Hi Jerry. We've been incredibly busy with our RV business but we do have a ton of content to share so we'll be back in no time. Thanks for checking out the video. Safe Travels
Excellent video, covered many points to consider. I can ad one other point, Volvo Welds the steel cabs, ( one of the reasons for the quieter cab). Safety wise probably the safest, as the cab is like a roll cage. Many if not all other cabs are Riveted aluminum and fiberglass. Great location to be shopping in Salt Lake.
Hi Scott. Thanks for the added insight. That is awesome, I didn't realize the "others" don't build cabs the same way Volvo does. We love our truck and feel very safe in it. Thanks for checking out the video and following along. Safe Travels
Aaron, here is another thank you. We have similar circumstances. We currently have a F550 with a RV hauler bed and a 41’ Redwood. At the beginning of the year we pulled the trigger on. New Horizon 5er. Covid has created many delays with that build. We are full time work campers so the F550 is my daily driver. Documenting this search and process will be helpful to those who truly desire “saftey” yet don’t have the deep pockets for a new HDT. Thanks for what you doing. I really enjoy the channel, less fluff with great content. Be well sir. As always, thank you for your service.
Thank you so much Chip. We too looked at getting a 450 or 550 with a hauler bed but we just couldn't beat the pros, especially around price and safety, of getting the HDT. :) I hope you enjoy the rest of the series and again, thank you for following along. We sincerely appreciate you. :) Safe Travels Chip.
JonesN2Travel, I’ve worked in the auto “service” industry for 40 plus years, I buy used almost always. This NH will be our first “new” purchase in many many years. So the HDT would be preownd and repaired like my F550. I will learn from those who went before me 😃
it's not that I am looking to buy a HDT but I am so glad to find your channel and you showing a person like me that is totally ignorant of how to buy a truck to tow with. sounds very interesting to me
Drove a Volvo for a number of years. Inspect the main motor wire harness. Check to see if its brittle from heat. If it is get it replaced before you buy. Volvo has a habit of dropping production of things after awhile so you want to get it done before you can't find one. I ended up retiring a truck because we could not find a harness anywhere.
@@JonesN2Travel yeah if you are ever driving along and you lose throttle suddenly? That harness is usually the culprit. It was a periodic issue for me for about 2 months and then one night I was crossing the rockies in the middle of the night and I had nothing. Took me 5 hours of idling along to get it into the nearest town. If you can find one now and squirrel it away? Wise idea.
Thanks Aaron! Super glad I found your channel. Just started my search for an HDT and look forward to more information from your experience. Best of luck.
Hey Gerald. Welcome to the channel and thank you for following along. Congrats on making the decision to "go big". :) More to come so stay tuned. Safe Travels
Our pleasure. There is a lot more to come in this series but please let us know if you have any questions we don't cover. I'd like to do a Q&A sort of video at the end of this series. Thanks so much for following along. :) Safe Travels
Reminded me that I like to go to dealerships to look at new cars, but not shopping for them. Looks like there were some cool accessories. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Thank you for checking out the video. I had a blast looking at trucks. I know this video makes it look like those were the only trucks I looked at but I actually looked at a ton more. These were just the ones on the same lot :) Safe Travels.
What a great video, very informative. Truck dealership seems to be very honest and will answer questions. I see why now that Volvo is better than Freightliner. I really liked the looks of Freightliner, but the comfort in the 780 is great. I can have my wife sit at table stay cool or fix some lunches. Thank you again, can't wait for the next videos. 🤓🤓👍👍
Thanks David. So glad to hear you enjoyed the video. I was really impressed with Tim, the salesman, he really did seem genuine. I agree, the comfort of the ride is one of my favorite things about the Volvo. Thanks again for following along. Safe Travels :)
Aaron, this was a good video, I like the comparison between the two trucks. I had a fire on the Teton, in the wall under the panel. It put itself out, but I maybe buying more of your products in Quartz Quartzsite.
Thanks Dave. I will have product on hand so just let me know and I can install what you need. Sorry to hear that you had an incident but glad it put itself out. Keep in touch. Safe Travels
Really awesome finding your videos. I'm in the planning stages for RV living and I have pretty much settled on the Volvo 780. I just watched you video number 2 and it answered important questions about diagnostics. Thank you!
Great video. Aaron so glad you are going into detail on purchasing an HDT. I have been very interested in getting one and I'm sure you will answer a lot of my questions.
