Volvo Mack Cabs

[Rob]

the front vent shown on this Overnite F-model is the best vent they ever put on a truck in my opinion.

Did your feet get wet in a rainstorm if you forgot to close it? I've seen vents like that in trucks that shortly after charging into a downpour, the floor was sopping wet.

Rob

[other dog]

Did your feet get wet in a rainstorm if you forgot to close it? I've seen vents like that in trucks that shortly after charging into a downpour, the floor was sopping wet.

Rob

No,i'd always pull over and put my chest waders on.

[Rob]

No,i'd always pull over and put my chest waders on.

Preparation and foresight is the key to success some of us do not possess.

You are my new idol.

Rob

[other dog]

Preparation and foresight is the key to success some of us do not possess.

You are my new idol.

Rob

just learned from experience and trial and error.at first I would stop and run a piece of tarp from the front bumper up over the cab to keep the water from coming in,but that severely restricted my vision.it was only then that I hit upon the chest waders idea...another problem solved!

[RowdyRebel]

The AC in my '01 CH hasn't worked since I bought it...I just roll with the windows down. I have no plans to "fix" it, though, because I can't see spending money to fix something that I never even used when I was a company driver and had AC that worked. I DO wish I had an older door with the vent, though...drove one like that a few years ago and it was nice. I'd imagine I could replace the drivers side door with one off an older CH that had the vent....one of those "upgrades" I have planned for when I have money laying around that I don't need for anything else. I had inquired about the sliding rear window that is optional (but almost NEVER seen)...but for the $800 they want for it, I'll just keep the window I've got for now.

Drove for 2 days with no air ride cab last week...dang plastic valve broke. I got the old one still, so I'm gonna try to rig something that'll work for when the new one I just put on there breaks. There's an awful lot of force being placed on that piece of plastic in order to work the valve...doesn't make much sense to me to make it out of plastic like that.

I find myself wishing I had camelbacks much of the time...just about any time I turn off the paved road....but, air ride has it's use too...got a gauge in the dash w/ 2 needles...one shows the psi in the tractor air bags, the other the trailer air bags (got an air line running to a quick connect on the front of the trailer which is connected to the suspension). Comes in handy while loading...judging the weight you have on the drives & trailer when loading. I don't mind (I actually PREFER) trucks that ride like trucks. Heck, my '86 Ranger had 4000# of spring on the rear...load my 600# motorcycle plus tools and everything else I wanted to haul and the suspension would sag MAYBE an inch before the tires would start to show the weight. If I wanted it to ride like a car, I'd have bought a car.

...never driven a truck with 2 sticks ('cept my F250...but one is for the transfer case...but that don't really count), and I've never owned ANY vehicle with an automatic (although a company I worked for several years ago tried sticking me in an autoshift truck...that lasted only a couple months before I just couldn't take it anymore).

I usually try to avoid the interstates...seen one mile of 'em and you've seen 'em all. I prefer the 2-lane roads (although sometimes 4-lanes are nice...can get around that 40 mph sunday driver on a friday afternoon).

Maybe I was born 50 years later than I should have been...would have loved to have lived back when trucks were trucks (and affordable to the people who needed 'em). Now, they build trucks that ride like Cadillacs...with prices to match. A guy who NEEDS a truck now can't afford one, and even if he COULD, he'd have to look long and hard to find one actually built like a truck that could do the job he needs it to do. Semi's ain't much better, although it is amusing whenever I see a highway truck trying to make it in a work environment....as long as they ain't holding me up any. If they're in my way, it's no longer amusing.

[other dog]

The AC in my '01 CH hasn't worked since I bought it...I just roll with the windows down. I have no plans to "fix" it, though, because I can't see spending money to fix something that I never even used when I was a company driver and had AC that worked. I DO wish I had an older door with the vent, though...drove one like that a few years ago and it was nice. I'd imagine I could replace the drivers side door with one off an older CH that had the vent....one of those "upgrades" I have planned for when I have money laying around that I don't need for anything else. I had inquired about the sliding rear window that is optional (but almost NEVER seen)...but for the $800 they want for it, I'll just keep the window I've got for now.

