Jump to content

Ordering a new Volvo and could use some opinions


13speed

Recommended Posts

I think most here would like to see what your NH will look like and maybe even steal, I mean borrow some of your ideas, that's what I like about this forum a lot share ideas, get better or even tweak some things

2017 River Stone Legacy 38MB

2001 T2000 Kenworth

2009 Smart Passion

ET Junior hitch

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 202
  • Created
  • Last Reply
41 minutes ago, les_garten said:

I wanna see it?  I wanna see it?   I wanna see it?

 

Does that get me to the top of the list for the picture distributions when it is done!

;-)

 

p.s.  after this last election, I'm not a R or D either, I've been drinking way too much longer than you have.  I have the entire Led Zep Library that was remastered.  All that has to count for something...

My liver has been working overtime for 35 years! PM sent.

Chris, Tracey, Aria & Lola

2018 Volvo VNR 400, D13 I-Shift

2018 NH 48' Majestic

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, 13speed said:

Dolley, It is not odd at all. I am doing nothing wrong. My trailer is going to be legal in more states than not. If my trailer were shorter I would still have a "short" truck because I do not need to pretend I am a big trucker and find BS reasons to "need" a full condo tractor like most here do. The bulk of the people on this forum are breaking one state or another's laws at any given time. When I voiced those concerns about "the laws" here on this forum everyone here told me not to worry about it as very few have ever had issues. Now that I am finally building my trailer suddenly everyone is so concerned with my length. 

As for your remark about "Lately it seems that more and more insurance underwriters are becoming more "suspect" of long RV's....." I gave my length to the insurance company and they had no issues. I am not getting away with anything or lying or misconstruing anything that will harm anyone in the future. 

There are many with trailers longer than mine but the difference is that they couple them to large, long tractors and are breaking many more laws. I am actually going to great lengths to be as close to legal in as many ways as I can in as many states as I can while still having the things I want to have. 

Lastly, You are darn right I want a large roomy trailer. It is going to be my home for many years and I don't want to "make do" with skimpy little showers or toilet rooms that are to small to change your mind in. You may enjoy this but I do not. 

13 your likely right on the mark about your insurance agent not giving a hoot if you are a little over length and who knows maybe to rules are so Old--fashioned.......sorta........

You see I had at leased TWICE $$$  what your are spending on your new rig Pi$$ed away when all of the (few) insurance companies decided OVERNIGHT to exit that insurance market for a sleek fast twin engine aircraft that I owned (and had well over 2,000 hours of perfect safe time) ........the insurance companies looked around and decided that a few folks are were exceeding the limits by a little bit here and a bit here and..........all of a sudden......poof NO INSURANCE......POOF.......

Try this:    Place a ad to sell a $450,000 small aircraft at NO one can insure and see how many folks DON'T call you.

Now place a ad to sell a $150,000 RV tractor that NO one will insure and see how many folks DON'T call you.

Your own words.....

"There are many with trailers longer than mine but the difference is that they couple them to large, long tractors and are breaking many more laws. I am actually going to great lengths to be as close to legal in as many ways as I can in as many states as I can while still having the things I want to have."

So is breaking the "law" a "sliding-scale-event"............IF Joe-Blow is TEN feet overall too long and 13 is only FIVE feet overall too long is 13 only "half-guilty"......as I recall Big5er has a complex explanation but his DOT-bro on the other side of town just throws the ticket book at ALL folks over length.....PERIOD.

Ok call what I say is a rant from a geezer that had a few hundred thousand $ cut out of his hide some decades ago .........but unfortunately History tends to repeat.........what end of history do you want to be on?

Heck I had tons of insurance till .........POOF it was gone.

Maybe I am a bit chicken in my Geezer years.....maybe

 

Drive on.....(Maybe.....)

