Friends View Our Volvo 780 and Why We Bought A HDT for Full Time RVing
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 10 сен 2024
- See the reactions when our friends and family see "Leroy" our 2009 Volvo 780 for the first time. Dave talks about why we bought a HDT (Heavy Duty Truck) for Full Time RVing instead of a pick up truck.
🚍 “HDT, DRV, Tote, Smart Car” Playlist: • 🚍 HDT, DRV, TOTE, & SM...
Diagnostic machine
...
I’m a Trucker Volvo owner biker and tiny car owner as well
Empty nester with no plans of bricks and mortar again
Working towards similar setup
You guys are awesome and your videos are ver thorough
Thank you for sharing
Thanks for watching! :)
It is a beautiful truck all of you guys are wonderful people it’s people like you that makes me want to buy a truck like this and become a camper like you guys
Thanks Eric. You are right, we have made a lot of friends meeting others with HDTs.
You have a great 👍 looking HDT Thanks for the tour
Thanks so much. Appreciate you watching.
I had never seen this one before until now. from this to a house with rv garage just what i want 40x60
Yep, Dave's dream to have a huge garage....a place he can hide. LOL
I agree with everything you said comparing an HDT to a dually.
Thanks for watching that Joseph and commenting.
For some reason after watching this video I have this deep urge to grab a CB mic and start talking like a good old boy.
😊
...... With that said I have big-time respect for all the full-time truckers on the road.
Everything from seeing you guys cut off on the road by cars thinking that you guys could stop like a Italian sports car, To appreciating that everything that we buy at a store is delivered by a truck.
👍🏼
10-4 good buddy
Thank you.
You're welcome. Thanks for checking out our videos and joining our community.
Just what every RVer needs. Great to get into those national campgrounds, small towns and classy RV parks. Reminds me of the boaters I saw with 8 Outboards, he was biggest bad ass on the water, yep, yep GO BIG or GO HOME.
And sell everything you own to do it.
This is what I'm looking into now, 4 years until I'm retired after a lifetime behind the wheel.
I LOVE the Volvos, they ride like a Caddy, and the turning radius is CRAZY GOOD!!
Good, informative video!
We like our Volvo too. Don't think people realize how good the turning radius is. You'll hit something with the rear end of your RV than you will with the front end of the truck.
@@WattsOnWheels , I use to turn in a 4 lane street, with a daycab in NYC. Other makes can't even dream about that!
STAY SAFE!
Oh yeah, you went to higher gears, not lower. In gears higher #'s denote a lower gear. Say you went from a lower 3.83:1, to your current, higher, 2.94:1. I know, confusing.
@@michaelmurphy9596 Yep confusing. We have a 2.64 and we run at 1100 RPMs at 65-70 mph. Also 24.5 tires.
Dear people ,you bought a king of the road and a nice one. Volvo is in comparison with the american trucks refind the american trucks are very strong robust Amerika is a big country volvo is Europa and american. Its a beautiful truck and a well build truck good luck on your journey tony Vermeulen from the Netherlands.
Thank you Antoon. We love the Volvo and it has been everything we expected even though it is 20 years old. Has many years to go. Thanks for watching from the Netherlands.
Because it is Badass!
👍👍😎
Thanks Scott
Great info, I have a class A and would never tow anything. Only a lift for a motorcycle. I had no idea the inside of the truck was a mini RV. Awesome tour and info. First time I drove a big car in my life, was my class A, and the stopping distance was extremely surprising. Many people with small cars seem to assume everyone can stop on a dime, but the man in the video has a point about being so high up because your view of potential dangers ahead of time is so much more
Thanks for watching. Check out the video when we camp in the truck and you'll get a better idea of the room.
I think i saw two friends roll back in time to 18 yrs old!
😊👍
I drove truck for 35 years and volvo and freightliners are the most comfortable and quiet ride out there.
Agree with you there. Those 2 are nice.
