The K104 was the Australian cab-over that took over from the K100G in 1999. It was offered with Cummins, Caterpillar and Detroit Diesel engines, and in 2008 it was replaced by the K108, the only cab-over in Kenworth Australia’s 2008 model range.
Kenworth K104 at a glance
| K104 | Australian model, replaced the K100G in 1999 |
|---|---|
| Cummins engines | ISM and Signature, 350 and 631 hp (261 and 470 kW) |
| Caterpillar engines | C12 and C16, 410 and 600 hp (305 and 447 kW) |
| Detroit Diesel | 452 and 440 hp (337 and 328 kW) |
| K104 production | until 2008 |
| K108 | replaced the K104, with minor external differences |
| K108 engine | Caterpillar C15 of 625 hp |
| Range | cab-over: the T range is bonneted, the K range is cab-over |
| Built in | Bayswater, Victoria, Australia |
History of the Kenworth K104
Kenworth Australia has assembled its trucks at Bayswater in Victoria since the company was established in 1968. Australian-built Kenworths are also exported to right-hand-drive markets nearby: New Zealand, Japan, Thailand and Papua New Guinea. In the Australian range the T range covers the bonneted conventionals, the C for heavy haulage, mining, off-road and road trains, and the K range the cab-overs.
In 1999 the K104 replaced the K100G in Australia. It was a full heavy-duty cab-over with a wide choice of engines: Cummins ISM and Signature units of 350 and 631 hp (261 and 470 kW), Caterpillar C12 and C16 of 410 and 600 hp (305 and 447 kW), and Detroit Diesel engines of 452 and 440 hp (337 and 328 kW). Production ran until 2008.
The K108 that followed had only minor external differences from the K104 and came with a Caterpillar C15 engine of 625 hp. It was the only cab-over in the ‘08 Series’, the range Kenworth Australia introduced for 2008; the rest of that range was bonneted, from the T358/A up to the T908 and C508. Because of its shorter length the K108 was very popular in the B-Double market, where overall length matters.
Design and features
- Wide engine choice: Cummins, Caterpillar and Detroit Diesel were all offered in the K104.
- Cab-over layout: the K range is the cab-over side of the Australian range.
- Shorter length: the layout that made the K108 popular for B-doubles.
- Only cab-over of the ‘08 Series’: the rest of the 2008 range was bonneted.
- Australian build: assembled at Bayswater, Victoria.
Kenworth K104 versions
- K104 (1999–2008): the model that replaced the K100G.
- K108 (2008–): the ‘08 Series’ cab-over with a Caterpillar C15.
- K100G: the earlier Australian cab-over replaced by the K104.
The K104 descends from the K100 and is listed with the K123 and K124 as part of the Australian K series. The bonneted T900 was the other side of the same Australian range. More trucks are in the Kenworth collection.
Video: Kenworth K104 (Getting Some Tips)
Video by Bryce Baker on YouTube.
Sources
- Kenworth K100, Russian Wikipedia: K104 engines and production, K108 engine
- Kenworth, English Wikipedia: Bayswater assembly, K and T ranges, ‘08 Series, B-Double popularity of the K108
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