Alie&Jim's Carrilite

Our DRV Memphis has about 12-14' of overhang behind the rear most axle.  There is enough tail swing that I am very careful in tight areas.  When we're double towing the Smart it tracks pretty close behind the rear cap.  But it will swerve left before making a hard right.

I don't know those routes individually, but if its interstate or US highway, you'll see lots of country.  Since you got the truck all fixed, it should be a none event for ya.  Take pictures, take time to go see the historic sites alone the way. How many miles a day are you planning? And how many days is this trip taking?

11 hours ago, jenandjon said:

I called freightliner but they couldn't help me because Its been singled and all the info they have on my vin is for a tandem truck. If anyone reading this has a single axle would you please measure your gap for me and let me know where you sit. I dont think it matters if its a Volvo, freightliner or KW or whatever. All these trucks are essentially the same from the frame down.

Give Roger Jones a call.  His Freightshaker should be the same as yours.  With the my Volvo that was singled short, the height is at the stock setting, but the front drive axle and driveshaft are factory.

In almost 7 years I proactively replaced a few of the sensors.  The only sensor that stalled on the road was the low coolant sensor, once unplugged, we continued on our way.  Got towed once due to a blown turbo... I've replaced the air governor, some hoses, alternator (due to changing a generator system that it shared), and the dryer cartridge.  Some of the work is proactive, like replacing the rear heater coolant lines, etc.

If our old Volvo is in gear and you turn the key.... it will make you spill your coffee... even with the brakes set.....

22 hours ago, Sparky242 said:

I would think there is some kind of switch but I haven't found it. My 2000 Volvo will start without the clutch pushed down but it will not shift into gear unless the clutch is pushed very tight to the floor, or maybe the clutch is worn out or out of adjustment.  Guess I should check that out🤪

Your clutch brake probably needs adjusting or replacing.

There's a guy named Dave ????? that is the hitch building business.... of sorts.... He initially did the Trailer Saver 5th wheel hitch and sold it to Hensley.  Then Dave started a few other hitch companies, would build and sell until someone sued him then close up shop, move and modify the hitch a little and start back selling.  That's where the Comfort Ride hitch came from that Rick Olson bought and later sold to Road Master.  

Sometime before Comfort Ride, Dave started using the air cells as the load carrying base.  Nice idea, but he usually had structural problems on the surrounding load carrying components. I wonder if this was one of his companies.

When were the the radiator hoses changed?  

7 hours ago, NeverEasy said:

For the RV Socket, I use crimp ring terminal lugs.  Cut off the insulation to save room.  Crimp and solder.   Install with the crimp big part inboard.  They will bend in enough to get the cover on.  The ring prevents wires from pulling out.

 

Did the same with my RV cords.

Find a used Trailersaver.  You can swap the Binkley head for an ET head if its worn out.

On 4/30/2021 at 2:50 PM, Dbl0svn said:

I made a long reach buffer out of an electric weed Wacker that has an adjustable head and extendable arm.  Works great for claying and buffing my truck roof.

Got a pic or demo of it?

5 hours ago, trimster said:

 

The Spyder is something both of us can drive. I'm guessing that once the wife gets comfortable in the drivers seat...I'll just be watching the view from the back.

 

That's the primary reason we did the Smart.  Alie CAN drive the truck, but does so only on open road.  All the city driving, grocery runs, site-seeing was me driving the truck for 4 years.  I make her drive the Smart now so I can look around and see the sights.

Back in Bismarck ND for the summer project.  Just east on I-94 is Menoken, and the Park is "A Prairie Breeze"  plenty of room for big rigs.

You need to develop a mission profile of what you want your tow vehicle to do. 

-Is this a weekender, several months at a time or fulltime RV?

-How big of an office do you need?  Can the space be a multipurpose space?

-Are you self employed where the vehicle would be used in pursuit of income or prize money?

Most of the bigger condo style cabs, Volvo 780 for example are set up with microwave, fridge and 2 bunks.  They can be found with what's called a workstation that gives you a dinette that converts to a bunk. 

Do you want a true self contained vehicle where you role up to camp, push a button for your levelers, swivel your seat and your "Home"  or do you want to get out and have an RV with all the amenities?  

While looking for a kit or parts to redo my exhaust, I was surprised at what I could source off of Amazon.  

On 4/16/2021 at 11:41 AM, noteven said:

Ya the flatbed on my won ton Ford Fordor is an Aluma. They make trailers, enclosed trailer floors and picnic tables from the same plank profile. 
 

