Cab to body connection.

[madbrit]

Guys,

Do any of you have a good working knowledge of how your cab is actually joined to the motorhome body?

In the semi-truck there is often a bellows for the hole through to the sleeper, especially when an air ride cab is used. I have a fixed cab and body and would like to solid mount the two parts together. I have seen where this appears to have been done on high-end conversions, especially when they join into the cab roof like a "C" class Winnebago, but under the oak trim, is it solid or is there still some sort of flexible coupling. Thanks.

Peter.

 

[spooner]

Madbrit
our Pete 379 that we convert right now has the cab mounted solid to the sleeper (4 sets of big cast aluminum brackets) but still uses a rubber bellow. i guess there is a reason for that (flexnoise?)
we will reuse the factory brackets/bellow to connect the cab to the (frame mounted)conversion body

 

[shinyblackpaint]

Hey Spooner, you have any pic's of how your Pete' 379 is coming along?

 

[madbrit]

Spooner,

From what conversions I have seen, they open up "condo-cabs" fully into the body which is rather a large boot to use. I don't even have a boot with mine as it was a day cab truck originally.

To purchase the boot assembly, I have been told it is close to a thousand dollars by the time you get all the flanges, etc and no wrecking yards have it all as there is always one piece left on either the cab or sleeper.

Anyway, I want a walk-thru initially and then, over this coming winter, I intend to extend the body over the cab allowing me to chop out the cab roof to make it easier to stand up and walk back and not have to bend so much due to the fact I have back problems.

Btw, how does one post pics here? Insert them in the body of the text, maybe?

Peter.

 

[spooner]

shinyblackpaint,

spooners brother here

the bad winter we had slowed us down, but soon it will move forward (hopefully)

this is how far we are currently :

Peter,
I will make some pics of the mount at our Pete and will post them here tonight ...

Thomas

 

[Gary Atsma]

Man, that looks like the beginnings of something good......REAL good!
Y'all keep us up to date on that rig, huh?
Happy Truckin'!
Gary

 

[spooner]

Gary
yes, we plan to post a lot as soon as the buildup starts (the Pete is now completly stripped).
our first plan was to use a Dry Van box for the rear "body" like we did on the red international, but we realy like the aerodynamic shape of the sleeper front part.

so we will reuse the complete front wall (with rubber bellow) and extend the sleeper body with a home made aluminum sheet/steel frame body.

 

[Gary Atsma]

....or you could cut the REAR of a dry van box off and mate the cut end to the sleeper. This would give a more "finished" look to the rear of the coach, especially if the former front of the box had rounded top and side corners. You might want to think about this. Just an idea...
Gary

 

[spooner]

Originally posted by Gary Atsma:
....or you could cut the REAR of a dry van box off and mate the cut end to the sleeper. This would give a more "finished" look to the rear of the coach, especially if the former front of the box had rounded top and side corners. You might want to think about this. Just an idea...
Gary

Gary
yes, i agree that rounded corners make it look more finished. we will build the box in the exact same shape like the sleeper (will not be easy but i like challenges anyway

)

finaly we got our nice AZ weather back