used volvos

i pull flat with a volvo 770. seems to do me just fine with a pre-emissions 12 liter. granted if i had the money to buy my own truck it would be a W900L

 

spent a wee bit of time in volvo and can say thier motors get #### good mpg but I have also past on buying one as getting them fixed is a big PITA

 

VOLVO has been upgrading and adding service shops across North America as they realized they were lacking them big time.

Have a few O/O's in my area running VOLVOS 1 has the all VOLVO in his 670 been good so far another has 475 Cummins had good luck on the VOLVO side of things a few glitches with CUMMINS.

 

Service would be my biggest concern. Out east you have plenty of dealers, out west, whole nother story! I spent a week in SLC because there is only one Volvo dealer in UT(actually has 2 locations, SLC and ST george). I also pull a flat, and I find that the Volvo engine is lacking in power a bit. Now mine is mated with a 9 speed, and that is big part of the prob., IMO. Fuel economy is ok, probably would be great if you ran 55, but around 65 I get say, 5.8-6.2.

 

Ok here is my take on it. I ran an 01 VNL 670 with a condo pulling a 45 ft Eagle Bridge Belt bottom 3 axle 8 ft spread trailer with a heavy stainless steel dome on the top. Normal load in the trailer was anywere from 54000 to 60000 in the trailer with a gross weight of upto and above 96,000 lbs.

The Volvo had a Meritor 10 speed with a 465 VED 12 engine in the front. I averaged a tad under 6 mpg at 72 - 77 mph. On bigger hills I had to drop a gear or so to match the 45 mph climb up the hills.

That thing would pull circles around the C 15 cat MBN motored 04 Peterbilt I am running now along with getting close to 2 mpg better fuel economy.

 

I have a 95 Flat top with a 12.7 Detroit. With an Eaton Super 10. truck has a 1,000,100 miles and has never been rebuilt.....I still get between 6.8 and 7.25 pulling a flat (mostly steel). It has Volvo on the front and GMC/White/Volvo on the title...........I bought it with 970,000 miles from an older guy that all us boys nicknamed PawPaw, He is 72 and bought the truck new.......I'm the second owner............ It still runs great and so far my maint his been minimal.......I just hope it keeps going...........Rides rough compared to my brothers Pete 379 but still makes money......

 

You should be making good $ with that rig. With great mileage and low investment. I have heard lots of good about the 12.7 Detroit.

 

It's not doing bad, I bought the truck and trailer while I was still working in Iraq.......Got the truck and an 06 Great Dane 53' x 102" flat for 25k.....Still have enough set aside for the eventual rebuild on the motor. just trying to save up for a newer truck.......I plan on waiting 2 years before buying and hope to be able to pay cash for that also. My brother wanted me to go cheap to start, learn the trade in an older and cheaper truck...... I started out as an O/O running under his authority and he is teaching me the ropes ( insurance is high)........About 75% of the time I'm still running with him or one of his other drivers with them keeping an eye on me and helping out......making sure I don't hurt someone or myself.......Going good so far........He said after the 1st of the year I'm on my own on the runs........Just trying to learn all I can..........I do enjoy it though........