This month’s creation is two trucks for brothers Kenley Kropf (32) of Montrose, CO and Kelson Kropf (23) of Nashville, AR. The boys live 1,000 miles apart, but decided to order and pick up their trucks, that are nearly identical, together, which just about created too much attention – or should I say “two” much attention!
The boy’s dad, Kenneth, moved to Nashville, AR when he was 13 years old. His parents were row crop farmers in Illinois who went to Arkansas in search of cheaper land. Kenneth was one of ten children, and he started out hot shot trucking. In 2004 he bought a Freightliner conventional, which he still has today.
Kenneth and his wife Evonne have four children – two girls and the two boys. Strong in their faith, five years ago, the family helped start the Grace Point Mennonite Church in their community. In early 2017, Kenneth bought a Kenworth W900L, that he still runs today.
Both of the boys caught the trucking bug from their dad. Kenley remembers driving as early as 14 years old, but he didn’t get his CDL until he turned 18. He drove local until he was 21, then bought his first truck – he has had many since then, with this newest Peterbilt being number nine. Kenley owns a feed mill and an egg farm, and trucks in between.
Kelson went trucking with dad as many times as he could. After graduating high school, he went to work at an equipment company, and then switched to driving a manure spreader. The year he got married he also got his CDL, and then started driving locally. When he turned 21, he started driving for his dad, driving that original Freightliner. He did that until he got the new Peterbilt seen here.
Planning to get his own truck, Kelson called me to order it. Like most of us, both of these brothers are truck nuts, and we hit it right off. Kenley was also looking to buy a new truck, so the boys decided that it would be cool to order them both at the same time, and not tell anyone. They kept it a secret until the day they came to pick them up. When mom and dad walked into the shop, Kenneth saw Kenley’s truck first and said, “Someone messed up on the frame, because it was supposed to be purple!” Then Kenley and his wife surprised them and showed them both new trucks. They were speechless.
The new trucks are nearly the same, except one is a little longer and the frame color is different. They both got the same add-ons, as well. The trucks are 2021 Pete 389s with 70” HR sleepers, X15 engines, 18-speeds, car-hauler front axles on air ride, and Platinum level interiors. Both trucks are a beautiful bright white, with Kenley’s having a burgundy colored frame and Kelson’s being bright purple.
When the trucks showed up, Leonard handled one and Gabe took care of the other. In the shop, it was kind of strange, because these trucks were so similar. They both have visors, cab and sleeper skirts by Bub, Shift rear fenders, straight stacks, hidden DEF tanks, smooth and flush deck plates, nice bumpers, and Jim Crain light bars (mounted to last-minute rear frame cross-members welded up by my dad just before the boys came).
Married in 2007, Kenley and his wife Ashley have four kids – Saige (10), Kolby (8), Aspen (5), and Kasper (1). Married for just four years now, Kelson and his wife Valerie are expecting their first child in March 2021.
With everyone in the family present when they picked up the trucks, we all headed to the park to take pictures, and it was quite a sight. I am used to blocking the road for a bit to get the right shot but having two trucks was almost too (two) much attention. But we got some cool shots, which was pretty easy, because these are a couple really cool trucks.
