grendel Posted December 26, 2015 Report Share Posted December 26, 2015 They say the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem. This is where the problem comes in... I am a gear head. I can't have normal anything. Everything gets modified. I bought a dually crew cab Denali. Guess what, with five kids it's not that comfortable, even though it will tow just fine with it's 415hp 900ft lb Allison backed Duramax. Kids have to go to bathroom, get hungry, etc. Dog is not comfortable and I can't even seat everyone. DId I mention I can't have anything normal? I couldn't find a HDT I like. I sort of like Pete 379's but the sleepers are ho-hum. So, my friend RoosterBooster and I are building a HDT based RV to pull my camper and race car stacker. Enter in "Diamond Jim". A 1958 Diamond T model 923 re-built in the mid 1970's by "Junky Jim" to haul (of all things) rail road cars. Yep... 1970's Mack chassis with buck board springs, 22" tires, 2 speed rear, Road Ranger 13 speed, Cummins 250, 44 ton winch and a hydraulic system to run the boom mounted on a big Dayton hitch that hydraulically changes height. The design for the truck has evolved as the canvas presents itself, but we have that figured out now. 300" WB. Yes, you read that right. We're using a custom Adams 100psi steel frame. Peterbuilt Low air leaf rear suspension from a 2014 Peterbuilt 386 Glider I bought. Same Pete 386 front springs, but on 1994 Peterbuilt 379 front frame horns, with the variable ratio steering box from a later 379. Cat 3406B in 650hp spec. Yep, no computers. Super 10 transmission. Dual Eaton 38K rears with 3.30 gears and lockers in both axles Super single rears. 13.5' custom sleeper designed to haul 7 people comfortably, but camp 2 for 2 weeks. It's based on 1950's Spartan trailers, but built with 1/8" aluminum and 1/4" huckbolts. My kids call it Fortress Jim now. It will have a fridge, stove, bathroom and all amenities of a high end coach but still haul anything I want. My wife wanted a tiny house. This is my version of it. Rooster says it's his truck's bigger brother. This is where we are today, attaching the cab to the sleeper and installing the drive train. It will have a custom bed on the back that follows the lines of the front and blends the sleeper into the over all profile. Some of you have seen this on another rougher site. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldFlySwatter Posted December 26, 2015 Report Share Posted December 26, 2015 Well.... I ain't never... and further more, couldn't if I wanted to. WOW!, IMPRESIVE. Keep up the good work, can't wait to see the end results. Like we say around here..."You ain't skeered of nothing." Ed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grendel Posted December 26, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 26, 2015 Well.... I ain't never... and further more, couldn't if I wanted to. WOW!, IMPRESIVE. Keep up the good work, can't wait to see the end results. Like we say around here..."You ain't skeered of nothing." Ed It's taken a bit of custom tooling... a military crane, a bunch of custom (RoosterBooster Built) benders, z flanged aluminum, 6'x12' aluminum 1/8" thick sheeting, one 1955 Spartan Imperial Mansion for detail parts. Oh and a bunch of crazy dudes to put it all together. Most stuff is one off, but built for the long road ahead. The tail end of the sleeper: Side detail: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hdonlybob Posted December 26, 2015 Report Share Posted December 26, 2015 WOW...just plain WOW. Keep us in pics. Cheers, Bob 1989 Safari Serengeti 34'Towing a 1952 M38A1 Military Willys Past HDT owner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dollytrolley Posted December 26, 2015 Report Share Posted December 26, 2015 Are you sure that a Volvo is not hiding in there somewhere.......... Keep bucking those rivets...... Drive on.........(Old timer.......late model) 97 Freightshaker Century Cummins M11-370 / 1350 /10 spd / 3:08 /tandem/ 20ft Garage/ 30 ft Curtis Dune toybox with a removable horse-haul-module to transport Dolly-The-Painthorse to horse camps and trail heads all over the Western U S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grendel Posted December 26, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 26, 2015 Are you sure that a Volvo is not hiding in there somewhere.......... Keep bucking those rivets...... Drive on.........(Old timer.......late model) I am positive there's no Volvo in there. Almost installed a Volvo air ride front but my friend needed it more than I did. We're using a Huck bolt, so no rivet bucking... the gun does it all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronbo Posted December 26, 2015 Report Share Posted December 26, 2015 Welcome to the forum nice build Ron C. 2013 Dynamax Trilogy 3850 D3 2000 Kenworth T2000 Optimus Prime Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Star Dreamer Posted December 26, 2015 Report Share Posted December 26, 2015 Welcome and WOW ! That is a nice project. Hope to be able to see it in person some time. Keep up the good work and post more pics! Dave 2005 Freightliner Century S/T, Singled, Air ride ET Jr. hitch 2019 46'+ Dune Sport Man Cave custom 5th wheel toy hauler Owner of the 1978 Custom Van "Star Dreamer" which might be seen at a local car show near you! Check out http://www.hhrvresource.com/ for much more info on HDT's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darryl&Rita Posted December 26, 2015 Report Share Posted December 26, 2015 LOL. Rougher site. I have been wrong before, I'll probably be wrong again. 