just started another project;
turning this sleek 2002 Pete 387 (C15, Autoshift) into a (36' overall) motorhome https://www.truckhome.com/infopop/emo...on_biggrin.gif
https://conversion.sandcentral.net/ma...serialNumber=2

https://conversion.sandcentral.net/ma...serialNumber=2

here is a computer generated pic of how it will look like when finished :
https://conversion.sandcentral.net/ma...serialNumber=2

for more pics click here https://www.truckhome.com/infopop/emo.../icon_wink.gif

Nice pics... do I see correct there are 2 stories? Whats the overall height and whats the height of the upper deck? Is that really low for sleeping only?

I do like the 36 overall lenght. short and easy.

goig to look sweet all rounded...

Thats one fine looking truck spooner! Can't wait to see pictures of this one finished...actually I'm still waiting on pictures of the other one!

How about setting a webcam up in your shop, looks like there'd always be something to see on it!

WallyK
yes, 2 stories (actualy 1 1/2 https://www.truckhome.com/infopop/emo.../icon_razz.gif):
the front of the conversion frame is very low profile (5" step down from cab floor) and the rear part with the side entry/mudroom and bathroom/toilette is lowered by another two steps (18") with flat gray (100 gallons) and black (40 gallons) tanks under it (10")
the master (kingsize) bed will be over the 84" high bathroom and will have 40" ceiling height and stairs leading up to it.
the J-sofa in the front can be converted to a bed and there is also a 32"x 80" bunkbed with 36" ceiling height over it. one more bunk bed will be on top of the storage cabinets on the other side of the kitchen.
the roof (~13'2" tall) is completely flat with nothing on it; the truck will have two basement AC units and a basement mounted (and diesel fueled) "Aquahot" heat and hot water unit.
not sure right now but maybe one of the new "ultra flat" self tracking sat dishes (IIRC only 5" tall) will be in a small well in the rear.
fresh water storage is 150 gallon and there will also be another grey tank for the kitchen sink.

here is the rough floorplan:
387 floorplan (click on it for a larger pic)
very unusual https://www.truckhome.com/infopop/emo...on_biggrin.gif

Wow.. had to read your post like 3 times and look at the floorplan to get it all.

Questions:
The master is open to below or enclosed?
As it seems you drop the whole coach, is there still basement storage after all the tanks, A/Cs and Aquahot?
You going all electric or keep small LPG just for cook top?
Seems the inside in the front area where there is no second story for master must be really high. What about A/C and heat and insulation?

Last question - when is it ready so I can order mine? https://www.truckhome.com/infopop/emo...icon_smile.gif

spooner, thats real similar in a lot of ways to my kingsley. the c15 with the autoshift is the same as mine, what rear gear will it have? ours is a 3.08 and it's killer, IMHO, our mileage on the trip this past summer was around 9.00 mpg. can't wait to see how it goes. ---- mase

WOOOOOOOOOOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I have to stop looking at these type of very HIGH QUALITY conversions and be happy with what I have. VERY VERY NICE !!!!!!!

Mr.Spooner, Just wondering is it around 500K

oh no .... its a lot less https://www.truckhome.com/infopop/emo.../icon_razz.gif
...it depends on things like the truck used as a base, size of diesel genset, style of waterheater (the diesel "Aquahot" water and room heater is $6k+ alone https://www.truckhome.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif ) size and style of AC,.....this one will be well under $200k https://www.truckhome.com/infopop/emo.../icon_wink.gif

spooner, the price is one place where yours and mine really differ. mine was a bunch more. but thats a good thing for you and those buying from you. i'm impressed/depressed!--- mase

WalliK
right now the plan for the masterbed is to have it open (SS railing for safety) with only a small wall in the area of the bunk bed. may change when we get closer to building that area.
remember, this is not a truck for full-time camping; it is more like a high mobile (and fast moving https://www.truckhome.com/infopop/emo...on_biggrin.gif ) toy hauling weekend house (will get a matching ~25' enclosed trailer for the toys)
the owner is a good friend and customer of us (he already has a LS1 powered dune buggy from us) so the truck will see a lot of dirt/desert roads and camping next to sand dunes. thats the reason why there is no slideouts; they are too much trouble.
there is not much basement storage left...but there is lots of storage room in the inside and in the trailer for extra stuff.
there will be two LPG tanks for the cooktop (regular home style and not one of the small RV ones) and the doubledoor fridge.
most likely we will run 2-4 solar panels flat on the roof (lots of free solarpower in the desert https://www.truckhome.com/infopop/emo.../icon_wink.gif), a 2.5kw Xantrex inverter and a 7.5kw diesel generator.
yes, the inside will be very roomy . 9' ceiling height and the finished inside will be 96" wide (100" outside)
the floor and roof have 2" and the walls have 1.5" insulation. the diesel "Aquahot" is not only a continuous/on-demand water heater; it has also 2 heating outputs for up to 6 heat exchangers that can be placed everywhere for multible-zone heating (check it out at
for cooling we will run two basement 14000 btu straight cooling AC units.
we will also reuse the factory sleeper HVAC unit (ducted to the passenger seats in the rear)

you can order yours anytime https://www.truckhome.com/infopop/emo.../icon_razz.gif... just bring me a used "387" https://www.truckhome.com/infopop/emo...on_biggrin.gif

