Kenworth is one of the most popular semi-truck brands in the United States. Have you ever wondered how long their semi-trucks are?
Would you like to know how the length of a semi-truck can affect it? Read on to find out!
Here’s how Long Kenworth Semi Trucks are:
A Kenworth truck’s wheelbase length varies from 114″ to 327″ and its front bumper to the back of its cabin (BBC) length varies from 107.5″ to 131.5″. Both these lengths will vary depending on the year and model of the Kenworth truck however the wheelbase length is customizable with certain models.
Table of Contents
Popular Kenworth Models and their BBC Length:
| Model | BBC Length |
| W990 | 131.5” |
| W900 | 130” |
| T660 | 128” |
| T680 | 125” |
| T470 | 123.5” |
| T800 | 122.5” |
| T880 | 116.5” |
| T380 | 109.5” |
Popular Kenworth Models and their Wheelbase Length:
Kenworth is a popular semi-truck manufacturer, and it is well known for producing some of the highest quality trucks on the market.
Kenworth is constantly pioneering in the industry, and their recent innovation involved electric semi-trucks, which are gaining traction quickly.
Below we are taking a look at the wheelbase of popular Kenworth models. The wheelbase is the distance between the front and rear axles.
How long is a Kenworth T680?
The Kenworth T680 is a semi-truck designed to maximize profits. It has an aerodynamic design and a powerful and efficient engine.
The T680 is filled to the brim with tech, featuring a fully digital high-definition instrument display that allows drivers to quickly and easily assess the condition of their semi-truck.
This semi-truck also has a huge focus on safety with cutting-edge features such as lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, side object detection, and collision mitigation.
The Kenworth T680 tractor length is 235 inches. This is slightly shorter than the average wheelbase for semi-trucks between 245″ and 265″.
How long is a Kenworth T660?
The Kenworth T660 is a popular semi-truck that was discontinued in 2016. However, there is still a lot of love for this model.
You can find several T660’s second-hand, and despite them being discontinued, you’ll still be able to find parts for them, so there’s no need to worry about that.
T660’s is still very much loved today, and the second-hand models are regularly sold on the market.
The Kenworth T660 has a wheelbase length of 245″, which is just about average for your everyday semi-trucks.
How long is a Kenworth T800?
The Kenworth T800 is an incredibly strong and reliable semi-truck. It is considered the workhorse of the Kenworth range.
This model is popular in heavy-duty situations such as construction or hauling heavy cargo. The T800 has a strengthened chassis that allows it to work harder than other semi-trucks.
The T800 is also known for being a long-lasting semi-truck. Many models have seen thousands of miles without any significant issues.
The T800’s BBC length is 122.5”, however, its wheelbase length can be custom-tailored to your specifications based on what you need to use the semi-truck for. This is something that Kenworth uniquely offers for the T800.
How long is a Kenworth W900?
The Kenworth W900 is the flagship semi-truck of this mega manufacturer. The W900 is one of the iconic long hood semi-trucks of the United States and symbolizes American trucking.
This American classic has now been geared up with the latest technology, including digital displays to assist the driver.
The W900 is also fitted with many safety features such as adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, side object detection, and collision mitigation.
It’s even fitted with a driver’s info display which features weather, traffic updates, Satnav, external cameras, and much more. All of these features make the W900 the ideal long-haul freeway semi-truck.
The Kenworth W900 has a wheelbase length of 240″, which is just under the average length for semi-trucks.
What is the Longest Kenworth Model Ever?
The Kenworth T880 has the longest wheelbases of any Kenworth semi-truck. The wheelbase on this semi-truck measures 327″, which is much longer than your average semi-truck.
The Kenworth T880 is a workhorse semi-truck, much like the T800. It has a wheelbase that can also be customized to customers’ needs.
What is the Shortest Kenworth Model?
The Kenworth Model 522CT Bullnose is the shortest chassis Kenworth has ever made, with a wheelbase of 114″. These models were built in 1949.
How Long are the Kenworth Short Hoods?
| Year | Model | BBC Length |
| 2019 | W990 | 131.5” |
| 1961 | W900 | 130” |
| 2014 | T880 | N/A |
| 1987 | T800 | 122.5” |
| 2013 | T680 | 125” |
| 2021 | T380 | 109.5” |
| 2021 | T340 | N/A |
| 2021 | T180/T280 | 107.5” |
| 1997-2010 | T2000 | 125” |
| 2011-2014 | T700 | 121” |
| 2008-2017 | T660 | 122” |
| 1985-2007 | T600 | N/A |
| 1988-1997 | T400 | 130” |
| 1989-1997 | T450 | N/A |
| 1995-2007 | T300 | 120” |
| 2011-2021 | T440 | 121” |
| 2010-2021 | T470 | 115.5” |
How Long are the Kenworth Long Hoods?
| Year | Model | BBC Length |
| 2019 | W990 | N/A |
| 1961 | W900 | 127” |
| 2014 | T880 | 116.5” |
| 1987 | T800 | 115.5” |
| 2013 | T680 | 125” |
| 2021 | T380 | 107.5” |
| 2021 | T340 | 114” |
| 2021 | T180/T280 | 109.5” |
| 1997-2010 | T2000 | 127” |
| 2011-2014 | T700 | 123” |
| 2008-2017 | T660 | 128” |
| 1985-2007 | T600 | 120” |
| 1988-1997 | T400 | N/A |
| 1989-1997 | T450 | 112” |
| 1995-2007 | T300 | N/A |
| 2011-2021 | T440 | 130” |
| 2010-2021 | T470 | 123.5” |
Is it Better to have a Longer or Shorter Kenworth?