  

97 Freightshaker Century Cummins M11-370 / 1350 /10 spd / 3:08 /tandem/ 20ft Garage/ 30 ft Curtis Dune toybox with a removable horse-haul-module to transport Dolly-The-Painthorse to horse camps and trail heads all over the Western U S

Link to comment
Share on other sites

37 minutes ago, dblr said:

I think most here would like to see what your NH will look like and maybe even steal, I mean borrow some of your ideas, that's what I like about this forum a lot share ideas, get better or even tweak some things

I thought about sharing on here but I would be torn apart by people that just won't get it. I do not want my mellow harshedB)

Chris, Tracey, Aria & Lola

2018 Volvo VNR 400, D13 I-Shift

2018 NH 48' Majestic

Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 minutes ago, Dollytrolley said:

13 your likely right on the mark about your insurance agent not giving a hoot if you are a little over length and who knows maybe to rules are so Old--fashioned.......sorta........

You see I had at leased TWICE $$$  what your are spending on your new rig Pi$$ed away when all of the (few) insurance companies decided OVERNIGHT to exit that insurance market for a sleek fast twin engine aircraft that I owned (and had well over 2,000 hours of perfect safe time) ........the insurance companies looked around and decided that a few folks are were exceeding the limits by a little bit here and a bit here and..........all of a sudden......poof NO INSURANCE......POOF.......

Try this:    Place a ad to sell a $450,000 small aircraft at NO one can insure and see how many folks DON'T call you.

Now place a ad to sell a $150,000 RV tractor that NO one will insure and see how many folks DON'T call you.

Your own words.....

"There are many with trailers longer than mine but the difference is that they couple them to large, long tractors and are breaking many more laws. I am actually going to great lengths to be as close to legal in as many ways as I can in as many states as I can while still having the things I want to have."

So is breaking the "law" a "sliding-scale-event"............IF Joe-Blow is TEN feet overall too long and 13 is only FIVE feet overall too long is 13 only "half-guilty"......as I recall Big5er has a complex explanation but his DOT-bro on the other side of town just throws the ticket book at ALL folks over length.....PERIOD.

Ok call what I say is a rant from a geezer that had a few hundred thousand $ cut out of his hide some decades ago .........but unfortunately History tends to repeat.........what end of history do you want to be on?

Heck I had tons of insurance till .........POOF it was gone.

Maybe I am a bit chicken in my Geezer years.....maybe

 

Drive on.....(Maybe.....)

  

I thought folks were still able to procur insurance for their Volvos?

 

Who wants to drive through Texas anyhow...

 

:ph34r:

<<Les Garten>>

Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 hours ago, 13speed said:

I do not need to pretend I am a big trucker and find BS reasons to "need" a full condo tractor like most here do.

Before accusing people of things, consider that we live in different states, with different rules.  In Ohio or Indiana, (the two states in which I operate and own property) I could be either commercial, or motor home.  In order to qualify as a motor home, I need to have bed, dining table w/ seating, refrigerator, and cook surface.  By far, the cheapest way to qualify was to buy a full sleeper.

BTW, I already had a short tractor similar to what you're ordering.  No need to "pretend", as I've had a semi for years before buying the camper rig.

And I have most of the Led Zeppelin on 8 tracks.:P

KW T-680, POPEMOBILE
Newmar X-Aire, VATICAN
Lots of old motorcycles, Moto Guzzi Griso and Spyder F3 currently in the front row
Young enough to play in the dirt as a retired farmer.
contact me at rickeieio1@comcast.net

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, 13speed said:

I thought about sharing on here but I would be torn apart by people that just won't get it. I do not want my mellow harshedB)

I would be very interested in your plans, I have been doodling with a 48' trailer build for several years.    My own design has a garage under the master(reversed floor plan)    

 

Steve

2005 Peterbilt 387-112 Baby Cat 9 speed U-shift

1996/2016 remod Teton Royal Atlanta

1996 Kentucky 48 single drop stacker garage project

 catdiesellogo.jpg.e96e571c41096ef39b447f78b9c2027c.jpg Pulls like a train, sounds like a plane....faster than a Cheetah sniffin cocaine.   

