipment like gravel crushers that were up to 60t, and so you had to be smooth and careful not to break anything. With the Mack you could feel everything the chassis and drivetrain was doing...it really fit like a glove and visibility in tight areas was excellent. The cab was nice and low so conveyors could swing over the cab with the stack folded down. Fuel economy was great and when you need the power and the boost came up she shook like a freight train. Man I loved that truck. Thanks for another great video!
Thank you sir!
Working for a Pete dealership and admire the heck outta them 389 and 379s. It's just a truck that for some reason never gets old and you can look at it forever. Very nice trucks. Not to mention the respect you get from other truckers when you own one (from what I hear).
I love my 379. I’ve driven 22-24 model year trucks and hated them then went back to the 05 379, favorite dash I’ve ever sat behind and it rides so smooth
Here is my top five list of the best and favorite trucks that I have driven over the years.
#1 1990 Marmon 57P - 3406 Cat ,13 speed
#2 1988 Ford LTL 9000 - 444 cummins ,13 speed
#3 1986 Mack Superliner RW 713 - 500 Mack E9 V8 , 12 speed
#4 2002 Kenworth W900B - C15 Cat , 18 speed
#5 1998 Freightliner FDL 132 Classic XL- 3406 Cat ,15 speed
Kenworth W900.
379 Pete.
I love the long hood with curved stacks. It looks like a bull going down the road
I think one of the purest old style conventiona built is a Western Star, steering column that doesn’t have 35,000 buttons on it is pretty old-school.
I have a family friend with a '05 379 with a C15, loaded with lights, it looks amazing.
I drove a 91’ 379, beat all around truck I ever drove!!! 7 months without a single break down, surprisingly good turning radius, triple digits on the dash, pull 50K lbs cranes up hill like it was empty.... dream truck
My grandpas freightliner classic flattop 18 speed Detroit man i’d do anything for that truck in my book it’s the best because of the sentimental value
lots of great memories as a kid hauling gravel with my Dad in the R model MACK still love them to this day
R Model Mack, one of the best trucks Mack ever made. I have a 91' year model and use it as a dump truck and pull a tag along trailer with it even to this day. I bought it at auction for $10, 000. Put a dump bed and hoist on it and have been using it since 2003. 350 engine with a 9 speed Mack trans, 44,000 lb. Mack rear ends with camel back suspension. Dayton spoke wheels all around. Blows a lot of smoke when you work it hard but has paid for itself over and over. Very dependable truck with low maintenance requirements. Starts right up in cold weather, no glow plugs engine heater or starting fluid. Wonderful on-off road truck. Not the fastest thing on the highway but will get you there and back. I love this truck.
the Volvo F-12, grew up in my dads 78 mod, chassis nr 253 i think so very early. rebuilt in 80 after it burned and he got it then. ran it for 20 years my dad for it was such a good truck.
I used to have pictures of longhood Kenworths and Peterbilts on my bedroom wall as a child. They looked so exotic compared to the Bedfords, Fodens, ERFs and Seddon Atkinsons I would see when I was growing up in 1980s England. I'd love to drive one at some point in the future :)
My favourite truck of all time is the Ford Transcontinental, a 1970s European truck which looked great and was way ahead of its time in terms of technology and driver-friendliness.
I remember the ford transcontinental. I was desperate for yank trucks after seeing Convoy and the transcontinental came out around that time...i tried to love it as much as a cabover Pete (with a reefer on) but as you say, there really was nothing to compare with American lorries.
Having said that, we had an Amey gravel pit near our house and i did love watching the ten wheel Scammel tippers come past the house
1. Pete 379
2. W900L
3. Mack Superliner
4. GMC General
5. Kenworth K100E
fordrac1ng81 I like your list!
My all time favorite is also the 379 pete. I had one in 18 speed with a 600 hp cat.
Nice!
R model Mack would be my number one. Really amazing work truck with great reliability. Not a super fast motor but by God it sure could pull. Mack tough wasn't a joke...at least back when Mack trucks were Mack trucks. I just loved my grandfather's R model he drove for Chemical Leaman Tank Lines many, many moons ago.
They were a great truck! Bullet proof!
