Truck Conversion & Toterhome Community - View Single Post

onezman · 10-29-2002, 05:27 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by robertsonthego:
Thanks for the reply Larry. I was hoping to get others but that's ok. I am really stoked about this. But I don't have 35-40K laying around to pay cash so I will have to find some kind of financing. I travel a lot in my business, sometimes in my rig. We are selling the house and plan on full timing until we find a place we want to call home. If I go out of country the family will travel wherever they want, visit family, sight see, whatever. So I do believe that having a rig like this is important. I am also interested in the licensing as a motorhome. I haven't done any research on Washington state yet but plan to. I'm not sure how it will work if we are full timing, how do you show residency in a particular state if you don't have a permanent residence? I have been looking at trucks on the internet but it is very confusing. I think the Volvo is the truck for me, I can drive the ten speed, I'm sure the wife could learn, and I would want the highest gears possible ie 3.42 or something like that. Where do you get your trucks? I also believe that there is future in what you are doing as a business. But one also needs money to get started. Anyway I'm just rambling now. Thanks again. John<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

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John,

Every State has different regulations for registering a motorhome. Washington and Oregon are both easy states to register in. I have registered 5 Volvos in Oregon. Oregon requires: "sleeping and cooking facilities" (bed and microwave). My conversions, almost all without modification beyond what I did, have been registered as motorhomes by heir respective buyers in Washington, California, Nevada, Oregon and Virginia.

I have sold two Volvo conversions within the past three weeks. One Volvo is going to Wisconsin, and one to Texas for registration. They are being picked up by the respective buyers on the 6th and 8th of next month.

I already bought another 98 Volvo 610 just like the on on the "igotyourrvhaulerrighther" URL found elsewhere on this forum. It is just off lease from the same company as the other two. I will have it converted and for sale within about 35 days.

Everyone has to be registered somewhere. Place of registration would be your choice. I think all and State can require is two IDs, a rent receipt, and any piece of mail sent to the same address on the rent receipt. You can register from an RV Park.

The rear axle ratio on an OTR tractor depends on whether the transmission is direct drive or overdrive. For example, a direct drive with say... a 400 HP engine would probable have a 3:90 or 4:10 ratio. That same engine with a .73 OD would have maybe a 2:79 or 2:93 ratio.

In general, you will only find 3:36, 3:42, or 3:55 axle ratios with OD transmissions when you buy a tractor with 500 or more HP. Then you are generally looking at 13, 14, 15, or 18 speed transmissions.

I currently have another 98 Volvo 610, N14 ESP+ 435 HP Cummins with 1550 Torque. It has the super 10 speed transmission with .74 OD. It has a 3:73 ratio. That's about the best ratio you can find for that HP and torque rating. With a 435 Cummins, clutch engagement torque is 900 foot pounds, torque rises to 1550 pounds at 1,100 RPMS, and maintains 1550 foot pounds of torque straight across to about 1600 RPMs before it begins to decline.

With 22.5 Lo Pros, you cruise 65 MPH at about 1,480 RPMs. Engine manufacturers build engines to operate at the optimum fuel mileage/power curve between 1450 to 1550 RPM.

I go anywhere in the US to buy Volvos that meet my qualifications. I have purchased Volvos in Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Denver, and other Cities. I am a cash buyer, yet quite a few dealers have declined to meet my requirements. If they won't, I walk away.

Something to avoid is any tractor that has been repoed. It takes about 7 months to legally process a repo. Meanwhile, the owner keeps running the tractor without making payments, and without servicing or caring for the tractor. Sometimes owners losing their tractors intentionally damage them.

Never buy a repo. Problem is, often you can't find out if a truck is a Repo or not, unless you know what you are doing.

onezman

[This message was edited by onezman on October 29, 2002 at 08:38 PM.]

[This message was edited by onezman on October 29, 2002 at 08:47 PM.]

10-29-2002, 05:27 PM	#4
onezman Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 193	<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by robertsonthego: Thanks for the reply Larry. I was hoping to get others but that's ok. I am really stoked about this. But I don't have 35-40K laying around to pay cash so I will have to find some kind of financing. I travel a lot in my business, sometimes in my rig. We are selling the house and plan on full timing until we find a place we want to call home. If I go out of country the family will travel wherever they want, visit family, sight see, whatever. So I do believe that having a rig like this is important. I am also interested in the licensing as a motorhome. I haven't done any research on Washington state yet but plan to. I'm not sure how it will work if we are full timing, how do you show residency in a particular state if you don't have a permanent residence? I have been looking at trucks on the internet but it is very confusing. I think the Volvo is the truck for me, I can drive the ten speed, I'm sure the wife could learn, and I would want the highest gears possible ie 3.42 or something like that. Where do you get your trucks? I also believe that there is future in what you are doing as a business. But one also needs money to get started. Anyway I'm just rambling now. Thanks again. John<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> --------------------------------------------- John, Every State has different regulations for registering a motorhome. Washington and Oregon are both easy states to register in. I have registered 5 Volvos in Oregon. Oregon requires: "sleeping and cooking facilities" (bed and microwave). My conversions, almost all without modification beyond what I did, have been registered as motorhomes by heir respective buyers in Washington, California, Nevada, Oregon and Virginia. I have sold two Volvo conversions within the past three weeks. One Volvo is going to Wisconsin, and one to Texas for registration. They are being picked up by the respective buyers on the 6th and 8th of next month. I already bought another 98 Volvo 610 just like the on on the "igotyourrvhaulerrighther" URL found elsewhere on this forum. It is just off lease from the same company as the other two. I will have it converted and for sale within about 35 days. Everyone has to be registered somewhere. Place of registration would be your choice. I think all and State can require is two IDs, a rent receipt, and any piece of mail sent to the same address on the rent receipt. You can register from an RV Park. The rear axle ratio on an OTR tractor depends on whether the transmission is direct drive or overdrive. For example, a direct drive with say... a 400 HP engine would probable have a 3:90 or 4:10 ratio. That same engine with a .73 OD would have maybe a 2:79 or 2:93 ratio. In general, you will only find 3:36, 3:42, or 3:55 axle ratios with OD transmissions when you buy a tractor with 500 or more HP. Then you are generally looking at 13, 14, 15, or 18 speed transmissions. I currently have another 98 Volvo 610, N14 ESP+ 435 HP Cummins with 1550 Torque. It has the super 10 speed transmission with .74 OD. It has a 3:73 ratio. That's about the best ratio you can find for that HP and torque rating. With a 435 Cummins, clutch engagement torque is 900 foot pounds, torque rises to 1550 pounds at 1,100 RPMS, and maintains 1550 foot pounds of torque straight across to about 1600 RPMs before it begins to decline. With 22.5 Lo Pros, you cruise 65 MPH at about 1,480 RPMs. Engine manufacturers build engines to operate at the optimum fuel mileage/power curve between 1450 to 1550 RPM. I go anywhere in the US to buy Volvos that meet my qualifications. I have purchased Volvos in Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Denver, and other Cities. I am a cash buyer, yet quite a few dealers have declined to meet my requirements. If they won't, I walk away. Something to avoid is any tractor that has been repoed. It takes about 7 months to legally process a repo. Meanwhile, the owner keeps running the tractor without making payments, and without servicing or caring for the tractor. Sometimes owners losing their tractors intentionally damage them. Never buy a repo. Problem is, often you can't find out if a truck is a Repo or not, unless you know what you are doing. onezman [This message was edited by onezman on October 29, 2002 at 08:38 PM.] [This message was edited by onezman on October 29, 2002 at 08:47 PM.]