Drove for 2 days with no air ride cab last week...dang plastic valve broke. I got the old one still, so I'm gonna try to rig something that'll work for when the new one I just put on there breaks. There's an awful lot of force being placed on that piece of plastic in order to work the valve...doesn't make much sense to me to make it out of plastic like that.

I find myself wishing I had camelbacks much of the time...just about any time I turn off the paved road....but, air ride has it's use too...got a gauge in the dash w/ 2 needles...one shows the psi in the tractor air bags, the other the trailer air bags (got an air line running to a quick connect on the front of the trailer which is connected to the suspension). Comes in handy while loading...judging the weight you have on the drives & trailer when loading. I don't mind (I actually PREFER) trucks that ride like trucks. Heck, my '86 Ranger had 4000# of spring on the rear...load my 600# motorcycle plus tools and everything else I wanted to haul and the suspension would sag MAYBE an inch before the tires would start to show the weight. If I wanted it to ride like a car, I'd have bought a car.

...never driven a truck with 2 sticks ('cept my F250...but one is for the transfer case...but that don't really count), and I've never owned ANY vehicle with an automatic (although a company I worked for several years ago tried sticking me in an autoshift truck...that lasted only a couple months before I just couldn't take it anymore).

I usually try to avoid the interstates...seen one mile of 'em and you've seen 'em all. I prefer the 2-lane roads (although sometimes 4-lanes are nice...can get around that 40 mph sunday driver on a friday afternoon).

Maybe I was born 50 years later than I should have been...would have loved to have lived back when trucks were trucks (and affordable to the people who needed 'em). Now, they build trucks that ride like Cadillacs...with prices to match. A guy who NEEDS a truck now can't afford one, and even if he COULD, he'd have to look long and hard to find one actually built like a truck that could do the job he needs it to do. Semi's ain't much better, although it is amusing whenever I see a highway truck trying to make it in a work environment....as long as they ain't holding me up any. If they're in my way, it's no longer amusing.

I agree-a truck is supposed to "ride like a truck".

[jzack]

I also agree with you on the plastic leveler valve parts. Seems to me that parts on a truck that are moving all day long should be made out of metal and not plastic. I usually replace mine with stainless steel heim-joints found at the local hardware store.

I for one though couldn't drive w/o AC. I have mine running from May through September! My older CH does have the vent in the door which I do use from time to time. Keeps the feet and legs nice and cool.

[RowdyRebel]

I for one though couldn't drive w/o AC. I have mine running from May through September! My older CH does have the vent in the door which I do use from time to time. Keeps the feet and legs nice and cool.

NEED AC? In MN? <img src="http://zrxoa.org/forums/images/smilies/loco.gif"> It gets up to what...65 or 70 degrees in the summer?

'Round here, we usually see 90+ for much of the summer...with a handful or two of days over 100. Keep in mind that's all at +90% humidity, too. This summer wasn't too bad...didn't even turn the AC on in the house. Only ran it 1 day last year...and even then, I think I had it set at around 95 degrees....just enough to pull a bit of the humidity out of the air in the house.

[jonesie29]

