Why is this trucks wheel base so long?

BravestDog · 08-29-2005, 09:43 PM

A really nice custom truck here

http://truckconversion.net/photopost....php?photo=753

http://truckconversion.net/photopost....php?photo=754

Why is the wheelbase so long?

When it is connected to a trailer, it has a lot of empty space between the sleeper and the trailer.

What purpose does this long wheelbase serve?

Jimm · 08-31-2005, 09:30 AM

As near as I can figure, the trend in "show trucks" (which is a bizarre enough idea!) is that since stretching a frame "cleanly" (zero-visibility welds, etc.) is difficult, they do it to show off their fabricating skills.

It would also make the thing more stable when not towing anything and trust me, no show truck is EVER gonna tow anything.

It's all sillyness to me.

BravestDog · 08-31-2005, 03:11 PM

So a truck with a wheelbase as long as one in the link above, serves no purpose other than to make it look long, low, and cool, yes?

In real life, it is a pain in the buttocks to drive when connected to a trailer because the tractors wheelbase is way too long for easy use?

There are pictures of the black show truck with the trailer attached and the looks like he uses it as a working machine, as least part time maybe.

The tribal pattern thing on the back of the trailer is also tatooted on the owners back.

Has anyone here done a tatoo like that?

Or are you folks normal here?

Gary Atsma · 08-31-2005, 04:44 PM

Those trucks work for as long as it takes to run from their shop to whichever show it is entered at the time. You actually think they would allow a rig like that to even RISK getting dirty? Nooooo flippin' way, pal!

V8Rail · 09-02-2005, 12:36 AM

ohh sometime I see one of them long wheelbase truck running down the I-40 with trailers attached. Actually I see one truck many times with very special loads, like engines for the 777 on a very tricket out, highly polished,chromed, lighted flat bed trailer.

Saw him going down the road in rain and shine ...

but yeah most are retired and just show trucks. some big companies run them also as advertising at truck (or other) shows, like werner has one classic junkliner with huge extended hood and under it a V16 detroit diesel (IIRC two 8V92 two stroke diesels connected together)

Elburn Bill · 09-09-2005, 07:24 PM

My property backs up on to I80/90 (Indiana Toll Road) and I see these type of trucks hauling all sorts of stuff on flatbeds all the time. Seems ridiculous to me. Heck there are a lot od drivers that have come up my driveway (we sell hay) to get loaded and half of them cannot seem to manage getting a short sleeper or even a daycab turned around. I have a 70' x 175' "parking pad" in front of my barn. It trully amazes me that these guys are allowed on the road.

KAYE RIVERCITY · 09-09-2005, 11:36 PM

.......long as they are going forward they are OK!..turning around is another matter.....wait till the Iraq war situation is over and the guys are back home and driving over the road.....There is nothing worse than a 5 ton driver without a Sarg next to him telling him how to drive.....and yes I flattened a M-151 by mistake but it was in-country so it didn't count.....otherwise I'd still be makeing payments.....geofkaye

KAYE RIVERCITY · 09-10-2005, 11:26 PM

........along with other obvious issues......another issue came up today at the hospital.....RV mold and mildew down near the river.....seems a family of 5 was seen because of their TT haveing a large amount of mold or mildew and they were experiencing resiratory problems......ventulate/-use a de-hudmidifier/ventulate before and after use and clean any mold asap/clean tube and shower with bleach and ventulate and spray with Lysol/clean carpet with an extractor and use a mildewcide in the rince water.....geofkaye

V8Rail · 09-11-2005, 11:27 AM

Bill,

I think it is hard put O/O (sorry Gary ... Owner/Operator

) in the same boat with the delivery driver.

I'm pretty sure the front of your business is nice looking, makes a good first impression for customers. So why is it rediculous for a truck driver to do the same. And it looks like the truck does the job fine, else the driver would be off the road very fast with todays fuel prices.

And there are plenty of loads out there that do not need a 53 foot trailer or a aero truck.

just my 2 cents

Thomas

Elburn Bill · 09-12-2005, 04:06 PM

Thomas,

What are was referring to as "ridiculous" was these stretched out wheelbased tractors pulling a 48' flatbed or 53' box trailer. It makes manuevering very difficult and I am not even going to get into the length laws they are violating. I was not knocking their driving skills nor their trucks. As far as spending their hard-earned money on decking out their rigs, it does not bother me one bit. Everyone has their own taste and idea of good looking. I think some of these trucks look awesome and others are just too gaudy for my taste but I still admire the workmanship required to make the truck look the way it does.