Vapoppa
this one is not as fast as yours https://www.truckhome.com/infopop/emo.../icon_razz.gif
she has 3.55 and the very plush "Pete low air leaf" rears...will cruise at 1300 rpm/65mph.

we need to have the Autoshift reprogrammed for RV use (starts in 2nd and does not skip gears) but thats no big deal
i love the C15; easy hits 75mph on a average highway on-ramp https://www.truckhome.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif https://www.truckhome.com/infopop/emo...on_biggrin.gif (IMHO very important here in AZ where the trucks drive 75+mph)

Yea, that and another about 140K....

Thanks for detailed info.

As you mentioned the truck will spend most of its time with trailer and in desert, why did you remove the twin? Needed more basement space? Or you do not need the extra traction and rear axle capacity?

Yea, that and another about 140K....

Thanks for detailed info.

As you mentioned the truck will spend most of its time with trailer and in desert, why did you remove the twin? Needed more basement space? Or you do not need the extra traction and rear axle capacity? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
WalliK
we can also build you just the bare shell and you build the inside yourself https://www.truckhome.com/infopop/emo.../icon_wink.gif https://www.truckhome.com/infopop/emo...on_biggrin.gif

we dropped the twin for many reasons;
-the truck will be fairly short (35-36') and light (no slideouts) so the 12k front and one 20k rear are fine
-regular CA "class C" DL legal (for a 3 axle RV you need a "non commercial class A" CDL)
-space and weight (a axle is ~2000+lbs and with the lowered rear we need the extra basement space)
-trailer will be a lightweight toybox (reg. CA DL max legal trailer weight is 10000lbs...15000lbs with "non commercial" CDL)

the goal on this truck is to have a safe, fast (outside CA https://www.truckhome.com/infopop/emo.../icon_razz.gif ) and somewhat nimble truck/moho that can tow the toybox up and down (3 stage Jakebrake https://www.truckhome.com/infopop/emo.../icon_wink.gif ) the 6%+ grades here in the west like its flat ground.
we travel a lot together with the owner to places like Corral Pink dunes UT and Little Sahara dunes UT...his MDT (GMC 7500/C7/allison) was just not up to it in speed and ride comfort. (IMHO MDTs are a waste of money...skip them and go straight to a HDT https://www.truckhome.com/infopop/emo.../icon_wink.gif )

spooner, ours is 39'- 6" oal. are you going to add skip shifting or have it blocked? i'm crazy 'bout mine. the handling is going to be very good, IMHO, mine drives great and is not awful in town. the tandem would have added 50 to 60 inches of space in the wheel wells wouldn't it? yours is probably the best looking coach i've ever seen. no offense, bill, or anybody else for that matter.---- mase

IMHO MDTs are a waste of money...skip them and go straight to a HDT https://www.truckhome.com/infopop/emo.../icon_wink.gif

AMEN, Bro'!! Especially since HDT's can usually be had for the same or LESS money! It's a no-brainer....

Vapoppa
thank you, i realy appreciate it https://www.truckhome.com/infopop/emo.../icon_cool.gif
the whole project would not be possible without the trust of the truck owners; our friends and customers Kim & Roland https://www.truckhome.com/infopop/emo...icon_smile.gif .
the truck is a prototype and we have some very unusual ideas for it https://www.truckhome.com/infopop/emo.../icon_wink.gif .... it takes guts to give your truck to somebody with a cut-off grinder in one hand and a sawzall in the other https://www.truckhome.com/infopop/emo...on_biggrin.gif

Gary
why didnt you tell me that 4 years ago when we did the mistake and got that international 4900 MDT https://www.truckhome.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_mad.gif


J/K https://www.truckhome.com/infopop/emo.../icon_razz.gif https://www.truckhome.com/infopop/emo...on_biggrin.gif

Sorry, man, but four years ago I would have made the same mistake!?!? We all learn with time... and more time..... and more time.....;-)
I see, though, that you're making a brilliant recovery. That 387 is gonna be NICE! I'm gonna have to see that sucker IN PERSON when it's done! Your pic of the "completed" rig is inspiration for what I am still "dreamwheeling". Keep us updated on all doings in this regard.
Gary

So would you guys consider the M2 a MDT or HDT?

