How to, convert a Semi Truck, to a LEGAL RV Hauler.

[Zoomyn]

An old boy at an Airstream Trailer forum (Airforums.com) 'SmokelessJoe' had a great time from 2005 to 2012 perfecting a 1/2 scale hauler when compared to yours, if you have a rain day maybe you can scope out his work...

He decided to go all-diesel for heat & cooking in the trailer which worked out well... Sold it turn-key ready except the smartcar and moved on to a new project ...

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f287/diesel-powered-trailer-23048.html
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f227/contemporizing-1976-argosy-d-opinions-please-18448.html

 

[Mr. Cob]

Howdy All,

Great news, I just got the word from the man building the Smart Car, deck.  The parts have arrived at Kevin's shop after having them powder coated, with luck barring any unforeseen circumstances I'll be able to bring the completed truck ( motor home ) home tomorrow.  I hope this works out as my first scheduled rally of the year takes place on June 14-18, I was hoping to get in a shake down run before heading out on a long distance trip but this will be the first drive with everything in place.  I'll post up some photos when everything is loaded and hitched up.

Dave

 

[Mr. Cob]

This will be one helluva rig....I hope to see it somewhere this year!

Howdy Brian,

I'll be doing two ADV rallies this year, one in Wyoming it early September, the other in late September in Kansas, then up to Minnesota to visit family and friends, then to Arkansas to visit with Charlie, back to Kansas for the National Heavy Duty Truck Rally, then to Texas and points west until I get home.  I am sure our Trails will cross at some point, maybe later in January-February, I want to do Quartsite at some time next winter.

Dave

 

[Mr. Cob]

Hiya Cob, sweet rig!  Wonder if your Ural would fit where the smart car goes, that'd be fun.

Howdy Queen,

Are you "Queeny" from ADV, if so how the heck are ya, well I hope.  I built the Pete, so it would carry the Smart Car, leaving plenty of room in the toy hauler for a couple of Ural's or a Ural and other toys.

Dave

 

[Mr. Cob]

Howdy All,
It's DONE.  Picked it up about an hour ago, yes it's raining but I am smiling.
Here is Kevin and his helper Chris who built the deck.
[img=800x600]https://photos.smugmug.com/My-2001-...r/i-4CcqW2X/0/54f6148a/L/IMG_2885-L.jpg[/img]
The left side.
[img=800x600]https://photos.smugmug.com/My-2001-...r/i-dCTRg9K/0/bdeb6061/L/IMG_2898-L.jpg[/img]
The rear.
[img=800x600]https://photos.smugmug.com/My-2001-...r/i-t88z7hw/0/ef01f783/L/IMG_2893-L.jpg[/img]
The storage boxes, one on each side.
[img=800x600]https://photos.smugmug.com/My-2001-...r/i-dmkLqRJ/0/2bddbc9b/L/IMG_2889-L.jpg[/img]
The ramps are stored in a box that sits under the open storage space at the rear of the deck, at a later date doors will be added to the now open storage space there was not time to do this before my trip started.
[img=800x600]https://photos.smugmug.com/My-2001-...r/i-CndJhSP/0/b5f02ba6/L/IMG_2891-L.jpg[/img]
In addition to the wheel chocks there are 8 stainless steel D-Ring tie downs on the deck.
[img=800x600]https://photos.smugmug.com/My-2001-...r/i-qpN6kGK/0/3ef1a96f/L/IMG_2896-L.jpg[/img]
I think it looks very nice now that it's all done.  I didn't want something fancy, I wanted something simple, practical and something that complimented the truck, not something that had full sides, I want the Pete, to remain looking like what it is, a TRUCK, well motor home to keep the law satisfied.
[img=800x600]https://photos.smugmug.com/My-2001-...r/i-wgMSJgR/0/a067d047/L/IMG_2899-L.jpg[/img]
I want to thank everyone who offered suggestions and guidance on getting this done, I could not have done it without that help and I am grateful for it.  A SPECIAL THANKS to Kevin, who worked his butt off even on weekends to get this done in time for me to use it this summer and for the WCR which is only a couple of days away.
Dave

 

[tx2sturgis]

It looks great!  Ready to Roll Some Coal!