Most of the trucks coming up my drive are O/O ... that is what makes it so scary!!!! I have only had 4-5 fleet drivers. The last guy took over 20 minutes to back the trailer into the barn (the overhead door is 14' x 16')! The previous driver did it in about 45 seconds. The same driver got lost and it took him 15 minutes to back up 60' and make a 90 degree turn up a side road. The roads were all 30+ feet wide! Just makes me wonder how those types of drivers are still on the road.

KAYE RIVERCITY · 09-12-2005, 10:38 PM

....keep your new Kingsley way far away from the "good old boys"........geofkaye

V8Rail · 09-12-2005, 11:44 PM

Bill,

then I have read too much into your post.

The two trucks in the post above are maybe a little over the top. But I like the custom trucks and most I see here in AZ run chassis with 285 to 310 wheelbase(basically about 2' to 4' longer then extended hood pete 379) and have 40" to 48" feet flatbed or stainless steel reefer. They look so long because they like to run the short flattop sleepers.
But currently with the high fuel prices it will thin out the herd anyway . The guys that are smart and run the truck as a business will have no problem to make money .... the others that drive too cheap freight and/or a too expensive truck will bite the dust ......

KAYE RIVERCITY · 09-13-2005, 10:34 PM

.....Guys listen to V8Rail....already starting to see O/O dropping out of the business and the repo rate is going up....ask your loan companies what to expect long term into 2nd Q of next year at least....geofkaye

Elburn Bill · 09-14-2005, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by KAYE RIVERCITY:
....keep your new Kingsley way far away from the "good old boys"........geofkaye

Curious what you mean by this?

Elburn Bill · 09-14-2005, 08:14 PM

V8,

Since I see all types of set-ups on the road (since I80 - IN Toll Rd is the back property line of my land) I see double shorties, triple shorties and even double regulars. Not to mention the extended "show" trucks with 53' boxes behind them. Some of these "show" truck set-ups rival the length of the double regulars and triple shorties. The other day I even saw a specialty trailer that had to be at least 125-150' long. It had rear steering and the works. It just so happened that the rear steering unit broke down and they pulled over right at my property. I headed out to see what was going on. They had no less than 8 IN State Mounties along with thier own 4 beacon ladened escort trucks. The troopers blocked off the right lane so that they could have the shoulder and the right lane to perform the repair. It was pretty cool to see a setup like that on the road!

spooner · 09-14-2005, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Elburn Bill:
V8,

Since I see all types of set-ups on the road (since I80 - IN Toll Rd is the back property line of my land) I see double shorties, triple shorties and even double regulars. Not to mention the extended "show" trucks with 53' boxes behind them. Some of these "show" truck set-ups rival the length of the double regulars and triple shorties. The other day I even saw a specialty trailer that had to be at least 125-150' long. It had rear steering and the works. It just so happened that the rear steering unit broke down and they pulled over right at my property. I headed out to see what was going on. They had no less than 8 IN State Mounties along with thier own 4 beacon ladened escort trucks. The troopers blocked off the right lane so that they could have the shoulder and the right lane to perform the repair. It was pretty cool to see a setup like that on the road!

as a hard core gear head i love to see trucks all tricked out ...but i agree, sometimes its just too much (billybigrigger

)
its the same with hot rods or sand rails; if you hang it full of "bling-bling" so that it can barely move its a POS to me

KAYE RIVERCITY · 09-14-2005, 11:16 PM

....Bill....I don't want them to run into your Kinsley turning around oogling at your Conversion......I know how how they back up-we used to have an electric/hydraulic adjustabe docking plate at our old warehouse....lasted 1 year before it was so damaged from trucks slamming into the concrete wall/plate lifter that it broke the 6X3/4 class 8 tie down bolts under the lifting mechanism....$4500 replacement and installation costs with repairs to concrete retaining wall and rubber stop pads installed all around the opening.....geofkaye

Elburn Bill · 09-18-2005, 10:54 PM

geofkaye,

gotcha'....they can't see it when they are backing up. It is on the opposite side of the barn. I do have to mention it sometimes to convince them that the doors are large enough for them to back into without hitting anything.

D R · 09-19-2005, 12:16 AM

Just a hint.

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