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, 13speed said:

I had not found that section just the first. I should be fine as my pin to bumper is 47'-6" and it will say that it is a 48' on the unit as well as the paperwork of which I will be sure to keep handy when traveling to the peoples republic.  

BTW, That is quite the Solar/battery set up you have. The diagram is way over my head but your system is very impressive. I would love to take a look some day. I like what you did with your truck as well. 

I'm happy to talk solar.  It's really not that difficult to get the basics and most any handy person can handle a solar install if they want to.

 

I'll be giving presentations on solar and inverter installations at the WCR.  I like working with electrical and am an RV geek so they are right up my alley. ;)

 

2000 Kenworth T2000 w/ Cummins N14 and autoshift
2017 DRV Mobile Suite 40KSSB4 with factory mods, dealer mods and personal mods - now in the RV graveyard
2022 DRV Full House MX450 with customized floor plan
2018 Polaris RZR Turbo S (fits in the garage)
2016 Smart Car (fits in the garage or gets flat towed behind the DRV when the RZR is in the garage)
My First Solar Install Thread
My Second Solar Install Thread & Photos and Documents Related to the build
My MX450's solar, battery and inverter system - my biggest system yet!

chadheiser.com      West Coast HDT Rally Website

event.png    

AZCACOIDIAKSMNMOMTNENVNMNDOKSDTNTXUTWYxlg.jpg

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Chad Heiser said:

I'm happy to talk solar.  It's really not that difficult to get the basics and most any handy person can handle a solar install if they want to.

 

I'll be giving presentations on solar and inverter installations at the WCR.  I like working with electrical and am an RV geek so they are right up my alley. ;)

 

Will the custom Coach builders pre-wire the Solar?  That sounds like it would be a good idea

<<Les Garten>>

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, 13speed said:

I thought about sharing on here but I would be torn apart by people that just won't get it. I do not want my mellow harshedB)

I fully understand but don't let that bother you as everyone has different ideas and last time I checked as long as you are happy with it that should be all that matters. Good luck on your build and hope maybe you will decide to share or maybe for the few that have interest find a way to let them indulge.

2017 River Stone Legacy 38MB

2001 T2000 Kenworth

2009 Smart Passion

ET Junior hitch

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

21 minutes ago, les_garten said:

Will the custom Coach builders pre-wire the Solar?  That sounds like it would be a good idea

Yes but if you want anything more than a basic package you are better off going to a solar specialist like starlight or AM solar. 

Chris, Tracey, Aria & Lola

2018 Volvo VNR 400, D13 I-Shift

2018 NH 48' Majestic

Link to comment
Share on other sites

13 minutes ago, 13speed said:

Yes but if you want anything more than a basic package you are better off going to a solar specialist like starlight or AM solar. 

If you are half way handy, in my opinion you are better off doing it yourself.  While I agree AM Solar and Starlight do good work, a big chunk of the bill you get from them will be labor (often times close to half the cost), depending on the size of the system.  I don't begrudge anybody doing this.  Many people are perfectly happy going this route and I say good for them.  However, for those that have the willingness and basic handyman skills it can be done much cheaper on your own.  I do recommend talking in detail with someone with experience before you go down that road though.

I agree with 13speed also that most manufacturers are not the right place to go for solar.  The exception to this is if you can get them to pre run the correct size wire from the roof to your desired controller location, then go for it.  That is the single hardest piece of the install on a solar array on an RV.  It's not insurmountable and there are ways to get it done after the fact, but if the manufacturer will do it while everything is opened up it is a lot easier.

