Volvo Questions

I do sleep in the upper bunk of my 780. It.saves a little time at bed time and I store stuff under the table. I have slept in both and it's not too big a deal to drop the table and spread the cushions. My truck has the volvo D12.
It will not climb mountains like the D16 or a 15 liter cat but it gets me around and has been dependable. I have noticed that when you see a volvo broken down on the side of the road, the engine is almost always red.

 

I have a 730 I have slept on both but I'm over climbing up to go to bed.. Takes just a minute to drop the table.
I have a d13 xe with the I shift... 455/1750 and the only thing I want is a manual 13sp.
The I shift has a economy and performance mode... In economy it will pull a long grade at 35 mph full loaded at 1100 rpm.
In performance 45-50 at 18-1900 rpm
This is with 2.64 rears on 22.5lp.

 

the D12 and D13 can both be software upgraded to well over 550 hp and 2,000 ft. pounds IF the drivetrain will take it.. Volvo can tell you just how much you can push it with the drivetrain you have now but the dealer must contact Volvo HQ and it takes 2-5 days to get a answer and they can tell you what or if you would need to upgrade
anything (clutch, trans, diff's).....much over 520 hp would require changing the radiator to the D16's
the software and reflashing the ecm is $600-$2,000
btw the D12 CAN go as high as 750 hp but you'll never get a drivetrain that will take it and be able to keep it cool under the small 780 hood

 

I have a 2014 Volvo 780 with the D13 engine and I Shift transmission. The engine is 455 hp and I have not had it turned up. I have plenty of power to pull and pull a flatbed. I currently get over 7 mpg in the summer months running at 70 mph with loads less than 40,000 lbs. I highly recommend the D13 over the D16. Yes the D 16 is a bigger engine, but it is also less reliable as I have heard from several owners. I have also talked with heavy haulers that are using their Volvo 780 with the D 13 for pulling heavy equipment and none have any difficulty.

If you do buy one of these machines, be sure to have the valves adjusted on a regular basis. This will greatly improve your fuel mileage, prevent soot buildup in the DPF and create smoother running engine. Valves should be adjusted every 125,000 miles. Those that don'e follow this policy pay for it with longer down time and blowing half burned diesel through the exhaust system.

As for sleeping arrangements, I sleep in the upper bunk because it came equipped with a 6 inch inner spring mattress that is more comfortable than my mattress at home. I prefer not having to make my bed everyday other than throwing the comforter. For summer use I have a 15" 120 volt fan that I place on top of a five gallon trash can and pointed up to circulate the air as I tend not to idle much.

 

I have driven 670s with both the ISX15 and the d13. I prefer the d13 over the ISX anyday. The Volvo engine pulls better than the Cummins in the hills and the power band just feels smoother in the high gears. My only complaint about the d13 is the jake brake. It's not nearly as strong as the Cummins jake, but I assume that it's just a result of smaller displacement. Also, the d13 gets better mpg. I regularly average well over 7 mpg without even trying.

 

I've had a couple of 780's, I sleep on the upper bunk and leave the table as is..I run solo so not a big deal for. As far as power I've got the D13 in this one, will never pull like my old Cats but I find it gets me where I need to be just fine.

 

If I was solo the table would always be set up and I would have a very good mattress for the upper bunk. As a married team we do not use the upper bunk and never set the table up as we have a 4" memory foam over the cushions. We have a Cummins ISX engine and would never go that way again. We are on our second engine. The truck is an 09 with 1,0320,000 miles and the engine has about 400,000 miles on it. Ungoverned and we drive pretty fast usually getting 6.7 to 7.1 mpg

 

Have the D16 here and will be doing a D13 next truck. During the summer my coolant temps are always on the hot side though. Too big of a motor under a tiny hood IMHO.
My brother in law has the 13 liter and it pulls pretty decent, not like the 16 but I'll trade that for fuel mileage.
The Volvo motor pulls very strong, clear down to 1000 rpm which I love. My D16 will do betwen 6.2 grossed out and 7.8 lightly loaded. Rears are 3.58
820,000 miles on original motor and still going.