If this J&L Contracting 2013 Peterbilt 389 heavy-hauling glider (powered by a 2002 Caterpillar engine run through an 18-speed tranny) looks somehow familiar to you, you’re not alone in the impression. Visitors to the Wildwood, Fla., edition of Overdrive‘s Pride & Polish in April got a good look at it under the ownership of then-Landstar-leased owner-operator Brett Cole, who placed second in his class there in the Wash & Show portion of the competition.
Springfield, Mo.-based J&L, owner James Williams’ heavy-haul and dump small fleet, says J&L driver Randy Menkel, wanted the truck — and they got it.
J&L driver Randy MenkelThey retooled it for super loads and gave it a full going-over to show in the Pride & Polish edition in Crossville, Tenn., last month at Fitzgerald Glider Kits’ location there with a modified 2015 Trail King heavy-haul drop trailer. The unit was re-christened “Back in Black” for its return to the show circuit. Cole, meanwhile, says Menkel, now heads up the company Oklahoma outpost.
Run through some of the details below in a video walkaround with Menkel and a few more photos of the unit.
On the back of the sleeper, this custom-designed Brunner headache is of a similar to design to the one owner James Williams added to J&L’s Pride & Polish National Championship-contending 2015 Peterbilt 389, “The Contender.” Readers can vote once per day for their favorite rig in the Truckers’ Choice championship at this link through the weekend before GATS later this month.
Among additions to the Trail King trailer were a full array of Truck Lite lights, new paint and a fresh resin treatment on the decking.[youtube 9E_aGQ6lqZA nolink]