Just reading through some of your comments on here about your thoughts on diferent aspects of the volvo vs Mack issue,I noted in particular the story about the guy who came into someones workshop and took a look at an older truck with twin stick transmission and no ac etc and dissapearing out of the door thinking he'd just had a bad dream, and another about Mack using volvo cabs, these comments rang a bell with me because I use volvos in work and they along with the other european truck builders have obviously been trying to build trucks that any idiot can drive e.g electronic transmission, e.b.s, a.b.s, sat nav, constant satelite monitoring because they don't trust the driver to obey speed limits or tell the controler where they are when asked on the cell phone,digital tachographs that don't let you blink or breathe without recording it and boy do the law enforcers love that one, they are making a fortune out of it, a fine for this a fine for that, fines for absoloutly anything and everything and not just a few pounds either but serious money. the transport industry here seems to not want the long service professional guy any more, they seem to want short service disposable drivers to go with their short life disposable trucks, speaking for myself I no longer feel the sense of belonging to a profession wich had it's own strong culture that had developed over many years, and with long experience and a good work record a driver would gain respect in the industry, the don't want that any more because they think that it costs too much, they can get two cheap guys that won't be with them long enough to need a pension to drive the new ugly plastic electronic volvo's that all but drive themselves for the price of one good experienced truck driver that gets his or her professional satisfaction from driving more conventional trucks and doing a good job,and knowing that not everyone could do or would want to do his job, and is happy to put up with more basic comforts and not rely on electronics and technology to drive his truck for him thinking it knows better.The more I think of it the more i'm convinced that this Mack - volvo situation kind of says it all really, where Mack represents all that was strong,good and impresive about the trucking industry and culture volvo and some others represent the rot that has set in to it over recent years, I've been a lorry driver 24 years, I won't be doing 25, I wish Mack all the best of course but times are changing

[other dog]

Just reading through some of your comments on here about your thoughts on diferent aspects of the volvo vs Mack issue,I noted in particular the story about the guy who came into someones workshop and took a look at an older truck with twin stick transmission and no ac etc and dissapearing out of the door thinking he'd just had a bad dream, and another about Mack using volvo cabs, these comments rang a bell with me because I use volvos in work and they along with the other european truck builders have obviously been trying to build trucks that any idiot can drive e.g electronic transmission, e.b.s, a.b.s, sat nav, constant satelite monitoring because they don't trust the driver to obey speed limits or tell the controler where they are when asked on the cell phone,digital tachographs that don't let you blink or breathe without recording it and boy do the law enforcers love that one, they are making a fortune out of it, a fine for this a fine for that, fines for absoloutly anything and everything and not just a few pounds either but serious money. the transport industry here seems to not want the long service professional guy any more, they seem to want short service disposable drivers to go with their short life disposable trucks, speaking for myself I no longer feel the sense of belonging to a profession wich had it's own strong culture that had developed over many years, and with long experience and a good work record a driver would gain respect in the industry, the don't want that any more because they think that it costs too much, they can get two cheap guys that won't be with them long enough to need a pension to drive the new ugly plastic electronic volvo's that all but drive themselves for the price of one good experienced truck driver that gets his or her professional satisfaction from driving more conventional trucks and doing a good job,and knowing that not everyone could do or would want to do his job, and is happy to put up with more basic comforts and not rely on electronics and technology to drive his truck for him thinking it knows better.The more I think of it the more i'm convinced that this Mack - volvo situation kind of says it all really, where Mack represents all that was strong,good and impresive about the trucking industry and culture volvo and some others represent the rot that has set in to it over recent years, I've been a lorry driver 24 years, I won't be doing 25, I wish Mack all the best of course but times are changing

you hit the nail on the head there! Truck drivers get dumped on by pretty much everybody and it's the same everywhere evidently.

[other dog]

NEED AC? In MN? <img src="http://zrxoa.org/forums/images/smilies/loco.gif"> It gets up to what...65 or 70 degrees in the summer?

'Round here, we usually see 90+ for much of the summer...with a handful or two of days over 100. Keep in mind that's all at +90% humidity, too. This summer wasn't too bad...didn't even turn the AC on in the house. Only ran it 1 day last year...and even then, I think I had it set at around 95 degrees....just enough to pull a bit of the humidity out of the air in the house.

I'm kind of the same way-I can deal with cold but not the heat. Not like I used to anyway.I'll be soaking wet with sweat just tarping a load in summer. I told Jeff before "if the AC quits,the motor might as well be blowed up,'cause I cain't drive it!". And i've spent many a day in the hay field in 90+ weather when I was younger...guess i've gotten old and soft.

