Peterbilt 379 Lowboy project
- Thread starter Fastdirt
- Start date
Nice truck, and the full rear fenders are a good idea. After seeing this thread, I hate to tell you how I solved that problem. I had no trouble when they were pulling dumps, but after 3 of my trucks lost their back glass to gravel in the tire tread pulling lowboys, I (whispering) turned the quarter fenders upside down. It looked funny, but did the trick.
Thank you, thank you! Once again this project has been all consuming and overwhelming at times, but I guess that's what you get for buying a fixer upper. Currently the truck is basically done. I've had it tagged for about two weeks, but I've had it for almost three months. It's been pulling my machines to work for the last week and I've been super nervous. It's really really long and I've seen the trailer go over more curbs in a week than I've seen in a lifetime with a tag along rig. Other than that it has been amazing to drive, and the ride is like nothing I've felt. The comfort compared to day cabs is much better being able to put the seat back. The truck is fast, probably as fast as my old pick up. So, we've had a lot of fun riding the truck around bobtail. I even took the woman and the dog up the mountains to let the dog swim in the river and drive it over the mountains.
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This was the first day going out loaded in the Peterbilt and the trailer. Luckily Monday I just hauled one machine, but the next day I was to haul both machines. I never thought I'd have a sleeper, but we ride 3 on board everyday. So, it's great but looks like an OTR tractor with an unusual lowboy. The trailer is a 2004 Ferree 35td with a 6" drop deck...,but dang it's high...and long...and the ramps are short. . It wasn't my first choice, but it came down to money for now. If I keep it I will have some ramps fabricated, tool boxes, paint, and wheels.
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The second day I had pulled both the Takeuchi 150 and the 312 with less than a foot to spare on the trailer and loaded close to the max...I bought the trailer with really good rubber except for one tire. Early morning blowout on the highway, but ironically enough I was at the exit with all the semi shops and I actually ended up in the parking lot of Global parts which is the biggest chrome shop in Atlanta and most of my stuff came from there so I was pretty familiar with my surroundings and Goodyear Wingfoot was so close they didn't even charge for a service call.
Thanks to each every one who left a comment. It means a lot. The people in my life really just don't get this stuff and wouldn't know the difference between an F700 and W9.
Here's a ride-a-long video of the truck finished and going up and over Blood Mtn. in Ga. I made a few videos of the project along the way also.
Here's a ride-a-long video of the truck finished and going up and over Blood Mtn. in Ga. I made a few videos of the project along the way also.
Thanks. The motor is at 550 with straight pipes. I have a Pittsburgh Power box that is a competition box where the 5-6-7 settings are twice the increase as a stock PP box. I've never gone over 4 because I know better I guess. I have a guy just a state away who wants to uprate the ECM with timing, nox, fuel trims and a bigger turbo. As soon as I can get to him I will. I was just desperate and bought the box from a guy online.
Now on the Jake brake. If I run in stage three it pulls the motor down quick between shifts and is tough to shift. On stage one I can pull off smooth shifts I guess. I just turn it off during acceleration because it is easier to drive and shift. You can set the Jake to come on with the brake pedal or by letting the accelerator pedal top out by flipping the cruise switch up or down. I leave it where the accelerator pedal activates it so I don't always have to jab the brakes. How do you do it? If you leave your jakes on activated by the throttle then you engine brake between shifts all the time or are you referring to the jake activating with the brake pedal.
Now on the Jake brake. If I run in stage three it pulls the motor down quick between shifts and is tough to shift. On stage one I can pull off smooth shifts I guess. I just turn it off during acceleration because it is easier to drive and shift. You can set the Jake to come on with the brake pedal or by letting the accelerator pedal top out by flipping the cruise switch up or down. I leave it where the accelerator pedal activates it so I don't always have to jab the brakes. How do you do it? If you leave your jakes on activated by the throttle then you engine brake between shifts all the time or are you referring to the jake activating with the brake pedal.
Mine comes on when I let off accelerator pedal but I very rarely let it come on when I am shifting. I don't let off of the pedal all the way when I am shifting i guess. Now you have me wondering how I do it for sure. I will have to pay more attention today when I am driving it to see how I do it for sure. Mine doesn't come on with the brake pedal. If I have the cruise on I have to tap the clutch pedal to activate it. We have a truck with a Detroit in it that I can't upshift with the jake on. I guess it just depends on how sensitive your accelerator pedal is.
Be careful with those Pittsburgh Power boxes. I know they make crazy power but they will cause you problems as well. Bossman had one on his truck and it caused his motor to blow two head gaskets before he took it back off. He got the ecm reflashed with a new tune and that fixed the head gasket blowing problem and he had just as much power if not more.
Be careful with those Pittsburgh Power boxes. I know they make crazy power but they will cause you problems as well. Bossman had one on his truck and it caused his motor to blow two head gaskets before he took it back off. He got the ecm reflashed with a new tune and that fixed the head gasket blowing problem and he had just as much power if not more.
If you don't want the Jake to operated during upshifts, if your clutch is adjusted properly, you should be able to depress the clutch pedal just within the "free play" range, not the clutch "disengage" range. That should cut off the Jake from operating.
If you don't have any clutch free play, if I'm your mechanic, I'm climbing your tree.
If you don't have any clutch free play, if I'm your mechanic, I'm climbing your tree.
You got some pretty good right foot control to keep a little pressure on it everytime. Agreed on the PP Box. I hope to get mine flashed soon w/a Turbo upgrade and sell the PP Box. They couldn't even sell me a box a couple weeks ago because the EPA had them shut down on their Power box sales. I found in on national CL search.
I just got the truck back from the mechanic this week for a DOT inspection and they had it set with about 2" of free play and set the clutch brake. Now it just drops in gear with ease. First time they did that to my other truck they set it with some free play and when I asked about the free play he said that's how it should be when set right. Took a bit to adapt. Today I tried your method and it worked good.
I got some Accuride aluminum wheels from FleetPride and had a mobile guy mount them last night while we finished a job. Today I drove the Peterbilt and got a few pictures. Still need to have ramps fabricated, sandblast and paint, LED lights, and toolboxes. I am really considering making a motorcycle mount on the goose neck so I can have dual sport motorcycle on the job to get parts, supplies, lunch, ICE, drinks and whatever else I need out on the job. Many days I unhook the trailer and have to make a run somewhere. I also usually look at google earth before driving the rig to my jobs. Lot's of times I have to back out of my jobs and having a motorcycle I could check out cul-de-sacs and side streets beforehand. Just a thought. Course I've had many thoughts on this project Like having an enclosure on the gooseneck..... If I keep this freight train.
Traded the Ferree 35 ton for a Witzco 35 ton detachable GB. I originally was going to get a detach but that deal fell through and I bought the ramp trailer because I needed one quick and it would hold both machines and it was local. So I've still been searching Truckpaper regularly and a local broker had the detach listed and a Cat powered LTL 9000 dump that caught my eye. Long story short he said he would swap me dead even. I couldn't get there fast enough. I wasn't even sure it could hold both machines. So he referred me to a fabricator to cover the wheels. Well when I got to my job to bring the machines home they fit on the second try.
