ET, connecting the bolts to the wires

Hi guys, I have lots of pretty simple and probably dumb questions around trucks. I've come from the building industry and only have been involved in transport for 3 years for family reasons. Its a pretty small world I work in and I'm an outside inconvenience, so don't have the greatest friend bank. Hoping you blokes can help.

Got a dream to build me an electric truck as a daily worker. I have a swag of reasons I won't bore you with and I'm no trucking magnate with big bags of cash. So think it will be slower than expected, frustrating at times, possibly exciting, and quite rewarding if it can be done.

I have found an Australian company retro fitting current trucks that need engine rebuilds with an electric motor and battery set up. They do the engineering so hopefully it may be as easy as they promote. We will see.

Putting that aside I have some perimeters I have to work within, one of them is the overall length of the vehicle has a maximum length of 14.5m, and a GCV (Gross Combined Mass) of 45.5T using HML (Higher Mass Limit) management. So a cab over that can do, or be engineered rated to do so.

To me this 69 K125 slimline is pure truck porn, just something about that "so wrong" look turns me on. Ah hem......but it also saves weight, allows room for battery positioning options, trailer positioning, or even shorting.



I do expect however seat movement is limited. Can you blokes comment on if it gets any better in something like this 63 K100, or is the seat is where the seat is regardless. A sleeper provides opportunity to hide the battery possibly, but otherwise it is of no use to the truck really. Its daily duty is 80km round trips on average roads.




I currently have two trucks, a little bonneted Mack metro liner body truck that rides hard a nails unladed and shits me, and a DAF cab over tractor. Have to say the European styled truck rides nice loaded or not, not sure I can achieve that with a 60 to 70s American cab over. Any comment on that would also be welcomed.

ED back in the day I think I heard that the best/shortest day cab, cab cover, for capacity was a g88 Volvo, and might just ride a bit better than the old KW..... but someone who knows much more than me will steer you right.

We like a project, looking forward to your reports.

hmmm certainly has the right "wrong" look.

One thing I have noticed is because they are old sure doesn't mean they can't hall a load and half. Not surprising really if I think about it.
Anyone have any thoughts on day cab Tare weights, I've got around 7.5T to play with.

As you will probably doing a bit of travelling under the vehicle maximum capacity my ownership of a 1963 day cab Kenworth like your photo above was cut short by the pain and misery of trying to hang on until the bell went at 8 seconds. My wife absolutely refused to travel in it despite me putting a suspension passenger seat in.

The exchange for an F86 Volvo was the best vehicle replacement move I have done in my life.


Looks nice but this was the only time it rode nice - well, OK - and the only time I ever had a trailer on it.

Lang, well done. That's a fine looking ride and a credit to you. But you think volvo hey.

I don't have any tie to any brand, but have always though Kenworths were ascetically better than most. They appear to be like toyota and hold vale better than others, but 8K will see a Mack, KW or Volvo in the drive. I assume there is a better supply of parts for a KW over others, either new or in the paddock but have no idea really.

The roads are average around here, and half the trip is empty. After a few hours it starts to wear thin in the Mack so ride comfort is of importance. After working out roughly what truck is preferable I was going to talk to suspension specialist to see what's available. Its probably down to how long the springs are though. The DAF leaves are longer than my mack, but both front ends are 6.5t rated.

Parts for the older Volvos are getting harder to source now and ride quality depends on rear suspension as to meet the market they were fitting the yank Hendrickson suspension. The next generation Volvo is the F12 which will give you the option of a high speed diff and parabolic springs front and rear, together with a sprung cab which gives a velvet ride. There are a few rare day cabs ones about, mainly the f10 version but without an engine they are the same. Tare weight will be a challenge. Maybe give some gross weight capacity away and go single drive.

What about the best of both worlds?

I still have a nice riding European truck but with an American badge on it - a Mack Midliner. If you have $5.000 it is yours. I will even throw in a good steel tray.

Look on this forum under the For Sale section for "Mack Midliner and Crane". The $5000 is without the beavertail or crane just the flat tray.

Lang

Lang you are in the right part of the world but......sorry mate, some trucks were born just plain ugly. You got one em haha. No offence

Need a tandem drive also. I'm sure it can be done but I have enough to change let alone the whole truck.

A slimline KW does look terrific, but will ride pretty rough. Probably not a lot more seat room in a sleeper cab, if any. Using the sleeper as a cover over the batteries would be a neat/tidy idea, but it's extra weight to carry, and i wouldn't mount batteries within/to the sleeper as i think the weight would break the cab up. Plus you still need to be able to tilt the cab easily. Batteries could go where fuel tanks normally go anyhow.
We have a G88 Volvo here, and just from my own experience with it, and other various similar trucks and newer, i would stay right away from anything European. What about a short day cab Western Star, or a T400/T401 KW? T400 on Reyco rear end is the best riding truck i have ever driven, and probably was the lightest too. If you really want an old truck and need cab over, i'd go Mk3 Atkinson, or KW.
I think you need to define all your weight and length and size and shape limits, then see what is available to most closely fit your criteria, starting with as modern as possible if it's to be a working truck.
I don't know what your battery bank will entail, but i reckon keeping a bogie drive within your tare weight restraints will be a challenge.

Brett.

ED back in the day I think I heard that the best/shortest day cab, cab cover, for capacity was a g88 Volvo, and might just ride a bit better than the old KW..... but someone who knows much more than me will steer you right.

We like a project, looking forward to your reports and pictures.