phoenix2013 Posted July 2, 2017 Report Share Posted July 2, 2017 Ain't she pretty, spanking new 2017, color matched to the trailer. A short sucker. Never removed one of these, brand new, anybody needs one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Av8r3400 Posted July 2, 2017 Report Share Posted July 2, 2017 Beu-tee-ful... I may be partial, but I love the look of a short 730! Av8r34002012 Volvo VNL 730 D13 iShift & 2021 Grand Design Momentum 397TH I'd rather die trying to live - Than live trying not to die. -Leonard Perry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrknrvr Posted July 2, 2017 Report Share Posted July 2, 2017 That is the beginning for a sliding hitch. That is if someone else needs one. Ok, then you maybe considered an outlaw if you had a sliding hitch. Or maybe a boat anchor. Safe Travels,. Vern Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heavymetal Posted July 2, 2017 Report Share Posted July 2, 2017 That's all we get! Two pictures. More please. 2016 Western Star 5700xe (Pathfinder) DD15 555hp w/12 speed automatic 3:05 diffs 2005 Newmar Mountain Aire 38RLPK 2 Great Danes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2Auberts Posted July 2, 2017 Report Share Posted July 2, 2017 Very nice! If you ordered it singled, why did you have to get the commercial hitch? 2017 Volvo 780 2017 DRV Houston Smart searching Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix2013 Posted July 2, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 2, 2017 7 hours ago, 2Auberts said: Very nice! If you ordered it singled, why did you have to get the commercial hitch? Volvo stickering "rules", is they are delivering a commercial truck, it leaves with a commercial hitch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix2013 Posted July 2, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 2, 2017 7 hours ago, Heavymetal said: That's all we get! Two pictures. More please. More will be coming as the project progresses Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Mayer Posted July 2, 2017 Report Share Posted July 2, 2017 You can get the truck without a hitch. You just have to know how to navigate the engineering exceptions.....a typical commercial truck dealer could not get it done. Jack & Danielle Mayer #60376 Lifetime Member Living on the road since 2000PLEASE 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 powerwww.jackdanmayer.com Principal in RVH Lifestyles. RVH-Lifestyles.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoDirectionHome Posted July 2, 2017 Report Share Posted July 2, 2017 And is that an aluminum 5th slider? That's about $4-5K worth of hitch! "There are No Experts, Do the Math!" 2014 Freightliner Cascadia DD16 600hp 1850ft-lb 18spd 3.31 260"wb SpaceCraft S-470 SKP #131740 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrap Posted July 2, 2017 Report Share Posted July 2, 2017 Having a 5th wheel on a new (first sale) truck is akin to buying a work pickup with or without a bed. To be a completed vehicle it must have a 5th wheel (like pickups have to have beds) and can't be customer installed. Otherwise a 2nd stager needs to certify it as complete when done. Maybe that was important to the owner? I also don't know Volvo and how they split it up, but I suspect with GHG rules this one is always going to be stuck a tractor and have a 5th wheel to deal with (ie: EPA/GHG just can't wrap their heads around full fairings used anywhere off the freeway. Sometimes a guy just wants fairings and doesn't "mean" anything by it). It is an interesting spec as it is everything you'd be when converting a used tractor but it is brand new. Definitely not something you see built every day. Would be interesting to hear the trials and tribulations of specing it from the owner. I'm sure it wasn't an easy one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix2013 Posted July 3, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 3, 2017 The owner of the truck has never been on this forum, started lurking two days ago, his first correction to my original post, "it's not 2017, it's 2018". OK, one has to "flexible on these projects". First I needed to get through certain "gifts from the manufacturer", or the ET was not going to go in there. Air line going straight up (into an ET) needed to go flat. The suspension leveling valve needed to vacate Volvo designated area to make room for ET. How far did the valve go forward? 17 inches., couldn't go forward anymore and keep the push rod away from the pumpkin.. Note the cute bracket we fabricated to anchor the bottom of the rod in the new location Before the "move" the frame rails we exactly at 40 inches inflated, after the move and the new bracket the frame rails at 40 inches again. Once everything was working the valve bracket was permanently attached to the frame. I can already hear the hollering, "OMG, he's welding to the frame", Yea, yea, yea, it's done all the time, this is such a small and piddly weld and there was no way to get in there with anything, drill, torch, mag drill without disassembling the rear axle and suspension. Oh, the bracket also needed to be heated and re-bent from two 45 degree bends to two 90 degree bends, so the valve now sits parallel to the frame. Once this was done we re-measured the frame and determined that the frame needed to go back 10 inches to mount the ET Before it would have to been 27 inches, Next step was too weld the extensions to the frame rails. More project "tasks" tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKP101479 Posted July 3, 2017 Report Share Posted July 3, 2017 Net Proceeds has a sliding ET. Max f/r 27". J&V with Edina (RIP), the wonder dobie andNet Proceeds our 2005 Volvo VNL630 256" WB. Focus SVT on the back, in the garage. ET Hitch controlling the articulation. Jackalopee controlling the 'juice'. 2002 Teton 39' Grand SundanceAll still a work in progress.Photos and comments at http://gallery.ournetproceeds.