TMG51 said:
Actually I've wondered before if anyone's done a Semi conversion, I've never seen one before. So thanks for posting. I would imagine that to be a very capable platform, although I assume a bit costly too. Would probably only work well out in the west.
Is there a pass through to the living quarters? If not, what's in the back area of the front cab?
TMG51: Thanks for the interest.
There is no pass through between the bunk and the living quarters. Why? Because my wife didn't want one! (Happy wife, happy life). Actually, this arrangement works very effectively. When traveling together, mostly in the milder months, we both sleep in the queen bed in "the back." When I am alone and during the cold winter months I sleep in the bunk attached to the cab. It is much smaller, easier to heat (mr. Buddy to the rescue , and when I am by myself it is safer in case I have to get going in a hurry.
This is a very stable truck. Very predictable in the way it drives; you sit up high above the traffic and can see easily way down the road ahead. Stopping distances are longer than a normal car or van, so you must plan ahead for that, as well as right turns, which require both lanes into the street you are turning. Left turns are your friends!
I was never a truck driver so learning to drive this rig took about a year; mostly due to the shifting. I only use 8 or 9 of the total 18 speeds available, as the truck as it is now configured is way overpowered for its weight. The transmission, however, is all "non-synchronized" so you must match the ground speed with the transmission speed manually on every shift and change gears only in a very narrow rpm range; and double clutch on every shift going up or down. Learning the transmission the key to being at ease driving the truck, but now its pretty much automatic and I don't have to think about it.
I learned quickly after starting to change this rig over to a motorhome that everything costs twice as much and takes twice as long as I had planned. But, the heavy money spending is all behind me now, so its just routine maintenance ($380 for an oil change) and repair the few parts which have needed replacement. I try and do as much work myself as I can, as the commercial truck dealers/repair places are very expensive. My last remaining major project is installing a solar system. This site has taught me volumes on that subject. The truck has 8 Group 31 batteries; 4 "starting" batteries; this system is pretty much unchanged as it left the Peterbilt factory when new. And 4 deep cycle flooded gold cart batteries which provide service to the "house".
But driving down the road is the fun part! I had hoped to attend RTR this past January, but found this site just a little late in order to put together a trip. But, I'll be there next year!
