curved sides on conversion box

[niceleyc]

Has anyone built a conversion with curved sides that match the lines of the cab/sleeper? I know it would be more work, but I would like to see some examples where the box is not vertically flat.

 

[5erFool (John)]

niceleyc,
If you have deep pockets here is a link..
dynamax

 

[niceleyc]

yeah, That's sort of what I'm talking about, but I want to build it myself. Maybe just get someone to roll the main vertical ribs a bit to provide the correct contour. Maybe just slice the sleeper in two and use the rear of the sleeper for a rear cap.

I'm also debating which cab would work best. I like the aerodynamic look of something like a FL Columbia high top, but that may be too tall (I'd use basement air). I like the KW T2K, but too much $$.

Is there anywhere I can get specs or drawings to compare different truck chassis/cab dimensions like sleeper height, cab width, room between seats, window area, cut angle, etc. Only some of this is on the mfgr web sites.

I want a used, very roomy open cab for a base to build a 35-45' motorhome without spending too much $$. I will not be towing more than a Jeep, but may keep tandems if I do multiple slides.

Anyone doing anything like this?

I like this look:

http://sandcentral.net/trucks/displayimage.php?album=22&pos=1

 

[Warpath-TC]

Is that something someone photo shopped or has it been built?

Very cool either way

 

[Gary Atsma]

Where did you find the pic?

 

[KAYE RIVERCITY]

.....get ahold of Randy Butler at Butler motorcoaches.....he is into curved lines and aerodynamics....geofkaye

 

[KAYE RIVERCITY]

...BTW only the front and back are aero issues....length and sides have so little effect that it is hardly measurable except in a wind tunnel under lab conditions.....geofkaye

 

[spooner]

Originally posted by Warpath:
Is that something someone photo shopped or has it been built?

Very cool either way

ooopppsss .... thats photoshopped

another one:

but we are currently shopping for a Pete 387 for a friend and we will do something very similar looking.
Current plan is a 35foot total length moho, partially two level and the complete cab/ex sleeper/moho box air suspended

When we start that project there will be a build up picture serie like we run currently on our Pete 379 Toter.

 

[spooner]

ha, thats funny

; i made that pic in PaintShopPro.
looks like we will soon start building it

the goal is to keep the rig under 35' and with no slide-outs; the (soon to be) owner (and good friend of us) is also into dune buggies (he actualy has one of our buggies

) so the truck will be used as a weekend getaway and will see his share of dusty roads and sand storms. his job makes it difficult to get away for too long so the safety, performance and speed to get to all the different dune/desert riding areas ASAP is very important.
his wife and him already have a MDT and share the driving duty. thats why a "Autoshift" or a "Freedomline" is high on the "must have" list, together with a C15 or N14

to get back to the original topic; yes, the sleeper will be cut in half and we will reuse the front and rear fiberglass cab parts. the rest will be a steel space frame construction with a aluminum/ stainless steel skin.
the Pete 387 is right around 13' tall; we will use basement air and flush mounted automotive style safetyglass skylights/vents (i hate the plastic ones anyway) to keep the roof completely flat.
working out all the details right now...
as my bro already posted; we will post more details here on TC.net soon

 

[Travis Q]

hey guys....
Keep us posted on the condo extension...I am very interested to see that done, as I actually considered doing that to our Freightliner FLD 120 Condo. I was too chicken to try and pull it off, though! I really like the idea of the air ride and am very curious to see how that works out.

Travis

 

[Blue Skies]

Originally posted by niceleyc:
I would like to see some examples where the box is not vertically flat.

I would also like to see a roof that is not exactly flat. I would think that leaks would be less of an issue on a slightly curved bus type roof rather than a typical flat conversion.

Anyone have any roofing leak nightmares or tips?

 

[Warpath-TC]

The flat roof is a none issue.

You will find that it is very very rare that you can get the coach absolutely perfectly level. So the water is going to run off the low side 99.9% of the time. And even if you are perfectly level it only takes a small amount before it is going to run off the front.

Plus a flat roof is real nice to walk on when you need to get up there.