Boy that's kind of bad business to not get back with you. Even though your quote was not realistic. Now he's the only one that's going to get exposure to all of us. Great job and thank you for the information
I agree. I sent out about 20 offers through truck paper.com and he was the only one to respond at all. Its the hungry salespeople that cash in for sure. :) Thanks for checking out the video. We truly appreciate you :) Safe Travels
Aaron so glad you are going into detail on purchasing an HDT. I have been very interested in getting one and I'm sure you will answer a lot of my question.
Thanks Doug. Glad to be of help. If I don't cover any specific topic you're looking for let me know and I'll be sure to cover it. Thanks again Safe Travels
JonesN2Travel we are still in the planning stages and doing as much research as possible. We actually came out to Quartzite earlier this year and met Jim and Kelly. I wish we’d been able to chat with you all as well!
Thank you for this video on the Volvo but ya it sounded real quiet and I like the windows. I like the color too! I was wondering where would you take that kind of truck in for maintenance work? But it’s nice to use to pull your fifth wheel. That’s is so nice. Thank you again it was nice to see those kinds of trucks. See you soon! Stay safe. Sherri
after spending 40 years driving a rig. i do not like the thought of retiring into one. pulse as just me. a super huge rv is not for me. so the pulling power is just not needed. i have driven mostly fleet trucks. (i collect pay stubs not a independent), and found volvo's to be junk. one release my company bought they felt squirmy in the rear. a tire issue i think. but if one was to buy such, do you need a class A permit? no med card i understand. (non commercial thing... right). but if i were i would buy a pre-def for reliability. less $$ just to stay on the rd.
Our Volvo is registereds as a RV in South Dakota so not Class A, DOT or any other commercial requirements apply. Thanks for checking out the video. Safre Travels!
Surprised you didn’t test a KW or Pete. As a otr KW driver with 250000 mile, automatic with no problems. Driven all brands over 15 yrs and KW (Paccar) been best truck yet.
That is what I am going to do there is a peterbuilt dealership right here in west Memphis Arkansas that I am going to and just look at what they have and see if they are friendly enough for me to ask questions and take. Look inside and then there is a place down the road here that also has some that are sitting around and some are in good shape others look like they are for parts and see what they have and what they have to offer and just get so ideas it is going to be a few years down the road before I buy but at least I can get ideas and see what I want to do right now it are set up permanently on blocks and sewer hose is hard pipe and we just love living in our 5th wheel camper trailer full time just do not have the truck to pull it and I need something were a low budget person can get in to without breaking the bank and there is a lot of homework to do but if I can walk way with a HDT at 16,000.00 or 20,000.00 or less or even a project truck with a nice sleeper that will work and fix it up the way I want it I will be just as happy
Hi Brian. That is exactly how I started looking. Took me a year to get serious after I had looked at a couple handfuls of trucks. Truck Paper is where I ended up finding the dealer that had our truck. Hope that helps. Best of luck in your search. Safe Travels
Great video, im looking to do the same thing, Im interested in seeing how you make it a personal vehicle from a commercial vehicle, and what does it cost to insure an HDT? Looking forward to your series.
Hi Cliff. Thanks for letting us know what you are interested in seeing in this series. We will definitely be covering all of these in up coming videos. Stay tuned :) Safe Travels
Hey TechGuy, that's good to know. I am not sure which transmission it had in it to be honest. It doesn't really make sense to start out in 1st gear with a load this light. :) Thanks for the info. Safe Travels
@@JonesN2Travel I think the transmission controller can be programmed for a default start gear. And the operator can override the start gear with the buttons before starting out.
I am a retired over the road truck driver the Volvo is a better truck freightliner seems like they have more problems they have less comfort I drove 11 hours when I was working in a Volvo and I was not tired after 11 hours and I did that seven days a week but you buy a Volvo you get a better truck.
I drive a truck for a living and would consider a HDT setup when I decide to get a 5th wheel. BUT I still don’t understand why most of the videos I see everyone has big sleepers. Why have a big sleeper when you have a big 5th wheel. My most recent truck had a small sleeper so shorter wheelbase to start before the custom bed.
