Volvo 730 as RV Hauler
 

I have been kicking around the idea of building a HDT RV hauler. Currently, I'm leaning toward this 2008 Volvo 730. Price is right. Mileage is great (600k), and it has the I-Shift transmission.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7514/...45f0ab8d_b.jpg

I would definitely sling one of the axles off, but I'm leaning toward removing the forward axle and keeping the long wheelbase for transporting a smart car or other small off road vehicle (Polaris RZR).

I like the 730 because of the "work station" area in the back versus the double bunk setup of the 670's.

Does anyone here have any experience with the 730's?

You are going to do what I would like to do. That is even the truck I would like. I'm jealous!! It will be a while before I get to set up a truck. Have fun with it!

If i were gonna have one it would definitely be the 780 condo / workstation model...you can alway sleep on the upper bunk (or drop the table) and sleep at the workstation. I mean if your pulling a 5'er why do you need another bed (in the truck) !?!?

The 780 is nice, but I like the lower roof height of the 730. I won't be pulling a high cargo trailer. The height of the 730 should be enough to deflect wind over my 5th wheel.

i like the 730 too, i like the condo....gives passengers a place to sit if they get bored up front.

Same here. I have a 7 year old daughter and a 5 year old son. They would love having the table and being able to see each other going down the road. Well, OK, maybe not so much on being able to see each other, but much more comfortable than the current F450.

So, I have been looking all over the country to find a better deal than this truck, but it hasn't happened yet. So, I'm typing this from a hotel next to the dealer that has this truck. Tomorrow morning, I'll be driving this bad boy home to Alabama. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I make it home with no trouble from Johnny Law.

Dammit, I am really envious! Good luck on the ride home (just keep your paperwork in easy reach!) Have fun with your new ride!

Get the biggest one they make. That way a year after you get it you won't be rolling down the road going I wonder if I should have gotten the bigger one.

Did you get permits to drive that commercial vehicle home/stop at scales? Just curious cause I ran into problems driving my Freightliner from Washington state to Indiana when I had the conversion done.

Gordy, when you got yours, did you get a trip permit for each state or what?

i saw this the other day & thought it was interesting.

I was surprised to learn that the 730 was the most expensive, least produced and there for hardest to find (clean) & yet the 670 was the most plentiful & cheapest of the 3 (makes sense one they explained the numbers produced/in use.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFmtU7t9j8w

Lots of great info in that video! Thanks for posting it bushpilot!

i thought about posting it the other day when i watched it, but i kinda figured i was the only one getting an education about volvo's

I did not get permits. Three of the four scales I passed were closed. The one that was open didn't have anyone there to chase me down, so I got lucky.

Thanks for the video link. I'll watch it today.

No, I do think you educated a few more than you realize! I know I was one of them.

I'm saving for basically the same setup.
You can single short and still haul the smart car. It actually helps to take weight off of the front axle.

This build has evolved quite a bit since my last post here. I'm not in a huge hurry, so I'm taking my time to do it right.

https://www.followmybuild.com/Content...1a22d708-s.jpg
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More information at FollowMyBuild | Volvo 730 HDT RV Hauler.

I should have read this before hijacking the other post. sorry about that. So I see the self leveling valve and air bags, but are there a pair of lower links hiding there somewhere?

OK, so I'm really curious so I found your build thread on the hitch. very nice. So I may be crazy here, but it looks like you started with a triangulated 4 link, but not much angle on the triangulation so probably would still need a watts link or panhard bar to locate side to side. BUT, with the extensive bracing on your 4 link you have essentially created the most rigid two link known to man, and should not require a watts link. Or am I crazy?

What other other post?

As for your question about the rigid four-link and the need for a Watts link, that's a simple answer. Having the Watts link takes stress off of the arm assemblies and the link heims, prolonging the life of the heims and mechanically handling the force more accurately.

The assembly might work fine for a while without the Watts link, but there's no doubt it will work better with it.

So my high school geometry teacher would still be pleased, but there is certainly nothing wrong with over building. Great job on that hitch.

Here's the hitch in action, charged from the sliding hitch switch on the dash.

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8WnLRBZXNg[/video]

Beautiful !

That's Badazz!

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Here's a video from the weekend of the first test pull on the new hitch.

Check out the train tracks crossing at 2:20.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsCsvuDZ8zk

thats sexy ! love it ! I'm surprised how much from movement there is on each side (independent of the other)

That hitch sure soaks up a lot of abuse!
Perry cool to hear your tires whine too.

I watched it three times and I still can't believe how the trailer didn't bounce!! Damn that is a nice hitch!

My rig only has a TrailerSaver hitch on a medium duty, but nobody believes how much better an air hitch rides for the trailer. The bumps in the road are absorbed by the hitch instead of translating to porpoising in the trailer and tossing the contents around. Definitely a must have towing with a big truck.

I'd hate to guess how much $$ you have in that hitch, but it seems far superior to anything commercially available. Have you considered producing them to sell, or is that a one time labor of love?

Sorry missed your reply earlier. Just now seeing it.

Yes, the hitch was pretty pricey. Yes, I will be selling them. Still working out the details.