[RowdyRebel]

I'm kind of the same way-I can deal with cold but not the heat. Not like I used to anyway.I'll be soaking wet with sweat just tarping a load in summer. I told Jeff before "if the AC quits,the motor might as well be blowed up,'cause I cain't drive it!". And i've spent many a day in the hay field in 90+ weather when I was younger...guess i've gotten old and soft.

I'm the other way...I can deal with heat in the summer, but don't care much for the cold weather in the winter (unless it's snowing...then the cold is OK). I don't turn on the AC in the house until I'm sitting on the couch under the ceiling fan trying to watch the evening news and still sweating. Then I walk over to the thermostat on the wall, see where the temp is, and set the AC for 5 degrees below the inside temp of the house. That lets the AC run enough to pull the humidity out of the air without making the house considerably colder than the outside temps. I HATE the feeling of stepping into a walk-in freezer when I get home...and once you are used to the inside temps, I hate that "just opened the oven door" feeling when you step back outside. I'd rather keep the two temps fairly close. I don't mind working up a sweat if I'm out working...I just don't like sweating if I'm sitting around trying to relax.

I could understand a person's "need" for AC in a Southern state....where the temps (& humidity levels) can and do get up into the "uncomfortable" range and stay there for long periods of time (June through September). In any state bordering Canada, I find it hard to believe AC would be that necessary. I mean heck...you might see a truly HOT day once or twice a year...then it dips back down to comfortable temps. What temp do you set your AC at when the outside temps rarely get above the mid 70's?

[ThaddeusW]

I'm the other way...I can deal with heat in the summer, but don't care much for the cold weather in the winter (unless it's snowing...then the cold is OK). I don't turn on the AC in the house until I'm sitting on the couch under the ceiling fan trying to watch the evening news and still sweating. Then I walk over to the thermostat on the wall, see where the temp is, and set the AC for 5 degrees below the inside temp of the house. That lets the AC run enough to pull the humidity out of the air without making the house considerably colder than the outside temps. I HATE the feeling of stepping into a walk-in freezer when I get home...and once you are used to the inside temps, I hate that "just opened the oven door" feeling when you step back outside. I'd rather keep the two temps fairly close. I don't mind working up a sweat if I'm out working...I just don't like sweating if I'm sitting around trying to relax.

I could understand a person's "need" for AC in a Southern state....where the temps (& humidity levels) can and do get up into the "uncomfortable" range and stay there for long periods of time (June through September). In any state bordering Canada, I find it hard to believe AC would be that necessary. I mean heck...you might see a truly HOT day once or twice a year...then it dips back down to comfortable temps. What temp do you set your AC at when the outside temps rarely get above the mid 70's?

I cant stand either heat or humidity. I wish there were a place with a constant 60-70 degree temperature. The need for AC depends on the house. If you have a simple flat roof with no crawl space, the rooms under the roof will be boiling, even when silver coated. I use the AC in my room only, I have a TV and computer there so no need to lounge in the living room. During the winter I keep the thermostat set at 60 as the steam heat winds up making the second floor hotter than the first floor.

As for a truck with no AC if you dress for the weather you will be fine. Our ride truck has no AC and I wear shorts, tee shirt and sandals with no socks. The sandals really make a difference vs, sneakers/boots with socks. If you need just keep a pair of socks and boots so when you arrive at your destination you could always swap foot wear.

[Double L]

The ac in my pick up and neither of my mom's cars have never worked, I been without ac in a vehicle for going 3-4 years now. I'm so use to being without ac that I'm always cold in the house. Now I don't like the cold myself either so in the winter I got to have heat. The good thing with my truck is it'll get so hot in there on low that it'll roast you out. Now that my friends is what I call a heater!

[upsman]

I heard a story when I worked at Mack that UPS did not want the bulldog on the hood. Mack said it was a handle so UPS decided to keep it (safety item). If you notice, UPS Mack trucks to not have the letters M-A-C-K on the grille.

