ddm502001

We have a small farm, deduct as can those expenses to keep Tax time out of Loss Column. I will deduct my expenses on the KW, just is FAR below this guys costs, labor cannot be deducted. I am putting Weight Tags on the old Blue Beast, so can be a deduction on taxes where RV cannot, can still pull a RV with it just as could with a Farm Pickup. Best can conjure up after two years I will have less than $55k in the machine including reduction from traded machines, cannot buy a decent used Ton Dually for that. Dave

Have to be Honest, makes my paint work look REALLY Bad. But I Do NOT have $150K to put in just the asthetics.

Can see good reusable responses to log back for Later use!!! Had this very commentary come up AGAIN, today as we had dinner with friends, asked WHY in the Hecky Durn would you go thru ALL that effort and have something SOO Massive? Explained the Positives, Again, the ONLY negative is not locating a park where can pull thru and manage the length, finding that also is slowly changing. Wife and I will be expanding scope of search for 5ver come Tax Return Time. WOOHOO its Close! Dave

Just Wow Far more cash than I could muster!!! Appreciate the thoughts to offer the video, is cool! Dave

Biggest problem on the N14 is Heritage, is still a NT855 base block, they had issues for forever with Head Weeping for as long as I had worked on them. MINOR amounts of coolant are one concern, if leak oil can ignore except the mess. Blocks erode at water passages and as heads 'wiggle' on the block deck. As a quick check have a Mechanic inspect for broken head bolt in the head to head juncture areas, not unheard of to do this. IF has a broken Head bolt just do all three head gaskets and ALL new head bolts, do NOT let someone argue for reusing them. Way I used to do this is a solid Steel rod, about 5/8" diameter and about 18" long, lightly drop on end against head bolt heads in between heads, should bounce and ring, a 'Thok' or Weak hit with no ring will find bolt has broken. Dave

Cousin, SLC resident, asked of what benevolent sanity did I choose the truck I am now getting ready to establish Our Camper Tow vehicle of. We spoke of Machine repairability, Longevity, parts sourcing, capacity and style for my own pet peeves, ability to manage without any concern the weight and size of a decent sized RV 5ver. She has not ever been around a HDT to see the Positives, sees as my wife, a BEHEMOTH she cannot ever entertain operating, SCARY!! Granted, what I have brought back to life is HUGE, but I also drove these for a living, worked on them for another living and handle them as would any VW, Van, Auto, Pickup or School bus, any machine is maneuverable to one that is aware of limitations. Have dealt with Quad Axle Dump trucks in narrow confines, this machine does not scare me. Dave

Been running commercial air rode equipment a long time, big semi trailers displace a lot of pressure to truck chassis and flex considerably as the fifth wheel comes away. We would unlatch pull forward and dump air to sit trailer to landing gear then complete pull out. To reconnect back toward trailer dump suspension until Fifth wheel under nose the reinflate to couple and latch. With a 5ver can see jacking until hear air from suspension exhausting, await the pressure to start moving the hitch down unlatch and pull out. On reconnecting, lower the 5ver to contact the hitch with a slight amount of pressure just to start the rising pressure in the air bag then back in and allow to latch, raise jacks and verify jaws locked closed. Have seen more than one semi soft latch enough to pull out then unlatch and disconnect. Dave

May be outa line but just beginning HDT for 5ver dragging. When attained my Project I insured it to keep from losing invested time and money, was cheap thru my Farm Insurer. He has been notified truck is about to be Inspected and Licensed, First time in 8 years but roadworthy. He asked full specs and total dollars I had invested not including my time to rebuild. Ended up he appraised at a really HIGH dollar figure I did not expect yet my Insurance as a PERSONAL Conveyance will only be close to what most dually draggers cost. I am pretty proud of what I accomplished to get it here.

Seriously considered Super Singles, price shot that down. With the finances I have put in this will keep it awhile and as is. Got the eight rears FREE, around 40% usable tread life, 2019 carcass dates and matched never repaired set. I am on a farm, have a 26' goose that I am going to swap the ball hitch for a pin, drag it behind this. BIL has farm 95 miles from here, his son gets to use my old machines keeping that place up so easy choice to haul with this. Also considering buying a 'Step Deck' flatbed to haul other items here and to BILs.

46K eight bag KW Air Ride, not logical nor functional to drop to a single. Would require conversion to some other air ride to make it work, not in budget. Will suffer along as the Blue Beast is until tire of a tandem, will ten either trade out or sell outright and buy a single with a Auto behind to fully license RV. Dave

Worst of it, needed full out of chassis overhaul and a new head, truck sat six years neglected. Been some level of entertaining if that could be considered. I have done everything visible and many not, Engine, Suspension, Brakes seals and actuators, Body Work, even paint is all my hand work. BTW Very nice 730 Dave

Worked on this trade into machine for two years as was less expense and currently ALL paid off as to repairs. 2005 KW W900L eight bag air ride 500hp C15 Cat. Know is Not a great choice but was what I could find CHEAP as in traded other stuff for it. Second photo, what I started with. Plans are a Toy Hauler 5Ver around 30-35 ft, for our Harley Roadie, travel in style and get where want to go, unpack bike for touring locally. Dave