Kenworth t680 opinions?

What are all the spec's on the trucks? Need all that information and what kind of duty cycle you are running. Then of course you will need to do all the checking or bring a mechanic that knows what they are looking at. Get a ECM dump as well on each truck. Either of them have an APU? If so they will have hopefully less idle time and that is a big issue with newer emission trucks.

 

Not O/O but Halliburton had 5 t680's,automated,same years.
They were day cabs,spec heavy,limited to 65 mph.
We used them hauling cement.They ran well,65 mph loaded or empty.One of them had 200,000 miles on it,the others 50,000 to 100,000.
7+ mpg,
Never any major problems.

 

Specs are EVERYTHING! buy the wrong spec for ur operation and you will end up paying MORE in fuel... Miles is just a Number my 1 Million mile truck has a lower maint cost then a 400k mile truck..

 

IMO opinion the Paccar MX-13 is a more reliable engine than the Cummins ISX-15, and likely slightly more reliable than the X-15. With notably better fuel economy than either of those two. As well, people seem to say that - since about 2017 - the Paccar's emission system problems have largely been dealt with as well. Where the Paccar does fall far behind, however, is in service. Especially so after an engine's warranty runs out. Peterbilt/Kenworth operate Paccar service like a secret cult, and you become almost totally dependent on them for life. Cummins engines, on the other hand, are an 'open shop'; easy to get complete information on and computer tools for. And that fact probably shouldn't be underestimated, especially when buying an older truck.

Edit: I own, and have yet to ever hear anything truly negative said about the (more recent) 12 speed 'Endurant' automated manual transmission. The previous Eaton automatic models, as I recall from when I was shopping, received less enthusiastic reviews.

 

There have been issues popping up with the 12 speed, I forget who it was but, someone well known in the space who owns a smaller trucking company and has attending many truck shows recently bought a new 589 stand up sleeper and he spoke about those issues and how you can't spec a 13 speed anymore so they moved to the 18 speed. Something to do with software and clutches. I'd personally spec the Endurant XD Pro transmission if any.

 

I don't see any need or reason for 18 speeds. Autos suck as it is. No need to make em dumber with more gears.

What I'd like to see is standard rear ends like manuals have. The way they take off is stupid and even more sore that they can't handle a slight resistance.

Then there's the fact that taking off on the slightest grade they climb to 2200 rpms and hang there.

Or on the downhill side. They race away and now you've exceeded max rpm. And now the truck dings at you till you shut it down.

An auto that needs to be manually shifted.

PFFTTT

 

The Endurant XD series that's come out looks promising, I'll say that. From what I hear it's a fully automated system.