Hi Martin. You raise a very good point and you're right, shorter wheelbase would allow you do more as far as extending, etc. The reason we wanted the 780 with the sleeper is so we can use it for multi purposes. Its registered as a RV in South Dakota so we can take it out alone for shorter trips. Not sure we ever will but we have that option. Thanks for following along. We appreciate it. Safe Travels
I've been doing big sleeper since 1980 hell I was going out in Alabama I just want to leave sleep for a long time I just got used to him plus with the fifth wheel that gives me three bedrooms instead of two that's perfect I guess not really need it it's really a pain when it comes to campers
11:30 "can I test drive one of these without a CDL?" 😨😨😨 😠😠😠 Ummm.... I'm already hating this salesman, cuz (as far as I know) you DO NOT need a CDL to tow or drive a large vehicle like a a 5th wheel behind a regular pick up truck or a semi unless your an independent opperator or working for a company, but if the GVWR in certain states (like Idaho) is over I believe 26,000lbs then you'll need a class A licence. So NO NO NO you DON'T need a CDL to take that truck for a test drive cuz even without a trailer & added weight on the ass end, if your just Bob tailing, Most all semi trucks DO NOT weigh more than 26,000lbs by themselves, & can be driven with just a standard class D license. What he probably was REALLY saying NO to you about the driving part was likely more about the lack of insurance that the dealership probably has on all their vehicles for customers to take an uninsured vehicle for a test drive on the public roads, cuz that's a BIG liability to their company. If knowledge is power I hope I've helped someone become an informed buyer. 👍👍 Happy trails everyone.
Thanks for that commentary. You are exactly right, it was a liability issue for the dealership. I didn't push it simply because I knew I was having the truck tested so driving it really wasn't that big of an issue. :) Safe Travels
Hey there. Thanks for checking out the video and for following along. The short answer is "Not that I'm aware of". I've heard guys say that they towed a fifth wheel with their commercial hitch for years without any issues but I wouldn't. Just too much risk for me. I've never seen a solution to adapt a fifth wheel camper to a commercial hitch but that doesn't mean there isn't one out there. Safe Travels
I have a big 5er and a worn out Superduty. I was thinking of buying a new Superduty. What exactly didn't you like about your Superduty when pulling your trailer ? What sort of fuel economy are you getting ?
To be honest, I loved our super duty but after meeting and talking with a few HDTers I realized that my super duty just wasn't going to last in the long run pulling this heavy trailer and the cost of these trucks just keeps increasing. The truck pulled it fine but when I weighed the cost of replacing the ford the HDT was a no brainer and I will never wear this one out. I paid less than half for the HDT than I did for the dually 3 years ago. Safety is the biggest factor for us. I could definitely feel this trailer "wagging" our dually just a bit and when it came to stopping I couldn't have stopped as fast as I can with the HDT. Hope that helps. :) Safe Travels
Unfortunately I was unable to drive because I don't have a CDL. I rode along and then let the inspections clarify any issues I felt or heard while riding. Hope that helps. Safe Travels
Great video. Been looking for this to see the process. I've emailed a few inquires through truckpaper site, but have yet to get a response. I'm assuming the dealer delivered the truck to the place you had the bed done. Also, a video on the registration process would ve helpful. I live in FL and it is not easy and almost impossible to register an HDT as an rv and get insurance. Thank you again.
Hi John. Thanks for checking out the video. I sen t out over 20 offers to dealerships nationwide and Tim at Mountain West Truck Center is the only one that responded at all. Maybe he has something for you there :) We will be doing an in depth registration video in this series as well so stay tuned for that. When we finalized our truck deal we were in Idaho at the West Coast HDT Rally, video here: ua-cam.com/video/rZdu4S_AKts/v-deo.html , so by the time we got back to Salt Lake to pick it up we already had the title sent to South Dakota and I had purchased the "Private RV Not For Hire" stickers for it. I went ahead and drove it to the fabricators shop. Hope that helps. Thanks again for following along. Safe Travels
We are registered in South Dakota so the plates are around $200 a year and the insurance, registered and insured as a RV, is about $800 a year. Hope that helps. Safe Travels
I wish we had Volvo bonnet trucks here in Australia , I drive a 540 cab over doing interstate work and I find them fuel efficient and very comfortable to drive
I am not sure what the new trucks cost with varying options etc. but I think they are around $170k new. You could contact Tim Smith at Mountain West Truck Center in West Valley City, Utah and he could tell you what a new Volvo costs nowadays. Hope that helps. Thanks for checking out the video. Safe Travels
Hi Stan. In order to register the truck as an RV and to be able to use it as an RV independent from the trailer it has to have certain amenities. Thanks for checking out the video. Safe Travels
Hey there. Thanks for checking out the video and for following along. We did pay cash for the HDT. Honestly, I couldn't find anyone that would finance it :( Safe Travels
We have the Volvo insured with Progressive through Miller's Insurance out of Lake Oswego, OR. The Volvo is registered as a private RV so we have a fulltimer RV policy on it.
