Custom sleepers for tractors

Tuckster · Jun 18, 2008

Where can I go to educate myself on stretching existing sleepers and possibly the frame and which condo type is best. I like the Volvo 770 with the Cummings but have heard its a little heavy up front. Anyone suggest the show in Vegas next week for a learning experience ??

greg334 · Jun 18, 2008

About the sleeper, do you want to do the work yourself or farm it out?

Tuckster · Jun 18, 2008

No way can I do it. I have talked to a couple of people that do it but the whole idea is brand new to me.

davekc · Jun 18, 2008

For custom sleepers, I would start with the following

In no particular order

Indiana custom trucks
Bentz
ARI or American Reliance Industy
Double Eagle
Star Class

A search on any will bring up their websites.

x06col · Jun 18, 2008

First of all, you may wanna reconsider your engine choice. Then move on to the big stuff.

arkjarhead · Jun 19, 2008

Are you planning on buying brand new? The only reason I ask is because Volvos are set up to idle in Cali.

Tuckster · Jun 19, 2008

Nothing wrong with a Cummings !!!

Not buying new ... looking at '04. There is a guy that will "stretch" the existing sleeper by 24" and I won't have to stretch the frame.

arkjarhead · Jun 19, 2008

So you are saying convert something like a 70 inch into a 94 inch?

Tuckster · Jun 19, 2008

Yes .... There is a guy that stretches existing sleepers. I'm just so new to this I have no idea how to proceed except ... very carefully. If isn't too expensive. I have not bought the tractor yet so I'm trying to see if anyone else has tried this. Lots of questions like weight and wheel base etc.

arkjarhead · Jun 20, 2008

check out Home (evans add ons) they say the weight increase is 100-200 pounds per foot depending on interior.

ATeam · Jun 22, 2008

Tuckster said:
Lots of questions like weight and wheel base etc.

While your situation does not match ours exactly, you may nevertheless find my web site to be of interest and some help. On the truck spec page, weight, wheelbase and sleeper size issues are discussed.

About "heavy up front," any straight truck of any brand can be made heavier or lighter up front by changing the wheelbase.

Tuckster · Jun 23, 2008

Thanks ... great set-up. I can see you did your homework.
I may be asking too much for the $$ I want to spend but I plan to at least look into the possibilities. My wife really likes the condo sleepers so I guess I'm looking at stretching an existing sleeper (I'm definately buying a used truck)..... looking for sites other than truckpaper as they seem to be all dealers. My interior will be modified slightly compared to yours.

xdtrucker · Jan 7, 2011

Hi all .. I am currently getting my sleeper extended by evan in paducah.ky
So far it's coming along well. I can't wait to go get it weighed .. I have a 2000 freightliner classic limited 84 inch condo and he added an additional 62 which makes it 146 inch . I had the frame stretched from 279" too. 317" It now has a dining table queen size bed. 48" shower toilet combo and more cabinets then the average home. My wife and myself have been here overseeing the whole project and are extremely happy with everything. Evan has gone out of his way to explain why he does things a certain way.
We found Evan through word of mouth and have seen his work before. He can be contacted via his web site Kiev Custom I will be posting some photos of our truck shortly.

Dynamite 1 · Jan 7, 2011

xdtrucker, you do realize that with the extension to the sleeper you are now down to only a 16' box in order to stay at 40'. you do still have the tandems, correct? who are you planning on signing the unit on with or do you have your own authority? lastly, get the widest and tallest box you can. at least 100" wide by 102" tall inside dimensions and the largest door opening.

purgoose10 · Jan 7, 2011

Tuckster said:
Where can I go to educate myself on stretching existing sleepers and possibly the frame and which condo type is best. I like the Volvo 770 with the Cummings but have heard its a little heavy up front. Anyone suggest the show in Vegas next week for a learning experience ??

Volvo's put their fuel tanks to far forward. If you have the room I suggest sliding them back some. It doesn't take much to get a few hundred pounds of the steer and w/o major mod's.

xdtrucker · Jan 7, 2011

Dynamite 1 said:
xdtrucker, you do realize that with the extension to the sleeper you are now down to only a 16' box in order to stay at 40'. you do still have the tandems, correct? who are you planning on signing the unit on with or do you have your own authority? lastly, get the widest and tallest box you can. at least 100" wide by 102" tall inside dimensions and the largest door opening.

Hi Dynamite . Thanks for your post . I pull a 53' Stepdeck. And I don't have a drone box so my overall length can exceed 75' . I guess you assumed we have a straight truck. Sorry I should have mentioned my setup is a Tractor Trailer combination.

DaWhale · Jan 8, 2011

What's a drone box?

xdtrucker · Jan 23, 2011

Hi a drone box is a container that holds freight . Usually explosives. Or other things like detonators for explosives.

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