Double Coin Imaging Awards

The new 6x4 tractor unit for Gundy Transport which started work at ANZAC weekend makes a bold statement in its bright yellow Foodstuffs colours, and also for the level of customisation and attention to detail in the build.

It wasn’t originally visualised as something quite this striking, but Will Gundesen’s passion and Bradley Marsh’s talents were blended to make FAT KW something special.

“It was supposed to be a fleet truck, but it’s ended up like a show truck. It just sort of snowballed as we went along,” says Will.

Based in Palmerston North, Will has five trucks running under contract to Foodstuffs Palmerston North, covering the lower half of the North Island along with linehaul work to Auckland. It’s taken 20 years for the operation to grow to five units and eight drivers – with Will also jumping in whenever needed to keep the supermarket shelves well-stocked.

Over the years Will has owned DAF XFs, a Freightliner Argosy, and currently there’s a Volvo 700 XXL cab working alongside four Kenworths. There has always been a strong Kenworth flavour to the Gundy Transport operation including a K108e, four Fat Cab K200s, and now this special K220.

Will’s shed also houses a legendary K104 2.9m Aerodyne Fat Cab which is enjoying a graceful retirement alongside some V8-powered classic cars. And still at work, Will has a Kenworth T400 tipper for a range of local work. This little Kenworth model was the very first truck Will drove back when started with Linfox.

The new flagship K220 has the familiar 615hp Cummins X15 and 18-speed Roadranger drivetrain specification. It tows a dedicated 15.1-metre Freighter quad reefer with 28/26 pallet capacity built by Maxitrans.

The truck is mainly double-shifted, working in the Wairarapa most mornings and making double runs to Wellington at night. There’s the odd run to Auckland as well.

To compliment the bright colours, Will had plenty of custom ideas and called on the skills of Marsh Engineering Services in Tauranga for some bling.

“Bradley was top notch to work with. He sent photos every week to keep me up to date and we made a few changes along the way,” says Will.

“I like each of my trucks to be a little bit different with its own character and being my first K220 we wanted it to be a bit special. I reckon it’s hard to make a yellow truck look really good, but I’m really pleased with how it has turned out.”

Among the eye-catching extras are stainless steel steps, a custom rear bumper, a one-off KW emblem cut grille, vents, cab extenders, light bar, exhausts, and side skirts. 

Will says low maintenance was a focus for the extras.

“Apart from alloy grips on the steps everything is stainless, painted, or wrapped. It means there is bugger all polishing for the guys.”

The front face of the K220 grabs most of the attention with the custom stainless grille laser cut with small Kenworth emblems and a painted front bumper.

The truck is a showcase for Marsh Engineering Services with its detail finishing work, the large alloy side panels and the unique stainless grille which is laser cut with the Kenworth emblem.

“It was supposed to be a fleet truck but it turned into the most highly-specced K220 we have done, by far,” says Bradley.

The new laser cutter arrived at Marsh Engineering Services in January.

“We do everything in-house now, nothing is out-sourced,” Bradley says.

“It’s a first for us [the grille]. I cut out from a piece of scrap and told Will it could go on another truck if he didn’t like it.”

Will continues the back story of the unique grille.

“We had been thinking about the grille and one night Bradley rang me and said he’d done it and if I didn’t want it he’d put it on another truck,” Will says.

“I told him: `You’re going to hate me, but now you’ve done it we are going to have to light it up from behind.”

All of the painted parts, including the bumper, tanks, chassis covers, plus the front of the cab, are all covered with paint protection film.

The painting of the custom parts was completed by Fleet Image while the scrolls and signwriting are the work of Wrapped Auto Signs in Tauriko.

But inside the K220 is largely standard.

“With the new digital dash there’s not as much you can do inside, and I didn’t want it to look half- done. It’s got a king single-size bed and fridges and all the factory specs and options but it’s stock standard inside.”

Like the registration number suggests, the choice of a “Fat Cab” is Will’s preference. 

“We do high mileages and Kenworths have proven themselves for reliability and resale. That’s why I go with the Fat Cabs. It’s a bit of overkill for what we do, but people love the Fat Cabs and overall it’s all about the resale value,” says Will.