Anybody consider a semi for a tow vehicle?

wirenutz wrote:
fixed it just for you 2oldman, lol

It still doesn't work. "Content unavailable"

You just made the same link clickable.

wirenutz wrote:
fixed it just for you 2oldman, lol

Didn't fix it well enough. :) Nothing at the link.

These are Class 8 trucks with a GVWR of 33,000 lbs. or more. I can no more see using one of these to tow a 13,000 lb. 5th wheel travel trailer load than using a 1-ton DRW truck to tow a 300 lb. kayak trailer.

More than 80% of the people I see pulling 5th-wheel trailers are doing so with a SRW truck. A 3/4 ton pickup is all that is needed even for the 13,500 lb. gross vehicle weight trailer, and very few 5th wheel travel trailers exceed even 11,000 lb.s gross vehicle weight.

My 2500HD pickup ton truck is rated for towing a 5th wheel trailer load of up to 17,300 lbs., so why would I go buy a Freightliner M2? I don't know about what you can get for $10,000 but a used M2 106 in good condition sells for a great deal more. Current ones listed on www.truckpaper.com are priced at $80K for a 2007.

Every aspect of operating and maintaining the truck is going to be three times as expensive as a pickup and forget about parking it anywhere except on the street (where laws allow). I could not see one of these trucks pulling a 5th wheel getting into 99% of the state and national campgrounds. OK is you like to stay at highway rest areas and at truck stops.

You should ask yourself if these trucks are such a good solution why is that nobody is using them for this purpose? Look again when you see one of these trucks towing a 5th wheel and you will notice that it is pulling a large horse trailer or commercial trailer or multi vehicle trailer and not a travel trailer.

fixed it just for you 2oldman, lol

Saw this on one of our adventures.. Never did see the golf cart on the ground, or the semi leave, but the old guy that was always out front seemed content! :)

Mitch

link doesn't work.

here ya go take a look at this KW four door for $47K, https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10204091414318448&set=pcb.590038064435061&type=1&theater

Ivylog wrote:
Most class 8 are 10-13 speed manual tranny and overkill for even the biggest RV. Are you sure you want to be a gear jammer? Unfortunately most class 6 are usually less than 300 HP but more likely to have a Allison auto tranny or a 6-7 speed synchronized manual. Also, most have some type of body so no hitch. The Cat 3126 powered truck rarely make it to 500K without engine problems... read what's been done to this truck. The Cummins 8.3 is a much better engine but many trucks with a Cummins will be the 5.9 or newer 6.7. Extended cab or crew cab trucks are very rare, especially if it has 300+ and an Allison. I looked for over a year before I found a M2 crew cab with a 330 MB/Allison. I was not willing to spend this much money on one.

.

"Most class 8 are 10-13 speed manual tranny and overkill for even the biggest RV."

Mostly incorrect!!

Actually "Autoshift" (clutch for start & stop only) trannys have been around a long time.

Ditto for *Fully* automatic ("2-pedal") trannys such as Freedom Line and Ultra Shift..;)
Volvo (and other mfgrs) have come out with their own automatics. Volvo's is the "I shift" - and many fleets are moving to the automatics due to the fuel savings - yes, usually the tranny *IS* smarter than the driver!

Even newer used HDTs -with I-shift auto trannys- can be had for less than the cost of a new pickup....and *completely* refurbished trucks can be purchased for less than the (new) MDT in the quoted post (above) - from companies such as Greg Shields' RV Haulers.

Besides Volvo, fully automatic trannys can be found in the Pacar brands and Freightliner HDTs

Allison trannys are *not* found in HDTs (with the exception of fire apparatus, trash trucks, etc.) as they are *not* suited for lengthy OTR service.

"Gear Jammers":
"Row-your-own" Manual Transmissions are not a bad thing!..:S
No need to use all the gears - and "float shifting" (without using the clutch) is an easily learned skill.
Of course when you come to a full stop - you must "clutch".

Overkill:
Is a good thing!
An engine with a B-50 of 750K to 1 million miles, and designed to pull an 80K trailer - and still get the same mpg as an MDT is pretty nice!
A truck designed for OTR driver creature comfort (vs "around town" delivery service) is pretty nice too..:C

BTW - charts for B-50 ratings of various engines are no secret.

"Beat Up":
Most fleets (and independent operators) maintain their HDT's in excellent mechanical condition.
Governed speed is common for fleets, and driver abuse of equipment is not tolerated. (Down time for either - is money lost).

Many states do *not* offer registration of MDTs as non-commercial ("Private Truck").
Consequently, an MDT requires commercial plates (ex: CA) - which means you are paying for the load carrying capacity of the truck - along with lots of other (commercial) hoops to jump thru.
An HDT can be registered as a Motor Home - even in CA.
*No* special Driver's License required.

Suggest readers visit the Escapees HDT (and MDT) forums as posters have suggested.

The HDT Forum has an *outstanding* Resource Guide, which can be accessed via the Escapees forums - *-HERE-*

-or-

via the web at - HH RV Resource Guide

Be sure to click the "photo" section of the Guide to see lots of HDTs.

Lastly, there are several HDT owners who have *extensive* web sites with lots and lots of information.

Jack Mayer's is an excellent example - *-HERE-*

.

A lot of the new Volvo's have what is called "Autostick" where the clutch is air driven and computer controlled. So it has a brake and fuel pedal, just like any automatic transmission car or pickup.

They also have well over 1000 foot pounds of torque, so will be able to tow just about anything.

While you might get 1,000,000 miles out of one, I would not want to buy one with more than about 300,000 miles on it. Probably to much money needed to improve the steering, or other things that can wear out with that kind of mileage!

I really like the idea of air ride seats!

I am thinking of getting a larger toy hauler, and considering a regular cab long wheelbase cab and chassis truck, then install a 92" long sleeper cab from a larger truck. It will have enough room for the family, and the wheelchair lift. Behind the sleeper cab, I would have a regular flatbed or toolbox body, with a fifth wheel hitch in it, along with space for a Honda water cooled generator! Probably a fold down 3 passenger rear bed/couch and a pair of captains chairs in the back.

Rooftop A/C on the sleeper box will finish the items.

Fred.