Kenworth T880 Adds Hendrickson ULTIMAAX Severe Duty Suspension at NTEA Work Truck Show

The vocational flagship Kenworth T880 is now available for order with the Hendrickson ULTIMAAX® advanced severe-duty rubber suspension, Kenworth announced today at the NTEA Work Truck Show.

The ULTIMAAX suspension offers a balance of empty ride quality and loaded stability for driver comfort, while also cushioning the load and protecting the chassis, cargo and body equipment from excessive vibration and road shock due to potholes and rugged terrain. For the T880, the suspension is available with axle ratings from 46,000 to 52,000 pounds, axle spacings of 54- and 60-inches with 11-inch ride height for applications such as refuse, sand and gravel, crane/boom, platform, construction, and logging.
 
“Fleets that operate trucks up to 52,000-pound capacities can now specify the Hendrickson ULTIMAAX severe-duty suspension with the Kenworth T880 to provide their drivers with a consistently smooth ride while running loaded or empty on the harshest roads and terrains,” said Kurt Swihart, Kenworth marketing director.

“The Kenworth T880 equipped with a PACCAR MX-13 engine rated up to 500-hp and 1,850 lb.-ft. of torque already provides a durable, reliable and productive vocational truck for such demanding applications," Swihart said. "The severe-duty suspension helps enhance the T880’s traction, stability and handling under loads from 46,000 to 52,000 pounds. Plus, it adds even more durability and helps customers maintain a lower cost of operation with its components designed for maximum weight savings for additional payload.”

The suspension features bar pin end bushings, a progressive load spring design, and a rugged axle connection to extend its service life. The progressive load spring design also makes replacement easier and the rugged axle connection can reduce re-bush time. Rubber shear springs carry a majority of vertical load in the empty condition, creating a smoother ride. As the load increases, the suspension’s ride and stability characteristics change to meet the application’s needs without an abrupt change in spring load.
 
“The rubber shear springs also contribute to longer service life for the T880 and the body equipment,” Swihart said.

Integrated with the rate spring design and rugged axle connection is Hendrickson’s proven walking (equalizing) beam technology, which utilizes a central pivot point to help keep tire contact with the road or worksite surface, maintaining traction. Its flat-bottom design increases ground clearance, plus it delivers up to 17.5 inches of diagonal wheel articulation to keep the load on all drive wheels.
 
Available in day cab, 40-inch, 52-inch and 76-inch sleeper configurations, the Kenworth T880 comes standard with the PACCAR MX-13 engine rated up to 500-hp and 1,850 lb-ft of torque. The PACCAR MX-13 provides a lightweight, fuel-efficient engine for vocational applications, including dumps and heavy haul applications over 100,000 pounds. The T880 can be ordered with a 116.5-inch BBC hood optimized for the PACCAR MX-13 engine and providing enhanced visibility, or with the standard 122.5-inch BBC hood.
 
“By equipping the Kenworth T880 with the ULTIMAAX severe-duty suspension, customers can greatly enhance the driver-friendly T880, making it an even more productive work environment, ultimately resulting in the attraction and retention of good drivers,” Swihart said.
 
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Kenworth Truck Company is the manufacturer of The World’s Best® heavy and medium duty trucks. Kenworth’s Internet home page is at www.kenworth.com. Kenworth is a PACCAR company.