Outbehindthebarn Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 My Superliner has a single cut-out Able bunk that needs some repairs. It suffered major mice infestation (prior to my ownership and it STINKS). Other than that its pretty straight with the exception of the bottom panel of thin aluminum that protects it from the outside elements; its tore up and everywhere there is a rivet, it's ate away.It is the crawl-through style that drops down into the mattress which I really don't care for. I took it off to clean the frame and begin to replace that bottom panel, and low and behold I find a 2003(?) 40-ish" flat top that has dual cut-outs that was off of a Ford of some kind. Its really really nice. But, the entry is different, and not at all like the "V" style on later Super's I've seen. It is a square 38"x38". It has RedDot A/C and heat in it.... Its also somewhat larger few inches in every direction. This newer bunk isn't cheap. I can't find any makers identification on this bunk either.I'm no body man as I've stated in other topics, and this is my first truck with a sleeper. I have a hard time stomaching the modifications to the back of my cab (its mint)Thoughts, ideas? and no, the paint doesn't match very well. Quote Fun is what they fine you for!My name is Bob Buckman sir,. . . and I hate truckers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
41chevy Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 The panel on the cab end of the sleeper, Aluminum, fiberglass or injected resin? Could your MACK panel be modified and fitted to it? Quote "OPERTUNITY IS MISSED BY MOST PEOPLE BECAUSE IT IS DRESSED IN OVERALLS AND LOOKS LIKE WORK" Thomas Edison “Life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely, in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ‘Holy shit, what a ride!’” P.T.CHESHIRE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outbehindthebarn Posted November 21, 2015 Author Share Posted November 21, 2015 Fairly certain its aluminum, (how can I tell if its painted? feeling embarrassed). Quote Fun is what they fine you for!My name is Bob Buckman sir,. . . and I hate truckers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedBullDog Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 take a magnet to it, steel sticks, aluminum doesn't. Fiberglass goes thud. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outbehindthebarn Posted November 21, 2015 Author Share Posted November 21, 2015 take a magnet to it, steel sticks, aluminum doesn't. Fiberglass goes thud. Ha, yeah, I know its not steel... Seems like a lot of farting around, you know cutting, welding, fitting... or in my case cutting, welding, ruining, to make it match up. Am I over estimating the amount of grief to make it match up? Quote Fun is what they fine you for!My name is Bob Buckman sir,. . . and I hate truckers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedBullDog Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 It seems like if you had the measurements from the panel on your old sleeper, it wouldn't be so difficult. Take a sheet of aluminum with those dimensions patterned onto it, and cut out that pattern. I would just hire out welding the new nose piece on, for piece of mind and leaks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
41chevy Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 take a magnet to it, steel sticks, aluminum doesn't. Fiberglass goes thud. Aluminum generally and a lot more rivets or Hucks holding the panels on. It is less ridgid than Glass or resin. Quote "OPERTUNITY IS MISSED BY MOST PEOPLE BECAUSE IT IS DRESSED IN OVERALLS AND LOOKS LIKE WORK" Thomas Edison “Life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely, in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ‘Holy shit, what a ride!’” P.T.CHESHIRE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedBullDog Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 I guess I was "blessed" that my sleeper truck was a unibody walk through. The amount of effort to change an integral sleeper kept me from even thinking of change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry T Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 During the early '90's both Ford (LT,LTLA, Aeromax) & Mack (CH6XX) used Able sleepers. From your description it soulds like an Able 42". I think the basic design was the same for both but the roof cap was different & probably the interior but I thought Ford used the "keyhole" style opening like Mack did on the CH which of course is different than the Superliner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Back In Black Pulling Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 Had a 36 able ( V style entry) on my truck when i got it , had an oops and put 60 Can Am on with Square entry made hole in cab match sleeper.For me steel is easier to work with then Aluminum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outbehindthebarn Posted November 21, 2015 Author Share Posted November 21, 2015 During the early '90's both Ford (LT,LTLA, Aeromax) & Mack (CH6XX) used Able sleepers. From your description it soulds like an Able 42". I think the basic design was the same for both but the roof cap was different & probably the interior but I thought Ford used the "keyhole" style opening like Mack did on the CH which of course is different than the Superliner.The dude said it was off a Ford, I asked him again today and it sounds like it was an expeditor type Ford, maybe an L9000 or something. They took it off to put a longer flatbed on it. They're into the steel fabricating business.SOOO I am looking for an opinion here too> >>> > would you cut the truck cab to match this entry, OR would you cut the sleeper to match the cab? Please keep in mind that I have the small window crawl-through on my truck.Do you know if the Able sleepers on the Fords had the cutouts? Quote Fun is what they fine you for!My name is Bob Buckman sir,. . . and I hate truckers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Back In Black Pulling Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 Hole in my truck was framed with lite C channel steel welded to body.Sleeper Boot screwed to that. Easier to cut existing interior panels smaller to fit than make new ones IMO.Maybe you should test fit on truck first to see best option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superdog Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 Every Ford Able I ever saw had no cutouts,that doesn't look like an Able to me at all.