M1075

Yes, the blue hooded truck does have both the crane and winch option. The green and tan hooded trucks have the gun turret option and crane, but not winch. Your knowledge and information is greatly appreciated, thanks!

merlin1945

Thanks for the reply. However, I must give the credit to a friend of mine that worked in the Military Department at Kenworth while I was at the Division Headquarters. You really got a great truck!

JohnR

It's interesting to see that there are some of the KW PLS vehicles still around. Are any still in use in the Canadian Army?

I was manager of the Kenworth Military Dept. when we bid on & won the PLS testing contract. But, as you know, we decided not to bid on the roughly $2 billion production contract - Kenworth didn't need the hastle of that at the time.

I was looking for information that I might still have, but can't find anything yet.

But here's one picture of our prototype / test truck.


John

Attached Images

	KWPLS.jpg (103.3 KB, 83 views)

M1075

John, thanks for the picture! Can you tell us more about that truck and where it fits in with the other trucks shown earlier in the thread? I noticed this one doesn't have the material handling crane, central tire inflation system, or air cleaner under the hood. Was this 1 of 2 built initially? I have heard there was 8 more built after that. Is that correct?

merlin1945

M1075, The following is the best info that I can obtain from old friends who worked in KW's Military Dept. on the T884 PLS program. Your questions are shown in white and their answers are in Yellow.

You replied earlier that two of the trucks on this order had a 30 In longer wheelbase to accommodate a folding hydraulic crane with outriggers mounted right behind the cab for self loading. You indicated there were 2 prototypes built and then 10 more for the proposal.


There was one prototype built as a demonstrator for the US Army. It was built with a T800 cab and painted CARC green and later burgundy. It had an Eaton CEEMAT 9 speed transmission with a top speed in excess of 75 MPH behind a Cummins NTC 444 and of course the GKN axles.

Just prior to that truck being hand built, the Army bought and tested 15 T884 trucks for performance evaluation at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds…. C500’s with Cummins 400’s, Allison HT 750 DRD’s and Rockwell axles (6 X6’s). One truck was rolled on a downhill outside sloping turn, Kenworth replaced the cab and it was running within 48 hours. Some of the 15 trucks ended up in Iraq and the trucks were seen on national news clips! Not sure how many trucks went to Iraq and how many, if any came home!

I had a KW guy tell me today that there were 8 built. Any chance the 10 qty you mention includes the 2 prototypes?

The VIN numbers of my 2 trucks are consecutive, although there are 1 or 2 letters different in the middle. Both appear to have the long wheelbase and crane option. Should I assume, then, that I will have the only 2 crane models of the 8 or 10 built?


All test and evaluation trucks originally had the Multi Lift PLS systems on them.


Why would the mid characters be different?

Of In the 17 digit VIN one place contains the check digit. That accounts for the difference in the VIN’s

Can you decode the VINs if I get them to you?


Someone from Kenworth Applications Engineering Dept. should be able to identify the VIN for you and you to decode, but there is not much there except for plant location, build year and engine. .(425-828-5000)


Do you know which VINs were tested where?

Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD and Ft. Hood, TX.


The build sheets indicate "53 MPH in direct", but the tranny should have overdrive, right? Any idea on top speed?


If the transmission was the HT 750 DRD then the top speed is limited to about 59 MPH if they go into the governor at say 2200 RPM’s…….

The CTIS control box in the cab looks similar to the ones you see on M939A2 series 5 tons. Do you know if these are the same?


Yes they should be…. It is the Eaton CTIS system used also by the US Forrest Service today.

Hope this helped!

Dave

quickfarms

Nice truck