Our second inductee this month into the Bridgestone Million Mile Club is this classic 1998 K100G Kenworth 8×4 rigid tipper. Owned and operated by Muir Hamilton of Hamilton Industrial Services, the mighty 100G, according to the records, has a touch over 2,000,000km showing on the clock now.
Looking into the history of the 100G, we find that the first registered owners were Williams & Wilshier of Gisborne, where it was put to work with logging gear and a four-axle trailer. It appears to have completed a touch over 700,000km in that company’s care. It then moved across to Rotorua into the Paragon Haulage fleet, and in late 2004, the 100G moved south to Kaiapoi, finding its place in the SML fleet. In 2011, it was sold, and there was a change of ownership to Hewvan Timber of Palmerston, Otago, where it looks to have resided for a bit over five years. After its time with Hewvan Timber, the 100G moved into the CRB Logistics fleet for a stint there on all manner of general freight duties as a tipping drop-sider. After this, the unit spent time within Barry Caulfield’s fleet based out of Awakeri. And it was here, in about 2020, when Muir took over the reins of the 100G. “The truck for us was needed to work alongside a business venture we were involved in at the time. We were using high-pressure waterblasting in a process that removed the excess bitumen that flushes up through the aggregate and compromises the surface. There was a truck that was set up with the blasting equipment, and then we sat alongside this with the K100G, and decanted the water from the solids, then bagged the solids for removal to recycling plants in Auckland and Gore,” says Muir.
“The truck has been a solid unit for us. I am not sure of the engine’s history, but the 3406E I have been told is now running 550hp. The rest is all normal spec, 18-speed Roadranger, 46/160 diffs with HAS460 suspension. I have replaced the front diff, and recently replaced the UJs on the rear driveshaft. We have also replaced all the airbags, the front spring packs, as well as all the shackle pins and bushes. So yeah, we have spent a little bit of money on it, but that is repairs and maintenance.
“As I mentioned, it is a solid truck, and it has been looked after, but unfortunately we no longer have the need for it, so if anyone is looking for a good drop-sider tipper that is ready to get back to work, then drop me a line and we can have a chat,” was Muir’s parting comment.
If you are in the market for a good ol’ K-model ‘K-whoppa’, give Muir a call. He has the machine for you.
