Gary,
Talk about enough stuff to mull over. Overwhelmed is an understatment. I have already bought what I thought was the perfect platform to convert 3 times, lol. First one was a school bus, then an MCI 102A3 tour bus, then another better school bus, and now I am set on the HDT. I just gotta make sure I start with the right one. Buying and selling this things is a royal PITA!! lol

....the 3.58:1 with a 10 speed overdrive is the best of 2 worlds for me....final ratio is .73.....tires are another issue....I'd like 24.5's but I have 22.5's now and would change them out but they are new 3 years ago and some still have the rubber tits in spots....so I will stay with the 22.5's till 2012....then I will go to 24.5's if still available...I have to have steel rims also since I hate aluminum rims....I still whack a curb now and them while backing....steels cost me $25 each sand blasted...I repaint black after a cost of steel primer[Porter 296 red and 2 coats of Rust-o-leum 7777 Black satin top coat ] I'd like the tallest 24'5 on the market but....who knows what will be available then....there are some 3:21's available but it isn't worth the effort now to change them out I drive less than 20,000 a year....It is hard to justify anything with that kind of mileage-even at 5 mpg!....I get 8.6 loaded down and 10+ empty running at 70+.....geofkaye

Geof what is your weighted down weight and what do you have for a truck?

'98 Volvo 610 / N-14 @ 500 hp/ super 10 /with 3:58's tractor is 23,000# loaded and trailer is 11,000# loaded....."loaded" means everything the girlz[4] can think of to take at the last minute with 125 gallons of water....no gray or black water as I have an Incinolet and I ground dump clear water.....food is MRE's - we eat out as much as possible.....geofkaye

Geof, have you purchased the truck yet for your conversion. I am a new member to this blog site and could recommend a few changes. I am the Volvo Trucks salesman that specializes in RV/Motorcoach chassi specs. I currently work with 14 of the nations top manufacturers in the RV industry. The original pricing of a VNL780 is incorrect and the cost difference between new and used is not that significant. Feel free to send me and e-mail at jtackett@stykemain.com
Good Luck

....BIGT:...I'm on my 7th conversion[personally] and now have a tractor just for me-that I won's sell or give away....or trade for anyone's old lady/dirt bike/4 wheeler /coon hound. My tractors come from Freightliner here in Cincinnati Ohio....World Wide and Arrow are not interested in doing business with me as I only spend a $110k a year on 4 tractors....at the most. That nets me the big fat [1] in sales and conversions, upgrades and custom stuff....I'm a little little fish is a big empty lake....in this economy I have to follow the buck and step in buck poop to give me something to do in my spare time....Have you called on Waylon Long in Texas-he makes high line conversions-for the horse crowd....there is none better than 2L's master pieces....There is a federal law against allowing me to drive one -It makes me look too ugly-they are so unique-say "hey" to Waylon - he is a good ol' boy from Texas....geofkaye

Big T,
What is the approx cost of a new Volvo chassis from the factory set up for motorcoach use? I (and everyone here) would be curious to know because if a new chassis that is already lengthened and factory built for a coach build is a reasonable price, the difference in cost from a used HDT would probably be offset by the extra cost it takes to lengthen the HDT, the warranty of the new truck, etc. I know there are many options, but if you could give us a general cost of a new chassis that would be great. Thanks.