Yeah....thank all the little people....when you become famous (in a Bob Wells interview) you'll forget about us anyway....oh wait, you already ARE famous in the Ural world....



So.....I know a perfect place to park that rig next January.

 

[highdesertranger]

nice. highdesertranger

 

[Mr. Cob]

Howdy All,
First time loading and tying down the Smart Car, getting the car on the deck is easy, tying that bugger down and putting the ramps away is work.  I am sure after I do it a few times it will get easier, having help with the ramps will also make it easier but I wanted to do it all myself just to see how it would go and to learn what needs to be done so that if I do have help I'll know what to ask the other person to do.
After I tied the car down, I hitched up to the trailer, now all I have to do is decide which toys to bring and load them, barring unforeseen circumstances, WCR here we come.
[img=800x600]https://photos.smugmug.com/My-2001-...r/i-ZfSSVdb/0/2d89df52/L/IMG_2901-L.jpg[/img]
[img=800x600]https://photos.smugmug.com/My-2001-...r/i-kCwkbc5/0/57f21c07/L/IMG_2902-L.jpg[/img]

Dave

 

[Mr. Cob]

Howdy All,

The Pete, is now finished.  I just returned from an HDT-RV rally, this thing laughs as mountains.

Dave

 

[Tjdave]

Hello, I know this is an old thread, but this is exactly what I want to do. I am located in Michigan and have sent a request to Mr. Speed to ask questions about his Peterbilt.
Dave/Southeast Michigan.

 

[tx2sturgis]

Mr Cob is a good friend of mine, and he hangs out on another forum where they have a lot of these HDT conversions. 

They are not cheap but if you have the money, they offer a lot of comfort on the road.

https://www.rvnetwork.com/forum/32-hdt/

 

[tx2sturgis]

Oh, forgot to mention, the national rally for these HDT RVers is October 11-17, in Hutchinson KS:

https://nationalhdtrally.com/

Assuming of course, that it is not cancelled.

 

[rokguy]

Nice Petecar, don't know how I miss this thread. 
Wasn't there another website truckconversions.com or something similar with plenty of information.
I'm currently restoring an old single drive 76 Louisville with a similar end use only I'll put a regular flatbed tray on the back with a sunken 5th wheel in the usual place. Flatbed will allow me to visit the quarrys for stone when not hitched.
Been on the lookout for an older double drop deck furniture pantec trailer. With this type of 40ft trailer split equal distance at 20ft I could have a mezzanine bedroom setup with the lounge area over the trailer pin with the lower belly section being a galley and bathroom.
The rear 20ft workshop would house my other smaller truck I use onsite and still be able to carry a few pallets of stone to jobs.
Only difference Downunder is you need a CDL and airbrake endorsement.

Still some ways to go yet.

 

[LargeMarge]

[edited for brevity]
...that my type of RV is about as far removed from what would be or is considered NORMAL on this web site...living in a Semi Trailer...a Semi Tractor as a RV tow vehicle,...convert a Semi Tractor to a Recreational Vehicle...
[snip]

Our history:
Since the mmid-1970s, we converted several commercial vehicles to RecreationVehicle titles, including a 1984 Peterbilt cabover with 60" sleeper toting a 30' semi-trailer converted to living-quarters.

Current rig:
2003, we converted a 1997 Ford CF8000 commercial truck to our concept of an ExpeditionVehicle.
At 14,000# across the scale with a 29,000# GVWR, we have a nice margin for cargo.

After nearly two decades full-time live-aboard in this rig, we are converting our next rigs:
2006 semi-tractor toting a 40' semi-trailer.Each has a RecreationVehicle title.

The reliability of a commercial 'million-mile' chassis and commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components offer us safety at the remote mountain lakes and Baja beaches we prefer.

2010, we converted a tandem commercial gooseneck trailer to our concept of a toy-hauler... licensed as a RecreationVehicle.
Rattle-canned with a tasteful rustic scene, our complimentary pair garner compliments everyplace we go.

This is our ".......NORMAL..."

 

[bullfrog]

^^^We need more pictures please!!!