Tell me about Volvos

You have that right after shock, except I am saying that in a southern drawl.

King

 

Back on topic I guess for my post...

You could give me a Pete, KW, Inter, FreightLiner, etc.. And I would take them straight to a Volvo dealer for a trade. Theres not a single, conventional style truck/engine/tranny, I havent driven (from Cats, Cummins, Macks, Detroit, Benz, etc, Eaton, Meritor, ultrashift, autoshift, singles, doubles, triples, duplexes, triplexes, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 18, and more). For driver comfort, ease of use, whatever, the Volvo surpasses them all (unless we are talking about a custom sleeper truck).

I love my Volvo 770/780. My 21 inch tv fits right into the cabinet, without any modifications. On the 770, it even has a seperate spot for you VCR/DVD player. More storage space than I could ever need. A nice stereo system (11 speakers factory, mine had 13). Cup holders that will actually hold a cup, regardless of the truck stop pot hole you hit.

For the next paragraph, you probly will want to know more about my truck.. Cummins ISX Signature 600, castrated back to 450, 1250 TQ, Eaton Fuller Semi-automatic (AutoShift), 10 speed, 3.53 rears, 22.5 Lo-pro tires, 10 aluminum rims, governed at 70MPH. Truck weight, full tanks, 19200. Yea I know, a heavy truck.

I had a dedicated route from St Louis, to Atlanta GA. My trip down was always light, maybe 3000 lbs in the box, maybe. I averaged out, at 70 mph, at 8.7 MPG. The return trip wasnt so easy thou. A load of carpet.. Usually maxing out the truck, somewhere around 79500. The fuel milage on that one, speed of 70mph again, was 6.2. That averages out to be just about 7.5 MPG round trip average. Best truck I ever owned. That Cummins hardly ever let me down.

Althou It did have its problems.. The front axle always had a shimey in it. I think the truck was wrecked in the front (diferent colors in the hood), and it tweaked the front axle. Althou the diferent shops I had it taken to never could find the problem. They could replicate the problem, but could never find where it was coming from. Althou they did find a slight bend in the frame, and straightened it out. I never had electrical problems. This was a post 03 truck, so it had a EGR system on it. That thing seemed to break like clock work, every 125k miles. Simple 5 hour fix (after tow) and I was back on the road.

And yes Volvo has proven to the NHTSA, and other truck mediums, that the Volvo truck is rated as the safest truck on the road. Anti-roll over systems, break-under engines/transmissions/driveshafts, the ONLY truck in the industry that has factory installed SRS airbag/s, and some other things I am not even going to try to explain.

Your right about one thing thou, the Volvo doesnt hold its resale value. Althou it is better than the Freightliners that I have shopped. And that doesnt bother me one bit. I will buy one Volvo cheaper than your bought your Pete/KW, and with the money I saved, I will use it to make it the way I want the truck, or, just plainly pocket the money. Either are fine with me, or use the money, and buy the superduper extended warenty (if there is such a thing), and still walk away with more money in my pocket.

It really doesnt bother me to hear these other guys talk trash about the Volvos. I have driven the Petes, the KW's, The Freightshakers, The internationals. I know how UN-comfortable I was in those trucks. And I also know how very comfortable I am in my 780.

Althou, I was glad to let the old girl go, with some 572000 miles (it was a 04 model), just as the fuel prices started to grow. I wasnt going to fight my way thru that. And it was time for me to spend more time at the home, with my wife, and my family. I am glad I did, and am not looking back.

 

Nice post La Purr.Do you manage gap between sleeper and dry box at 38" or closer?

 

Well I guess I could add my .02 to the pot. I have drove Volvo's, (learned in one) as well as KW T600, Freight Liner Classic Flats, Mids and Condos as well as Pete 379. My newest venture is another red oval but it is the 387. Now I am only 33 and I bough based on comfort. I did like the Volvo's for their room as well but I did my homework and for resale and general maint. after warranty the Volvo didn't rank as high as KW or Pete. My 387 is not as classy as the 379 or 359 but it is a hell of a lot more roomy for my brother and I. My full size microwave is where the TV is supposed to go and my flat panel is on the wall. I also have a rigmaster and all of the comforts one could want in your home away from home. Only thing I am missing is a Trc Vision sat receiver so I can watch the races when it's my little bro's turn at the wheel, but I am saving for that. In the end I kind of view trucks as I do motorcycles, we are one big brethren. I don't care what badge is on the hood so long as it pulls good.

 

Eagle that is good. Do you have any pictures of her that you can post.

King

 

I posted them on this thread for you yesterday:

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...-difference-between-10speed-vs-super10-2.html

 

Nice looking truck!Can you share with us your average gross and MPG?

 

I thought that you were supposed to maintain no less than 4 feet from sleeper to trailer for dip room. 38 inchs that is why you see so many bungged up sleepers and fairings.

 

I think the main reason you see "bungged up" sleepers and fairings is that the drivers aren't seeing them when making sharp turn maneuvers.

I've run with the fifth-wheel all the way forward, providing less than the four feet you've mentioned -- with no problems -- except for tight docks where I had to REALLY jack the trailer. And the "dip" factor.

While the shorter wheelbase was an asset, the potential for bent fairings caused me to stretch 'er back out.

On the highways at speed, the improved aerodynamics provided better fuel mileage though, so I considered it beneficial to reduce the cab/trailer gap.
BTW, I didn't run a refer.

 

Nice truck engle. At least you do not need to worry about a clutch.

King