2000 Kenworth T 2000 w/N-14 and 10 speed Gen1 Autoshift, deck built by Star Fabrication 2006 smart fourtwo cdi cabriolet 2007 32.5' Fleetwood QuantumPlease e-mail us here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Broncohauler Posted December 26, 2015 Report Share Posted December 26, 2015 Awesome looking build! you can always tell Rooster Boosters custom ART work. Please keep the pictures coming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandyA Posted December 26, 2015 Report Share Posted December 26, 2015 The original truck pic indicates a lot of TLC prior to your ownership. Really neat! Power Steering, air conditioning and HID headlights in the works too - I hope? How many hours are currently in the build? I think your project goes beyond simple gear-head classification . Glad to learn you still have a wife. How did you find time to have the kids? Welcome to the dark side. You know we love stories about projects such as yours. Looking forward to more pics as your project progresses. Randy, Nancy and Oscar "The Great White" - 2004 Volvo VNL670, D12, 10-speed, converted to single axle pulling a Keystone Cambridge 5th wheel, 40', 4 slides and about 19,000# with empty tanks. ARS - WB4BZX, Electrical Engineer, Master Electrician, D.Ed., Professor Emeritus - Happily Retired! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grendel Posted December 26, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 26, 2015 The original truck pic indicates a lot of TLC prior to your ownership. Really neat! Power Steering, air conditioning and HID headlights in the works too - I hope? How many hours are currently in the build? I think your project goes beyond simple gear-head classification . Glad to learn you still have a wife. How did you find time to have the kids? Welcome to the dark side. You know we love stories about projects such as yours. Looking forward to more pics as your project progresses. Full APU, full LED lights, including JW Speaker LED headlights. Probably 400 hours. My wife thinks it's great, I am never far from the house, not drinking at bars, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beyerjf Posted December 26, 2015 Report Share Posted December 26, 2015 You have a lot more energy than I have. Good luck. Jeff Beyer temporarily retired from Trailer Transit 2000 Freightliner Argosy Cabover 2008 Work and Play 34FK Homebase NW Indiana, no longer full time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NTPA Announcer Posted December 26, 2015 Report Share Posted December 26, 2015 That Sir looks fantastic !! Please keep us in pictures so we can watch this "one-of-a-kind" come alive. Congratulations, and as was said before Welcome to the dark side.... Denver and Ms Judy Geitgey 2006 VOLVO 780 41 ' Redwood NTPA Event Announcer dngeitgey@gmail.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greenacres Posted December 26, 2015 Report Share Posted December 26, 2015 I think I can hear another Johnny Cash song in the making. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noteven Posted December 27, 2015 Report Share Posted December 27, 2015 " Like " "Are we there yet?" asked no motorcycle rider, ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldRush Posted December 27, 2015 Report Share Posted December 27, 2015 Awesome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grendel Posted December 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 27, 2015 I think I can hear another Johnny Cash song in the making. One piece at a time works Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparky242 Posted December 27, 2015 Report Share Posted December 27, 2015 Very Cool! 2000 Volvo VNL 610 2011 Cedar Creek 36RE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCooter Posted December 27, 2015 Report Share Posted December 27, 2015 Awesome! Subscribed and looking forward to more updates. 1999 Peterbilt 385 C12 430/1650 13spd 2006 Dodge 3500 DRW 4x4 2010 Hitchhiker Champagne 36 LKRSB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Gell Posted December 27, 2015 Report Share Posted December 27, 2015 Wow! Please post lots of photos for us to drool over. I would also like to see it in person when you finish. Glad you joined us here on this forum. 2001 Volvo 770, Detroit 60 Series, Gen 2 Autoshift Passenger assist elevator to enter cab - for when we need it, or sell it? '05 Travel Supreme Select 40 RLQSO 5th wheel 2016 smart car We started full timing on December 1st 2014 Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness - Mark Twain Not all that wander are lost - J. R. R. Tolkien Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevekk Posted December 27, 2015 Report Share Posted December 27, 2015 Nice. I am subscribing too. Steve LIFETIME MEMBER 2011 Born Free Class C OR/ CA border NEWBIE, so I have everything to learn ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dblr Posted December 27, 2015 Report Share Posted December 27, 2015 Like everyone else, all I can say is WOW!!!!!!!! Now if it was only ready for the ECR what a way to show it off. Good luck and keep the pictures coming, great work. 2017 River Stone Legacy 38MB 2001 T2000 Kenworth 2009 Smart Passion ET Junior hitch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim & Wilma Posted December 27, 2015 Report Share Posted December 27, 2015 You came to the right group for therapy but you have a severe case and the treatment will require many sessions. Jim & Wilma 2006 Travel Supreme 36RLQSO 2009 Volvo VNL730, D13, I-shift, ET, Herrin Hauler bed, "Ruby" 2017 Smart Class of 2017 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Refuzn-To-Grow-Up Posted December 27, 2015 Report Share Posted December 27, 2015 They say the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem. This is where the problem comes in... I am a gear head. I can't have normal anything. Everything gets modified. I bought a dually crew cab Denali. Guess what, with five kids it's not that comfortable, even though it will tow just fine with it's 415hp 900ft lb Allison backed Duramax. Kids have to go to bathroom, get hungry, etc. Dog is not comfortable and I can't even seat everyone. DId I mention I can't have anything normal? I couldn't find a HDT I like. I sort of like Pete 379's but the sleepers are ho-hum. Grendel - Not meaning to hijack your post, but have you seen this post. http://www.rvnetwork.com/index.php?showtopic=112608 I, like you, have too many projects (but not enough time). Sadly, the GEAR HEAD RESTING PLACE has taken a "back seat" to all of my other projects, for now. BTW I love your project. I hope to see it some day, on the road or at a rally. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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