If you could improve anything about the interior of your semi truck what would it be?

Discussion in 'Questions To Truckers From The General Public' started by Semi Truck Designer, Sep 23, 2010.

  1. Swaps

    Swaps Heavy Load Member

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    How about a condo style sleeper, but w/o the 2nd bunk. Use that space for more secure storage so we can actually carry a week or twos worth of groceries w/o encroaching on clothes storage. I also like the HUD display for speed, tach and some other important guages like water temp etc. I was thinking to myself that I'm sitting so high up, yet to check my speed I need to look down at quite an angle that it really does take my eyes off the road for a longer period of time then it should. I actually just use my GPS for my speed. It's at eye level, plus it's a lot more accurate then the old speedo.

    How about better padding in the seat too. It might just be because the truck I'm in is 10 years old, but the seat is pretty thin, even with another pad on the seat, my rear is pretty sore after 8-9-10 hours of driving.

    Hell, can't they just make a truck that we can drive while laying down in the sleeper! I mean, it's 2010 already!! ;)

    It would be nice to have a small biffy in a truck, but how would you squeeze it in. And how long before truck stops would have facilities to drain them? Nothing is more annoying then waking up in the middle of the night because of a 'natural urgency' having to get dressed, put shoes on, walk from the truck to the rest room.

    I guess I could be an inconsiderate, dirty, nasty trucker and just piss in the parking lot, but i can't bring myself to do it.
    A friend of mine mentioned last week that a trucker decided that the fuel island was a good enough place to relieve the pressure. That is unbelievably inconsiderate.
     
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  3. liteguy

    liteguy Light Load Member

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    How bout having the walls of the sleeper slide out like an RV. This makes a world of difference, I had a double slide Rv. It only needs to slide out a few feet on each side to make a huge difference! Maybe an easy chair to watch tv?:biggrin_255:
     
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  4. ChromeDome

    ChromeDome Road Train Member

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    Sure, a good old bump out to make the truck too wide for the parking space, and so that the driver backing in next to you will have something else to hit.
    The most you would be able to bump out is about even with the mirrors. I do not really think that would be enough to make any difference, and would raise the price of a truck by at least 2-4 grand.
    Not worth it in my book for extra 2 feet with both sides out.
     
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  5. Semi Truck Designer

    Semi Truck Designer Bobtail Member

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    Detroit, Mi
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    Thanks again everyone for all your help. Steve and I climbed all over some Volvos yesterday and have learned a lot about the space we have to work with.

    We know a double bed is too big.
    We know that plumbing for a sink or toilet adds weight.
    We don't understand why the passenger seat is as heavy as the driver's seat.
    Theres no reason that a fridge can't be next to the driver's seat, so long as the dorr doesn't interfere with the shifter.
    And we know there is a ton of un-used space up high in the sleeper.

    What we would like to know from you if you have some time this week:

    If you had an electric stove, would you prefer it outside? Thinking of the grease and the smells, and then trying to sleep right next to where you were just cooking. Especially in winter when its too cold to air out the smells.

    What kind of truckers are there? We may be wrong, but it seems the truckers we meet are less eager for changes than those of you online. Is there a difference between truckers who use the internet being ready for design changes, and those who don't use the internet liking truck interiors the way they are? Or is it just easier to open up about what you don't like when its not face to face?

    As far as comfort, we know truck manufacturers generally don't have the capital to use a lot of leathers and woods, etc. We know we've generalized truckers by thinking that everyone likes the old west and wants their truck to remind them of the ol' ranch. If that is the case tell us, if it isn't the case for you, tell us what you like in materials and maybe even some examples of homes, cars, clothes, anything you like.

    How much desk space does the average person want? In trucks, like in boats. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. When we add one thing we lose storage space for another. Here is a list of what we still think we can fit:

    Single bed and bunk
    Small refrigerator by driver
    Microwave
    Flat screen on hinge with storage behind
    Fold down electric stove top
    Table on back of passenger seat's back/stow and go style passenger seat.
    Hanging closet
    Paperwork file system on dashboard
    2-3 fold out desks
    More screens for gauges than regular analog gauges
    Arm rests on the steering wheel
    Removable trash bin
    Modular shelves and dividers, can be used to alter the space given, depending on what you want to store where.

    Tell us what is priority for you, especially if it wasn't just mentioned. And if you don't want something that is on the list, tell us that too.

    Thanks again everyone. -Robert
     
  6. RenegadeTrucker

    RenegadeTrucker Road Train Member

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    I am going to put my vote in against the screens for the gages and the stove top.

    Here is why, with a stove top, if the truck catches on fire from some one's cooking, and it is something that was original equipment, then you are going to be held liable. As well I can tell you id never use one. Ever. Why, you dont have the place to clean up your pots and pans with out having plumbing, I dont know about you but I dont want to wash my dishes in the bathroom sink where some trucker just got done washing hands after floggin the one eyed gopher. Thus the stove is impractical, and would wind up wasted space.

    The digital dash, while a good possible option is something I would not buy, the reason is, if it goes out, the cost of repairing/replacing it is going to be huge as compared to the cost of replacing an analog gage.

    You are talking the difference between a gage that costs 25-150.00 and a screen that could very well cost close to 1000.00

    I do not have faith in a sensative piece of electronics like that to live a long happy life, expecially in a truck with a setback steer axle because this truck will absorb much more vibration from the road.

    When I was in the NAVY they taught us a principal called KISS or Keep It Simple Stupid! Dont go over complicating a truck interior, and you dont have to make it all woodgrain and leather either. The Vynil that Kenworth uses is Quality, and lasts a long time and is cost effective, it is much warmer, and much easier to find in the color you need than about any other material. The plus side is you can build insulation right into that upholstery.

    Also, make sure your interior is avalable in Black and in Red, why? the previous comment about haze gray is pretty spot on, it is a depressing color, red at night with a low ambient light is very comfortable, the same goes for black and tan. Most of the driver comfort is going to come from the layout and the color of the interior.

    The best thing you can do if at all possible is design a sleeper with a lower bunk that folds up into a dinette, then have the option for a upper bunk or cabinets above it. You will get more mileage out of this than any other single feature.

    Speaking from my experince on my next truck it will be a Kenworth W900L with an 86" studio sleeper, I am removing the factory couch because it is a seething pos, and I will be building a bunk as I described before, with cabinets overhead, so when it is folded up and the dinette is being used, I still have access to all the storage space above.

    As well it will be nice because I will be able to fold up the dinette table and have enough room in the sleeper to do pushups and situps and help myself stay in shape. I am also going to install my tv mount between the 2 windows on the front of the sleeper, it is a great place out of the way, can be seen from both seats at the dinette, and I will still be able to see it in bed, actually it will be easier on my neck because it will be angled down instead of up high and perfectly vertical.

    When you are doing your design, I highly recomend that you mock up what the sleeping position will be, and then set your tv at where the position for it will be in your sleeper, and see how long it takes for your neck to start hurting while trying to watch it. It will give you a whole new outlook on making things in the sleeper work.
     
  7. blackw900

    blackw900 The Grandfather of Flatbed

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    I had a sink in my old Western Star in the late 80's and it was nice to be able to shave and was up before going into a customer.
    I weighed almost nothing.

    Try sitting in a cheap seat for a few hundred miles and let us know how it works out for you!


    I can think of a few reasons...

    There are morons out here now that can't seem to concentrate on their driving witout the added distraction of having a refrigerator to root around in while they're driving!

    Another reason is...There are so many drivers that are so stinkin' fat from inactivity that it seems patently absurd to put a refrigerator right next to them so they have even less incentive to get off their ### and walk inside for a few minutes!