2000 Kenworth T2000 w/ Cummins N14 and autoshift
2017 DRV Mobile Suite 40KSSB4 with factory mods, dealer mods and personal mods - now in the RV graveyard
2022 DRV Full House MX450 with customized floor plan
2018 Polaris RZR Turbo S (fits in the garage)
2016 Smart Car (fits in the garage or gets flat towed behind the DRV when the RZR is in the garage)
My First Solar Install Thread
My Second Solar Install Thread & Photos and Documents Related to the build
My MX450's solar, battery and inverter system - my biggest system yet!

chadheiser.com      West Coast HDT Rally Website

event.png    

AZCACOIDIAKSMNMOMTNENVNMNDOKSDTNTXUTWYxlg.jpg

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

49 minutes ago, les_garten said:

Will the custom Coach builders pre-wire the Solar?  That sounds like it would be a good idea

Yes, they will, and they do have experience with it.  New Horizons has had Jack walk them thru enough installs that they know how to install everything as part of the build.  Space Craft also has the ability.  

Alie & Jim + 8 paws

2017 DRV Memphis 

BART- 1998 Volvo 610

Lil'ole 6cyl Cummins

Link to comment
Share on other sites

35 minutes ago, 13speed said:

Yes but if you want anything more than a basic package you are better off going to a solar specialist like starlight or AM solar. 

I would be mainly concerned about the through roof penetrations and having that part done by the manufacturer and the wiring from the roof junction down to the bay done by them during the build.

<<Les Garten>>

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Alie&Jim's Carrilite said:

Yes, they will, and they do have experience with it.  New Horizons has had Jack walk them thru enough installs that they know how to install everything as part of the build.  Space Craft also has the ability.  

Yes they certainly can install a decent basic system and I was going to have NH do the solar at first but then I thought about Lithium batteries and some other things and Cole and I agreed that it might be better to get that later. They can do them but it is not their area of expertise is what I am trying to say. It all depends on what you are looking for. 

1 hour ago, les_garten said:

I would be mainly concerned about the through roof penetrations and having that part done by the manufacturer and the wiring from the roof junction down to the bay done by them during the build.

This was a concern of mine a while back but someone I talked to got me to not worry about it. But now that Chad and you have re-brought it up I just had a great idea for how to make it super easy to get the wiring from top to bottom. I have just the spot to run the wire. I will have them install a PVC tube right in the middle of the trailer.

Chris, Tracey, Aria & Lola

2018 Volvo VNR 400, D13 I-Shift

2018 NH 48' Majestic

Link to comment
Share on other sites

35 minutes ago, 13speed said:

 

This was a concern of mine a while back but someone I talked to got me to not worry about it. But now that Chad and you have re-brought it up I just had a great idea for how to make it super easy to get the wiring from top to bottom. I have just the spot to run the wire. I will have them install a PVC tube right in the middle of the trailer.

I would definitely go Lithium Iron Phosphate because of size, weight, capacity, etc.  Definitely the battery placement needs to be planned now.  I would want those Batteries inside the coach I think.  Is that where you are gonna put your batts?

It's like my house was done, it was pre-wired for security, all the windows, doors, etc were wired.  Much easier to do that during construction.  Same for your Solar, have the experts basically do your roof penetration, and you should be able to estimate where you'll end up with wire gauge, I would have them run that as well.  It would seem that there's only so many places that electronic stuff will end up.  In the planning/build phase it might be the right time to work out every bit of the install as far as where the bits will go, even though the install will be in the future.  You can always connect the pieces later but you'll have the roof penetration and the wire drop already done by the people who should be able to do the best job.

Drillin' holes in the roof scares me...  House or RV.

Definitely work out at this stage where everything goes on the roof, now and future.  Solar panels, etc, etc

<<Les Garten>>

Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 hours ago, les_garten said:

Will the custom Coach builders pre-wire the Solar?  That sounds like it would be a good idea

The custom coach builds will prewire, or install a system as good or better than Chad's. Just depends on what you want. I work with them to ensure that they use state of the art components and wiring techniques. You can pretty much have anything you want.  On some of the more exotic technologies it is going to cost you more than it is probably worth, since they will have to bring in an outside consultant to help them. But for most things that is not the case. 