Thanks for sharing your experience and knowledge. Looking forward to seeing up and coming videos ……🤟🏼
Thanks so much Jerry. Hope you learn something and get a couple laughs too.
Great interview Dave. I really like Leroy. There are a lot of positives of owning a big truck compared to a pickup. Nice shirt.
Thanks Tim. Appreciate the comments.
Glad you guys are living the dream.
Thanks so much John
Very nicely done !! Good information, very true.
Thanks for watching
Hello Guys Great Video
Hello. Thanks for watching DJ.
Fantastic
Like a bunch of Kids at Christmas
Congratulations
Yeh it was....or like a new house. :)
For anyone thinking this is overkill, I hope you never hear the fuse to your electric trailer brake controller pop when you stepped on the brakes. The travel trailer pushed my F250 with 7.3 diesel out into a T intersection with a 4-lane highway. As it happens, I have been a commercial truck driver and that brake failure in my personal vehicle and trailer scared me more than anything else I've ever encountered. Sure that 7.3 could pull that travel trailer, but I know from that experience that stopping is another question entirely.
Thanks for your input. #1 reasons we bought an HDT for our heavy RV.
So true...I thought about safety when I've been looking for truck...I've ridden in semis and was a great ride and the vision factor is so great..glad to know you don't have to have a different license...I've seen some used with beds in back and they aren't that $$..great video...thanks
Thanks Lynn. You'll need to check with your state as some require certain kinds of driver tests to legally drive.
HDT can be more cost effective. But a pickup is more versatile. Braking for a trailer is the trailer, or the trailer is not adjusted properly.
A class "A" with air brakes endorsement is required in all states. That is non-commercial or commercial. California requires a class "A" for trailers over 10k.
I have a CDL class "A" license. And may buy a nice used tractor for personal use. My wife and I have his and her diesel pickups. But when I drove OTR trucking. The view from the Freighliner, Volvo, or Kenworths that I drove. Was truely awesome! There were things that I never saw from a car, van, or pickup, on roads that I had driven for years.
With the proper license, a HDT is an awesome choice. But please don't feed the Bears! Those troopers bite real bad!
Just a note: Hope you are well and staying safe in these extraordinary times.
Have that rig 4-corner weighed at a SmartWeigh site. I am a weighmaster for my day job, and I've weighed half a dozen such rigs during the last 6 months. Two had overweight front axles, one had overweight rear axles, two were over GVWR on the trailer. Just buying a HDT doesn't mean you can put a house inside it.
Thanks...we are going to a rally in June where we will get it weighed. Been wanting to do this.
Wow, this is a nice tow rig. I love it. Course, I’d be pulling a boat, but still, what a nice tow rig.
Now that we have the Spyders on the truck and the Smart car on a tote in the back, we're still trying to figure out how to add a 4x4 and a pontoon. LOL
Thank you. This is so informative! 😁💜❤😷
You are so welcome! Thanks for watching.
I've been watching and researching RUclips channels leading into retirement and doing RV full time. Dave's comments have changed my mindset about what to pull it with. It makes so much sense, especially with all his reasons why. So when I goggle Volvo 780, I see prices comparable to the new 1 ton trucks. My question is once you buy one, where do I look to get it customized like your truck is or where do I look to buy one like your set up? Thanks for the videos. I have subscribed and been binge watching your channel and Suite Travels
Hi Tony, Thanks for subscribing and watching our videos. We recommend RVHLifestyles.com to convert your truck to whatever you need. Mark Jack and Jonah are very upstanding guys with great knowledge and engineering ingenuity.
And with the I-shift it's easy to drive. Volvo is also by far the safest truck on the road, at least as far as driver survivability.
Good to know
That is WAY COOL!
Thanks Steve! Appreciate you watching.
Thank you for information.👍👍
Thanks for watching
Beast truck Beast Owner
Thanks for watching Funtime Chica.
LOL, I learned a LOT, thanks, great video.
Just a note: Hope you are well and staying safe in these extraordinary times.