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Posted July 3, 2017 Report Share Posted July 3, 2017 Quick question; Why not extend the extensions into the inside of the frame rather than butt weld them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heavymetal Posted July 3, 2017 Report Share Posted July 3, 2017 4 hours ago, Black said: Quick question; Why not extend the extensions into the inside of the frame rather than butt weld them? My thoughts also. 2016 Western Star 5700xe (Pathfinder) DD15 555hp w/12 speed automatic 3:05 diffs 2005 Newmar Mountain Aire 38RLPK 2 Great Danes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billr Posted July 3, 2017 Report Share Posted July 3, 2017 My bet he only needed the six inches. So when the hitch mount angles and plate are in they extend into frame 3' so no issues. Looks nice Henry! Bill and Joan and 3 Collie pups 2001 Volvo VNL 770 "The Doghouse" Singled short, "ET" hItch VED12 465HP Gen 1 Autoshift 3.58 ratio 2005 Mobile Suite 38RL3 2011 Smart Passion loaded piggybacK Weigh-It Portable RV Scales http://www.weighitrv.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix2013 Posted July 3, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 3, 2017 The mounting plate 5/8 thick (part of the hitch) is 34 inches long and 32 1/2 inches wide. Mounting angles (part of the hitch) are 34 inches long, so the hitch is supported mostly inside the original frame and only 10 inches on the extensions.. All trucks have the inner dimension between the rail at about 32 1/2 inches there is very little clearance, no more than 1/4 inch. There is no room for doubling or fishplating. The weld start with a deep V-groove in the frame and extension on the inside, total penetration and fusing of the parts welded on the inside and outside. My welder has certifications from here to Kingdom come in steel, aluminum, stainless, etc. and has been doing it for decades. The weld will be fine, the hitch will be fine. Are there other "concerns"? I posted a close up of the welds so that other professional welders could appreciate his "art". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Posted July 3, 2017 Report Share Posted July 3, 2017 I wasn't concerned about the quality of the weld or the welders qualifications, just wondering why it didn't extend inside the frame. Thanks for the very detailed answer though, I didn't know it was such a minimal amount of clearance in there. I'm curious to see what goes on the outside on the frame since there's no room for fishplating, please keep the pictures coming! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix2013 Posted July 3, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 3, 2017 2 minutes ago, Black said: I wasn't concerned about the quality of the weld or the welders qualifications, just wondering why it didn't extend inside the frame. Thanks for the very detailed answer though, I didn't know it was such a minimal amount of clearance in there. Yes and it varies slightly from truck to truck and frame to frame, so I allow for little bit of clearance in the vertical mounting bolts to cinch the angles to the frames and the frames do give the last few hundreds of an inch. We've done extensions up to six feet long and in those instances we used tempered steel, doubling of the transition with an inner rail and an additional brace across. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlennWest Posted July 3, 2017 Report Share Posted July 3, 2017 Henry, quick question. What size and weight angle you use for mounting? Mine is bolted to down without angle. Considering changing it 2003 Teton Grand Freedom towed with 2006 Freightliner Century 120 across the beautiful USA welding pipe.https://photos.app.goo.gl/O32ZjgzSzgK7LAyt1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix2013 Posted July 3, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 3, 2017 4 x 4 x 1/2" thick 34 1/4" long. I used to use 4 x 4 tubing 3/16 inch wall but it was a PITA to install, The angle offsets the ET four inches up from the bottom rail flange which puts the head at precisely 47 inches from the ground. Without it the trailer will be running 4 inches low at the pin putting lot more weight on the trailer's front axle vs. the other two. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlennWest Posted July 3, 2017 Report Share Posted July 3, 2017 Yeah, that is what I have too. Raise level valve and lowered hitch for now. 2003 Teton Grand Freedom towed with 2006 Freightliner Century 120 across the beautiful USA welding pipe.https://photos.app.goo.gl/O32ZjgzSzgK7LAyt1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heavymetal Posted July 3, 2017 Report Share Posted July 3, 2017 1 hour ago, phoenix2013 said: The mounting plate 5/8 thick (part of the hitch) is 34 inches long and 32 1/2 inches wide. Mounting angles (part of the hitch) are 34 inches long, so the hitch is supported mostly inside the original frame and only 10 inches on the extensions.. All trucks have the inner dimension between the rail at about 32 1/2 inches there is very little clearance, no more than 1/4 inch. There is no room for doubling or fishplating. The weld start with a deep V-groove in the frame and extension on the inside, total penetration and fusing of the parts welded on the inside and outside. My welder has certifications from here to Kingdom come in steel, aluminum, stainless, etc. and has been doing it for decades. The weld will be fine, the hitch will be fine. Are there other "concerns"? I posted a close up of the welds so that other professional welders could appreciate his "art". Thanks for the insight. 2016 Western Star 5700xe (Pathfinder) DD15 555hp w/12 speed automatic 3:05 diffs 2005 Newmar Mountain Aire 38RLPK 2 Great Danes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cactus Posted July 3, 2017 Report Share Posted July 3, 2017 I am not a welder but, That guy is GOOD ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix2013 Posted July 3, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 3, 2017 1 hour ago, cactus said: I am not a welder but, That guy is GOOD ! He welds the ETs also Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Kildow Posted July 3, 2017 Report Share Posted July 3, 2017 Those welds are almost like mine. But there missing the slag holes. Skip spots lows and highs. Other then that just like mine. First week in welding class. Teacher told me to cover mine up. Before the fly's started blowing it. Not sure why he thought that. When the plate was cut into. 2" thick with welds. I had one void in the whole spot. And passed with flying colors. Until he found out later I did it with a wire welder. Now as for that truck. Perfection for sure, not a better looking truck out there. Pete PS. Sure I missed it somewhere. But what wheelbase is that one? Again nice truck for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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