Mack's are great construction trucks, dumpers, mixers, and garbage collectors. Work hard every day, very few breakdowns. High torque engines pull good down to 1100 rpm. Too bad they got bought out by Volvo but nothing seems to stay the same in the trucking industry very long.
An R model MacK Conventional pulling a chemical tank??? Was your grandad rubber duck by any chance?
All time favorite truck W900L
I currently have a 17 W900L ext cab
2. Pete 389
3. W900A
4. International 9370
5. K100
Nothing finer than 379Niner # 2 for light loads 1955 F 100
Thank you for all the great advice
And for teaching my wife, how to drive a 15 speed with six horses and mules moving around in the trailer back there
Learnt to drive in a 1979 W900A with a Cummins Big Cam 4 in it. Number 1 in my list!
R model mack was my favorite! They would pull and rode good with a cab air ride system.
The Maxidine had a gold bulldog. It was a five speed with a triple countershaft transmission, which could deliver an unbelievable amount of torque.
Could you do a Top 5 favorite places you've been/ seen? I'm curious to know. Great video as always! Thanks Dave!
Top 5 roadside attractions
The Whites (only) truck-stop on 81...
I would like a video of his top five worst truckstops and I am sure there would be some stories on some of them old ones ... from back in the day ..😳 🤣
I can easily say the most beautiful place in America is Coeur D Alene, Idaho. Hands down
Good suggestion, will do! Thanks!
I am retired trucker from the netherlands. I love these big american trucks. My favorite? That would be my first truck in the picture left from 1973: Mercedes 1418. You never forget your first truck.
It's just something about Peterbilt that I love. Always wanted to learn how to drive a big rig. Even when I was little, but my pop talked me out of it. Might still have to consider getting my CDL license.
I'm driving a 2019 389 long nose that's all blacked out and so far it's my favourite.
Wow! Nice!
I agree on 379s as long as it's a big bunk opening, probably the best trucks ever made. Probably close 2nd would be W900L Arriocab.
But my all time favorite was my 1949 Kenworth butterfly hood, that was by far the funniest truck I've ever driven and I regret letting it go. There was just something magical about a worm summer night, arm out window, balling down the big road looking out over the left finder! Dang, I sure miss that truck!
Great story, glad to hear that you made out pretty well.
I drove the International 4070A when in the Army in 74-76 in Germany. We were the first company in Germany to receive the commercial Riggs. The 70th Trans Co. and those trucks could haul and turn on a dime. We had the 15 speed Road Ranger with the Detroit with 400 HP and 430 ft lbs at the flywheel. I loved every minute behind the wheel of that big boy.
It looked exactly like the Trans Star ll that you showed. Very nice, thank you for this.
Drove 1977 W -900 for several years non-power steering and it took a barnyard to turn around really enjoyed it. Owned 1972 K100 one of the first double bunks on 4 bag airride good old truck. Bought a 1996 T-600 mid roof it was my favorite great ride and very comfortable great truck.
Started driving in 1979 transtar 2. 318 with a 13 speed had to drive with a blanket over your legs to keep from freezing in winter
I'm 19 and studying diesel technology and I've never truly driven a truck other than in and out of the shop at school but anyways I love the ol Pete 379's. I want to buy one with a CAT in it someday just to have. Not necessarily planning on being a truck driver but I just really want to own a 379
1. A model Kenworth
2. 359 Peterbilt
3. W900L
4. 379 Peterbilt
5. 389 Peterbilt
That’s my personal top 5 cause I usually pay more attention to Kenworth’s and Peterbilts.
Good list!
My favorite are the old Transtars, 352/362 and 379 Petes and old Wester Star 4800s
I’m so glad Mack made it on your list👍🏻 I have a very clean 87 superliner and I love it but I’m always looking for a deal on a 379 Pete
Superliner is a legend, peterbilt are a dime a dozen
Hold on to that superliner!
379 BEST TRUCK EVER. I’ve owned 87 r model camelback w/300 own a 2000 fld120 freight shaker and now 2006 379. Driven 379’s since ‘04. Driven, international, freight shaker, kws, Mack’s, Volvo’s, and Pete’s. 379 best hands down
1-- B model Mack, love the look
2-- R model Mack
3-- R model Mack
4-- R model Mack
5-- K 100
There's my top 5, but my wife will beat me one if I come home with more toys☹ good video have a nice Easter to you and yours from me and mine 🐰😎😎
Thanks Tom! I know about the wives, me too. Enjoy the long weekend!