Just found you guys! Alot of good honest opinion! You guys really me rethink about my future purchase of a dually.. I rather have over kill then just enough pulling our future fifth wheel! Trouble is Dave and I have the same build I don't know if I can fit in a smart car! Lol
Thanks for watching. The Smart car has a ton of room in it. You'd be surprised. :)
I pull a 39ft 4 slide fiver weighing only 13k. I have a 2017 Chevy 3500HD With the Duramax short bed with Air lift 5k bags. I get 11 mpg and and climb a 7percent grade at 70 mph. Passing semi trucks. I also have a factory engine brake. My 430 hp can out run any semi. Today's trucks can pull more than the yester years could. RAM NOW CLAIMS 36K PULLING CAPABILITIES. The maint on a semi is extremely expensive. Also you would need a heavy wrecker to tow that rig.
OK
love all your video's and wonder what your opinion is on the pros and cons on 1 rear axel vs 2
If you're not hauling a lot of weight, you don't need two, plus then you only have 4 tires instead of 8 to replace. You have less bearings, less gears, less weight, one less drive shaft, less brakes to maintain. A little better fuel economy.
@@WattsOnWheels good things to consider, thanks so much
What do you have to do to establish residence in order to vote, drivers license, permanent address, etc...?
Since we still have our rentals in GA, we use a friends address for mail and then have him send it to us periodically to a campground. We have a rental agreement with them although we never sleep there. So everything is in their address. Many people go thru Escapees for a domicile. I'd recommend checking that out on their website as they explain the states you can use and the steps you need to take. They also have mail service.
I must have missed something going across I-40 seeing 18 wheeler's laying on the side of the median , on their side. While i keep on chugging along in my 3500/5th wheel combo.. at a reasonable speed in the windy conditions.
We haven't seen an 18 wheeler on its side yet, but sure we will some day. So far we have seen 3 trailers that we couldn't tell if they were on their sides or not because they looked like they exploded all over the road.
@@WattsOnWheels I think he's referring to the ones hauling the 53' trailers that yes have/can flip over because their not as aerodynamic as an RV.
Awesome set up! There’s another couple who is apart of a growing HDT community of rv’ers. Husband and wife team and their channel is called suite travels. Would love to see you all side by side! Subbed! Be safe and blessings to you both!
Hi. Thanks for subscribing. Yes, we have camped with them in the past....we are great friends. In fact we interviewed them and there is a video of the interview at ruclips.net/video/PNtTthq3g_c/видео.html
How about a 53' dry van RV? Park at truck stops.
Go for it.
@@WattsOnWheels looking into it.
“Good for a million miles…” not quite; if you are shopping stay above 500 hp. The bigger the engine the less work it has to do when pulling 80k. My father had 4 trucks over 20 years, the less problems where you have maintenance is less with bigger hp engines. I also have a CDL and drove doubles/triples out of SLC.
Not just to dyno, get an oil sample. It will tell you what metals are in the oils and what/if any parts are wearing out.
Good suggestion about the oil sample. We have 535 hp and the truck doesnt even know its pulling 27000 pounds. :)
Ever get DOT at the scales chase you down thinking a truck just blew off stopping?
In over 2 years, only had one that came up along side and saw our "Private RV Not for Hire" on the side and then left.
So do you just run dirty with the car on the back or is it under 102"?
Smart cars are 106" long.
Who built the bed and can it be put on a tandem axel truck
Gregg Shields out of Canada. Check out rvhlifestyles.com. This is what they do...custom beds. They built our Spyder stacker.
My trailer has brakes on it, so I don't have a problem stopping with by SRW 3/4 Ton P/U, and I don't have to floor my 6.7 liter diesel to get up a mountain. You do have a nice rig, but each to his own.
Just a note: Hope you are well and staying safe in these extraordinary times.
Watts On Wheels thanks, you do the same
If you were towing 24000 lbs, you'd be to the floor just to keep that POS Ford moving
WHO & WHERE DID U GET THE BED & REAR HITCH BUILT & INSTALLED????
