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Readying for the KW

Spud_Monkey

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 15, 2018
Messages
6,436
Location
Your six
Occupation
Decommissioned
Anxiously waiting for the trip pictures of the KW and the adventures that entailed, it is Friday...:cool:
 

DMiller

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2010
Messages
16,425
Location
Hermann, Missouri
Occupation
Cheap "old" Geezer
Will have to await to NEXT weekend, illness struck at the other end, uncertain of 'Rona' and test results not back in time to make the trip.
 

Willie B

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2016
Messages
4,039
Location
Mount Tabor VT
Occupation
Electrician
In MO can License the Class 8 as a RV, requires Minimal Mods, as in a Generator on the frame and fridge IN The Cab, then the Truck becomes a Toter. In all but 17 states, NO Special License to Operate!! In the 17(Incl CA KS TX NV NM and WY) requires a CDL, no intent to go East if do not have to!!
WHY Rely on a Pickup Truck when CAN drive one of these!

https://www.campanda.com/magazine/rv-special-drivers-license-requirements/
Do you not have a CDL? It is a lot of red tape, if you do it my way your patience will be tested to the limit.

I took the "written test" on one trip. The test guy said no medical card needed inside VT.

I arrived with borrowed truck, trailer, and licensed CDL driver for my road trip. Same man: "Where is your medical card?"
I responded: "You told me I didn't need one."
He comes back with: "Who told you that?"
I: "You did."
He: "The law is going to change in July, we're enforcing it now."

Next trip: borrowed truck, trailer, CDL driver, he was still cheerful about it, said he didn't mind the outing, brought his laptop, said he'd get some work done.
The test guy failed me on my pre trip inspection. I failed to inspect landing gear & headboard on the trailer. I pointed out there is no landing gear, or headboard on this trailer. He replies: "You need to point that out" Also, I failed to inspect the windshield, and mirrors. I said I had checked them before I drove 25 miles to the test site.

Next round, they could find no record of me having an appointment. Another wasted trip with borrowed equipment, wasting another man's time. I owe him big by now! He was still encouraging about it, but I sensed his patience was waning. I made yet another appointment.

Last trip was scheduled for a Monday. I called my driver to make sure all was a go. He said he couldn't spare the time, he had let registration lapse on his truck & trailer. I went into high gear, put $2000. in new parts on my old truck, Seth & I spent 4 days working on it. I found a retired trucker with a valid CDL to accompany me.
Test day, I spent about 2 hours on the most thorough pre trip inspection, quoting word for word from the manual. Features my equipment didn't have were mentioned. I crawled around under the truck until the test guy called the pre trip off.
Backing into the dock is a tricky thing to do in the required space with a pintle trailer you can't make a sharp angle between truck & trailer. There were 2 State trucks parked in the course. He wanted to know if I could manage with them in the way? I didn't know if it was a trick question. "Yes, I'll need the allotted space."
"Backing into a dock" test went OK. Road test was uneventful.

I believe State DMV personnel would like to prevent occasional users of personally owned trucks from getting licensed. In my many trips i saw a few Cassella Waste Inc. new drivers coming in for CDL testing. One had a helper for the written test. Another looked like he had slept in his dirty clothes, including work boots with no laces. I wondered if he was unable to tie shoelaces.
 

DMiller

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2010
Messages
16,425
Location
Hermann, Missouri
Occupation
Cheap "old" Geezer
I DO have my Class A, MPTX endorsements on it, IF and when this occurs the license will devolve to a Class A 'M' Endorsement(Scooter), will drop Passenger(P), Tank and Hazmat(X) and Multiple trailers(T). Only have to cert for Med testing then, no more renewal exams or FBI Background Checks and lowers costs by close to half.

Will not have wife go there as she can drive in other states by conventional license as need be, I will remain behind the wheel otherwise in the CDL States, even as we should graduate to a REAL class 7 Toter with a Auto Trans
 

DMiller

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2010
Messages
16,425
Location
Hermann, Missouri
Occupation
Cheap "old" Geezer
Texted with JY this morning, tests were Negative for the 'Rona' but by what he had posted to me they were due for a slack weekend so worked out well for them to get needed rest and recovery.

Always another weekend to get this done. Time is not standing still but not pressing either.
 

