spindrift

You'll run out of room in your spare parts locker purdy darn quick trying to anticipate what you might need for an on the road breakdown.  There are many old time truckers who will tell you that an old truck costs the same as a new truck.  The only thing different is when and how you make the payments.

This guy has pretty good reviews if you're interested in getting a price.  I don't know if he works on Volvo ECMs.

https://truckecm.com

I'll ask around and find out if any of my buddies can recommend a Volvo guy.  I wouldn't be at all concerned about putting a refurbished ECM in your truck as long as the tuner is a reputable business.

10 minutes ago, TXiceman said:

I will never have another RV gas/electric fridge in my RV.  Our full-time rig had a Frigidaire 25 cu. ft that was power through the inverter, solar panel and battery bank when not on shore power.  The smaller part-time trailer we just bought has a 12-volt compressor fridge with two 100 ah lithium batteries and solar.

When I arrive I want the Blue Bell frozen and the beer and wine cold.

 

Ken

It's extremely difficult to argue with that logic. 

12 minutes ago, Danfreda1 said:

That’s our model 2118. Happy with the size and the conversion is great. If you convert it do the dual compressor model

Is there enough room within the enclosure of the fridge in order to locate the second compressor?

8 minutes ago, Danfreda1 said:

Hi spindrift. We have a norcold rv refrigerator I think you saw it in Texas and we may have told you about it. Would not freeze ice cream or some fatty meats. Some things would thaw in the freezer. It was cold enough for norcold specifications not ours or our foods. We found out about a 12 volt conversion dual compressor that a company in Shipshewana does. There is more than one doing it. We could have put in a residential but wanted the same look size and white panel look that we have. It was about a 2000 dollar conversion but we couldn’t be happier that we did it. Our rv frig is a norcold 2118. Close to 5 grand new. It runs straight to the batteries (8 battle born). We went from about 600 watts running on the old cooling unit going through the inverter to 136 straight to battery. It was a 2 hour conversion from pull into building to pulling out. To do the build over again I would go straight 12 volt from the beginning. Ours is 18.5 cubic ft and we full time with it. J.C. Refrigeration was the place in Shipshewana and we highly recommend them for anyone else with a norcold

So, $7,000 for a refrigerator??

I was just reading an article about the many advantages of the traditional absorption/DC/AC refrigerator over the residential refrigerators now making their way into many of our RVs.  For those of you who have made the transition to the residential refrigerator, what are your thoughts?

I suspect that for you full-timers, the larger capacity residential unit may be the attention-getter.

https://www.rvnetwork.com/forum/33-internet-access-on-the-road/

Power steering pump and fuel pump running off the same shaft?  Replace the entire assembly.

Unfortunately, it's happening everywhere.

I wouldn't willy nilly unplug sensors related to the aftertreatment system because the software that controls your ECM is "looking" for specific engine operating parameters in order to run properly.  Now, if you'd like to reprogram the ECM for a diet, shall we say, your best bet is to go north of the border where writing those kind of computer programs won't result in an appointment with the feds.  And that's the last I'll say on that topic.  😉

Someday, we'll see zippy ties in the Library of Congress.  I guarantee it.

There's a little diddy in there somewhere...

...and square off the cut for any excess or ye shall be cut in the future.

Only 10K pounds?  Yikes.

Don't forget, many of those Super pickups are cab and chassis configurations.  Flexibility required when doing without pucks and such.

Celect or Celect plus: pins 27, 25 and 9 in the actuator harness plug, to battery ground.

I believe that's the recommendation because any defect (say a lip or gouge in the rotor) will cause some deformity in the pad.  If the rotors are that new, and they're free of any imperfection, I don't believe it would be necessary to change the pair.

9 minutes ago, Deezl Smoke said:

 Oh how easy it would be, and how bad I want to, but I shall refrain from taking this to the political dark side.😂

 It seems that with so many exiting certain states and moving to certain states, the infrastructure is difficult to keep up when labor and approvals are in short supply.

 Here, in the Portland Oregon area, we have studded tire grooves deep enough to loose a smart car.

Move to Eastern Oregon where soon enough you may become an Idahoan.  You won't have to worry about grooved highways.  😄

I award the Worst Section of Interstate to I-20 through Shreveport, LA. After that stretch, you need to stop and check lug nuts, engine mounts, shoe laces and belt buckles.

Even pot holes are bigger in Texas.

Ya know, the only reason your story has a happy ending is because your brother owns a Ford.  

Well then, I think you very much need to find a way to start building a rainy day fund for your truck. EVERYTHING associated with an HDT ccosts more than what you may be accustomed to and things will break.

Best of luck to you.

Uh, no.  Not even close.

Just smile at the Service Advisor and hand your credit card to him.

I'll never dissuade anyone from educating themselves in subject matter they'd like to learn more about.  However, you shouldn't have great expectations about what you'll learn in a CDL licensing program.  The purpose of CDL driving schools is to teach for the CDL test; that's IT.  The school considers itself a success if you pass the test.  No one goes to a commercial driving school to learn how to become a professional driver.  Witness some of the "professional" drivers on the road today.  The task of real driver training is left to the company that will hire the newly minted driver.  Depending upon the quality of the school, you may see little seat time because of the number of students in the class.  As @Lou Schneidersaid above, there are some definite advantages to a course in terms of basic learning aids.  The Performance Driving Experience provides significantly more "road" time.

6 minutes ago, rickeieio said:

Tom, I believe Dan and Freda stayed there for a while.  Give them a shout.

Thank you, sir.  Will do.

I'm going to give that Rose of Sharon a go this weekend.  

20 hours ago, GruntPilot47 said:

I don't like suprises at the end of a travel day, so we always tell them we are 43' 5th wheel with 4 slides. We tow it with a converted Volvo tractor titled as a motorhome with our smart car on the back. Overall 65' long when towing. If truck doesn't fit at site, we are happy to park it in overflow. We have only been told no when they just don't have any long sites available or a place to park the truck (rare). I'd rather find that out before I get there. On RV trip Wizard and others, RV park websites will usually tell you if big rig friendly. That's the first rhing we look for in the description.

Corps of Engineers are possibly the best when it comes to extra long (75-100' concrete), extra wide (minimum 50' between sites and often more and almost always on a beautiful recreational waterway. Usually under $30 bucks with 50% off for the Senior pass or 100% disabled. We have stayed and are going back to Waco this year (maybe this time my wife might get to see Chip & Joanna). We will again stay at CoE campground on Lake Waco. Pull thru 75' long, throw a stone in the lake from our doorway, all for well  under $20/night, full hookups. We also find many state, county (especially fairgrounds) and city parks that we can fit in. Just gotta due your due diligence.

GP...we've wanted to visit Waco Lake for awhile.  Is there a particular COE campground that you would recommend?