Help me design a custom truck
 

After following Kevin Rutherford with his "signature" truck I thought I'd design my own. Honestly for me the idea of a glider kit would work, because if I bought one it would be kept for 15-20 years. Also, there is nothing on the new truck market that would really get me excited.

Here's my idea:

2009 Coronado
244" wheelbase
13 speed
~500 HP detroit 12.7 DDC III/IV
Custom sleeper
3.58 rears

Many things similar to Kevin's truck, excluding the turbo 3000 of course. The problem is with the sleeper, since I am limited to 244" in Canada. That's where I want you folks to help me out.

I know there are Kenworths up here with 244" wheelbases and 86" studio sleepers. But usually either they're T600's, or the W900 with the short nose. So it can be done.

But how does the math work? 244" from the middle of the steer axle, to the middle of the tandems correct?

So now I need a measurement from the middle of the steer axle to the back of the cab, add my sleeper, and the headache rack, then estimate where the 5th wheel would be and add a "corner to kingpin" measurement (52" or so with my step with a 18" kingpin setting). The exhaust stacks would be at the front to give me extra room.

I don't care if this truck would never work with a reefer or a dry van. If it works with 18" kingpins only, honestly I don't care.

What do you guys think? Am I nuts for such a specific truck that would be very hard to sell? I'm only 26, but already I'm getting sick of food on the road, not being able to cook, having to use truck stop showers, small beds(the bed in my Volvo is 42"X80" and I don't think there's anything else much bigger out there, it's a 3/4").

Maybe I need a local job.

Lose the Coronado, you need to go with a set back axle, then you could fit a 102" sleeper.

Agreed. A KW T800 has a set back axle, and will afford you some extra room for a larger sleeper without losing the aero properties.

Lose the air tabs too.

That's true, but I don't think kenworth makes any sort of glider kit.

Also with most set back axles the exhaust is out the back. Negating the gains with the set forward. I think the coronado is about "half way" in between set forward and set back. It's not as set back as the columbia, but it definitely is a bit compared to the classics.

The problem is that I think the Coranado only comes as a set forward and being limited to 244" will limit the frame rail length you can put this all on. With 52" of corner to kingpin needed my only suggestion is to put all the weight you can on the steers (fuel tanks, stacks, the heavier stuff in the sleeper i.e. fresh and waste water tanks) and putting a heavier axle under the front (14600# maybe) then sliding the entire 5th wheel frame farther back on the frame to give you more room for the custom sleeper you want. Other then that I dont have a clue.

Go with a weed burner to get the exhaust off the back. Millis has Cascadias with that.

I'm 26 and want a big bunk too. I have a T600 with a 244" WB and am currently looking into a 96" ICT or ARI type deal. My only problem is my agent, who restricts our tractors to 21,500# STRICTLY. I did see a North American truck with a 244" and 120" sleeper, but the fifth wheel sat wayyy back almost directly over the rear drives. I'll try and find a pic and post it up tomorrow.

I'd appreciate it bandit! It was a t600? The problem is finding one used that would work. Very hard to find. If I could find one that would be awesome. I imagine that he can't slide up the 5th wheel either. I imagine he also has front exhaust, and no headache rack.

Another thing(regarding what Jumbo posted) you can only go to 5,500 kg's on the steers up here in Canada without a permit. That's 12,127 lbs.

It's the Canadian laws that are going to make this a very unique truck.

I lost the picture, but he really didn't have much room to move up any. Of course, it was a HHG van, so weight on the drives isn't as much of a problem compared to hauling heavy freight (unless you load HHG like Bandit, grossing 79K with mattresses, sandboxes, and canoes on your tailgate lol).

As far as the headache rack, just lose it and put a headboard on your trailer.

Also, been meaning to ask you, how much difference in your mpg have you seen since you changed from van to flatbed? And what would you expect to get out of your Coronado glider kit?