Towing an RV trailer with a pickup truck is very difficult for me.  I have severe back issues, and the ride is rough, and I could barely make 200 miles per day without being in severe pain.  Then after a few days like this I could not enjoy any part of a trip and was pretty much down for the count.

In the fall of 2013 I met a couple who was using a retired over the road tractor as their RV tow rig.  In addition they had a Smart Car with them for local transportation after reaching their destination.  Wow, what a concept!  That chance meeting changed my outlook on life, and my traveling capability!

These trucks, especially the Volvo are famous for a smooth ride.  Air ride suspension, air ride cab, and air ride seats make for an EZ and smooth ride.  Plus, before any mods they can be picked up for less money than many used 1 ton pickup trucks.

Since I have a love for the great outdoors, I bought a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon to take the place of my legs, since hiking is now completely out of the question.  A Jeep is much larger than a Smart Car, and especially the 4 door Unlimited version.  Ok, now what to do…  Find a retired tractor long enough to carry my Jeep with an 18′ Dovetailed Flat Bed.

I found a longer wheelbase Volvo 630, which with its shorter sleeper, left me more room to accommodate my Jeep!   After looking all over the country, and coming up with nada..   I found the perfect truck for my hauler!

The sleeper now has a fridge, microwave, a 32″ flat screen Smart TV, and soon I will install a new stereo system with GPS, Blu-tooth, Weather Maps, and accommodate cameras for blind spots and hitch coupling.

My flat bed was built by Texas RV & Toy Hauler Conversions who has Jamie Coursey, a world class metal fabricator/designer on staff.  Each of his designs and builds are custom to each customers needs.  I cannot praise him enough on the quality of the finished bed!

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