As far as roof penetrations, it is no big deal. It is EASY to do it right. For example, all of my rigs have had 1.5" conduit from a box on the roof down to the front basement. With a stop at the communications cabinet. I've literally done thousands of roof penetrations doing solar or comm work I've never had a leak I know of. 

Jack & Danielle Mayer #60376 Lifetime Member
Living on the road since 2000

PLEASE no PM's. Email me. jackdanmayer AT gmail
2016 DRV Houston 44' 5er (we still have it)
2022 New Horizons 43' 5er
2016 Itasca 27N 28' motorhome 
2019 Volvo 860, D13 455/1850, 236" wb, I-Shift, battery-based APU
No truck at the moment - we use one of our demo units
2016 smart Passion, piggyback on the truck
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
See our website for info on New Horizons 5th wheels, HDTs as tow vehicles, communications on the road, and use of solar power
www.jackdanmayer.com
Principal in RVH Lifestyles. RVH-Lifestyles.com

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, Chad Heiser said:

If you are half way handy, in my opinion you are better off doing it yourself.  While I agree AM Solar and Starlight do good work, a big chunk of the bill you get from them will be labor (often times close to half the cost), depending on the size of the system.  I don't begrudge anybody doing this.  Many people are perfectly happy going this route and I say good for them.  However, for those that have the willingness and basic handyman skills it can be done much cheaper on your own.  I do recommend talking in detail with someone with experience before you go down that road though.

I agree with 13speed also that most manufacturers are not the right place to go for solar.  The exception to this is if you can get them to pre run the correct size wire from the roof to your desired controller location, then go for it.  That is the single hardest piece of the install on a solar array on an RV.  It's not insurmountable and there are ways to get it done after the fact, but if the manufacturer will do it while everything is opened up it is a lot easier.

Is there a link for your trailer, from Jack's description it sounds interesting.

<<Les Garten>>

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A comment on Chad's comments. I agree that the production manufacturers do not do an adequate job on solar installs. But the custom manufacturers almost always do. I would not hesitate to have NH or Spacecraft install solar for me. In fact, NH has installed most of the systems on my various rigs. You do have to be an educated consumer, though. In most cases with the custom manufacturers I get involved if it is an unusual "request".

Jack & Danielle Mayer #60376 Lifetime Member
Living on the road since 2000

PLEASE no PM's. Email me. jackdanmayer AT gmail
2016 DRV Houston 44' 5er (we still have it)
2022 New Horizons 43' 5er
2016 Itasca 27N 28' motorhome 
2019 Volvo 860, D13 455/1850, 236" wb, I-Shift, battery-based APU
No truck at the moment - we use one of our demo units
2016 smart Passion, piggyback on the truck
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
See our website for info on New Horizons 5th wheels, HDTs as tow vehicles, communications on the road, and use of solar power
www.jackdanmayer.com
Principal in RVH Lifestyles. RVH-Lifestyles.com

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I should have been a little more specific in my earlier post.  When I referenced manufacturers, I was referring to mass production manufacturers not custom makers.  I have seen NH solar installs and they do a very good job.  I have not personally seen a Spacecraft install, but from everything I have heard they also could do a quality install.  Anything below that, including DRV, or Luxe, or any of the mass producers I would not even consider having them do a solar install.  It is way outside their wheelhouse.  I would have them pre run wire of a size I specified from the roof to the basement to make an installers (or my) job easier though (if they were willing to do that on an order.  I had DRV do this for me.

38 minutes ago, les_garten said:

Is there a link for your trailer, from Jack's description it sounds interesting.

