Volvo FH changes

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS THE UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUM (INTERACTIVE)
21

what design issues with the FH do you want to see

I have often wondered why manufactures never bother to consult actual users when trying to improve on their products.
as an example…
make sure we can use the inspection light when hooking up a trailer, without having to have any lights on. (how many fuses have we replaced over the years!)

other basic ideas spring to mind…
how about a unit that has a fifth wheel locking bar on the nearside, (along with the trailer brake, catwalk steps)
and why don’t trailer manufactures make it so we can retrieve numbers plates from the nearside of the trailer instead of the rear?

Suzie/airlines have been around for a long time now, they get tangled and stretched, surely by now we could have one combined airline/electric connection, again on the nearside of the unit.

why do they insist on having the unit suspension control on the floor, the buttons need to be high where we can reach them whilst still reversing etc.

also why have the the inspection light switch high and out of reach. if you have just been told to drop your trailer, it wants to be low and able to be reached when standing outside.

and why-o-why do they position the inspection lamp so as soon as you stand there, you create a shadow?.. get it high and above !!!

why cant we have mirrors that rotate when dirty/wet, so we can spin them around and get a clean dry mirror on request.

99% of wagon drivers today are not allowed to carry passengers, so why insist on fitting a passenger seat, use this space to install something we really need…a porta potty/toilet.

we don’t need a rev counter in modern wagons, so fit a LARGE speedometer, one where we can actually see the speed at a glance, and in MILES per hour for the uk market.

make Bluetooth connection/radio for mobile phones standard in all wagons.

get all manufactures to agree on a position for the hazard warning lights switch, and all use the same.

WINTER…a return of windscreen washer bottles inside the cab, since you don’t seem able to heat the containers to prevent freezing!

and how about changing the direction of the wiper-blades, so they don’t throw water all over the side window and mirror, every time you use the washers.

if we are not allowed to exceed 56/60 mph, then install a limiter/retarder on all trucks, that holds you back to this speed when going down hill (much like the old FH had)

seat memory settings. for day/night driver changes.
radio settings for same!

and how about installing a bloooody robot, behind the wheel, you seem to be doing everything else for us!

22

Take those ruddy blankets off the front, they’re gonna be a bugger to get the flies off in the summer and the salt off in the winter!

23

Rikki-UK:
Its not exactly a secret that Volvo will be launching their new cab soon… and CM will be at the launch. What they want to know is what design issues with the FH do you want to see resolved in the new model? … post in here and the CM team will pick up what you say and see if they have been addresssed when the new model is revealed

How about a passenger seat that doesn’t rattle ( a common fault apparently)mine sounds like a demented budgie.When the rest of the interior is so quiet it drives me mad

24

the Version 1’s used to have a switch on the back wall to turn the radio on (for an hour) or off rather than leaning out of bed and physically turning it on/off. (Yes i know if you turn radio on with ignition off the radio will stay on for an hour before turning itself off.)

When the door is fully open it seems to spring past the stopper and virtually close itself (i have a 61 reg so nothing is knackered or old) when i open the door and take my hi-viz off i have to move out of the way or i will get smacked round the back of the head by the door.

I got a XL 61 plate, and the light in the headboard is a waste of time, there is only 1 light in the headboard and it is at the bottom of headboard, it doesnt even light up the company name, so i keep it turned off when my lights are on, the older FHs had the light (or was it 2 lights?) in the middle of the headboard.

In my driving position i cannot see the speedo on the dash above approx 25mph, cos of steering wheel position.

25

kindle530:
When the door is fully open it seems to spring past the stopper and virtually close itself (i have a 61 reg so nothing is knackered or old) when i open the door and take my hi-viz off i have to move out of the way or i will get smacked round the back of the head by the door.

Im glad I’m not the only one who gets smacked in the back of the head by them doors… :smiley:

26

Pimpdaddy:

kindle530:
When the door is fully open it seems to spring past the stopper and virtually close itself (i have a 61 reg so nothing is knackered or old) when i open the door and take my hi-viz off i have to move out of the way or i will get smacked round the back of the head by the door.