DMiller

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2010
Messages
16,425
Location
Hermann, Missouri
Occupation
Cheap "old" Geezer
Know it is ONLY Tuesday, but already set to go to JYs Friday. Keeping fingers crossed nothing jumps up and shuts it down this time.
 
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DMiller

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2010
Messages
16,425
Location
Hermann, Missouri
Occupation
Cheap "old" Geezer
All back from trip and off loaded
New battery box and tool box covers tread plate and slick
Four additional rims
Stack and shields set of new half fenders
Old head with electronics interface intermediate cover a tote of head misc and a box became a bucket of head bolts misc fasteners
E9702B95-0C05-4AE1-BE45-B189C7890F5A.jpeg 54452F91-0A32-4DA0-8C1F-560032EAA717.jpeg 9A7CDCE6-EC4D-472E-9DFB-7BAF2820694A.jpeg 3BE8F27D-FDE0-4E45-B461-DA0876DFB8E2.jpeg
 
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DMiller

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2010
Messages
16,425
Location
Hermann, Missouri
Occupation
Cheap "old" Geezer
Will be scrounging the local large car salvage yards, see if I can come up with tool box(Maybe two) and battery tray box, have two covers each for those currently. Right fuel tank MAY get sold with that mount location used for other materials as has front 1/3 set up Hydraulic for wet kit no longer on it. Once sort and clean what have await the rest to show.
 

Truck Shop

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 7, 2015
Messages
16,538
Location
WWW.
Good thing is you can buy parts for that, the A Car would have been far worse than my mack. It was far easier for me to just change everything and build what was needed.
Although yards around here get picked clean when a W900 hits the dirt. Just the price of a KW toggle switch at average price of $40.00 bucks makes a one cringe. Wiper arms
$150.00, cab and engine mounts ridiculous, but those can be had aftermarket. The cab and hood look good shape are the doors fairly tight?
 

DMiller

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2010
Messages
16,425
Location
Hermann, Missouri
Occupation
Cheap "old" Geezer
Old cab and sleeper compartment doors are tight
Hood is typical small edge scratches but no big gnarls or busts
JY has kept pest blocks in it so no real rodent damage can see but did have quite a nest on the engine.

Considerable sun and time damage to exposed rubber parts bags lines,
hood guide bumpers are corrupting
Need to replace much of the hood insulation blankets.

Cab Carpet sections are raised in spots so most likely will need to peel that up see what is happening under.
 

DMiller

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2010
Messages
16,425
Location
Hermann, Missouri
Occupation
Cheap "old" Geezer
Does have a few cab rivets beginning to head rust are a couple popped rivets on drivers door outer skin and the typical for age pulled door panel screws, lower pouch pocket elastic is done and door entry lights crushed.
They are never new again when used
Just have to pick my battles and challenges as important or cosmetic.
 

Truck Shop

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 7, 2015
Messages
16,538
Location
WWW.
How's the exhaust under cab, is the Y pipe in ok shape? Always seems the stainless flex between left elbow and Y pipe is toast. I always check that when transmission is out plus
the foot valve.
 

DMiller

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2010
Messages
16,425
Location
Hermann, Missouri
Occupation
Cheap "old" Geezer
Exhaust is done, been rotted thru for some time, stacks are off piping patched in and repaired. Thinking of a Road Pipe system ahead of rt duals as on car haulers if keep it, if not will 'Y' it and reset the stacks. Pipe support pads under the cab corners are still there. Did not try the foot valve, know to pull the cross pin, clean up around the apply piston, check the valve for free movement, been unused a LONG time.
 

DMiller

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2010
Messages
16,425
Location
Hermann, Missouri
Occupation
Cheap "old" Geezer
Another 'If Keep' or Wife allows to keep will be rear full fenders, if becomes a trade will use the half fenders up on it. When it finally gets here first order of business is to empty everything in cab, dump anything that even hints of mouse nests, straighten out and up for good inspections all way around to build up the needs and cosmetics lists. May put it outdoors at some point after engine work, rent a blaster and clean off the bubbled paint along rear rails, not really sparkly clean but enough to re-cover and slow any built up building in corrosion, tail plate is 1/2" by appearance, edge and center welded reinforcements, may add a Class 4 hitch socket and lighting plug for lighter trailers or use of a tow bar for something else. Tail lighting gonna get a major revamp.

Rear cab work lights are off, high mounts still there, may go back on as will sleeper side rear corner lights.
 
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