Because you asked, here is a link to the thread I started about my install:

http://www.rvnetwork.com/index.php?/topic/126977-my-solar-installs-now-with-solar-output-data/

 

2000 Kenworth T2000 w/ Cummins N14 and autoshift
2017 DRV Mobile Suite 40KSSB4 with factory mods, dealer mods and personal mods - now in the RV graveyard
2022 DRV Full House MX450 with customized floor plan
2018 Polaris RZR Turbo S (fits in the garage)
2016 Smart Car (fits in the garage or gets flat towed behind the DRV when the RZR is in the garage)
My First Solar Install Thread
My Second Solar Install Thread & Photos and Documents Related to the build
My MX450's solar, battery and inverter system - my biggest system yet!

chadheiser.com      West Coast HDT Rally Website

event.png    

AZCACOIDIAKSMNMOMTNENVNMNDOKSDTNTXUTWYxlg.jpg

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

47 minutes ago, Chad Heiser said:

I should have been a little more specific in my earlier post.  When I referenced manufacturers, I was referring to mass production manufacturers not custom makers.  I have seen NH solar installs and they do a very good job.  I have not personally seen a Spacecraft install, but from everything I have heard they also could do a quality install.  Anything below that, including DRV, or Luxe, or any of the mass producers I would not even consider having them do a solar install.  It is way outside their wheelhouse.  I would have them pre run wire of a size I specified from the roof to the basement to make an installers (or my) job easier though (if they were willing to do that on an order.  I had DRV do this for me.

Because you asked, here is a link to the thread I started about my install:

http://www.rvnetwork.com/index.php?/topic/126977-my-solar-installs-now-with-solar-output-data/

 

wayne_newton-danke_schoen_s.jpg

<<Les Garten>>

Link to comment
Share on other sites

12 hours ago, Chad Heiser said:

I should have been a little more specific in my earlier post.  When I referenced manufacturers, I was referring to mass production manufacturers not custom makers.  I have seen NH solar installs and they do a very good job.  I have not personally seen a Spacecraft install, but from everything I have heard they also could do a quality install.  Anything below that, including DRV, or Luxe, or any of the mass producers I would not even consider having them do a solar install.  It is way outside their wheelhouse.  I would have them pre run wire of a size I specified from the roof to the basement to make an installers (or my) job easier though (if they were willing to do that on an order.  I had DRV do this for me.

That assessment is spot on. :)

Jack & Danielle Mayer #60376 Lifetime Member
Living on the road since 2000

PLEASE no PM's. Email me. jackdanmayer AT gmail
2016 DRV Houston 44' 5er (we still have it)
2022 New Horizons 43' 5er
2016 Itasca 27N 28' motorhome 
2019 Volvo 860, D13 455/1850, 236" wb, I-Shift, battery-based APU
No truck at the moment - we use one of our demo units
2016 smart Passion, piggyback on the truck
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
See our website for info on New Horizons 5th wheels, HDTs as tow vehicles, communications on the road, and use of solar power
www.jackdanmayer.com
Principal in RVH Lifestyles. RVH-Lifestyles.com

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Jack Mayer said:

That assessment is spot on. :)

So Jack which is it? You said a few posts ago that the NH's and SC's can build a great solar set up but then I just read a post in another thread where you said this.

"And most manufacturers do not have the expertise to do a proper job. Even the custom manufacturers are challenged with getting it right.....I've worked with them to educate them on proper wiring and component selection. But they simply do not do enough of them to build an expertise in-house. I'm talking about large systems like Chad, Smitty  and I have."

What I had said earlier was kind of right down the middle of your two very different posts. I said that the manufacturers and by "manufactures" most of us in the HDT section mean NH and SC.  would be a good choice for a smaller system but for something more involved I would go to a specialist (if unable to DIY or get experienced help). I think I nailed it but have been overruled by you after you said almost exactly the same thing that I did. 

Chris, Tracey, Aria & Lola

2018 Volvo VNR 400, D13 I-Shift

2018 NH 48' Majestic

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.


RVers Online University

campgroundviews.com

RV Destinations

Find out more or sign up for Escapees RV'ers Bootcamp.

Advertise your product or service here.

The Rvers- Now Streaming

RVTravel.com Logo



×
×
  • Create New...