[Jackrabbit379]

160 Inch Peterbilt True Custom Inc. -Where Visions Become Reality

Wow! :eek2:
Purty. :thumbsup:
I'd hate to try to get around DFW in that truck. :hellno: :lol:

[Rocketdog]

Thanks everyone for your input. As most of you have probably guessed I have not made any cuts or sawed off any bolts on my existing sleeper. I have spent the last several weeks studying how sleepers are constructed. Since I posted last I have purchased yet another sleeper making my wife "oh so happy"...LOL

The first sleeper is in great shape, straight, no dents, no cracks etc. The second sleeper also straight and clean. Now I can use my 1st sleeper as the primary and the second as the "donor" for the added lenght all while keeping my original sleeper on the truck...and on the road making $$$

I'm home every Thursday and leave Sunday...so I pretty much have all weekend to tinker with this new endeavor.

I've been studying how the boxes on RV trailers and other truck sleepers are constructed. Most are just post and aluminum sheets rivteted together.

If I cut a section of the floor out of the donor sleeper then add it to my new sleeper, I'll make an overlapping "Z" shape connection front and back. Add industrial sealant along the seam and bolt it together with stainless steel bolts with a drop of locktite....floor is done.

One or 2 posts wil be bolted to the new section then sheet the added lenght with aluminum sheeting.

The top cap, I have learned, is many rivets along a seam, and can be completely taken off by cutting off the heads and punching in the remaining shank, disconnecting the wiring and unbolting the interior.
Once I add whatever lenght is going to satisify my desire for a small kitchen and shower, I have the donor sleeper's top cap to cut a section from and add this in: Set the added fiberglass section in place and temporarily clamp it down. Rivet an aluminum piece from the inside along the seam. Outside I'll be left with a cut-sized channel to fill with fiberglass cloth and resin. Sand and paint--top is done.

Now once the sleeper is stretched I'm left with a shell to dream in....now the fun begins.
Camping world sells RV water pumps that can be hard wired in pretty cheap. I spoke with a design person from Home depot about fabricating a nice countertop (no not imported italian marble--something light weight) and they just need the dimentions. My local thermoking dealer has the fittings that re-route the engine coolant to the polyethelyne hot water tank. Back to Home depot for the shower stuff.

Technology has brought a lot of new light weight materials to the RV world I can use. I'm not adding ten feet of solid oak hardwood cabinets and marble countertops. I'm constantly thinking about saving weight because I get paid by the pound. I'm trying to strike a balance between my customer's needs and my need to eat better on the road and shower daily.

The Grey sleeper is from a wrecked truck--the one I bought for 200.00 bucks.

[Heavy Duty]

Don't know about your hot water idea, you will still need a cold water supply, and a 40 gallon tank of 180 degree water will be one big heat source. Try a 40 gallon plastic tank(try RV salvage) with a water heater, mine has this one ATWOOD MOBILE PRODUCTS | EHM6 WATER HEATER 6 Gallon, 110V, with heat exchanger | 93891 from the ShipStore.com ™ on-line catalog. . you have more than enough hot water for 2 people to shower and still have hot water for the sink. If you want to shower after parking all night you can, the heater holds heat very well.

Custom sleeper are insulated very good, including the floor, then all pluming is inside the box, only the drains are exposed to the outside, don't forget to put in drain valves to bleed the water system, the water heater comes with one.

[klleetrucking]

Looks like you've got a pretty good plan worked out. I especially like the fact you've got two sleepers to modify and still work your truck. If you can "corner" some of the guys with custom sleepers get them to let you look at the way their water and electrical is setup. You don't have to copy it but it'll give you some guidance.
Please keep us posted on CADS on your progress. BOL, K.Lee

[babytruckin]

you could just buy a shell from pete in joplin. they have empty 90 in shels now. that would be the best route 4 you if you want to do it yourself.

[mgfg]

Originally Posted by Rocketdog

Since I posted last I have purchased yet another sleeper making my wife "oh so happy"...LOL

At least you will have a place to sleep when you are home.

[barf]

Hopefully when its all done it looks a little better than this gem. I saw this parked at the Pilot in Port Huron and couldn't resist snapping a pic.

[BanditsCousin]

I just did a 86" studio with shower/toilet, gouchobed, sink etc from Dave over at Custom Studio Sleepers up in MN. I'm a happy, rested, and clean trucker!

[allan5oh]

How much did that cost?

Did you go standard width?

Do you have pics?

[BanditsCousin]

Around 28, painted, installd, frame blasting w/repaint, and generator control swap.

Standard 86" Studio...gutted and reengineered,

I gotta snap some pics, but it is the sleeper on his cover page for his business.