MACK nuff said.:thumbsup:

 

If you have a box full of special MACK tools to maintain them!

 

As a company driver, I love my Volvo. It's comfy and turns real tight in small places. It also has good body integrity (no rattles). Freightliner has more room but will be noisy and rattly in short order. If I were to buy another truck, it would most likely be a KW however. They have good quality and manage to stay together better than most.

 

I would agree that comfort is in the top things to look for, But if it isn't balanced by a high degree of reliability and the ease of doing simple things like climbing up (even during a snow storm) to thoroughly clean the windshield, changing out a fuel filter without having make it a major project, giving it a grease job without having to put it in a shop bay, etc, then comfort doesn't mean much. And if it isn't spec'd right to get the biggest bang for the buck out of my fuel expenditures, while still being able to get the job done effeciently, then the neatest, quietest, fanciest ride can only go so far to my satisfaction. What good is the best ride on the planet if you have to pay shop rates for doing just about everything because it is a real PITA to do it yourself, and parts are downright criminally priced, and it gets only 5 mpg. There has to be a balance. There is no perfect truck make or model. It all depends on how well the package is balanced out in all areas for the work you are trying to do. You don't really see a lot of Volvo's doing grain, rock, or livestock hauling. On the reverse, you see a lot of fleets running the big roads using them. But then, most drivers with these outfits are only concerned with ride and don't actually have to change a filter or lube the truck and could care less if Volvo doesn't have a great reputation for service (but to be fair.... Volvo service has improved a little recently). But this is the maintenance section on the forum, and I would guess that most here are, or are considering being, truck owners. Some here may want to reconsider that move if you are still thinking like a recent truck school graduate regarding what is the "best" truck.... i.e. biggest, baddest engine, only worried about creature comforts, etc. These things are worthy of consideration, but they are only parts of the equation.

 

Interesting take on things. Are the Volvo's really that much of a PITA to perform basic maintenance on? Guess I need to run by a Volvo shop and talk to a MECHANIC and see what the deal is. You are probably correct in the assumption that most company drivers and recent school graduates (lump me in with the graduates category) don't really see past "creature comforts". As a wrench also, I WOULD plan on doing most of my own PM's and repairs on ANY truck I purchase. The first thing I usually buy AFTER I purchase a vehicle (ANY VEHICLE), is the SERVICE MANUAL. Things like ease of filter changes, location/accessibility of grease fitting, etc., should be of concern to an O/O.

Then again, lots of other folks just see a HUGE CHROME TEXAS BUMPER and they're sold. My concerns are RELIABILITY (hence a Cummins vs Volvo motor), ride and comfort - as someone who's about to make a commitment to move into a truck as a full time home (for at least a year or two). I still submit that, short of a custom ($$) sleeper - the Volvo 780/800 with the 80" Workstation/Condo is still the roomiest, most comfortable interior going - and that measures as a LARGE CONSIDERATION in where my future truck $$'s might go...

Rick

 

Here is a sample of Volvo engineering... the u-joint on the steering column. It is a non-lube joint that when it finally takes a dump, then the entire column must be replaced. Same if a windshield wiper power arm breaks... gotta replace the entire assembly for both arms. It's a lot tighter area to work in than a lot of other aero trucks. The Prostar takes driver friendliness to a higher level... when you open the hood, the front end can be pulled forward so that you can step right into the area between the tire and the engine. There has also been issues with how Volvo does the differential axle breathers. They run tubing up and away from the differential to along the frame instead of breather caps on the axles. This tubing is notorious for clogging and cause wheel seals to fail. With the air ride front axle, there has been more than should be issues with keeping them properly aligned. Not my experience but got that from an alignment specialist who also teaches at a local tech school. And Volvo has just about the worst reputation for getting the truck worked on by them and the dealerships having a well stocked parts dept. Of course, there may be that excellent dealer, but the averages tell a different story. Some of the other tasks like lubing and oil changes are not much different with a Volvo than anyone other brand, I thought it was a little more difficult to crawl around under, but that's just me. But there are a lot of these little quirks that make it a PITA to work on overall. When everything is working ok, not an issue. But sooner or later, they are going to rise up and really snap you in the back end and the wallet. Either way, there were not a lot of happy campers in the maintenance shop of my last, and present carriers. The last carrier had all Cummins in theirs so didn't hear much about that, but my present carrier got some Volvos with the Volvo engine and, if you want an ear full, then stop on by and ask them how they liked that engine. Suffice to say.... neither carrier ever bought any more Volvos. I suppose with a lot of TLC and dilligent attention to every detail, that an owner might have a good experience with a Volvo. These were all fleet trucks driven by company drivers, so maybe some of the issues could be attributed to that.

But, they are a comfortable, quiet ride.

 

I've had good luck with my Volvo. It is not front axle air ride, the u-joint in the steering column is still tight, and the wiper blades are all tight. My dad did have to replace the whole assembly though.

There are a few small things that make working on it a little tougher. My truck has a moose bumper so it swings away when I'm working on the engine. There are also different versions of the front bumper, some are longer and some are shorter. The shorter ones are easy to sneak in between the bumper and tire.

The air dryer is located in the frame rails by the transmission. A little tough to work on. Not as nice/easy to do as say a pete 379 where it's right by the steps on the outside of the frame rails. I don't have vent tubes, but caps. They've never failed me, I check them regularly.

The issues I've had are the clutch cross shaft, due to lack of greasing by the previous owner. It does not engage the clutch brake hard enough. It has been jimmy rigged however. Another issue is the cab shocks. What a PITA to change! Especially with my headache rack. I'll be doing it next week. Not fun. The only wiring issues I've had are the rear ABS wires. That is pretty normal IMO. Most trucks seem to have problems.

The electrical connectors all over the truck are pretty top notch, with high end rubber seals. Just put a little dielectric grease in there and you'll NEVER have a problem. Nothing can get in whatsoever.

It is rusting along the bottom on the passenger side of the sleeper. I'll have to get that sprayed before winter.

But it's funny at my company, the #1 and #2 trucks for fuel mileage are both Volvo's. My truck, and my old mans truck.

I've had good service(although I do 95% of the work myself) at the local Volvo dealership. Whenever I send it in for something, they usually put their best tech on it and he talks to me after, and makes suggestions. It's all about developing a relationship. The night parts guy gives me great prices. I buy a lot of stuff because I really believe in preventive maintenance. I just did the air compressor although it is not giving me outward signs of failure. It has well over a million miles on it.

Also most dealerships I've talked to will overnight any part they don't stock for free. They do carry a lot of parts. The warehouse at my local Volvo dealership is bigger then most truck dealerships!

 

What year model and how many miles Allan?

 

I think it's just under 1.7 million KM's. Over a million miles. It's a 1999 770, Volvo engine and Eaton 13 speed.

 

How's steering on your 9900ix? Does your dashboard fall apart? On my 9400 the dashboard is very poorly made. The spots where the screws go in are all broken ... I checked the new 9900 trucks and they have the same dashboard as my 9400. The only truck they finally redesigned the dashboard for was the ProStar, I think...