    If you put a refrigerator next to the driver, Maybe you ought to consider mounting a scooter on a ramp just outside the drivers door so they can roll around the truck to do a pretrip or possibly a casket on rollers instead of a sleeper mattress so we can just roll them out of the truck when they die of a heart attack instead of having to lift them out through the cab like we've seen in truckstops before when some guy suffocates under his own weight in the sleeper.




    Yeah...Because a cookout is always such fun in Minnesota in January!

    A lot of these guys crap in buckets in their sleepers...Something tells me that the smell of a can of beenie weenie cookin' isn't gonna bother them!

    Some of us are a little more realistic about what really needs to be in the truck and what doesn't.


    I've owned a lot of trucks...But I can't remember ever having one that reminded me of the "old ranch"...

    Maybe some guys like to put on a little yellow sun dress and cruise the parking lot trollin' for bus fare home...But most of us want to just have a clean simple interior with some practical tools and comforts without adding a bunch of useless crap to the truck that'll just break and become dead weight and added expense without really being beneficial to the driver.

    Enough to do a little paperwork on without sacraficing too much space and usability in another area...The desk in my Kenworth ids just fine and folds up inside the cabinaet door completely out of the way when not in use.

    Oh...You mean just like we already have?


    Useless!

    Many of us already have them.

    One of the few useful ideas that I've seen here.

    With the IQ of most company drivers these days...I see this becoming a rash of tucks burning down in truckstops and rest areas.

    Useless!

    I haven't seen a truck without one of these in years!

    YUK!

    WHY!

    More expensive technology to crumble and break and cost us a fortune to repair.

    This is a very bad idea!


    Possibly a good idea.


    A good idea...

    [/QUOTE]
     
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  8. DesignerKelly

    DesignerKelly Bobtail Member

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    Oct 1, 2010
    Detroit, MI
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    Hi Guys!

    I am also a design student. I am in the same class as Robert and Steve who you have been blogging with. If I can join in, I have a couple questions to add! I am looking to design a cab that encourages exercise. What are your thoughts on that? Do you currently exercise? What would you to do so? Also, do you prefer a large comfortable bed that takes up a lot of room or a more compact bed that is possibly not as comfortable? Thanks so much for the feedback!

    -Kelly
     
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  9. RenegadeTrucker

    RenegadeTrucker Road Train Member

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    Putting a small uncomfortable bed in my truck is a sure fire way to ensure that if I meet you it wont be pleasant, 2 of the most essential things you do in a truck are drive and sleep, everthing else is pretty much a secondary function.

    Give me 2 comfotable top of the line seats up front because my behind is going to be planted in one of em for 11 hours a day when driving, and several when sitting still.

    As far as excercise goes, it is called getting out of the truck and taking a walk, it is called a sleeper for a reason. It is not a gymnasium, a Kitchen, a potty, its a sleeper.

    The reason so many have migrated towards wanting the ammenities of home in thier trucks is because some of the truckstops have become so craptastic.

    Your priorities when deisgning are just as I have outlined above, while fitting good storage in around it.

    You really want to do something productive that will help a driver out, under the drivers side door, put a compartment there for his fire extinguisher, and on the other side a compartment that will hold your triangles, flares and a first aid kit. All the crap we are required to carry but hardly ever use so you can free up the space in the bunk storage for things we actually use on a regular basis.
     
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  10. Semi Truck Designer

    Semi Truck Designer Bobtail Member

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    Sep 23, 2010
    Detroit, Mi
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    [/QUOTE]

    Thanks for the answers everyone, its what we really need to figure things out and make an interior that will work for everyone. More like blackw900! We've spent the last four years of school learning how to take criticism its what we do and helps immensely in creating a better design. blackw900: You really helped narrow down what we need and what we need to get rid of.
     
  11. DesignerKelly

    DesignerKelly Bobtail Member

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    Detroit, MI
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    Thanks MRBEAST! All of that information is great. Much appreciated!
     
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