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j hancock Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 Didn't Ford also use Bentz sleepers? Quote JimIt doesn't cost anything to pay attention. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timmyb Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 So why did Mack Australia make its own bunks but not in the US? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outbehindthebarn Posted November 22, 2015 Author Share Posted November 22, 2015 Every Ford Able I ever saw had no cutouts,that doesn't look like an Able to me at all..Any idea who may have manufactured it? I couldn't find ID any place.... Lighting was terrible and short on time didn't help.How many bunks have you guys seen with those cut-outs?And one more question; do all sleeper equipped R models have the stack bolted to the cab? Quote Fun is what they fine you for!My name is Bob Buckman sir,. . . and I hate truckers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superdog Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 Any idea who may have manufactured it? I couldn't find ID any place.... Lighting was terrible and short on time didn't help.How many bunks have you guys seen with those cut-outs?And one more question; do all sleeper equipped R models have the stack bolted to the cab? Kinda looks like a Rest-Rite,could tell better from a side view. Able,Double Eagle,rest-Rite,and Morgan offered cut out corners,I'm sure there were others. Later R models had stacks with frame mounted brackets just like the Superliner 2's,seen plenty of those with bunks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outbehindthebarn Posted November 22, 2015 Author Share Posted November 22, 2015 Kinda looks like a Rest-Rite,could tell better from a side view. Able,Double Eagle,rest-Rite,and Morgan offered cut out corners,I'm sure there were others. Later R models had stacks with frame mounted brackets just like the Superliner 2's,seen plenty of those with bunks.Any pics of those brackets? My Superliner has a bracket, but it was homemade and its kinda flimsy... Curious to know what the correct brackets look like. Quote Fun is what they fine you for!My name is Bob Buckman sir,. . . and I hate truckers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outbehindthebarn Posted November 22, 2015 Author Share Posted November 22, 2015 So why did Mack Australia make its own bunks but not in the US?I didn't know they did.... What do they look like? Quote Fun is what they fine you for!My name is Bob Buckman sir,. . . and I hate truckers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superdog Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 This is what a bracket looks likeI have no clue as to maker of that bunk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outbehindthebarn Posted November 22, 2015 Author Share Posted November 22, 2015 This is what a bracket looks like275.JPGI have no clue as to maker of that bunkYour Superliner (avatar)has those brackets? Quote Fun is what they fine you for!My name is Bob Buckman sir,. . . and I hate truckers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timmyb Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 So will you be leaving the bunk on so long as you own it? I think, seeing as you don't like the crawl thru opening id make the cab fit the bunk. Seems better to do that, than modify the bunk to fit your cab (cause you don't like the crawl thru), or modify the bunk AND the cab to the "V" style opening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
41chevy Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 Kinda looks like a Rest-Rite,could tell better from a side view. Able,Double Eagle,rest-Rite,and Morgan offered cut out corners,I'm sure there were others. Later R models had stacks with frame mounted brackets just like the Superliner 2's,seen plenty of those with bunks.Think this is a members on here. 1 Quote "OPERTUNITY IS MISSED BY MOST PEOPLE BECAUSE IT IS DRESSED IN OVERALLS AND LOOKS LIKE WORK" Thomas Edison “Life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely, in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ‘Holy shit, what a ride!’” P.T.CHESHIRE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outbehindthebarn Posted November 22, 2015 Author Share Posted November 22, 2015 So will you be leaving the bunk on so long as you own it? I think, seeing as you don't like the crawl thru opening id make the cab fit the bunk. Seems better to do that, than modify the bunk to fit your cab (cause you don't like the crawl thru), or modify the bunk AND the cab to the "V" style opening.I'm fighting with myself about cutting the back of my cab out. Its a rust free truck, but you're probably on to something with modifying both to the "V" style. (I'm one of those people who needs to talk things out before I make decisions.....) Thanks for reading the post from the beginning.I was toying with the idea of just making it into a daycab, but you see so few Macks with sleepers on them these days. Quote Fun is what they fine you for!My name is Bob Buckman sir,. . . and I hate truckers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outbehindthebarn Posted November 22, 2015 Author Share Posted November 22, 2015 Think this is a members on here.5850585721_4ce69421cb.jpgThis bunk is odd in that it has the full door on one side, and only the compartment door on the other..... 1 Quote Fun is what they fine you for!My name is Bob Buckman sir,. . . and I hate truckers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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