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Gear Ratio/Tranny/Rear End Swap

Discussion in 'Heavy Haul Trucking Forum' started by UltraZero, Nov 9, 2015.

Page 6 of 14
  1. Nov 16, 2015 #51
    haulhand

    haulhand Road Train Member

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    Feb 6, 2008
    Rock Springs, Wyoming/Dickinson, ND
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    You want specifics so here goes that Volvo ride that you love will be gone and not just a little rougher we are talking about a whole lot rougher. Have you ever driven a double frame truck with a 20k front and 46k rears along with the corisponding suspensions?? Where do you think that ride comes from?? In response the crappy plastic interior will fall apart and look like a ragged out twenty year old oilfield freight liner in a matter of months because it wasn't designed to take the amount of jarring that a stiff truck has going down the road. For the record Paccars and Western Stars don't hold up to the jarring either but they are better than a lot of other brands. You also must have way more money than the rest of us (or way less sense) because by the time you get done with this build I'll bet you have close to a couple hundred grand in it. Double framing a truck isn't cheap neither is cutting and grafting a new suspension and rears, your worried about the transmission when in fact that is the easy part. If I were in your shoes with the money to spend I would go to the dealer of the brand of your choice and sit down with a sales men and spec out a truck like you want brand new with all the options you want already installed then hammer out a deal to trade for your truck. Volvo will even spec a heavy truck and build it. Trust me you will be money ahead.
     
    haulhand, Nov 16, 2015
    haulhand, Nov 16, 2015
    #51
    Wymon, passingthru69, damutt and 3 others Thank this.
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  3. Nov 16, 2015 #52
    soloflyr

    soloflyr Medium Load Member

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    Nov 6, 2009
    Houston, Texas
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    Mammoet uses Volvo trucks in their fleet but not the heavy haulers. They will do moderate heavy loads with them but you also have to consider the trailers they have that allow a lighter speced truck to do the load. For the heavy haul they have Western Stars that are built specifically for the task. Not to say you can't use a properly built Volvo for heavy haul, just a reference point that the companies that do heavy work choose other trucks for it.
     
    soloflyr, Nov 16, 2015
    soloflyr, Nov 16, 2015
    #52
  4. Nov 16, 2015 #53
    Mack427

    Mack427 Medium Load Member

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    93
    Jan 22, 2009
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    volvo has the same 3/8 " thick 10 3/4 tall rail ever other brand does they stole theirs from Mack when they purchased them the vhd was a pretty neat truck but nothing more than a granite on eaton rears with t ride
     
    Mack427, Nov 16, 2015
    Mack427, Nov 16, 2015
    #53
  5. Nov 16, 2015 #54
    UltraZero

    UltraZero Medium Load Member

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    Jul 18, 2013
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    Peterbilt. OK.

    Regarding the VNX, Sorry, Not impressed with the driver moving to a Western Star truck. (I have nothing against the Western Star at all, it's a good truck, I actually was looking at a Western Star when I need something much heavier than what I have now) . Especially when no reason for moving was stated why the driver moved from one truck to another except to point out he move out of a Volvo. I am very aware about Peterbilt, Kenworth, Western Star, Freight liner.

    Sounds to me this is going to be like the old conversation of Formula vs Nascar. One requires a real driver.

    Look guys, I am not here to piss on your toast, so don't piss on mine. I'm not trying to get into a pissing match regarding which truck mfg you like and that the fact you don't like Volvo.

    So if you don't mind, can we move on past that issue and can someone please be polite enough to tell me what is the problem with converting a truck to what I want instead of arguing over he fact it's a Volvo.

    As I explained, I am not trying to convert this truck into something that is going to haul 1/4 million lbs on a 8% grade. (Super Truck)

    Thank you.
     
    UltraZero, Nov 16, 2015
    UltraZero, Nov 16, 2015
    #54
  7. Nov 16, 2015 #55
    UltraZero

    UltraZero Medium Load Member

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    Jul 18, 2013
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    Haulhand, I appreciate your response. I am glad to hear what you had to say. Thanks for the comparison and what will (could) happen. I know the air ride will go away after 14K. Volvo/Hendrickson I don't think makes anything heavier than 14K with air ride so, yes, the ride will change.

    No - I am not stupid, nor do I have tons of money. I just have a truck that I feel can be modified to do what i want, cheaper and more reliable than going out and spending 200K+ on a new truck that is going to leave me stuck on the side of the road because it won't regen or there is a DEF problem. No thank you. Not to mention, I don't think the price for what I want is going to be any near the cost of a New truck.


    Anyway, Please if there are anymore comments, I would appreciate them.

    Thanks much.
     