We are registered in South Dakota as an RV so no license requirements for us. You would have to check with your state. Thanks for checking out the video. Safe Travels
You know i cant fault someone that buys a HDT to pull a RV but it really bothers me knowing that anyone can buy a Big Truck that has never driven a big truck and can buy one and pull a Rv that when hooked up can be just as long as a Truck and Trailer and not have any training and can buy one and just go about it when i had to go through a bunch of shit to get a Class A CDL to be able to pull a trailer that has freight on it. Sorry if this puts anyone ass out of joint but i feel that anyone buying a HDT should have to go through the same training and get a CDL to drive something like this the same way i did, actually im not sorry everyone that drives a HDT to pull a RV should have to get a full CDL to drive a combination like this
@@JonesN2Travel Right now i cant resopnd because i have had way more thean i should have had adualt bevages. but hopefully i can in the morning. Good night everyone
@@JonesN2Travel UGGH. Sorry im on some time off and i might have taken advantage of it a little to much 🥴. Not going to get that messed up again for awhile.
@@JonesN2Travel ah.. I have applied some of that logic in the Marines as well.. doesn’t work with Sally tho.. that British state can burn your soul :-)
I bought my HDT last week. I’m a single 59 y/o female. What looks I get driving it. I love it!!!!!
That's awesome Lori, CONGRATULATIONS!!. I bet you get some crazy looks LOL Its all good they're just all jealous :) Safe Travels
wait till you hit some ice hun
Do you need a young man in ur life to travel with?
Thanks for taking us along. Can’t wait for the next video…..🤟🏼
Hi Jerry. We've been incredibly busy with our RV business but we do have a ton of content to share so we'll be back in no time. Thanks for checking out the video. Safe Travels
Excellent video, covered many points to consider. I can ad one other point, Volvo Welds the steel cabs, ( one of the reasons for the quieter cab). Safety wise probably the safest, as the cab is like a roll cage. Many if not all other cabs are Riveted aluminum and fiberglass. Great location to be shopping in Salt Lake.
Hi Scott. Thanks for the added insight. That is awesome, I didn't realize the "others" don't build cabs the same way Volvo does. We love our truck and feel very safe in it. Thanks for checking out the video and following along. Safe Travels
Aaron, here is another thank you. We have similar circumstances. We currently have a F550 with a RV hauler bed and a 41’ Redwood. At the beginning of the year we pulled the trigger on. New Horizon 5er. Covid has created many delays with that build. We are full time work campers so the F550 is my daily driver. Documenting this search and process will be helpful to those who truly desire “saftey” yet don’t have the deep pockets for a new HDT. Thanks for what you doing. I really enjoy the channel, less fluff with great content. Be well sir. As always, thank you for your service.
Thank you so much Chip. We too looked at getting a 450 or 550 with a hauler bed but we just couldn't beat the pros, especially around price and safety, of getting the HDT. :) I hope you enjoy the rest of the series and again, thank you for following along. We sincerely appreciate you. :) Safe Travels Chip.
JonesN2Travel, I’ve worked in the auto “service” industry for 40 plus years, I buy used almost always. This NH will be our first “new” purchase in many many years. So the HDT would be preownd and repaired like my F550. I will learn from those who went before me 😃
@@22howards I agree, new is nice but not always the smartest route. You won't be dissapointed with the NH :) Stay in touch. Safe Travels
it's not that I am looking to buy a HDT but I am so glad to find your channel and you showing a person like me that is totally ignorant of how to buy a truck to tow with. sounds very interesting to me
Drove a Volvo for a number of years. Inspect the main motor wire harness. Check to see if its brittle from heat. If it is get it replaced before you buy. Volvo has a habit of dropping production of things after awhile so you want to get it done before you can't find one. I ended up retiring a truck because we could not find a harness anywhere.
Hey Dave. Thanks for the tip. I'll see what I can find before its too late. :) Thanks for checking out the video. Safe Travels
@@JonesN2Travel yeah if you are ever driving along and you lose throttle suddenly? That harness is usually the culprit. It was a periodic issue for me for about 2 months and then one night I was crossing the rockies in the middle of the night and I had nothing. Took me 5 hours of idling along to get it into the nearest town. If you can find one now and squirrel it away? Wise idea.
Thanks Aaron! Super glad I found your channel. Just started my search for an HDT and look forward to more information from your experience.
Best of luck.
Hey Gerald. Welcome to the channel and thank you for following along. Congrats on making the decision to "go big". :) More to come so stay tuned. Safe Travels
Dear sir, an unbeleavebel good information the whole reality, very very good ,chapeau, kind regards
Thank you Antoon. Safe Travels
You guys covered a lot of questions that I have on these rigs. Thank you for filming this.
