How 'bout a Class 8?

[dzzz]

I was thinking about how a family could go expe in a vehicle other than a traditional RV. I didn't know that there was a world of people who convert class 8 trucks into motorhomes.


http://www.transportdesigns.com/custom-motorhomes

 

[OS-Aussie]

I believe that they are still referred to as "C" class in the RV world. There are a lot of builders in this space. Some are ultra cool. Dynamax, Power House coach etc etc

 

[pcampbell]

Saw something like this the other day in town. It was built on a Old School Peterbuilt and was MASSIVE!! Very cool though.

 

[pcampbell]

It was like this, but I'm pretty sure it was a Peterbuilt...

How 'bout one with a trailer :Wow1:

http://busesandmore.com/rvs/Sanders-Kingsley-Coach-RV.shtml

 

[Ironduff]

These are known informally in the RV world as "Super C's", tho' there's no official definition or recognition as a separate class from the RVIA. These are the upper / bigger / costier end of that group, which starts with the Kodiak chassis and goes up. They seem to be very popular with auto racers and others who need a live-in with higher-than-average towing capacity. Very neat & quite pricey, but kinda limited for Expo use....

Jim H.

 

[mhiscox]

They seem to be very popular with auto racers and others who need a live-in with higher-than-average towing capacity.

Very true. There are several manufacturers of "toterhomes," Class 8s with living quarters bhind the cab and a hitch for a big gooseneck trailer. If you weren't towing, though, I always thought that removing the hitch and using the area for dirt bikes, a RIB, etc. might be pretty trick.

Very neat & quite pricey, but kinda limited for Expo use....

Well, one of the advantages of the forum is that we're pretty loose on what counts as an "expedition," so the Class 8 conversion doesn't necessarily mean disqualification. Everybody seen this one already?

http://www.unicat.net/en/info/VXL16HD.html

 

[kerry]

I like this one.

 

[charlieaarons]

My choice for something even bigger than what I have (and still legal in the US) is a Western Star 4900SA military spec 6X6, with low geared Roadranger 9ALL 11spd (26:1 1st, 0.73:1 11th). And Detroit Diesel DD15. 505hp/1650 ft-lb
http://www.westernstartrucks.com/Trucks/SevereExtreme/Military/4900sa.asp
http://www.detroitdiesel.com/engines/DD15/
http://www.roadranger.com/ecm/idcplg?IdcService=GET_FILE&dID=318296

Charlie

I gave the wrong shortcut for the gearbox - I fixed it.
How much do they cost? A lot, I am sure. But still cheaper than a top end camper.

Charlie

 

[kerry]

My choice for something even bigger than what I have (and still legal in the US) is a Western Star 4900SA military spec 6X6, with low geared Roadranger 9ALL 11spd (26:1 1st, 0.73:1 11th). And Detroit Diesel DD15. 505hp/1650 ft-lb
http://www.westernstartrucks.com/Trucks/SevereExtreme/Military/4900sa.asp
http://www.detroitdiesel.com/engines/DD15/
http://www.roadranger.com/ecm/idcplg?IdcService=GET_FILE&dID=123666

Charlie

Hard to argue with that choice. I didn't see any prices on the website. Any idea how much they cost?

 

[Deleted member 9101]

If I was going to spend six figures on a motor home, it would definitely be built on a class 8 chassis. You get a million mile service life out of the drive train, unmatched pulling power, and an insane amount of options when it comes to building it.



http://www.truckconversion.net/

 

[Deleted member 9101]

My choice for something even bigger than what I have (and still legal in the US) is a Western Star 4900SA military spec 6X6, with low geared Roadranger 9ALL 11spd (26:1 1st, 0.73:1 11th). And Detroit Diesel DD15. 505hp/1650 ft-lb
http://www.westernstartrucks.com/Trucks/SevereExtreme/Military/4900sa.asp
http://www.detroitdiesel.com/engines/DD15/
http://www.roadranger.com/ecm/idcplg?IdcService=GET_FILE&dID=123666

Charlie

Sorry, i want some bling with my truck:

http://www.westernstartrucks.com/Trucks/SevereExtreme/TwinSteer/4900fa.asp

 

[astn]

Many of those trucks aren't legal, though, they just count on police/DOT apathy. It's a very gray area, but to be legal in all 50 states, your RV/straight truck should be less then 45' LOA, and even then in some states such as California, you may be restricted to certain roads. Truck-trailer combinations (i.e your RV towing a stacker trailer) should be less then 65' overall in order to comply with most states rules. That Saunders truck is just asking for a ticket (or to be impounded). This was an issue a couple years ago with some guys running big toterhomes for their race cars in Florida. I don't think any got impounded, but I recall that some of them had big fines.

 

[skysix]

My choice for something even bigger than what I have (and still legal in the US) is a Western Star 4900SA military spec 6X6, with low geared Roadranger 9ALL 11spd (26:1 1st, 0.73:1 11th). And Detroit Diesel DD15. 505hp/1650 ft-lb
http://www.westernstartrucks.com/Trucks/SevereExtreme/Military/4900sa.asp
http://www.detroitdiesel.com/engines/DD15/
http://www.roadranger.com/ecm/idcplg?IdcService=GET_FILE&dID=318296
Charlie

I stil like the Tatra 815 / 816 (built in the US by ATC) and even the more affordable 813, also the MAN actros 8x8's as well as the Finnish SISU/Renault 8x8.

All do well in the European Truck Trials so would make an off-road RV that could keep up to most 4x4's...

 

[charlieaarons]

ATC = American Truck Company? Seems to have disappeared from the Internet. MAN - nice, but...
I kind of like trucks that are 1) obtainable 2) legal in the country I reside.

Charlie

 

[mhiscox]

but . . . I kind of like trucks that are 1) obtainable 2) legal in the country I reside.

Charlie

Details, details . . . :sombrero: