Why hate Volvos?

I have owned a 1991 Pete 379x, 2001 KW900L and now on my 3rd Volvo.
The Pete and KW both with 270"wb rode like a lumber truck, no room in either cab to swing a cat, sleepers were not thought out very well. Very little storage space.
Both were set up with 500 Detroit 3:70 rears with 13 speeds. Fuel mileage was the *hits 5mpg on a good day.
My first Volvo was a 1999 770 500 Detroit 13 speed 3:70 rears. Constantly over 7 mpg and rode like a wet dream and tons of storage space. Wish I still had that truck.
2nd Volvo was a 2008 780 first year of the clean air crap, build on it wasn't as good as the 99 and the D16 Volvo motor was a POS, it couldn't go past a Stealership.You would have to go to 5 dealers for same problem nobody knew how to work on that motor. That truck cost me $70k out of pocket in repairs, crap Volvo wouldn't cover.
Everything from turbo, injectors, injector cups, wiring harness, flywheel and way to many more things that went wrong with it.
3rd Volvo is a 2012 300"wb day cab vn300.
D16 ishift. 144" sleeper .
Had to replace the injectors and cups on it, covered by warranty. Far better build than the 08.
I've been OTR for 38 years and nowadays I couldn't give a *hit if I look cool going down the road all I want is comfort, and with Volvo you get comfort and ergonomics.
My 2 cents worth.

 

That D16 got my buddy broke and forced him out of business, he went back to be a company driver and has no wish to become an O/O again.

 

A long time ago, I had a volvo with a half bag on spring. Either do air ride or don't do it at all. Ive had some other volvos that were both good and bad. Especially one in particular. If it is a volvo cabover, do not get into it.

 

I took my driver training and road test in an older Volvo. Thinking it was a 2000 with the VED12 and an 18 speed. Didn't care much for the dash layout or the big cab. I sit in the driver's seat, I don't need 6 feet of open space on my right that serves me no purpose. It did ride very good though. I've seen pics of the new Volvos and I'd have no complaints driving one (although I still prefer KW)

 

From what I hear, the current crop of D16's have a lot of the problems fixed. We have VNM's and VNL's, all day cabs, with Cummings ISX12G's or D13's. It seems that the 100% Volvo rigs are somewhat less troublesome than the non-Volvo powered ones.

Love the visibility, and the steering radius. Don't like how they seem to follow roadway imperfections, my Western Star and most Pete's/KW's I've driven didn't get as easily knocked off-line by a pavement seam.

 

Well, when you are driving what is essentially a house on wheels, it's kind of hard to like a Pete or KW sleeper.

Personally, and I don't really know why, I prefer the 63" flattop on a Pete to anything I've ever used otherwise. And this includes the 70-whatever-inch high rise double bunk on a 388. Granted, I would never spend more than a week on the road at a time, but I can understand the need for more space if you spend months on the road all at once.

 

I need the room, wife and 3 Yorkies .
Reason I bought it was because my wife is disabled and has limited mobility so with the big house she can lay in bed and watch satellite TV going down the road.
Plus it's nice to have home cooked meals instead of eating in truck stops all the time, connection over 2 burner stove and rv sized fridge / freezer make it nice, plus no waiting in line for a shower at a truck stop.
I do spend months at a time on the road, I've seen the house for 4 days since I left in January and won't make it home till January 2017. Joys of being in the entertainment industry, but it's my choice to stay out for long periods at a time.

 

If I didn't have the money, that 2008 would have put me under to.

 

Hmm. Volvo is making trucks now, interesting.