Im glad I’m not the only one who gets smacked in the back of the head by them doors… :smiley:

Had a Stralis that done that too. Got my legs bruised a few times from getting squashed by the self closing door!

But maybe we should take it as a luxury feature. How many other trucks have self closing doors. :laughing:

27

neilf:
Return to the build quality of the series 1 FH.

I’ve not looked at the latest versions but the series 2/3 that I’ve driven we’re shockingly poor compared to a 97/00 model series 1 trucks I had.

Cheers
Neilf

100% spot on!
i have a version 2 fh and although its been a good truck the build quality is crap and that’s not just inside the cab it’s the whole vehicle!
just up the road from me is lomas distribution, who in a large part built the fleet they have today with the version 1 fh if they had to do it all again with the version 2 they would be heading the same way as the betamax vidio !!

28

The possibility to get the driver’s seat about 2" further back.

Some of the other things that people have brought up - bluetooth, usb ports and the ability to fine-tune the gear selection while still in automatic were available as options on the old model. We had the cabs with the somewhat nicer interiors too- walnut trim and leather steering wheel etc. Minor detail, but if you’re spending all day every day in the truck things like the leather steering wheel do make it a bit more pleasant.

29

kindle530:
When the door is fully open it seems to spring past the stopper and virtually close itself (i have a 61 reg so nothing is knackered or old) when i open the door and take my hi-viz off i have to move out of the way or i will get smacked round the back of the head by the door.

^^^^^^This “the” most annoying thing on the Volvo and then some.

30

Get rid of the ‘self locking’ feature, had a door close whilst I was undoing twist locks at a site, locked me out of the cab in the cold and rain.

Make truck more secure, took Volvo about 15 seconds to get in my cab using a coat hanger - got a lot of stuff in there and would rather not have it all nicked :open_mouth:

Improve the mpg’s, they’re bloody poor tbh, the Merc I drove was averaging 9.1mpg, the MAN around 10 ish, the Scania was usually in double figures, the Volvo was 7.5 - 8mpg over a week, and it was an easy week too.

The sloping screen had to go - and it has.

Most of the other requests our Volvo’s had, but at Marmite, they were top of the range, leather seats, bluetooth etc

The MAN subwoofer coupled with Scania door speakers would make a very good stereo :sunglasses:

31

The MAN subwoofer coupled with Scania door speakers would make a very good stereo :sunglasses:
[/quote]
i agree 100 percent with this scania really know there stuff when it comes to sound systems

32

Doors that don’t lock by themselves when you close them leaving you locked out of the cab.

33

Being able to open,close windows with no keys would keep me happy,

34

tonyb70:
Being able to open,close windows with no keys would keep me happy,

I’d rather firms just didn’t take the keys.

No keys = unable to lock / unlock the cab to go the loo etc.

Bang out of order in my opinion, if they don’t trust us, don’t let us on site, don’t let us drive hundreds of thousands of GBP of stuff on the most congested roads in the world etc.

35

billybigrig:
Cupholders the original FH ones were much better :question: :imp:

Yes i agree :smiley:

36

Interior lights have changed for the worst, seat position in cramped , higher bunk restricts the seat movement , just want a quick snooze in the chair and not on a bunk.

37

Rikki-UK:
For me… lose the sloping windscreen that loses so much living space for the driver, DAF’s- and Mercs compete on fuel without restricting the drivers cabin- just saying !

PS … having had a sneak preview I think they have !

Have you seen the finished product or was it one of the prototypes :question: :sunglasses:

38

re-position the mirrors as they block your vision when entering a roundabout
and some doors that dont close when your on the steps
or replace it with a topline cab and all the problems are sorted :smiley:

39

An independent trailer brake on UK spec models, a flat floor, more storage space, do something about the curve in the dashboard and include some flat surfaces to place stuff on when parked up.

40

Big Bear:

Rikki-UK:
For me… lose the sloping windscreen that loses so much living space for the driver, DAF’s- and Mercs compete on fuel without restricting the drivers cabin- just saying !

PS … having had a sneak preview I think they have !

Have you seen the finished product or was it one of the prototypes :question: :sunglasses:

There was a photo of the new Volvo doing the rounds on Facebook.