[/quoteYou are right. I drive for UPS and our '95 model Macks just have a barn door handle on them but our '96's on up to my '08 Pinnacle have the Bulldog on the hood. Yes none of our brands of trucks have the name on the outside of them. Some company policy about endorsing any company.

[jzack]

I guess for the kind of work I do I can honestly say that yes I DO need AC up here in Minnesota. I drive a black day-cab -think "greenhouse". Most of my deliveries are local, I probably only average 35mph some days, not enough breeze to get the heat out. When I do get out of the truck I get to stand on a shiney aluminum flat-bed chaining and unchaining sheet metal -think "tanning bed". When I get back in my cab after a delivery I sometimes have 5-10 minutes of paperwork. So its just nice to have a place to work thats a few degrees cooler.

[HK Trucking]

When I get back in my cab after a delivery I sometimes have 5-10 minutes of paperwork. So its just nice to have a place to work thats a few degrees cooler.

And sweat stains on paperwork would look very unprofessional.

.

[Rob]

I like air conditioning but hardly use it myself. "Momma" is a different story or course. She doesn't go noplace without it running.

Have you ever seen a big woman drip sweat off of her three chins? Trust me on this one, "It aint pretty". I've tried the corn starch thing but it is difficult to keep vacumed from the cloth seats and tends to turn to cement once it gets wet and into the fabric.

I'll pay the economy penalty and run the A/C when we travel together. Everybody stays happy that way.

Rob

[Rob]

I guess for the kind of work I do I can honestly say that yes I DO need AC up here in Minnesota. I drive a black day-cab -think "greenhouse". Most of my deliveries are local, I probably only average 35mph some days, not enough breeze to get the heat out. When I do get out of the truck I get to stand on a shiney aluminum flat-bed chaining and unchaining sheet metal -think "tanning bed". When I get back in my cab after a delivery I sometimes have 5-10 minutes of paperwork. So its just nice to have a place to work thats a few degrees cooler.

Some of the air traffic control facilities that I work at are climate controlled extensively and it is difficult for me to leave a workspace and enter 90 degree heat with matching humidity. I then run the A/C in the truck to drop the humidity. The heat doesn't really bother me much as I work outdoors most times and get used to it.

I'm incorporating A/C into all of my "hobby trucks" just to ensure all bases are covered as there will be a few times I won't be alone in the ride. The passenger strongly prefers the usage of air conditioning and I'm scared of her.

Rob

[jzack]

And sweat stains on paperwork would look very unprofessional.

.

Exactly.

[jzack]

I like air conditioning but hardly use it myself. "Momma" is a different story or course. She doesn't go noplace without it running.

I'll pay the economy penalty and run the A/C when we travel together. Everybody stays happy that way.

Rob

Ya know I think the cable show "Myth Busters" tested that theory out in one of their episodes. They found that at freeway speeds they actually got better mileage with the windows up and the A/C on than with the windows all down.

Of course in a big truck the variables would change a bit.......

[Rob]

They found that at freeway speeds they actually got better mileage with the windows up and the A/C on than with the windows all down.

Of course in a big truck the variables would change a bit.......

I would agree as all the economy engineering that is performed in the development stages of an automobile are to enhance, or increase it's fuel efficiency for sales potential, and emmisions credits. With the windows up going down the hiway there is no pounding on yours ears due to the rapid compression, and decompression of inrushing air within the passenger compartment. The parasitic "drag" can be less with the A/C running than the windows down I'm sure.

I don't know about these newer automotive systems but back in the 80's it took an average of 17.5 horsepower off the top of an engine to run the air conditioning system traveling at 60mph. This was using a General Motors design R-4 compressor with R-12 refrigerant. Newer designs are probably more efficient, but still would be in excess of 12 horsepower it would seem with a 31% increase in efficiency due to design.

Still, all in all, My ears rest much easier when Momma is happy.

Rob

[RowdyRebel]

Still, all in all, My ears rest much easier when Momma is happy.

Rob

[Rob]

I'll have to watch the link this evening. My Govt. computer is banned from Youtube due to bandwidth.

Rob

[spybot]