Running With Watkins & Shepard

I guess I've never seen one of those Volvo's then because I've NEVER seen one that has MORE room than an FL??? This one certainly doesn't for sure.

Well yes, now that I have my TOOLS, I can start to modify things. That's why it was so important to get my butt HOME!!!

Now I can think about it as I go and act accordingly. Assuming of course I actually keep this truck. I want to be sure before I do any customizing. Aside from the tight space, there are still pros and cons I'm weighing about it.

I LOVE that Cummings engine!
I HATE that WIDE and thus SLOPPY feeling shift gate! (Yes folks, I like it tight!)
I LOVE the smoother ride!
I HATE trying to "catch" the darn idle shut down override. You have to pretty much stare at the dash to "see" the shutdown warning and then hit the fuel or break to override it. Well, most times I'm doing paperwork or Qualcomm and MISS that darn thing! There really should be an "audible" warning to that sucker....LOL
I LOVE the stereo with the remote for when I'm in the sleeper.
I HATE the lack of overhead storage which is nowhere even close to what a FL has. It's not even wide enough to put my log book or note book in.
I LOVE the 3 position Jake Break. Very handy indeed.
I HATE the steering wheel as it's center is raised so my laptop (or anything else) won't sit on it. In a FL, the wheel is PERFECT for all that.

So yep, I have some thinking to do about it all. Now with all the cramming between school, job hunting and orientation, I haven't even learned how to tell what "kind" or model truck this is...LOL I figure 'll work on that a little today after I get some thing from Wal-Mart. I now have the Colman cooler and set it up on the upper bunk (for now) last night. Let it get cold and put my food and drink in it. I went out this morning to see if it was still running as I know some trucks have an automatic electrical shutdown to keep enough juice to start the truck. I don't know if this one does but I suspect it does. So I went out first thing this morning and started it up to idle for an hour or so. The cooler was still running.

It's a shame really as the cooler fits in the center section under my bunk for width and depth but it's like an inch too tall and won't let the bed latch the when it's down....

The cabinet behind the driver seat has the slide out table but it's broken and pretty much useless. I tried to fix it last night but it has some broken parts so it's a no go for now.

 

Thanks Cruiser! I'm trying to do my best...LOL

WEST!! ....LOL ...but honestly, as long as I keep getting D&H and or dock bumps, I really don't care. But I really do want to get out west. Among all of this, I'm hunting for a place I might want to call home so the more I see, the better...ya know?

 

Well, I'm almost done with the clean and organize. Just finished all the glass. After using my 4" belt sander with a little 80 grit for the more industrial strength bugs on the windshield....the rest was easy!
We had a simply beautiful day up here in Jersey so I took the mattress out this morning, beat the snot out of it and let it air out. It's pretty new so it really wasn't bad at all.

I may have to get a steering wheel cover though. It's starting to flake a bit and I noticed when my hands get a little sweaty, they get really black. Hmmm....maybe I'll bring my Harley riding gloves as driving gloves....LOL

The laundry is done and I think I'll give myself a haircut and a beard trim before heading out. The cooler is loaded with food and drink for at least a week.

Tomorrow morning I'll do a final vacuum, set up the bed and I should be good to go.....