They are plenty strong for recreational haulage. If you chop holes for goose neck B&W hitches or whatever you have to stitch weld the planks because they span the deck. The sills attach with their proprietary extrusion clips. The sills are adjustable width wise with this system.
 

They aren’t the deck to use to add ballast weight to a truck. 3 of us picked up the 84”x115” single wheel pickup model and set it on my truck. 300lbs approx.

I bought some extra clips so I can hang stuff under the deck like a box or two or chain hangers.

Where can you find the used bleacher boards?  Looking online and not finding much....

Swap it out.  Our starter on out old Cummins did that on a Friday, on Sunday it left us.... 

Doing the swap, or actually watching the guy do the swap, we optioned for the gear reduction starter. Been fine for 3 years now.

Looking good!

Let me know when your done... I have a 23 year old RED paint than could use some luvin....

I'm glad they think $900 is "Practically Giving It Away".

My old M-11 Cummins runs on 3.  The battery box can hold 4 though.  In cold weather, 2 batteries is barely enough to spin it over.

Different methods...Different people.... Some folks may be able to borrow a forklift and a pallet, others have hung out of a tractor front end loader, others build elaborate scaffold, yet others will pay for someone else to do that part.

Me, I gently lean a stepladder against the back wall of the cab, and stand near the top, then do the same on the sides.  The front gets tricky.... I may have put a ladder over the valve cover and climbed up from there.... 

I had L3-L4 stabilized.  Had lost motor control of my right leg due to the sciatic nerve being crushed.  The day of the surgery I was wheelchaired in....3 days later I walked out.  PT had me up 12 hours after surgery, on a stationary bike the next day, and home after that.  

Take the meds religiously, don't be a hero and try to go with out the meds.

So going to a rally is the best idea if you can make one.  There will be a showing of many different configurations from home built to manufacture built- RVH Lifestyles, Herrin, etc.  

As far as deck designs, plan for the future.  Smart Cars are no longer imported.  Most folks are going a little longer on the truck bed to accommodate a lengthwise vehicle.  In doing this, what many people have learned is that moving the 5th wheel hitch more than 6ft behind the rear most axle causes undesirable towing behavior in the 5th wheel.  Plan your truck bed to accommodate your future needs.

6 hours ago, rickeieio said:

X2.  I replaced our 12-13 y/o virgin Firestones in December, with Sailun's.  Couldn't be more pleased with the ride and handling improvement.  I replaced the 7 y/o steers at the same time, again with Sailun.  Closed shoulder all around.

Not sure about that closed shoulder no grip design after my January experience.

7 hours ago, aknavy said:

Got ahold of him and he provided me with a quick rundown of the history/maintenance history of the truck.  Good to know the truck has been in RV service since 2008 with annual fluid changes. 

Hi Jeff,

Jim Roach here.  Most of the older trucks that were originally purchased and converted by past Escapee members were kept in excellent condition.  The Facebook crowd has kinda killed the knowledge base with all the keyboard warriors thinking that they're always right.  

The original HDT crowd here is/was full of engineers, mechanics, problem solving folks that knew how to take a problem apart, ready a diagram and repair the issue.  You need to go on Mark and Dale Bruss(s) site and download all the Gen1 Volvo info.  Its a wealth of knowledge. http://www.dmbruss.com/ 

7 hours ago, Top_Speed1 said:

Thanks to all who messaged me!

My current thoughts are:

VNL 860

Loaded w Touring Int trim

425hp iShift

Super Single Rear, mid mount. Ordered in from Volvo along with some other RV amenities.

Overhead exhaust (maybe twins, just cuz I love the look). One of my pet peeves when at a campground with dirt or gravel roads, are the rigs that come in and blow dust up everywhere, and on their own tow rigs more than anything. Also Quartsite vehicle entries are horrible with the brush burners. Bad all around, I’ll just get a custom drom box built, prob aluminum. So yes, I absolutely hate brush burners, especially now that I invest in DEF, why now use some it’s advantages!

‘Most importantly!....

2.28 gearing. With these new compound turbo’s, peek torque is now at only 900 RPMs. And, since we are not nearly at a heavy tow load in comparisons, I should still be well over power spec’ d. Mileage is an important factor, especially when fuel prices rise, like now. I’m still considering the 455hp, but what I’ve read and heard, the 425 for our pull range is more than enough even in the Rockies. One of the reasons to go brand new is to take advantage of these new fuel improvements.

Still learning, still shopping

 

 

RVH Lifetstyles would be a place to look and Jack Mayer the guy to talk to about ordering a truck.  They have a build sheet that they use that adds all the RV friendly options and removes "Trucker" features.