Every smart upgrade to owner-operator Alan Kitzhaber’s 1995 Kenworth T600, with 4M+ miles

At the 2025 Mid-America Trucking Show, longtime owner-operator Alan Kitzhaber — Overdrive’s 2024 Trucker of the Year — took us on this walk around his 1995 Kenworth T600, a rig he’s pilot since it was new and owned since 1998. He ultimately put more than 4.1 million miles on the T600 over three decades: https://overdriveonline.com/15712603

From the front deer catcher to tag axle at the rear, owner-operator Kitzhaber walks through the many additions and tweaks that have helped keep this truck running strong: a Caterpillar 3406E engine overhauled three times, a switch to a single-drive-axle with that tag axle for fuel efficiency, a double-overdrive 13-speed transmission, Arctic Fox fuel heater that’s kept him rolling through Wisconsin winters without buying fuel additive for over 15 years.

Kitzhaber shows off a fully integrated air hose reel in the passenger-side box, a ProHeat block heater and APU system fed by a dedicated fuel tank, a PressurePro tire monitoring setup, and an automatic greasing system hidden beneath the catwalk. Inside the cab, he’s built custom storage, added a fridge and microwave, and even mounted a desk to work from the road -- all tailored to the needs of an independent hauler who’s learned a lot about staying prepared.

Trucker of the Year Alan Kitzhaber's message is simple: with diligent maintenance and smart upgrades, you can make an older truck outlast the competition. In this video, he shares the lessons and mechanical solutions that kept his truck -- and career -- going strong.

Catch Kitzhaber interviewed by Steve Sommers from the MATS show floor at this link: https://www.overdriveonline.com/15741853

ENTER YOUR OWN OWNER-OPERATOR BUSINESS (up to 3 trucks) or that of another deserving owner you admire, in the 2025 Trucker of the Year competition: https://overdriveonline.com/toptrucker

For more custom rigs check out https://overdriveonline.com/custom-rigs or browse this playlist:    • Custom Rigs  

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