@@SmartTrucking
You also!
Got a 2003 379 cat 6-NZ and I love it! 1,7 on the odometer and it has been rebuilt but running like a champ!!!
I learned how to drive in one of those old Internationals. The steering wheel was huge. My favorite truck was a 2000 Freightliner Classic. Loved that truck. Cruise and Jake were on the stick handle. Awesome truck, but wheel base made it hard to turn. You need to worry more about getting tractor around the corner other than the trailer.
My cousin has been restoring a K100 Kenworth COE. He got her stretched out to 300 inches. Air ride all the way around. All polished and chromed. Has the original 3408 cat been completely gone through. It’s going to be a beautiful ride for sure.
Wow! Very cool!
KW t680 has been my favorite truck to drive/ live in for weeks if not months at a time.
I learned to get my AZ license on an R-Model "Schmack" hauling 16 foot logs out the bush to the paper mill. 400hp "Something-Dyne" with only a 6 speed. You had to pull it at 1100~1200 in the hills. I used to drive an early 80's W900 KW with a 435hp 8-92.
KW T-800 studio sleeper
Mack Superliner (Late 70’s)
FREIGHTLINER FLD 120 condo
Good list! The condo was decent. It set the trend for interior space for sure and was pretty comfortable. My only complaint was it was rattly. It just never felt as tight as my pete. I did like the room though!
The first one I ever drove on our farm was a U model Mack with a 300 and 5x4. The next one was a GMC Astro 95 with an 8v92ta Detroit and 13 speed, also on the farm. Those are 2 of my favorites. The first tractor I ever bought is a 1995 Freightliner FLD12064 with an M11 Cummins Celect Plus and Super 10. I still own it as a backup in case one of the other 4 Shakers has to go in for service. My 3 drivers all started out in that one too. I knew that your 379 would be your #1. My #1 is my 2006 Classic XL. It has a Cummins ISX15 @ 600 hp/1850 tq, Eaton 13 speed and 3.73 Eaton rears. Thanks to my wife, kids and, now grandkids, it still shines like a diamond after nearly 1.5 million miles. Be safe out there cab driver!
I'm from Australia so some of these models may sound strange, but here we go..
5. Mack V8 superliner
4. Scania 113m
3. Kenworth k200 big bunk
2. kenworth t409 SAR
1. Kenworth c509
I could go on to list another 5 😆
the W900 is the FOUNDATION of the modern era conventional... the lines and look of it still resonates today
From 1997 till 2005 i drove a 96 379 pete with a 475hp c15 and and 18 speed. That was my favorite ride! Lots of power nice ride very few problems. That truck had 50,000 miles on when got 825,000 when I got rid of it
My favorite truck was a RS700L Mack with a 300 with a 13 over. My next favorite was a 1971 Kenworth K100 cabover with a 335 and a 5 and 3.
1. Freightliner Interstate 200
2. Kenworth W900A
3. Freightliner FLD120
4. Kenworth K100
5. Peterbilt 379
Good list!
Pete 358
Great list! Those K100's were so beautiful. I always loved seeing one of those come at me. I also agree, Pete really came into it's own with the 379 Pete. That's my favorite of all the rigs I've ever driven. It rode great, was tough, looked good, comfortable, and it was the right mix of price vs performance. And it held on to it's classic vibe when more and more rigs were turning to plastic in the 90's. Fun video!!
Thanks Michael!
Great video Dave, as always. My favorite truck was the Kenworth. To me it didn't matter what model as long as it was a Kenworth. I never got the chance to drive a cab over but I heard that they were a very solid truck.
Well driver keep the wheels a spinning and the girls a grinning.
Thanks for sharing and God bless
Stay safe Roy! Thanks for writing in!
Very good video. I loved them older trucks. I had four Internationals in my life time. The best and last international was conventional that I bought off of Strimbu Trucking. It was a slant hood and very easy to turn and you could see everything in front of you.
Daf was my learning truck, then I drove international, REO and Ford in the army, and later at work there were DAFs, Volvos and Renaults. Couple Ivecos. Now all the Japanese trucks are very popular, Isuzu and Hinos and Mitsu... My personal favorite is the Volvo and DAF. Lifelong dream for me is to drive a KW or a Pete.
