Two aluminum hood lengths
The factory reference lists 123 and 131 in BBC. A sleeper, stretched frame or aftermarket bumper changes other measurements.
Peterbilt 389 retained factory product reference ↗
THE TRACTOR REFERENCE DESK
Peterbilt
389 family
A legacy premium long-hood model; 389, limited-production 389X and current 589 are related names but not synonyms.
01 / FIND YOUR REFERENCE
Choose a reference edition
Start with the model configuration, then choose a publication and explore its documented equipment.
Catalogue reference
Selecting equipment records your research choice. It does not calculate dimensions, establish an available combination or rate a truck.
About this edition & its evidence
Peterbilt 389 retained factory product reference. Retained factory product reference, not a current order guide. Keep the 123 and 131 in configurations separate from the newer 589.
DIMENSION GUIDE / A–H
Precision visual reference
Select a measurement to highlight its endpoints and see what the chosen publication confirms.
Peterbilt 389 · 389 123 BBC · Peterbilt 389 retained factory product reference · 1 published / 7 to verify
Published value Needs verificationSchematic · not to scale
A / SIDE VIEW
Bumper to back of cab (BBC)
Front bumper to the back of the driving cab. Excludes an additional sleeper; it is not overall tractor length.
123 in3,124 mm
Published for this reference; confirm the individual build.
Original illustrative views; not to scale, a certified drawing or a selected-build rendering. Endpoints explain the measurements. Published values come from the cited reference, never from the image.
Selected reference: Peterbilt 389 retained factory product reference. Published values remain tied to this edition.
View the complete dimension table ↓02 / THE MEASUREMENTS
Published dimensions
389 123 BBC · Peterbilt 389 retained factory product reference
| Measurement | Reference value | Scope / how to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Bumper to back of cab (BBC) | 123 in3,124 mm | Published in the selected manufacturer reference.Peterbilt 389 retained factory product reference ↗ |
7 dimensions still to verify · build record / measurement
| Measurement | Reference value | Scope / how to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase | Not verified | Build record / measurement required. |
| Overall tractor length | Not verified | Build record / measurement required. |
| Overall height | Not verified | Build record / measurement required. |
| Cab / body exterior width | Not verified | Build record / measurement required. |
| Width across mirrors | Not verified | Build record / measurement required. |
| Fifth-wheel height | Not verified | Build record / measurement required. |
| Bumper to front axle (BA) | Not verified | Build record / measurement required. |
Planning to transport the truck?
Measure fixed exterior width and mirror width separately, plus overall length, the highest accessory, fifth-wheel height and actual transport weight. Interior bunk width is not exterior width.
03 / UNDER THE SKIN
Powertrain & chassis
PACCAR MX-13 · Cummins X15. Classic aluminum cab and hood. Read engine, gearbox and axle ratings together.
| Measurement | Reference value | Scope / how to verify |
|---|---|---|
| MX-13 maximum power | Up to 510 hp380 kW | Published in the selected manufacturer reference.Peterbilt 389 retained factory product reference ↗ |
| MX-13 maximum torque | Up to 1,850 lb-ft2,508 N·m | Published in the selected manufacturer reference.Peterbilt 389 retained factory product reference ↗ |
Documented cab options
- Day cab
- 44 in sleeper
- 58 in sleeper
- 72 in sleeper
- 78 in sleeper
Documented transmissions
- PACCAR TX-12
- PACCAR TX-18
- Endurant HD
- Endurant XD / XD PRO
- Eaton FR/RT manual
- Eaton UltraShift Plus
Retained factory product reference, not a current order guide. Keep the 123 and 131 in configurations separate from the newer 589.
BUYER RESEARCH · REVIEWED SEPTEMBER 9, 2026
Read the configuration behind the badge
Peterbilt’s retained 389 product page supplies the selectable catalogue values. Its commemorative history documents the May 2023 reveal of the separate 589; that event is not a VIN-specific production cutoff.
| Question | Documented reference | Buyer interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Hood and cab | 123 or 131 in BBC in the retained catalogue | 3,124 or 3,327 mm. Match the hood before using either value. |
| Sleeper and overall size | 44, 58, 72 and 78 in listed sleeper sizes | A stretched frame, custom sleeper, bumper or stack can change dimensions without changing the badge. |
| Successor boundary | 389 and 589 are separate families | Do not apply 589 cab dimensions, technology or ordering information to a 389. |
Evidence to take to the inspection
Treat a customized 389 as an individual engineering and condition review. Request records for frame length changes, axle additions, sleeper conversions and replacement powertrains; reconcile those records with what is installed. Measure the front bumper, rear projection, widest bodywork and mirrors separately. Chrome condition and a fresh paint finish cannot establish chassis condition, component capacity or the quality of an earlier modification.
Technical references for this review:
04 / MODELS, YEARS & CHANGES
One badge.
Different reference points.
Publication dates and launch milestones do not establish continuous model-year ranges. Match the VIN, production date and equipment era.
Read 389 history separately from 589
Peterbilt preserves a commemorative page for the 389. Its heritage does not make later 589 dimensions or cab equipment interchangeable.
Peterbilt 389 commemorative history ↗Inspection and build evidence
Inspect hood and cab mounts, long-wheelbase geometry, custom wiring, corrosion, cooling and any appearance-driven modification that affects serviceability.
- factory model designation
- 389X documentation if claimed
- component serial/model tags
- frame and axle ratings
- customization and repair invoices
05 / PUTTING IT TO WORK
Match the trailer to the whole truck.
Highway, heavy-spec, car-carrier and custom builds can differ materially in frame, wheelbase, sleeper, front axle and cooling.
HIGHWAYTRAILERS.CA
Flatbed
Start with deck length, load placement, axle distribution and cab-to-trailer clearance.
Read the guide HIGHWAYTRAILERS.CAStep deck
Compare deck height, gooseneck geometry and the loaded combination’s height.
Read the guide HIGHWAYTRAILERS.CARGN / equipment hauling
Check neck compatibility, fifth-wheel loading, wet-kit requirements and the complete axle layout.
Read the guide HIGHWAYTRAILERS.CAHow trailer capacity works
Review the tractor, coupling, trailer, tyres and load as one combination.
Read the guidePulling a trailer
Confirm build-specific combination, axle, tyre and coupling ratings, kingpin and service connections, clearance and actual axle weights. GVW is the loaded truck; GCW is the loaded combination. Neither is trailer payload.
Moving the tractor as cargo
Give the carrier measured length, exterior and mirror widths, height, ground clearance and transport weight. Assess deck access, breakover, loaded height and securement together.
Deck height & loaded height ↗There is no single “389 towing capacity”.
The model badge, artwork and catalogue option selectors cannot rate an individual combination. Obtain the actual build limits and scale weights.
06 / FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
Sources & open questions
Reviewed September 7, 2026. Manufacturer figures remain tied to their stated reference; converted equivalents are rounded; original source units are retained. Application and inspection notes are editorial guidance.
- Peterbilt 389 retained factory product reference ↗
- Peterbilt 389 commemorative history ↗
- Peterbilt — Model 389 legacy ↗
- Peterbilt — Model 589 ↗
Reference-specific evidence needed
- Dated sleeper/transmission option matrices and production boundaries need archived brochures.
- Obtain build-specific overall length, exterior and mirror widths, overall height, fifth-wheel height and actual weights.