June 2010

Taupo Treasure

Recently my good friend Nigel Turner caught up with Peter Alexander and his new K108 in Taupo for a photo shoot so I took the chance to get some information from Peter on his new Kenworth and Nigel kindly supplied the photos.

The K108 Kenworth replaces a K104 Kenworth that has done 1.3 Million on the clock and is still performing well with no major issues during it's five year stint.

The truck is contracted to Toll Tranzlink and does a set run carting Watties product from Hastings to Auckland and Coca Cola product from Auckland to Napier every day.
This is done by double shifting the unit from Taupo with Mark Abbott doing the Taupo - Auckland - Taupo shift and Peter then hops behind the wheel and does the Taupo - Hastings - Taupo leg of the journey.

Peter also runs another K104 Kenworth that runs the exact same shift with Pete Clements and Bob Tindall doing the driving with each truck covering approx 900 kms a day.

The new K108 is fitted with the new Cummins ISX - EGR engine running at 525 horsepower and an Eaton 20918 gearbox with Cobra - Shift auto. It also has Meritor 46 / 160 diffs on 275 / 70 tyres and it tows a Roadmaster 4 axle trailer.
Malcolm Cab Solutions in Rotorua made the wing on the roof and also fabricated the manifold for the air rams to bring the air intake down inside the front wall to allow the body to be pushed up flush with the back of the cab, they also fitted their stainless mesh headlight covers and a stainless cover over the fuel tank .The truck has the new " Front Underun Protection " bumper. Twin exhaust tips were fitted just for fun and it is also one of only a few with a Parchment ( cream ) interior.

A big thanks to Nigel Turner for the photographs and to Peter Alexander for the information on his very impressive Kenworth K108.

Taupo Treasure - Toll Tranzlink K108

Click to enlarge