They can be either class 7 or 8 from what I understand. Im sure the M2 112 is HD (comes with MB 4000 engine as well), but already close to the CL 112 in size then.

So the M2 106 is ....???

still a bit smaller but i didn't care for that long nose with the big engine. The columbia slope is much easier to see the front with

..........TAAAADAAAAAA!....Medium.
There you have it......

Ok, Ok... so I will skip the M2 and go right away to the CL or Pete or....

Would not want to make the same mistake that you guys made. https://www.truckhome.com/infopop/emo...n_rolleyes.gif

but then again, Bill seems to be very happy with his

Spooner

If I understood right you will build this unit as an empty shell. We are currently sub-contracting that work to a Northern MN fabricator. i wold be interested in talking to you about building these for some of our customers. If you have any interest in working with us please contact me. My contact information is on our website.

www.toolsetmotorhomes.com

Thanks, Tony

Spooner
What more can you tell me about these basement A/C units that plan on using? Have you used these before? Have you had good luck with them? How hard is the upkeep on these units? Who makes them? How much room do they take up?

Thanks for the info.

To be honest, if I had to do it over again I would probably go with the Pete or Columbia but with a 6 speed Allison automatic versus the 12 speed Meritor. Unless they turn my motor up and then it maybe a different story.

The only problem with the big trucks is that your over head bunk is pretty much useless, so you would need to make it storage or even better make is aero looking like Spooner and storage.

BTW the basement air/heat pump units are in pretty much all of the Winnebago's. The only issue is the loss of storage. If you could put a unit in between the frame rails near the rear you would be golden.

How come? Everywhere (incl. on here) I hear people raving about the 12 sp Meritor.

Don't get me wrong the Meritor is a huge advancement over the manual tranny (although many still love to jam gears) But the 6 speed automatic is so much smoother. This is not a big deal for the driver, but put passenger in back and a jerking tranny will make even the best passenger motion sick in stop and go traffic.

If your conversion is all business than the Meritor is the way to go. But if your hauling passenger and your rig is setup for travel and fun the Allison auto is the only way to go.

.....an A/C unite between the frame rails is a PIA to service-and requires and extra fan/leaking hoses still get rid of the heat so a side facing condensor w/electric fan is required....shooting the hot air down or back would lead to overheating IMO.....A/C is tricky now days because the new freons are not as efficient as the R-12 and don't give up heat as easily......I'd hate to service one under a RV....I'd have to get $90 an hour to even diag. it -compressor change out for a 30,000btu unite would be 4.5 hours plus parts....I perfer the drawer unites like bus unites have....they slide out and you can service them sitting on a chair or stool....complete change out takes about 1.2 hours total....airplanes have a complete package and I have talked those up for 2 years at HVAC meetings....for the RV market and also the MD and HD trucking markets.....but anything convenient means less money for repair shops and everybody in the business is against that....I'd like to see a A/C unite with a generator-12dc/4dc-110vac and A/C compressor driven by a small gasoline engine on a drawer slide with a engine powered evap fan....similar to the anti-idling unites that are usually diesel powered and priced at about 1000% markup....after all a 9000btu Window A/C and a Generac generator at Home Depot is only $1400 including a heat coil.....so $7000+ for a trucking unite is stealing without a gun or gym shoes......AND any system you can't change out is an expensive unite to service.....allmotels have a slide out unite with heat-A/CVentulation connected to 220vac for about $675 a unite and it is a idiots job to change them out....most unites die of overheating because of poor maintenance/filter changes/gun shots.....geofkaye

Photoguy,
Go to : Tundra A/C and check it out. Mine so far has benn doing great.

Wick

....Dometic is a good unite I use them on top of my trailer with an inside apartment chiller unite if I need to really cool down.....my over head unites coat $500 each and the apartment unite is $300 I dont have the ocst of the under side unite but I believe it is $1700 plus labor/install and a freon charge.....geofkaye

Geof,
The Tundra unit I put in was about $4,000. but it came with freon and quick connect lines. It was pricey but it was exactly what I was looking for and was the perfect size....I don't remember the cost of the units on the roof on my conversion but I doubt I payed as little as you did...maybe next time I can get them from you or your source.....

Wick

Hi everyone. I was searching the web and funny how I came across this. I'm bringing this thread back from the dead. I'm the owner of the pete 387. I will try to start a new thread and post pics.

Pics from spooner is down, probably because he couldn't afford internet service anymore.:rolleyes: