For You Truck Conversion Enthusiasts!

Dreamscape · February 27, 2010, 06:04:56 AM

I met this really nice couple yesterday from Taos NM. This is one nice rig! Powered by a DD 515 and 12 speed and dual drive axles.

TomC · February 27, 2010, 09:02:31 AM

Many of those professionally converted trucks are built just like sticks and staples with composite walls. And then again many are built like tanks (like mine with 1.5" square tubing with 1/8" walls on 16" centers). I'd be curious what the mileage of his is with the new DD15 (both the DD15 and DD16 have turbo compounders-a second turbo after the main that is gear driven back into the engine. On a hill climb, just with the exhaust force, you can get up to 50hp back into the engine just from the exhaust).

As of 2010, the DD13, 15, 16 Detroit has the cleanest engines available (the 10.8 and 12.8 liter Volvo's are also clean). Cummins engines don't quite hit the clean mark, but are approved for 2010 using clean points collected from Dodge pickups with the Cummins 6.7 ISB. International still doesn't have an engine certified, nor does MAN, DAF, etc.

Dreamscape · February 27, 2010, 09:25:57 AM

I didn't ask about his mpg, but he said it had plenty of power going up hills. They have owned several class A's over the years and needed something to pull a trailer full of toys.

Interior was well built, cabinets solid wook, dovetaied drawers and a gorgeous shower with marble walls. Heated floors and it looked like they did the job, as they were nice and warm in cold weather. One slide in the lounge and one in the bedroom.

They headed out for NM this morning, will stop by again on their way back to Dallas in a couple of months.

gus · February 27, 2010, 09:09:10 PM

I don't see how you can ever build a square box as strong as the old curved roof monocoque GMs.

Anything square by design is not strong unless it uses a bunch of diagonal braces, even then it isn't as strong as a curved structure.

TomC · February 28, 2010, 11:12:23 PM

Gus- you're so right. Besides being strong, it is better in a roll over too. Good Luck, TomC

boxcarOkie · March 01, 2010, 02:47:07 AM

It appears to be a Travel Supreme, believe they were manufactured back east in the rust belt, around Indianna or somewhere like that. There was an outfit up in Denver that was selling them for awhile, truck chassis and trailer combo's and they were in the 600K range if I remember right.

BCO

Dreamscape · March 01, 2010, 05:49:43 AM

I forget the name, something like silver, made in Elkhart Indiana.