Great guys and they will answer your questions, even if you don't purchase. ruclips.net/video/I5eqbBE0IDs/видео.html
Is there a reason why you didn’t go with tandem axles? Still nice rig.
We bought the truck already converted / singled out with a Smart Car lift. Also less to maintain (costs).
The weight is on top of the dually axles on a pickup truck. The weight on his semi truck is way in the back like a tow behind hitch, it doesn’t sit over the axles. Why is it so far back?
Makes for better maneuvering.
Is that an old KLLM truck that looks alot like KLLM fawn on the lower paint
No. Custom paint job to match RV.
Looks good and nice to see one of them volvos being taken care of.
makes sense . and for sure it is not more expensive than a 350 or 3500
Just a note: Hope you are well and staying safe in these extraordinary times.
@@WattsOnWheels hey .. this is going to be just a drip of knowledge in the bucket. this will only make you wiser and stronger .. be safe.
@@RamonAlmodovar Agreed. All of us.
What's a good website to find these used HDTs?
Facebook (HDT's for RVing) is a good place to ask questions. Also truckpaper.com has new and used trucks.
I like seeing the excitement in your friends while they where in the cab. When you mentioned that you don’t need a CDL, I was surprised. One would think you need an air brake endorsement and a weight limit endorsement.
Since it is registered as a motorhome, it is not needed. Thanks for watching.
What’s the gvwr when your all loaded up? Isn’t anything over 26,001 lbs CDL b required?
Everything together around 50000. No CDL as titled as motorhome. A Prevost class A weighs more.
How long is the bed of your truck?
Hi Bobby. Had to go measure it. The bed length is a total of 166 inches long and 101 inches wide.
That is a beautiful truck!! Everything is so clean and immaculate! Looks like the previous owners kept it in top shape. What was your cost (approx) for buying an HDT that was already converted and registered as an rv?
A little north of 100
What company did you use to remove the tag axle and build the deck?
It was already converted when we bought it. RVH Lifestyles in Parsons KS did the rest of the work. Check them out...they are awesome. Www.rvhlifestyles.com
My question as well
@@lovelyshermane8814 www.rvhlifestyles.com.
Awesome guys that live the lifestyle too.
Hello I’ve been watching your videos and learned a lot who did you go through to setup your Montana llc we are looking at a 2015 international to pull a 5th wheel thanks
Hi and thanks for watching. We used Heggen Law office heggenlawoffice.com
Watts On Wheels ok thank you
Graig @ RV Haulers put out some pretty awesome rigs.
Just a note: Hope you are well and staying safe in these extraordinary times.
@@WattsOnWheels Thanks so much, doing good in Vegas (so far) with no issues. Hope you all are in a safe place and doing well.
@@nohomenomad1427 Glad to hear it. We are doing OK in Clermont, FL.
Love your videos, best out of all I have watched .... just curious..... why are Volvo's so popular with the HDT community ? I learned to drive and got my Commercial license in a Volvo, to be honest I was not that impressed with them at that time, grant it that was in 1999/2000, drove Peterbuilt, Freight liner, Kenworth, International, even an OLD White Freight liner. Please don't think by any means I am bashing your BEAUTIFUL Rig. Just wondering why Volvo's seem to be the hot Truck of choice.
I think it's the Ishift transmission that makes it so popular. However, ANY HDT is aces in my world for RV hauling.
@@WattsOnWheels, Hey Dave, is I-Shift the reason you went with it, or was it that RVH Lifestyles recommended VOLVO? I agree. I see lots of Volvo's on RUclips, so was also curious on why you guys settled on Volvo/Leroy? Had you looked at others?
@@robertweber3140 It is one we found in our price range that had the Ishift transmission and big sleeper and was already converted for the Smart car. We originally found it on line from a private owner. We had not met RVH Lifestyles at that point.
@@WattsOnWheels thank you. I'm trying to visit Jack Mayer and Co. end of July. Safe travels!