Our pleasure. There is a lot more to come in this series but please let us know if you have any questions we don't cover. I'd like to do a Q&A sort of video at the end of this series. Thanks so much for following along. :) Safe Travels
Reminded me that I like to go to dealerships to look at new cars, but not shopping for them. Looks like there were some cool accessories. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Thank you for checking out the video. I had a blast looking at trucks. I know this video makes it look like those were the only trucks I looked at but I actually looked at a ton more. These were just the ones on the same lot :) Safe Travels.
What a great video, very informative. Truck dealership seems to be very honest and will answer questions. I see why now that Volvo is better than Freightliner. I really liked the looks of Freightliner, but the comfort in the 780 is great. I can have my wife sit at table stay cool or fix some lunches. Thank you again, can't wait for the next videos. 🤓🤓👍👍
Thanks David. So glad to hear you enjoyed the video. I was really impressed with Tim, the salesman, he really did seem genuine. I agree, the comfort of the ride is one of my favorite things about the Volvo. Thanks again for following along. Safe Travels :)
As a driver and a mechanic of over 40 years my choice is Peterbilt.
Hi Daniel. Nothing wrong with that my friend :) Thanks for checking out the video. Safe Travels
Aaron, this was a good video, I like the comparison between the two trucks. I had a fire on the Teton, in the wall under the panel. It put itself out, but I maybe buying more of your products in Quartz Quartzsite.
Thanks Dave. I will have product on hand so just let me know and I can install what you need. Sorry to hear that you had an incident but glad it put itself out. Keep in touch. Safe Travels
Really awesome finding your videos. I'm in the planning stages for RV living and I have pretty much settled on the Volvo 780. I just watched you video number 2 and it answered important questions about diagnostics. Thank you!
Awesome. If you have any questions I'd be happy to offer my 2 cents. Thanks for following along. Safe Travels :)
Great video. Aaron so glad you are going into detail on purchasing an HDT. I have been very interested in getting one and I'm sure you will answer a lot of my questions.
Hi Scott. So glad to hear the videos are helpful. Best of luck in your shopping experience. Thanks for following along. Safe Travels
Boy that's kind of bad business to not get back with you. Even though your quote was not realistic. Now he's the only one that's going to get exposure to all of us. Great job and thank you for the information
I agree. I sent out about 20 offers through truck paper.com and he was the only one to respond at all. Its the hungry salespeople that cash in for sure. :) Thanks for checking out the video. We truly appreciate you :) Safe Travels
Aaron so glad you are going into detail on purchasing an HDT. I have been very interested in getting one and I'm sure you will answer a lot of my question.
Thanks Doug. Glad to be of help. If I don't cover any specific topic you're looking for let me know and I'll be sure to cover it. Thanks again Safe Travels
I love my volvo!!!
I stretched my frame and built my living quarters on back.
5 person hot tub with a party deck above.
It is so smooth!!!
Awesome. I really like hearing about and seeing what others have done with their HDTs. Congrats I bet its awesome. Safe Travels
We have to see this! You have pictures some where?
@@chadatkinson7863 not sure how to post them. Not a big social media person.
Email?
@@rolandrockstarmega1299 ateamfamilytravels@gmail.com thanks, would love to see what you created.
@@chadatkinson7863 emailed you some pics.
Very nice comparison on both Trucks. Interior in the Volvo is much nicer.
Thanks. We thought so too. :) Thanks for following along. Safe Travels
Thank you for doing this video series. We’re researching HDT and the info is definitely going to help!
Hey Tod. Glad to hear that the series is helpful. I am also new to this but if you have any questions I am happy to offer my 2 cents :) Safe Travels
JonesN2Travel we are still in the planning stages and doing as much research as possible. We actually came out to Quartzite earlier this year and met Jim and Kelly. I wish we’d been able to chat with you all as well!
very very good info. this should help a lot of people out. well done.
Thanks Drew. Always here to help LOL :) Safe Travels my friend
Thanks for doing that video I am looking forward for your next one it has been a great help-Thanks Kevin 💙💙💙💙
Awesome Kevin. You are so welcome. Thanks for following along. Safe Travels
Hi Aaron, very interesting video. I'm already learning a lot. Looking forward to the rest of this video series.
Thank you. So glad to hear its helpful. More to come for sure :) Thanks foe checking it out. Safe Travels.
Great information about these trucks! Thanks for this video!
Hey Guys. Hope you are doing well. Thank you and thanks for following along on our crazy journey. Safer Travels :)
Great video. It brought back the excitement and fond memories of when I bought my Volvo.
