New options, components from Peterbilt

Peterbilt Motors Co. is offering a range of new options and components for its Class 8 and medium-duty trucks, most becoming available either in the third or fourth quarter this year. The truckmaker said it is adding the Eaton Fuller UltraShift automated 10-speed transmission as a new option for its over-the-road, heavy-duty vehicles. The UltraShift automated transmission will have limited availability through 2003, with full availability in 2004 on Model 379, 387, 385, 378 and 357 vehicles. Low Maintenance System (LMS) aluminum hubs are now standard for steer and drive axles on heavy-duty Peterbilt trucks and tractors. LMS front hubs have been standard since 2000, and rear LMS hubs became standard earlier this year. Combined, the LMS hubs can reduce vehicle weight by nearly 100 pounds, said Peterbilt. Rear LMS hubs are standard for single-drive axles up to 23,001-lb. GAWR, tandem drive axles up to 46,001-lb. GAWR and tri-drive axles up to 69,001-lb. GAWR, and non-steerable extra axles. They come with a three year, 350,000 mile warranty, said Peterbilt. Front LMS hubs are standard for front axles rated at 10,000-lb. through 14,600-lb. and also come with a three-year, 350,000 mile extended warranty. Peterbilt also will make standard an outside air temperature gauge integrated into the driver-side mirror on the Model 379 and 378 in the fourth quarter this year. This gauge has an LED display that auto-dims to adjust to ambient light levels, with a laser-etched warning icon that illuminates at 34 degrees Fahrenheit to alert the driver to the potential of freezing conditions and ice on the roadway. Also, Peterbilt is making available to all of its truck models a new version of its Low Air Leaf tandem air suspension. This new proprietary suspension is 325-lb. lighter than Peterbilt's previous Low Air Leaf Suspension, and has an improved 40,000-lb. load rating to accommodate the toughest on-highway applications and many vocational applications. Peterbilt is also upgrading its Vantage level interior, designed for vocational markets. It is available for all Peterbilt daycabs and should be available in the third quarter.