Need some opinions on Streching a Truck

I spec'd a 2008 389 with a 292" WB and a 20K steerable lift at the time. It was imperative to have the 100 gal. fuel tanks under the doors to get some weight on the steer axle and create room, but at 292" there was BARELY enough room for a set of 12" wide steps to get up on the deckplate. No APU on that one either. By the time I mounted the Minimizer full fenders and the steerable axle fenders, there was zero room for anything at 292" in between anything.

 

You could get away with rerouting the exhaust no problem, but I'm gonna say it's gonna be noisier than you'd like it to be. But with a lot of things in life, it's just a matter of getting used to it. When I get tired I can sleep next to the main rail tracks of the Orange Blossom Special and not hear it.

The trick is going to be getting everything you can moved forward and shortened up to get the wheelbase where you'll be happy...really no other choice.

You gonna rerail completely, or do a splice and just an inner liner so far each side of the splice?

 

Adding an other axle to the truck is easy,,if you add more than 14,000 on your steer you better be double framed from front bumper to the rear of the frame. Frames crack and break behind the cab and sleeper. Many 3 axle tractors with added lift axles have severe frame problems ..
When you raise the axle in tight turning situations all the weight is put on the drives,,they break when severely over loaded..

 

I just went to a 235wb from a 285wb. Just remember how much work it is to maneuver the long trucks. It totally depends on what you do with it, but although I miss the PETE, i don't miss the hassle of trying to get it in where it didn't want to fit.

 

A truck with a stretched frame has no resale value,,If you are hauling overweight you need a double frame and if putting a lot of weight on the steer you need double from the front bumper to the rear of the frame,,other wise one day your frame will break

 

By the numbers he listed above I figure that he has a 280"wb now. It's a bit short on a W9 in my opinion for a 4 axle. Mine is 300"wb and is just long enough, with full stainless fenders over each set of wheels, there is just enough room for a step to get up on the cat walk. With the 5th wheel all the way ahead I am at 78'5" bumper to bumper.

 

my 08 four axle pete was orderdd with a 315wb,, with 5ft axle spacing on the tridum,,,gave me 60K on a permit in most states on the tridum,
also was double 115/8 frame from front bumper to rear of frame..tractor weighed 28,000lbs

 

no had 150 on one side and cut the other down to about 135 leaving room for an APU it was an extended hood 379
Axle space on the tractor was , double fame has no effect on fuel tank size,my tanks were mounted under the sleeper

Little secret when ordering a tractor to haul overweight 3 or 4 axle order double fuel tank straps,


1 to 2 18ft 4in
2 to 3 5ft
3 to 4 5ft

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