Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/925196
January 2018 | Overdrive | 33 section, and parents' quarters in the front. When a new-truck buyer wants a custom sleeper, the sleeper shop works closely with the truck dealers to ensure proper placement and specs for the wheelbase, frame rails, etc. All financing, includ- ing for the sleeper, is done through the truck dealer. On an existing truck, the sleeper shop works with whomever stretches the wheel- base to ensure the addition fits properly. ICT's sleepers start at 36 inches but have ranged to 210 inches. ARI's Legacy II sleepers range from 96 to 168 inches. The largest sleeper they've done, Miller says, was 268 inches. Adding a custom sleeper can take six weeks to three months, customizers say, though some truck dealers stock new and used trucks with custom sleep- ers, ARI says. "We have dealers that keep between three and 10 units in stock at a time," Miller says. "They're built in the same manner as if you walked into our front door and ordered one. They're well-spec'd and ready to go." Milham says one of the most-requested features in recent years has been two- burner stove tops, sought by drivers interested in cooking lots of their own meals, often for health reasons. Cabinet space also is in big demand, and many customers will sac- rifice features, such as a larger bed, to have more cabinets. Most drivers also choose to have an in-motion satellite TV The big price tag isn't the only thing to give pause to a prospec- tive custom sleeper buyer. The longer wheelbase and extra weight not only hurt fuel economy, they also can be problematic for certain applications. Greg Swafford says he doesn't run into New York City because of the difficulty of maneuvering his Western Star 5700 with a 132-inch sleeper. Also, laws in Canada restrict tractor-trailers to 75.5 feet, which leaves only 270 inches for the tractor's wheel- base when coupled with a 53-foot trailer. If you tend to max out your weight when loaded, consider how much a custom sleeper will reduce your capacity. The average factory sleeper weighs around 1,500 pounds, ARI's John Miller says. A 156-inch sleeper, which he says is currently the com- pany's most popular size, would bring the sleeper total to about 5,000 pounds. ICT's Tommy Milham says drivers can control weight by picking lighter features such as aluminum cabinets with a vinyl cover instead of solid wood cabinets, or by skipping options such as a second water tank, which many husband-wife teams prefer so they can go longer between water refills. CONSIDER LENGTH AND WEIGHT Dan and Joy Kelly's custom ARI sleeper in their 2013 Volvo features a dining booth area, which converts to a bed when the bunk folds down from the wall. It also has a sink, two- burner stove, large refrigerator with separate freezer, shower and toilet. Indiana Custom Trucks builds approximately 90 percent of its sleepers to custom specifications from owner-operators.