By Truck Parts & Service Staff
Peterbilt Motors Co. this week introduced two new trucks: the Model 337, which expands the company’s medium-duty presence and is suited for pickup-and-delivery, beverage and food service vocations; and the Model 348, designed for the Class 7-8 specialty application markets that require rugged durability and a wide range of option content.
“The medium-duty market demanded simplicity, maneuverability, value and style, and Peterbilt responded with the solution,” said Bill Jackson, general manager of Denton, Texas-based Peterbilt and Paccar vice president. “The Model 337 was designed to meet the demands of virtually any business while lowering costs with the quality and durability the market has come to expect from Peterbilt.”
Peterbilt said the Model 337 combines comfort and reliability with an ergonomically designed driver display package that features an easy-to-read gauge package and includes key vehicle performance data located at the top of the dash, while an optional GPS system is intended to simplify navigation in urban environments. Power windows, mirrors and lock switches are located in the new door pad design, and dual cup holders provide added convenience. A new HVAC system is designed for improved airflow and reduced maintenance costs.
“Medium-duty vehicles are typically operated in congested environments,” said Landon Sproull, Peterbilt chief engineer. “It is important for sightlines, both in the ergonomic layout of the instrumentation or the exterior view of the vehicle’s surroundings, to be clear and allow the driver to make good operational decisions.”
Peterbilt says the Model 337 offers improved visibility with an overall increase of 17 percent side window visibility and improved forward visibility, while an all-aluminum cab is designed to be lightweight for fuel efficiency and corrosion-resistant for durability.
Peterbilt said customers can choose from two proprietary fuel-efficient engines, the Paccar PX-6 and Paccar PX-8, both of which provide a wide range of horsepower and torque. The Model 337 also is available in a hybrid-electric configuration that provides fuel savings gains of up to 40 percent, according to the company.
The company said the Model 348 represents a multidimensional performer with a GVW beginning at 35,000 lbs. and optional capacity ratings to suit almost any specialty vocation. “The new Model 348 is the answer for customers in key applications such as construction, petroleum delivery, refuse and utility vocations,” Jackson said.
Peterbilt said the all-new interior features an “in-mold” color process that imbeds the color permanently into the material to virtually eliminate peeling, scratches, scuffs and fading that can occur in harsh operating environments, while an ergonomically-designed driver display package features easy-to-read backlit gauges that includes key vehicle performance data located at the top of the dash. A new HVAC system is designed for improved airflow and reduced maintenance costs.
The Model 348 is available in truck or tractor configurations and offers vocational options such as FEPTO, REPTO and application-specific transmissions, including a hybrid configuration designed for utility service. In the hybrid configuration, the Paccar PX-6 engine offers 280 hp, while the Paccar PX-8 engine offers 240-380 hp and provides 1,050 lb-ft of torque for heavier loads.
The Model 348 is constructed of an all-aluminum cab that is lightweight for added fuel efficiency and corrosion-resistant for durability, while visibility is enhanced by a lowered and slanted side window beltline that increases the view outside the passenger side window, and a lowered dash sightline that contributes to an overall 17 percent improvement in side window visibility.
For serviceability, removable dash panels are designed to provide easier access to electrical and HVAC components, while a new electrical system offers multiplex technology designed to simplify wiring behind the dash and facilitate troubleshooting. The Model 348 is available exclusively with air brakes for heavy-duty configurations and a wide range of suspension and vocational options in both single- and tandem-axle configurations.
