Hey all
I have been quiet around here for awhile, guess I have been busy.. RVing maybe.
On our return to MO from CA last month we decided that we wanted to look at a larger TV. The f350 just feels small in front of the KZ41RL loaded up for the 6-9 month stays.
We came across a nice looking 99 Volvo powered by the Detroit 60 series 365 hp 1250 lbs torque, 10sp gears, all air ride. Set up nice for towing RV.
My question to all of you that have made the step to the big truck for towing. Are you pleased with the move? What are the benefits? Drawbacks?
Benefits, easier towing of large trailers
Drawbacks, increased insurance costs,
Might want to nose around on one of the class 7/8 truck forums for a while. I recall reading recently that the Detroit diesel is not the motor of choice for working. Could be wrong on that.
avan,
thanx for the link, there is a lot of good info.
spent many hours today reading and waiting for pics to load.
we are spending the summer at the Lake of the Ozarks in MO and only have dial up here. Makes loading pictures painful.
Thanks again for the info
Allan
on the dial up. We FT and a few years ago that was all we could count on. Sure do like the air card! Anyway, another site you might want to poke around on is the MDT Club (SKPs) pages. I know your post was triggered by a Volvo that you see for sale, but a well powered MDT would also be a good alternative to your 350. It's big enough to "rule" the 5th and TV braking is good enough to stop the 5th quickly even if your 5ver brakes fail.
We considered the HDT but DW is disabled and the steps up and down would have been too much for her. As our TV is our only vehicle, she puts on 2 miles shopping for every 1 mile I drive. She was also concerned about her ability to handle the HDT. Personally, I don't think she'd have had a problem but...
Anyway, we got an IH low profile MDT with 2 steps to the cab. I have had an small foot step installed under the 1st step as an assist when needed. She finds our truck easier to get in and out of than a Honda or other small car. She finds it extremely easy to drive and can park that sucker in any shopping center parking space in the country if there's a 'sale.' She finds it entertaining to drive too. She continually comes back with a grin and tales of the guys who drop their chins on the ground when she and her cane or walker gets out regaling her with comments of "you drive that? or Can I look inside? or What kind of engine is in there?"
With its tight turning radius, it's easy to parallel park in downtown city locations and with it's lower cab height, it'll even get in many parking garages. Since the chassis and engine config is so common around the country - school buses, ambulances, beer and other delivery trucks etc., service and parts are easy to find anywhere.
Just food for thought. BTW, we've really enjoyed our stays in your fair state. More people ought to give it a try!
donn0128 wrote: Benefits, easier towing of large trailers Drawbacks, increased insurance costs,
Might want to nose around on one of the class 7/8 truck forums for a while. I recall reading recently that the Detroit diesel is not the motor of choice for working. Could be wrong on that.
Never heard that one before. My full coverage insurance for my 2001 Volvo VNL660 w/$500 deduct. runs $743 per year. That's about $500 per year less than my F350. Any of the motors are good, with the Cat being the biggest fuel user, and the Detroit getting the best mileage. My personal choice is the Cummins N14 or ISX.
`04 Ford F350 FX4 6.0, 5" Turbo back exhaust, DiabloSport Predator tuner, 4" susp. lift, 35" Pro Comps.
`05 Sierra Sport F37SP Toyhauler, flipped axles
`01 Volvo 660 HDT
`07 Yamaha Rhino 686
`04 Kawasaki KFX700
`04 Kawasaki KFX400
`07 Polaris 200
My question to all of you that have made the step to the big truck for towing. Are you pleased with the move? What are the benefits? Drawbacks?
Yes, I am pleased. I could talk all day about the advantages, but it will easier to talk about the disadvantages.
Cost, (if you buy new) and height of the truck.
No more driving thru the local Dairy Queen drive thru. Well, come to think, maybe that might be an advantage. Yes, it is a higher climb into an HDT and most MDT’s than pickups.
Anyway check out the Escapees Forum for more accurate MDT and HDT info.
As far as insurance is concerned my insurance bill for my brand new HDT with better coverage was less than half the cost of the insurance on my old 1-ton pickup.
Donn0128 you are correct about being wrong about Detroit Diesel.
2005 Freightliner M2 106 class 7 HDT 2004 Teton Sunrise Grand Jeep Wrangler toad ...PICTURES...
VERY happy with it! We get better mileage towing with our truck than we did with with our 2005 F350 CC dually lb 6.0 PS six speed.
AND, the big truck does everything soooo much easier than the little dually ever did, start, stop, cruise, mountain ups & downs.
Downside: gotta watch your height restrictions and low trees, there's the odd parking spot it's a little tougher to get into (our F350 dually was 26' long, this one is 28' long) but generally the extra walking is good for us! And, 'normal' folks tend to thing we're rich, just because we drive a big truck!! I met another 'older' couple the other day that were enthused about our truck, but HE thought we'd paid around around $200,000 for the truck!!! He was quite impressed when he found out it was less than a quarter of that. I gave them both a tour of the cab and they were even more impressed.
Overall, if your capabilities extend to driving one of these beauties, I'd say go for it. The safety factor alone makes it well worth it IMO.
2002 Volvo 770, Cummins ISX 450, 10 Speed Autoshift, 3:58
33' Alpenlite & 5 decades of happy RV'ing
"I tried a lot of different things in my life, before I found my true vocation: RETIREMENT!!
Thanks guys for all the replies.
We have learned a lot from the posts and the links to people and places in the know. Looks like this would be a good move for us pulling a heavy 5er. I believe the SO is interested in the truck, thinks she will like driving it, and will love the ability to stop much better then she can now.
If any of you are looking for a little stop and visit in the Lake of the Ozarks area looks us up, we keep the boat in the water and looking for an excuse to kick back and meet others on the forums.
Our few months home are like the vacation. Get caught up here then when the leaves beginning to change we head out for warmer places.
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on the dial up. We FT and a few years ago that was all we could count on. Sure do like the air card! Anyway, another site you might want to poke around on is the 