My favorite truck was the last logging truck I drove. It was an '03 379 like yours. It was set up perfectly for what it did. C-15 cat, 18-speed, double lockers, and the Pete air ride. You could baby her easy all day and still get lots of work done. Couple of CH model Macks I drove in the nineties were really good highway trucks. After a number of new Freightliner fleet trucks that you needed to have a notebook to write down all the things wrong with them from the factory, the Macks arrived brand new and ready to work.
Freightliner, what can you say? They're all the same.
LOL That's why they say; "Communication is Key."
Just found your channel. Nice list.
My Dad had an International Transtar II.
Pretty good list. My Father had an International Transtar, One of my favorite cabovers. I also like R-Model MACKs.
I learned on a cabover Transtar. They were good trucks!
@@SmartTrucking Yes, my favorite cabover!
T-800 wide hood and high hood and standard hood. Tough cab's! Turns awesome!
One of my favorite trucks was a Mack superliner 82, i used to drive one of those back in 88 with 800 bags of cement 40 tons in mexico with a 350 big cam cummins and 14 speed, I loved that truck a little bit hard on your back because of the tipe of suspension.
My top 5 has 2 tied for best ride those being the 9400i international with the 72” midrise sleeper; better be in the center lane on the Newburg/Beacon bridge when the crosswinds are blowing the way the air ride cab sways; and the last big cabover that Mack made the MH . That truck ride so smooth on a rough road that you could leave an open cup of coffee in the holder and never have any slosh out. Both of these were tight turners for the east coast delivery’s. My next was a 92 Mack Superliner with the E-9 500hp V-8, after having the air pressure turned up in the Williams air throttle I had 690 horses on the ground pulling 80,000 up the ravine on I-81 at 65mph. Best looking had to be the 04 W-900L with all the bells and whistles and everything that could be chromed or stainless steel or polished aluminum this one had it. And favorite for beating the system on the east coast was the 2014 Pete 389 glider with the 99 block series 60 putting 530 horses to the ground and getting 6 mpg overall. Hope everyone likes my list
Nice trucks!
My father used to talk about his first truck, an F8 Ford i dont recall what year it was built. And the Autocar which was in its day a huge step up from the F8.
Oh yeah that was a few years ago.
My favorite is the International 9300 hottest truck on the road in my opinion ! The 9400 is #2
As a kid my first love was the R- model Mack and the Freightliner cabover. As far as the one's I've driven, (and a lot will disagree) I had a '94 FLD-120 Freightliner that had 600K miles on it when I got it. It was a great truck, the cab was air tight, no rattles or squeaks and it was a pleasure to drive. I would easily take it over the 2018 Cascadia pile-O-junk I drive now.
I started in a 92 international cab over in 2000 and loved it. The T-600 ISX super 10 ran good at Contract Frieghters... Freightliner classic Detroit was a good truck. My worst truck was the 07 Columbia twin turbo CAT at Marten... I always wanted to own a Pete or KW cab over and still do.
How did you like Marten?
Smart Trucking I made some good money at marten. They hired me back 3 times in 6 years... I’m from NY and they liked to run me out west all the time. $600-700 a week take home.
I don' t have any problem with this list, classics for sure. I got a soft spot for a cab over Freightliner. Autocars were cool and so were the early White Western Stars.
#5 is also the international transtar II. 4# peterbilt 362 double wide sleeper. This was a great work horse. Enjoyed driving this truck. #3 k-100 double wide areodine kenworth. Had 2 trucks back to back. #2 international 9300. #1 kenworth w-900 L.
Inbetween the trucks i had a pet 359 and 379. Great trucks also
Good list! When I logged we used a contract trucker that had 3 K100 KW’s with the big double bunk cabs. The were 3406B’s with 13 speeds and all 3 were solid black. That was a kool looking fleet. We used every combination of R model and Superliner Mack’s to haul with from 237 5 speeds to E6 350 9 speeds. My all time favorite is aW900L with a C15 Cat.
Good choice!
Great list Dave!