Thanks Stan. It was definitely an interesting journey learning all about HDTs. Thanks for checking out the video. Safe Travels
Great video. Looking forward to the series. Hoping you discuss the hitch options and reasons for hitch placement.
Thank you for following along. I'll be sure to add that to one of the videos. Thank you for the suggestion. Safe Travels :)
I second the hitch, and soon! I'm thinking hubby isn't going to get a new one, but use the one off the white truck 🤔
Perfect, been looking for videos and info like this, THANK YOU.😄
You're very welcome. Thanks for following along and please let me know if you have any questions. Happy to help where I can. Safe Travels.
Thank you for this video on the Volvo but ya it sounded real quiet and I like the windows. I like the color too! I was wondering where would you take that kind of truck in for maintenance work? But it’s nice to use to pull your fifth wheel. That’s is so nice. Thank you again it was nice to see those kinds of trucks.
See you soon! Stay safe.
Sherri
Hi Sherri, we can take it to any Volvo truck dealer or any HDT dealer that has the tools to work on Volvos. :) Safe Travels
after spending 40 years driving a rig. i do not like the thought of retiring into one. pulse as just me. a super huge rv is not for me. so the pulling power is just not needed.
i have driven mostly fleet trucks. (i collect pay stubs not a independent), and found volvo's to be junk. one release my company bought they felt squirmy in the rear. a tire issue i think.
but if one was to buy such, do you need a class A permit? no med card i understand. (non commercial thing... right).
but if i were i would buy a pre-def for reliability. less $$ just to stay on the rd.
Our Volvo is registereds as a RV in South Dakota so not Class A, DOT or any other commercial requirements apply. Thanks for checking out the video. Safre Travels!
The freightliner will start in higher gear. Mine will start in 5 when bobtailing.
Surprised you didn’t test a KW or Pete. As a otr KW driver with 250000 mile, automatic with no problems. Driven all brands over 15 yrs and KW (Paccar) been best truck yet.
That's good to know. I had heard a lot of negativity around the Paccar so stayed away from them. :) Safe Travels
That is what I am going to do there is a peterbuilt dealership right here in west Memphis Arkansas that I am going to and just look at what they have and see if they are friendly enough for me to ask questions and take. Look inside and then there is a place down the road here that also has some that are sitting around and some are in good shape others look like they are for parts and see what they have and what they have to offer and just get so ideas it is going to be a few years down the road before I buy but at least I can get ideas and see what I want to do right now it are set up permanently on blocks and sewer hose is hard pipe and we just love living in our 5th wheel camper trailer full time just do not have the truck to pull it and I need something were a low budget person can get in to without breaking the bank and there is a lot of homework to do but if I can walk way with a HDT at 16,000.00 or 20,000.00 or less or even a project truck with a nice sleeper that will work and fix it up the way I want it I will be just as happy
Hi Brian. That is exactly how I started looking. Took me a year to get serious after I had looked at a couple handfuls of trucks. Truck Paper is where I ended up finding the dealer that had our truck. Hope that helps. Best of luck in your search. Safe Travels
I like your content
I’m a truck driver will probably do a lease purchase at end of career. Get truck, know exactly maintenance history and get truck at end of retirement
Great video, im looking to do the same thing, Im interested in seeing how you make it a personal vehicle from a commercial vehicle, and what does it cost to insure an HDT? Looking forward to your series.
Hi Cliff. Thanks for letting us know what you are interested in seeing in this series. We will definitely be covering all of these in up coming videos. Stay tuned :) Safe Travels
Did the FL have the Ultrashift II in it ? The driver can start out in several gears with the Ultrashift. It doesn't have to start in 1st.
Hey TechGuy, that's good to know. I am not sure which transmission it had in it to be honest. It doesn't really make sense to start out in 1st gear with a load this light. :) Thanks for the info. Safe Travels
@@JonesN2Travel I think the transmission controller can be programmed for a default start gear. And the operator can override the start gear with the buttons before starting out.
I hope to convince my wife to by a Volvo to tow our RV.
Hi Terry. Took me a while to convince Tina but now she loves travelling in the Volvo. Thanks for following along. Safe Travels
I am a retired over the road truck driver the Volvo is a better truck freightliner seems like they have more problems they have less comfort I drove 11 hours when I was working in a Volvo and I was not tired after 11 hours and I did that seven days a week but you buy a Volvo you get a better truck.
I drive a truck for a living and would consider a HDT setup when I decide to get a 5th wheel. BUT I still don’t understand why most of the videos I see everyone has big sleepers. Why have a big sleeper when you have a big 5th wheel. My most recent truck had a small sleeper so shorter wheelbase to start before the custom bed.
