james j neiweem Posted July 24, 2016 Share Posted July 24, 2016 (edited) Lets not call it a glider but can a Mack cab and chassis be purchased from the factory? It seems that if the factory is not at full production they could make it so that it wouldn't be disruptive to production. Edited July 24, 2016 by james j neiweem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddeere Posted July 24, 2016 Share Posted July 24, 2016 Good question . Does Fitzgerald use Western Star and rebuilt Detroits in their kits.? Why not Macks ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kscarbel2 Posted July 24, 2016 Share Posted July 24, 2016 To make a long story short, Volvo Group intentionally does NOT sell "glider kits" in the US market (or any global market). The "glider kit" is an American invention. Volvo does not subscribe to it, rather, they want you to buy a new truck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjh Posted July 24, 2016 Share Posted July 24, 2016 Yup captivate And Conquer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeamsterGrrrl Posted July 24, 2016 Share Posted July 24, 2016 IIRC, before volvo took over Mack used to offer gliders to rebuild trucks badly wrecked in crashes. But the insisted that you provide the VIN of the truck you were sourcing the powertrain from, so you couldn't just build a fleet of new trucks out of rebuilt powertrains and glider kits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirtymilkman Posted July 24, 2016 Share Posted July 24, 2016 I looked at some Granite gliders a few years ago. They actually carried a Mack part number for the glider. A dealer had three of them groomed for vmacIII. Mack wanted your vin so they could associate with that certain truck for parts and emissions purpose. Otherwise you'd end up with what we call in Minnesota a "Manders special" Which is a Hodgepodge of parts built into a truck that is impossible to look up parts for. And it is also still illegal to put a motor in a vehicle that is older than the vehicle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
41180 Posted July 24, 2016 Share Posted July 24, 2016 We had 2 CL gliders still have one . Both came without any engine trannys or rears. Did mack ever offer a powered glider or rolling glider like Daimler has been doing ? There's been a lot of shady stuff going on with these gliders I'vE heard of one big dealer getting fined for selling gliders and using the same donor truck Vin # for several trucks which is illegal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kscarbel2 Posted July 24, 2016 Share Posted July 24, 2016 On 7/25/2016 at 4:56 AM, TeamsterGrrrl said: IIRC, before Volvo took over, Mack used to offer gliders to rebuild trucks badly wrecked in crashes. But Mack insisted that you provide the VIN of the truck you were sourcing the powertrain from, so you couldn't just build a fleet of new trucks out of rebuilt powertrains and glider kits. At the former Mack Trucks, we requested the model and serial number of the subject truck being used in the construction of the glider kit, to ensure the glider kit was constructed so as to accommodate that truck's drivetrain, built with the same wiring harness (e.g. round versus square plug), ect. It was all quite professional and thorough. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kscarbel2 Posted July 24, 2016 Share Posted July 24, 2016 On 7/25/2016 at 7:07 AM, logtruckman said: We had 2 CL gliders still have one . Both came without any engine trannys or rears. Did mack ever offer a powered glider or rolling glider like Daimler has been doing ? There's been a lot of shady stuff going on with these gliders I'vE heard of one big dealer getting fined for selling gliders and using the same donor truck Vin # for several trucks which is illegal. Yes, in later years, we did sell powered glider kits featuring Mack "reman" engines. But never a rolling glider kit......that amounts to being a complete truck. Though we of course offered reman carriers, we never offered a reman axle assembly with carrier......no demand. Mack documented the VIN of the original vehicle being glider kitted........that VIN could not be used twice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeamsterGrrrl Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 BTW, I wonder how many of these glider kits Fitzgerald and others are cranking out have functional ABS brakes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirtymilkman Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 1 hour ago, TeamsterGrrrl said: BTW, I wonder how many of these glider kits Fitzgerald and others are cranking out have functional ABS brakes? All of them I have seen are really nice. ABS and all of that is factory installed. The one guy I know had to get an engine replaced but otherwise everything is good. I think they're overpriced though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 The popularity of Fitzgerald and other glider kits is a result of simple free market supply and demand. If the OEMs could build a reliable, satisfactory product, there would be no demand for an alternative. Apparently Fitzgerald has many customers satisfied with their product, as that business has grown exponentially in the wake of tighter government emissions regulations. Another example of government manipulation of free markets, and OEMs attempt to satisfy the requirements of regulation rather than satisfy the consumer. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 All of them I have seen are really nice. ABS and all of that is factory installed. The one guy I know had to get an engine replaced but otherwise everything is good. I think they're overpriced though. Maybe a bit high on initial purchase, but think about total cost of ownership over the life of the truck. A lot of maintenance and repair downtime on new trucks is related to EPA emissions equipment. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MackTech Posted July 26, 2016 Share Posted July 26, 2016 You can get a "service cab" from the Mack Customer Adaptation Center in Macungie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j hancock Posted August 4, 2016 Share Posted August 4, 2016 Mack glider kit brochure from 1980. 2 Quote JimIt doesn't cost anything to pay attention. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truck Shop Posted August 5, 2016 Share Posted August 5, 2016 The company I work for operates total of 45 OTR tractors and 68 trailers, 20 of the tractors are 2012 Freightliner Coronado gliders. I know Freightliner. Those trucks are equipped with 2004 Detroit series 60 550 HP. To be considered a glider it must come minus two major components, trans and rear drives. But these have been pretty good trucks for us. We couldn't beat the price either. . Quote One ping only Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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