    UltraZero, Nov 16, 2015
    UltraZero, Nov 16, 2015
    #55
  8. Nov 17, 2015 #56
    daf105paccar

    daf105paccar Road Train Member

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    Apr 15, 2012
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    One question you could ask yourself is: "if i spend all this money to rebuild my truck,how will it effect me if i cannot do California with it?"
     
    daf105paccar, Nov 17, 2015
    daf105paccar, Nov 17, 2015
    #56
  9. Nov 17, 2015 #57
    nate980

    nate980 Road Train Member

    2,020
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    Dec 23, 2010
    Langley BC
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    It's funny you still think after everyone's comments on the price of doing all that work that you still think it would be cheaper to convert your truck... And to answer your question he switched because he couldn't stand the squeaks and rattles of a brand new truck going down the the highway. Even though it was volvo factory heavy spec they still built the cab like a regular highway truck and it couldn't even stand up to just a couple weeks of the road.
     
    nate980, Nov 17, 2015
    nate980, Nov 17, 2015
    #57
    haulhand Thanks this.
  10. Nov 17, 2015 #58
    haulhand

    haulhand Road Train Member

    2,091
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    Feb 6, 2008
    Rock Springs, Wyoming/Dickinson, ND
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    Ok let's go at this from another angle. I just bought a factory 4 axle Pete 357 at auction it's an 05 550 cat 18 speed heavy spec truck with just under 500k on it. I gave 40k and I've got another 8k in it cleaning it up and fixing some minor things and the ECM took a #### on the way home but it's all just typical auction truck stuff. The used heavy spec and four axle market is in the crapper right now so with that said I still think your throwing good money away by doing your Frankenstein conversion.

    The biggest problem with putting 100k in a 30k truck is all you've really got when your done is a 30k truck or less because people don't like to buy cobbled together trucks when it's time to sell.
     
    haulhand, Nov 17, 2015
    haulhand, Nov 17, 2015
    #58
    BoxCarKidd, Orangees, Ruthless and 1 other person Thank this.
  11. Nov 17, 2015 #59
    UltraZero

    UltraZero Medium Load Member

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    Jul 18, 2013
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    Well, currently, I don't go to California with my truck so there isn't an effect. My bottom line will be the same.

    Again, I do plan to purchase a newer truck down the road which will be a 2008 or newer which will allow me to go to california. Of course, not the ports. BTW - If you know anything about California, the are constantly changing their rules to fit their needs and not the needs of the truck driver/Carrier. CA doesn't think about the effects that will happen to the truck operators, the do what the want, which is why many people don't do business in CA. Today, CA allows 2010 trucks or newer into the ports, Tomorrow, they will change. When the 2016 - 2018 emmission kick in, I hope those folks who own 2010 truck are prepared to purchase something newer. No guarantee what CA will do.

    Regarding the New Volvo. - Hmm. One minute, someone states I should go buy a new truck, then one states the driver got out of a new truck because it was new and he couldn't stand the squeeks of the new truck. And this is only a problem with Volvo??? Please. I wasn't born in a barn. Each truck Mfg has problems. Look. I have heard all of the complaints about Volvo. Oh. They are cheap. Oh. The break all the time. . Oh they have too many computer in them. On and On and On. But, I see there are a ton of them on the road.

    Regarding - a number was given to retrofit a truck.. Where is the list?? I haven't seen any list of prices for axles/gears/lockers, replacement drive shaft, cost to double the frame, cost to replace the front axle, cost to replace the transmission. All I saw was a number with no justification behind it.

    Again Guys /Gals, I'm not trying to pick a fight, I don't care if you like or dislike Volvo. Take the truck Mfg out of the equation.

    I'm sure if I asked about doing this on a W900 or Pete 379 or a Western Star 4900SA, you all would jump in and I would get list of things to do and that is because some of you folks have these trucks.

    Haulhand - I can agree with you. But, I would ask you this, How much is a 2009 truck going to be worth in about 6 years from now if I bought that truck in 2009?? Or even a 2012?? Standard 2010 trucks are already selling for 40K now.. Trucks with 46K axles and a 13K front axle are selling for about 79K. In another 6 years, they too will come down.

    Haulhand - Here is what I see. In your situation, you buy a used truck for 40K. It's setup for HH. Are you telling me that truck is totally DOT ready?? Simple things like brakes are up to snuff? No wheel seal leaks? Not to mention, you bought it used like I bought my truck. Over time, you are going to end up putting more money into that truck to fix things that the previous owner didn't maintain. Over time, you will end up putting a great deal of money into the truck to get it where you feel like the truck is going to be reliable under a load. Nothing wore then getting a used truck and something blowing up on you under a load. Having to call in, get the load transferred to another driver, getting towed into the shop, sitting til it get fixed and not to mention $$$$$$$.

    When I bought my truck, it took a long time to find a truck that I liked. I have performed many DOT inspections on trucks before I found the one that I felt was road worthy. Then I had a dyno/blow by test done on a few. 1 blew up on the dyno. This truck I have was built with 500hp and came out off the dyno at 490. 885k miles with no oil consumption.
    But, I still paid for a new transmission/sensors/egr issues, brakes, bla bla bla. I have put at least 30K into this truck after I bought it.

    All I am saying money will be put back into the truck.
     
    UltraZero, Nov 17, 2015
    UltraZero, Nov 17, 2015
    #59
  12. Nov 17, 2015 #60
    UltraZero

    UltraZero Medium Load Member

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    Jul 18, 2013
    0
    thanks much
     
    Last edited: Nov 17, 2015
    UltraZero, Nov 17, 2015
    UltraZero, Nov 17, 2015
    #60
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