Doug Mitchell Posted November 13, 2007 Share Posted November 13, 2007 Joining up after lurking for a year or more soaking up information. I drove OTR for a few years while my wife was in grad school; her parents were agents for a 48 state carrier. It was long enough ago that I was grandfathered on my CDL, which I have kept. We had a niche in the midwest running dry groceries to New England most of the time. My first real OTR truck was a Superliner with a 440 V8 and a 10 speed, Neway air ride, and a fairly early Double Eagle sleeper. I really liked that truck. Once I hit 10th, I only shifted to change roads, hit the rest area, etc. Eventually that truck was replaced by a CH with a 350 and a 9 speed. It had the first generation new model blues. The main reason I am here is to collect information for the eventual RV project. Over the last few years, there has been a growth in the number of folks using tractors as the basis for what is essentially a Class A built in the style of a Class C. The interesting part of this is that if well designed and built, it is less expensive than most Class A RVs, yet safer due to better drivetrain quality (suspension, brakes, engine/transmission, etc). We'll use it for a second home type thing if I go back to prosecution, and for most personal travel (I hate flying, and TSA and I have differing views of what one should carry when in public, plus we have big dogs which if flown would have to go as freight and I would not subject them to that anyway). Quote Old truck drivers never die. We just smell that way. Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/3081-just-joined-after-lurking/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Posted November 13, 2007 Share Posted November 13, 2007 Welcome to BMT! Glad you decided to join up and say hello! Quote Barry - Watt's Truck Center Parts Manager and BMT Webmaster...1-888-304-MACK Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/3081-just-joined-after-lurking/#findComment-15055 Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThaddeusW Posted November 14, 2007 Share Posted November 14, 2007 Sounds like a cool project. I once saw a Kenworth K100 RV conversion and it was beautiful. I believe it had a 3406 CAT at 425HP and a 13 speed, overkill for an RV but just plain cool. Could always mount a pintle hitch and pull a tag trailer with all that power. F model or Cruiseliner RV sounds awesome. 237 and a 5 speed would be a perfect . Even an allison would be nice. Quote -Thad What America needs is less bull and more Bulldog! Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/3081-just-joined-after-lurking/#findComment-15062 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Mitchell Posted November 14, 2007 Author Share Posted November 14, 2007 Sounds like a cool project. I once saw a Kenworth K100 RV conversion and it was beautiful. I believe it had a 3406 CAT at 425HP and a 13 speed, overkill for an RV but just plain cool. Could always mount a pintle hitch and pull a tag trailer with all that power. F model or Cruiseliner RV sounds awesome. 237 and a 5 speed would be a perfect . Even an allison would be nice.****Actually, I saw Mack Man's Superliner for sale, and whimpered like a puppy. That would be one hell of a basis, even though I'd rather have a different transmission. It just brought back memories. Quote Old truck drivers never die. We just smell that way. Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/3081-just-joined-after-lurking/#findComment-15066 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mackpro Posted November 15, 2007 Share Posted November 15, 2007 We have streched out a CX and a CXH and have had rv bodies (38foot) added to the back of the cab, They were really nice, only problem is turning radius compared to regular rv's. The first one we had built was at Showhaulers and the one we are having built now is at S&S. Our boss has race cars and uses these to pull the trailers. The CX had a eaton auto shift and the CXN had a eaton super10 but we changed it to a auto shift also. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/3081-just-joined-after-lurking/#findComment-15076 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Mitchell Posted November 16, 2007 Author Share Posted November 16, 2007 We have streched out a CX and a CXH and have had rv bodies (38foot) added to the back of the cab, They were really nice, only problem is turning radius compared to regular rv's. The first one we had built was at Showhaulers and the one we are having built now is at S&S. Our boss has race cars and uses these to pull the trailers. The CX had a eaton auto shift and the CXN had a eaton super10 but we changed it to a auto shift also.****My only real concern about the 9-10 speeds is the fact that we are out west, and speeds here are much higher. If we gear for that, the 55 limits in much of the midwest present a real concern of having to drop a gear to remain within operating range. That makes the 13 and 18 speeds more appealing, as it just means splitting back down once. In most ways, the autoshift 18 is the ticket, but due to my wife's back, clutch operation is a real concern, and my guess is we will end up with the Eaton-Fuller LHP 2 pedal. At least it does have the lower range forward and reverse gears of the 18 speed. For real range, the 13 speed Mack can be had with lower Lo and reverse gearing, which I think would be sound for close in operations and maneuvers.I suspect that in a new truck the Pinnacle and a modest MP8 is the ticket. We will be twin screw (or maybe tag), as it will will be set up to be a second residence and have a lot of water capacity, storage batteries, etc. One thought I have had is the idea of a 6X6, but I suspect that the additional cost and drag would not be worth it. Quote Old truck drivers never die. We just smell that way. Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/3081-just-joined-after-lurking/#findComment-15082 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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