Kenworth Truck Co. announced Thursday, Jan. 25, that it will offer the Caterpillar C9 engine for its W900S and T800 vocational models to help customers lower operating cost and enhance productivity by reducing weight and increasing payload. The truck maker also introduced the extended day cab option for its W900S model on Thursday, Jan. 25, at the annual World of Concrete Show in Las Vegas.
The Caterpillar C9 engine will be available for Kenworth’s W900S mixer, T800 short hood and T800 front-engine power take-off (FEPTO) configurations. The truck maker says contractors can save nearly 900 pounds with the Caterpillar C9 over the 12.5-liter Caterpillar C13 and still get the power needed for their specific application. Kenworth will offer the Caterpillar C9 with 350 hp and 1,250 ft-lbs of torque governed at 2,200 rpm, and the 335 hp version with 1,150 ft-lbs of torque governed at 2,200 rpm.
“This new combination of Kenworth’s vocational models and the C9 engine is ideal for weight- and cost-conscious contractors,” says Gary Moore, Kenworth assistant general manager for marketing and sales. “Vocational customers, especially in mixer and dump applications, will benefit from the lower operating costs and higher productivity available by selecting a lower-cost engine with reduced weight and greater payload capacity while still receiving the high level of desired performance from their Kenworth trucks.”
Kenworth and its dealer network can help customers to determine which Kenworth truck and engine combination can best meet their needs and help deliver greater profitability, Moore says. “Kenworth is dedicated to build trucks that perform for each customer’s application,” he said.
“Drivers appreciate the extra room with the Kenworth extended day cab, and we’re pleased to make it available on the W900S model, which has always been a popular truck for mixer applications,” Moore says. “The extended day cab option is a great incentive for mixer fleets to use for driver recruitment and retention, while helping to enhance driver performance and productivity. The extended day cab’s increased length also can be incorporated without affecting the ability of the W900S to meet federal bridge formula regulations.” The Kenworth extended day cab option is available on Kenworth’s T660, T800 and W900 models.
Kenworth says it also enhanced the W900S model to provide even better maneuverability. The steering gear was moved forward ahead of the axle, and longer front springs were added as part of a front end redesign that increases wheel cut by 4 degrees and reduces the overall turning radius.
“Kenworth continually seeks ways to further improve the performance of our products to make them even more productive for customers,” says Mike Dozier, Kenworth chief engineer. “In this case, we found a way to increase the maneuverability of the W900S, which helps to further enhance the performance Kenworth provides to customers that operate mixers.”
Kenworth says the W900S still offers the same features that have made it a popular model among truck operators – an engine that sits high in the frame and ahead of the cab for easy maintenance access; straight sections of reinforced rubber hose that are more easily available and much less expensive to replace than preformed hoses; and an electrical system designed for durability and streamlined troubleshooting.
“This new W900S has been engineered to the application and enhanced to meet the needs of contractors, without sacrificing the value the W900S has always offered operators through lower maintenance costs and higher resale values,” Moore says.
The World of Concrete concludes today, Jan. 26, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Kenworth’s booth (#N2337) features a W900S mixer with a Caterpillar C9 engine; Kenworth T800 short hood equipped with a loader crane; Kenworth T800 wide hood heavy hauler; and a Kenworth T300 dump truck.