Several factors are essential to consider if you decide whether a longer or shorter Kenworth is the right one for you.
The first is practicality. Longer Kenworths are more challenging to maneuver, and they will take up much more space. This is something to consider if you’re a less experienced driver.
The length of Kenworth that you choose will depend on the job that needs to be done. For example, the longer Kenworth is ideal if you need to haul a lot of cargo over longer distances.
However, if you’re doing small deliveries in a city with narrow streets, a shorter Kenworth will be much better suited to get the job done.
Another consideration to keep in mind is the look of the semi-truck. This is an important factor for many owners, and some prefer the aesthetic of the longer semi-truck.
At the end of the day, it comes down to personal preference and the type of job that the semi-truck needs to do.
Long Hood vs Short Hood Kenworth
Some popular Kenworth models come with the option of a long or short hood. Below, we will go in-depth about the impact of having a long or short hood.
However, the long hood semi-trucks originate from when engines used to be bigger in physical size to generate more power.
Thanks to modern technology, we no longer need to build bigger engines to extract more power from them. This means that semi-trucks do not need to have long hoods anymore.
However, due to popular demand, the trend of having a long hood on a semi-truck has stuck around, and many truckers prefer a long hood semi-truck over a short hood semi-truck.
Size
The size is the biggest difference between a long hood semi-truck and a short hood semi-truck. The long hood semi-truck will, of course, be slightly longer.
The measurement is taken from the front bumper to the cabin’s back, also known as the BBC (bumper-back-cab) measurement.
The difference between the two might only measure as a couple of inches, but in reality, it does make a big difference.
There is a noticeable difference between the short nose and long nose semi-trucks in their size.
Aesthetics
The aesthetics of a semi-truck is of utmost importance to most truckers. It comes down to personal preference at the end of the day. However, the hood of the semi-truck is a crucial influencer in the aesthetics.
The majority of truckers prefer the look of the long hood semi-trucks. It resembles the classic American trucker style that semi-trucks are famous for.
However, there are a lot of truckers who prefer the short hood semi-trucks instead. Another difference is that long hood semi-trucks are usually flat at the top, whereas short hood semi-trucks have a sloped hood.
Each driver has their own opinion on which look they prefer. The aesthetics are the most important part of the semi-truck for some drivers.
Maneuverability
Having a long or short hood semi-truck will influence the maneuverability of the semi-truck. This happens naturally as the longer hood can make it more difficult to handle the semi-truck.
Long hood semi-trucks have a much larger turning radius, making them impractical to drive in tight spaces and narrow streets.
Long hood semi-trucks are naturally bulkier, making them slightly more sluggish with their handling, even though it is a small difference between them.
Some drivers have stated that their visibility is impacted in a long hood semi-truck. While this technically does not fall under maneuverability, it does affect the driver’s ability to control the semi-truck.
Maintainability
There is a slight difference between the long hood and short hood semi-trucks, which is essential for some truckers, especially those who do their maintenance.
Long hood semi-trucks are easier to maintain because there is more room to work in the hood of the semi-truck since the engine’s physical size doesn’t change.
This might not lower your maintenance or labor costs of taking the semi-truck into a workshop. However, if you do your maintenance, it could save you a lot of headaches.
Most Power
The hood of the semi-truck does not make a difference to the amount of power that the semi-truck has.
The amount of horsepower depends on the size of the engine in the semi-truck, which the customer can choose when placing their order.
‘Size’ of the engine does not refer to its physical size but rather to the amount of power it can generate.
However, a long hood semi-truck might be slightly slower than a short hood semi-truck in both acceleration and top speed.
The extra weight of the long nose semi-truck will negatively impact its acceleration, and the aerodynamic slope of the short hood semi-truck will give it a top speed advantage.
Cost
There is a slight price difference between the long hood and short hood semi-trucks. This is important to consider if you want to keep your costs as low as possible.
Long hood semi-trucks are slightly more expensive than their short hood counterparts. This is because of the extra materials and labor involved in building the long hood semi-trucks.
However, this has not put off many truckers as they still prefer the long hood semi-truck to the short hood semi-truck in most cases.
Resale value
The long-hood semi-truck has better resale value than a short hood semi-truck. There are two main reasons for this.
The first is that they start at a higher price, naturally making them more expensive to resell than a short hood semi-truck.
Secondly, long hood semi-trucks are more popular and in-demand because of their looks and aesthetic. This is especially true for older models.
We tend to see older models become classics, which drives their resale value up significantly. This is one factor to consider when choosing between the long hood and short hood semi-trucks.
Mileage
Mileage is one of the most important factors that truckers consider when buying a semi-truck. However, the short hood semi-trucks have two clear advantages in this department.
The first is that their sloped hoods are more aerodynamic, making them between 5 and 10 percent more fuel-efficient than the long hood semi-trucks.
Log hood semi-trucks are also heavier due to the extra materials used to construct them; therefore, they are less fuel-efficient and need to use more energy and fuel to move.
Which is the More Popular Long or Short Nose?
There is no doubt that Kenworth is a top-rated manufacturer. However, there is a slit for the long hood and short hood semi-trucks.
Many truckers prefer the long hood semi-trucks for their aesthetics, resale value, and the nostalgia they experience with them.
On the other hand, some truckers do not like the long hood semi-trucks because of their poor visibility, bulkiness, and difficult handling.
It comes down to personal preference, and each driver has their own opinions. The truth is that you can’t decide until you have experienced both versions.