Can you mount a 5th wheel on a stretched frame and convert to motorhome??

[Captainrd]

Guys if this has been covered please send me some links and Ill read but I haven't been able to find any on this subject. My dad has a class 8 sitting behind his house with 550000 on it Im wondering about buying a $ 10-15000 5th wheel camper and mounting it on top the stretched frame. It only seems like you would have to cut into the very front of the 5th wheel a little to fit the back and top of the cab. So this is what I need to know. I was thinking of a fiberglass shell 5th wheel because I'm good with fiberglass work so blending the fit at the cab wouldn't be that hard but what about the boxes underneath?? does a company out there make these boxes? I'm sure someone has done this mod Thanks for any help guys!

 

[Bob86ZZ4]

I've seen travel trailers mounted to the frame of a class 8 truck. The one I looked at was kind of a amature job. But it looked road worthy. I don't know about a 5th wheel tho. That step up portion might be more difficult to deal with. Why not just use a bumper pull type trailer with a completely flat frame?

 

[Captainrd]

Thanks for the response. I like the idea of a small bunk over the cab. Like a regular sized truck camper that Fits in a pickup and most have a queen bed over the cab. I was just looking at the shape of most 5th wheels. Seems like u could make a couple cuts to pattern the back and top of cab. almost make a 90 Shape. with 3-6" clearance on top of cab and on back. I want to be 36-38' total. Some places I go won't allow over 38. So if I could get a extra bunk up there that could sleep 2. That would be great. What I would like is to find a nice toy hauler with 1 slide and mount that on top. Has anybody ever seen a 5th wheel conversion, pics,ideas ect.. Thanks again !

 

[volvoman]

i talked to a couple truck body shops about cutting the roof off my sleeper cab for clearance to make a sleeper area. they said it would take to much cap strength out. my roof is angled in as it goes up. there would be 3 angles to deal with and hard to seal. i was going to build like a roll cage in cab and cover with some type of material. now i think i will just build off front of motor home part. they seem to be starting to make it hard to get titled as motor home conversion. tons of paper work.

 

[squire]

Overall height would be an issue with a 5th wheel.