@@robertweber3140 Highly recommend them. They made our Spyder Stacker and connection for our Freedom Hauler to the fifth wheel. We are going to see them in September for general inspection and paint touch up of Leroy.
Very nice. I would still have an fed annual inspection done for the setup. And a CAT scale Cops are curious by trade. But a beautiful rig.
What kind of brakes are on the trailer? What's the rules for a diesel rv in California?
We put air over hydraulic brakes on the trailer last summer. There is a video on it...search Bludot within our channel. California? Don't know...We live in Georgia.
What’s the total length of truck and trailer? Any issues there?
Truck, RV and trailer is 76 feet. No issues so far.
What kind of drivers license do you need / have to drive this setup?
Only a regular drivers license. Have to check with your state to see if there are any tests you may have to take....but no CDL license needed for HDL registered as a motorhome since you are not hauling commercial merchandise.
Would a Jeep fit up there or can you only fit a smart car?
Smart car originally. Now we stack 2 Can-Am Spyders on it but we can still put the Smart on the bed. Jeep would be too long.
Did you buy the truck with a motor home (RV) title or did you switch it over. I have a 2009 VNL 660 for $12500 real nice but registration and insurance as a commercial truck is outrageous. What requirements are there to switch.
Ours was converted and titled by the previous owner. Have you tried contacting Heggen Law Office in Montana? Give them a call and see if they can help you. They also steered us to Safeco for insurance. Heggenlawoffice.com (888) 777-5032
Watts On Wheels thanks
@@johnjackson9564 No sales tax in Montana too.
How's the insurance? i used to be a trucker, so of course I would love one of these just for recreation. Personally I'd get a non sleeper unit only due to towing a 5th wheeler
We have camped in our Volvo too. Insurance is $2545 a year
@@WattsOnWheels wow cheap overall
UMMMM 120,000 no sir gross vehicle weight in the USA is 80,000 without a permit. A normal everyday semi can pull a trailer that can weigh about 48,000 lbs without being overweight.
You are correct. :)
What is average cost of insurance per month on your semi
$212
@@WattsOnWheels thank you that helps out to know this
Great video and thanks for sharing...
Thanks for watching
I wonder the difference in insurance on a rig like this
We have Safeco insurance: $2545 for the Volvo
That's really cheap! Seriously I thought it would be more expensive.
What made you choose Volvo? Honest question.
We like their ishift transmission and have met many people that have them and love them. We bought ours with the bed conversion already done as we wanted it and the rear axle ratio is a 2.64 which is great on fuel. Also paint colors matched.:-)
You guys have a great last name. I wonder if you’re related to my wife?
If she's from the Detroit area, it's possible, but I don't know about any long lost cousins. :)
Untill you have to put fuel in the goddam thing, Get maybe 7 - 8 miles to the gallon
Yep, just like a motor home but can go a lot further.
To days heavy. 1ton trucks can not. Can not do as munch as s the hdt. I knlow
You are right...so right.
If it weighs 24000 pounds you better put another axle underneath that trailer
Maybe closer to 21000 since we don't carry any water. Haven't had it weighed yet and plan to do that. DRVs are built with bigger frames and GVWR is 21000 with 2 axles.
good grief, how do you hear any thing said? that is one noisy rig
sounds like a diesel pusher motorhome outside. Quiet on the inside (doors closed).
I ABSOLUTELY ❤️❤️LOVE❤️❤️ LEROY!!! WHAT A SEXY SEXY TRUCK!!!!
😉💖
16 L Volvo stupid engine .You will be sorry for buying this engine.Good luck!
After 3 1/2 years we aren't sorry. Wish it was a 13 L, but none were to be had at the time.
Great video if I want to hear a diesel running. Poor sound editing.
Yeh, that was one of my first videos. Have gotten better at it.
Why waste the money just buy a rv lmao
The fifth wheel is an RV. The truck now carries our 2 Spyders and the Smart car is towed behind the 5th wheel. We are able to bring all our vehicles with us this way and travel safely. There is another video that describes why we bought a HDT. To each their own.