Hi Martin. You raise a very good point and you're right, shorter wheelbase would allow you do more as far as extending, etc. The reason we wanted the 780 with the sleeper is so we can use it for multi purposes. Its registered as a RV in South Dakota so we can take it out alone for shorter trips. Not sure we ever will but we have that option. Thanks for following along. We appreciate it. Safe Travels
I've been doing big sleeper since 1980 hell I was going out in Alabama I just want to leave sleep for a long time I just got used to him plus with the fifth wheel that gives me three bedrooms instead of two that's perfect I guess not really need it it's really a pain when it comes to campers
11:30 "can I test drive one of these without a CDL?" 😨😨😨 😠😠😠
Ummm.... I'm already hating this salesman, cuz (as far as I know) you DO NOT need a CDL to tow or drive a large vehicle like a a 5th wheel behind a regular pick up truck or a semi unless your an independent opperator or working for a company, but if the GVWR in certain states (like Idaho) is over I believe 26,000lbs then you'll need a class A licence.
So NO NO NO you DON'T need a CDL to take that truck for a test drive cuz even without a trailer & added weight on the ass end, if your just Bob tailing, Most all semi trucks DO NOT weigh more than 26,000lbs by themselves, & can be driven with just a standard class D license.
What he probably was REALLY saying NO to you about the driving part was likely more about the lack of insurance that the dealership probably has on all their vehicles for customers to take an uninsured vehicle for a test drive on the public roads, cuz that's a BIG liability to their company.
If knowledge is power I hope I've helped someone become an informed buyer. 👍👍
Happy trails everyone.
Thanks for that commentary. You are exactly right, it was a liability issue for the dealership. I didn't push it simply because I knew I was having the truck tested so driving it really wasn't that big of an issue. :) Safe Travels
The freight Liner sounded quite to me
It was actually pretty quite just didn't feel as comfortable as the Volvo. :) Thanks for checking out the video. Safe Travels
Always wondered how Volvo made that flasher sound like a woodpecker under the dash. You tired of that yet?
Hi James. It does get annoying at those long lights LOL I always wonder why it has to be so loud. :) Thanks for checking out the video. Safe Travels
I’m just wondering if there’s a way to change the pinbox so that I don’t have to do away with the commercial fifth wheel hitch.
Hey there. Thanks for checking out the video and for following along. The short answer is "Not that I'm aware of". I've heard guys say that they towed a fifth wheel with their commercial hitch for years without any issues but I wouldn't. Just too much risk for me. I've never seen a solution to adapt a fifth wheel camper to a commercial hitch but that doesn't mean there isn't one out there. Safe Travels
I have a big 5er and a worn out Superduty. I was thinking of buying a new Superduty. What exactly didn't you like about your Superduty when pulling your trailer ?
What sort of fuel economy are you getting ?
To be honest, I loved our super duty but after meeting and talking with a few HDTers I realized that my super duty just wasn't going to last in the long run pulling this heavy trailer and the cost of these trucks just keeps increasing. The truck pulled it fine but when I weighed the cost of replacing the ford the HDT was a no brainer and I will never wear this one out. I paid less than half for the HDT than I did for the dually 3 years ago. Safety is the biggest factor for us. I could definitely feel this trailer "wagging" our dually just a bit and when it came to stopping I couldn't have stopped as fast as I can with the HDT. Hope that helps. :) Safe Travels
DO NOT think that jumping into a Semi is easy.
I don't care how many years you've driven a Class A or pulled a 5th Wheel, is NOT THE SAME.
Thanks for your concern. Safe Travels
How do you go about test driving the trucks without a CDL?
Unfortunately I was unable to drive because I don't have a CDL. I rode along and then let the inspections clarify any issues I felt or heard while riding. Hope that helps. Safe Travels
Great video. Been looking for this to see the process. I've emailed a few inquires through truckpaper site, but have yet to get a response. I'm assuming the dealer delivered the truck to the place you had the bed done. Also, a video on the registration process would ve helpful. I live in FL and it is not easy and almost impossible to register an HDT as an rv and get insurance. Thank you again.
Hi John. Thanks for checking out the video. I sen t out over 20 offers to dealerships nationwide and Tim at Mountain West Truck Center is the only one that responded at all. Maybe he has something for you there :) We will be doing an in depth registration video in this series as well so stay tuned for that. When we finalized our truck deal we were in Idaho at the West Coast HDT Rally, video here: ua-cam.com/video/rZdu4S_AKts/v-deo.html , so by the time we got back to Salt Lake to pick it up we already had the title sent to South Dakota and I had purchased the "Private RV Not For Hire" stickers for it. I went ahead and drove it to the fabricators shop. Hope that helps. Thanks again for following along. Safe Travels
I have just stumbled on your channel, I have a question? Where do you or can park that beast ? RV park etc
How much is your insurance and license plates
We are registered in South Dakota so the plates are around $200 a year and the insurance, registered and insured as a RV, is about $800 a year. Hope that helps. Safe Travels
It's nothing like driving a car....
