OK, let me play devil's advocate:
Can you satisfy the "DOT Approved Sleeper" requirements described in the fmcsa manual?
Is it cost-effective? A new 1 ton diesel pickup with a commercial shell, an add-on sleeper and/or box in combination with a "pup" of some sort would be, what, $70,000.00 to $80,000.00 or so and will be at 7 to 8 mpg loaded. That kind of money would buy you 2 or 3 vans or one pretty decent straight truck.
Will it be durable? Today's one-ton vans (no trailer)have no problem clocking 500,000 or more miles at 15 to 20 mpg and hold together pretty well. Big straight trucks will run up to a million miles at 10 mpg.
My experience with pulling a larger trailer behind a pickup is that at 200,00 to 300,000 miles the drivetrain is very thoroughly beat up. Bear in mind that you have the same drivetrain as a van (basically) trying to do the job of a large straight truck which has a much heavier running gear, tires, brakes, etc. AND you have that darn trailer tugging at your neck for 150,000 miles per year.
Don't confuse pulling campers down the interstate with the work an expeditor has to be put through day after day after day after day- mountains, big city streets, and docks are hard on equipment, I've seen that analogy made and it isn't correct (just in case that's what you were comparing).
What rate of pay are you thinking of? A,B,C,D?
You may be able to pull "lots" of loads with your suggested setup but I just don't know if it's something that is going to catch on.
Your turn now, convince me. I like to learn!