Mine has to be the KW’s now days. I owned a 2012 389 glider with Deteoit series 60 hwy spec and 2013 388 heavy spec deleted ISX600, both flattops. Couple years back I’ve converted to 2018 KW T800 X15 605 heavy spec, that’s what I own now and it’s #1 truck on my list especially in a tridrive configuration, as it looks meaner with floater tires up front, rides smoother as well then tandem. Pretty much drove everything in between during the years, from Volvos tandems to KW and Petes tridrives.
My favourite truck is the 379 Pete with 6NZ single Turbo 18 speed!
I don't have much love for Mack but happy You Enjoyed driving it 😊
I love it!
My dream truck would probably be a Peterbilt 389 glider. 600 horse cat, 18 speed, 270” wheelbase, 44” flattop, 24.5 Alcoa wheels. Pearl white, blue frame blue tanks, white straps. This list could go on, and on.
NICE!!
My favorite truck of all time is the peterbilt 352 cabover to me it's just beautiful
my list is
1. peterbilt 359
2. ford ltl 9000
3. international paystar 5000
4. freightliner fld 120, classic
5. volvo wia45/64
Great picks, Dave! I still love the old cabovers. Some of my Favorite trucks are the Chevy Bison/GMC General and the Ford LTL9000. Also the Mack Superliner. Thanks for all the great videos!
W900L set up for heavy haul, 9-13 axle configuration is the one... absolutely
My 1st semi was a 1965Ford c800...390 gas & 5sp 2sp rear. Talking about room on that bench seat to sleep. For a gas engine it had the power to pull a 1953 Dorsey pup loaded with tires/wheels. I even used it as a wrecker at times by installing a 5th wheel boom. And I love cabovers...yeah! I own a 1951 REO and a 95 IH cabover ex Walmart truck.
Nice!
Ford LTL 9000 with Cat Motor were awesome to.
Yes they were!
I owned a 1993 Pete 379 with a 425 Cat.Best truck I ever owned.Hauled alot of Sheetrock with that baby!
379 pete is and allways will be an absolute legend, nothing will touch it,it looks good , easy to work on,reliable, and holds its value like crazy, a w900 is very close but in my opinion i dont like the glass hood, intergrated headlights, wiring is a little more confusing and the 8 bag suspension can be a ruff ride if not tweaked properly
Dave, I'm not a trucker but I kinda miss seeing those old slab-fronted cab overs. They, like the older KW and Pete conventional tractors had an in-your-face aspect that just said truck. Now with trucks it's the same as cars, I guess, in that fuel efficiency through aerodynamics means everything looks bland. Thanks for the story, and I can relate. Worked in shipping for a company and it was routine that the guy driving the truck was the last to know anything (usually non-communication within their company). Still, must have been frustrating to have busted your nuts across the continent and not even get an attaboy. Hope you and your co-driver took the scenic route back to TO.
Funny you should say that! We did take the slow scenic route back! The trip that took us fifty five hours one way took us over a week to get back!
I'm glad that a Trans star was on this list, I spent a lot of my childhood climbing all over one at my God fathers repair shop that had a blown engine.
I spent so much time sitting in that truck thinking that one day I wanted to fix her up and drive her for years, unfortunately by the time I was old enough to do so the poor girl had been vandalized and destroyed to the point of no return by the local teens. :(
I'll remember that rig for the rest of my life despite never even seeing her move.
I love your stories, I owned a 1980 Kenworth the LW924 model winch tractor. I had a 380 A block Cat engine but the people I bought from installed a 400 B block in it. I ran it with the factory settings for a couple years then I had opened up to 475 hp in about 1990 or 91 which was big power back then!
It had a 6 & 4 transmissions double over drive. 265” wheel base and yes it took 40 acres to turn it around. I hauled mostly heavy equipment back then so had a few extra pony’s was nice!
T800 KW
FLD120 classic
9300i international
DM690s Mack
Ford LTL9000
Haven’t had the chance to drive one of those fords but it’s always cool to see one on the road today
Good list!
Dude I agree I love the Ford's and I've driven a couple of the in day can trim and they were great trucks.
I know where there are 3 LTL 9000s around Bangor, Maine all working construction. One used to be a milk truck when I was a kid my Dad used to haul to the same dairy as the original owner and a couple years ago I was working on a construction job and that truck was hired on as an extra truck.
like the story of hurry up and wait.... I have lots of them, but different loads.