Thanks for checking out the video and for following along. Safe Travels
Do you have to fallow the commercial HOS rules ?
No DOT requirements when registered as a motorhome or private truck. Thanks for checking out the video and for following along. Safe Travels
Never do the Volvo motor get the Detroit DD15
Thanks for checking out the video and for following along. Safe Travels
I wish we had Volvo bonnet trucks here in Australia , I drive a 540 cab over doing interstate work and I find them fuel efficient and very comfortable to drive
I have a 450 4x4 super duty diesel truck looking for a rv hauler box for my truck
Do you have to have a CDL to to drive this truck to Driver this truck seb
No. The truck is registered as a motorhome so it is not commercial. Safe Travels
Great video and information Aaron. Looking forward to the next one!
Thanks Guys. :) Safe Travels
In round figures. what is your estimate of the cost of a brand new truck (right off the dealership floor)?
I am not sure what the new trucks cost with varying options etc. but I think they are around $170k new. You could contact Tim Smith at Mountain West Truck Center in West Valley City, Utah and he could tell you what a new Volvo costs nowadays. Hope that helps. Thanks for checking out the video. Safe Travels
how come your interest in a bunk truck vs a day cab, in my mind, since you'll be pulling your trailer I don't see the need for a bunk
Hi Stan. In order to register the truck as an RV and to be able to use it as an RV independent from the trailer it has to have certain amenities. Thanks for checking out the video. Safe Travels
Is the Mrs going to be driving it at all?
I will convince her eventually to at least try it. I think she would enjoy it because its so easy to drive. :) Safe Travels
Thank you for your video. Do you pay cash or finance the hdt?
Hey there. Thanks for checking out the video and for following along. We did pay cash for the HDT. Honestly, I couldn't find anyone that would finance it :( Safe Travels
Doesn't hurt you have some knowledge.
What about insurance for your rv hauler
We have the Volvo insured with Progressive through Miller's Insurance out of Lake Oswego, OR. The Volvo is registered as a private RV so we have a fulltimer RV policy on it.
Can you use a day cab to pull a fifth wheel camper
find a volvo with a cummins there are out get work done anywhere
That would be sweet too. :) Safe Travels
After watching the first video I can see why would you not buy an HDT
Exactly the conclusion we came to. :) Thanks for following along. Safe Travels Don :)
Are there license requirements for using a HDT to pull a 5th wheel for recreational?
We are registered in South Dakota as an RV so no license requirements for us. You would have to check with your state. Thanks for checking out the video. Safe Travels
What’s a C D O.
I probably meant CDL (Commercial Driver License) Thanks for checking out the video. Safe Travels
You know i cant fault someone that buys a HDT to pull a RV but it really bothers me knowing that anyone can buy a Big Truck that has never driven a big truck and can buy one and pull a Rv that when hooked up can be just as long as a Truck and Trailer and not have any training and can buy one and just go about it when i had to go through a bunch of shit to get a Class A CDL to be able to pull a trailer that has freight on it. Sorry if this puts anyone ass out of joint but i feel that anyone buying a HDT should have to go through the same training and get a CDL to drive something like this the same way i did, actually im not sorry everyone that drives a HDT to pull a RV should have to get a full CDL to drive a combination like this
You make a good point. Thanks for watching. Safe Travels and thank you for delivering the goods for all of us. 😁
@@JonesN2Travel Right now i cant resopnd because i have had way more thean i should have had adualt bevages. but hopefully i can in the morning. Good night everyone
@@nertz4579 Good night :)
@@JonesN2Travel UGGH. Sorry im on some time off and i might have taken advantage of it a little to much 🥴. Not going to get that messed up again for awhile.
I have a video of my tractor turning over to 1,000,000 miles. They last forever.
Awesome. Doubt I'll ever get even close to that kind of mileage. Glad to hear they are workhorses though :) Safe Travels
Sally never lets me shop by myself... she knows I cant be trusted
Tina wouldn't have either but I asked for forgiveness later adn somehow got away with it LOL Safe Travels
@@JonesN2Travel ah.. I have applied some of that logic in the Marines as well.. doesn’t work with Sally tho.. that British state can burn your soul :-)