Quote:
Originally Posted by SickRick
Figured you got stuck idling somewhere, waiting for something. That was the cool thing about my bus - the generator (that ran the roof A/C's) ran off the main diesel tank, but the "tap" from the tank was mounted on the side - so you couldn't run the tank dry. I would hope that APU installs in rigs are done similarly.
I hear ya about the heat. I was sitting, shooting the breeze with an O/O in his OLD KW. He's been waiting 3 days on a load - and he AIN'T IDLING. Suffice to say it was hot as monkeys nuts in his cab - and I only hung and sweated for about 10 minutes before I bailed outta there.
Giving up that VN780 eh? Don't care what folks say, the 780/880 interiors on the 77/80" condos on the Volvo's ARE the next best thing to an ICT or ARI BIG custom sleeper. The way they're laid out for storage space, etc. (and the workstation/dinette) makes me DROOL every time I see one (I'm already trying "finagle with a driver/trainer for US Express to get me on after I finish school - all their OTR fleet is 780's with condo's).
Took a tour of a Fedex O/O's 132" ICT last week. Lemme tell ya - if you got the $$'s and can deal with a 320" wheelbase - there's no reason to EVER GO HOME...
Rick
As much as I would love to have one of those 132"+ sleepers, it is useless unless you run a trailer 48' or less in length. I had some doozies with this 780 pulling a 53', let alone doing it with something that has a 320" wheelbase! But I also did specialty freight too which required me to go to some F'd up places.
The main things the most I will miss about this truck is one, the factory installed inverter, and consequently the microwave
, two, the built in fridge (which is very large and has a good sized freezer), the amazing sound system in this truck which includes a factory installed amp and sub, as well as the workstation, even though I don't use the workstation all that much, it is nice espially when you have company visiting in your truck (And no I don't mean commercial company, the workstation would be in the way then!)! Plus you can't beat the all air ride suspension, amazing turning radius, modern interior design, bah I will miss this truck.
Once I get into this freightshaker I will have to put some dough into putting a good sized inverter in it, adding my own sound system, getting a microwave, and a fridge, and then having to find a way to cram it all into the much smaller truck with very crappily laid out storage
.
Amp and sub could fit snuggly under the bunk, depending on the configuration of the Columbia which is what it is, some have the lift bunks, others have the hollow opening like the volvos. Microwave can go in the TV spot, though that is where I keep my printer and scanner now, so I would have to find somewhere for it... then depending on the storage config of the columbia, probably get a colemann and stick it in the fridge bay if it has one, if not (a closet) then I will turn it into a fridge bay
.
Man I wish I hadn't sold all of my crap when I left swift, I had $5,000 worth of stuff in that truck! Couple grand tied up into sound system alone. Hell in retrospect I could of just saved that money and bought a frickin truck the prices they are now.
Ok I got too much time on my hands, I could just sit here and write a book right about now...