Learned first hand, your lack of planning does not mean a crisis for me.
By the way, I have a 86 w900 with air-o double sleeper, and a tired cat motor. Yes, it takes a lot of land to turn, unlike the Transtar2.
I had an 84 and it was a nice truck.
I only drove it once but I loved it amazingly and fell in love with them was a kw w900 1993 long nose but the hood was flat not slopped
I drove a single axle Mack for a few years when it was assigned to me. Great truck. Loved it.
I love my 2001 379 flat top with a 6nz c-15 ! Hood pretty much down to bare aluminum but at the elevator it still gets the looks. And no emission crap. Open the hood and nothing but Cat .
Anybody that drove a Transtar loved it
Mack R , Mack CH/CL then Mack Vision n then Mack Pinnacle now Mack Anthem
I'm starting to think you like Macks, Josh!
Mack all the way!
Smart Trucking I’m Mack Bulldog truck blood in my DNA since 2003
Love how ya put mack in there.. them 80 r model Mack's are still running
They're tough trucks!
I love those old Mack’s. You put your foot in the throttle and the just went. While the old cabovers look cool I’ll let someone else drive them. All the trucks from the 70’s and early 80’s all had unique character just like the cars
Agreed!
ITS THE AUTOCAR FOR ME!
AND YES , EVEN WITH THE PIT FENDERS ALSO CALLED THE CONSTRUCTOR FENDER!
REGARDING THE WIDE TURNING RADIUS MOST STEER AXLES HAVE STOP BOLTS TO KEEP THE SPINDLES FROM GOING TOO FAR!
WHEN THEY ARE TOO FAR OUT
YOU STEER WIDE!
PRETTY EASY TO CRAWL UNDERNEATH AND SCREW THE STOP BOLTS IN! SHORTENING THEM 1/4 INCH CAN HELP A LOT!
IF THEY ARE ALREADY BOTTOMED OUT, GET A LITTLE SHORTER BOLT!
Starterd In 92 , I’ve driven 5 million miles mostly Wisc to southern Cal , 379 Pete was my favorite trk ever . But my new Volvo 780 is the best riding , most quiet @ best mpg trk I’ve ran . . Still miss the looks of my 379
Ivan Machmueller you have driven 5 million miles in 27 years that's quite an accomplishment almost hard to believe but if you so
I owned a “80” K100 big cab. With the industrial cat. It’s was an awesome truck. I purchased in March of 87 when I slowed it down it had well over 5 million miles. I was the second owner and only the third driver. I sold it in Oct 2017. I sit in the same seat for 14 years till I put another seat in it.
I drove a 73 R Model probably same specs as yours. Slow but pulled great. Probably my favorite truck was a 1994 International 9200 12.1 Detroit with 9spd since it was the first new truck I bought. Also liked the Marmon my brother had. He was always buying the fastest largest trucks he could. Scared me when I rode with him because he liked to show me how fast that thing would go. That Marmon was intimidating for me to drive. Hood felt like it was a mile long and it just felt like a truck on steroids. Would love to have one now since they are a rare truck.
5 Mack gas turbine truck prototypes, simply because most people forgot that those were ever made.
4 Scania T142 with the V8 engine that sounds so great, a rare European conventional.
3 DAF 3600 ATi SpaceCab, with the full aerodynamic options package and preferably an Australian style kangaroo bar. Youth sentiment!
2 Kenworth W900, my all time fave
1 DAF XF Euro6, in my opinion the best truck on the market, but opinions are like asses: everyone has one.
Wow, that's the list of a truck connoisseur!
@@SmartTrucking Yet I've never had the opportunity to drive one myself. Such is life...
thanks for sharing, have a great long weekend, my fav truck would be the peterbilt 379, 2 would be the kw-w900a,3 international lone star, 4 r model mack and 5 would be freightliner fld 120 condo sleeper
Good choices! Enjoy the weekend!
Kenworth cabover AWESOME 👍👍👍
My 2007 379 Pete 550 cat got 1.5 million miles before I decided to overhaul it .And my 1982 KW with a big cam 2 400 Cummins backed by a 5 by 4 transmission to this day my favorite transmission set up
Something about cabovers, never liked them, but that K100 is probably the best looking one I’ve seen.