So I was watching an episode of "American Trucker" (yeah, I know the host is overbearing, but it's still kind of an interesting show) on the computer the other night...
And one of the episodes he mentioned coffin sleepers. Now, as I understood it, this often refers to a very small sleeper behind the cab (and he was in a scrapyard next to one of these type of units, IIRC). But then he said they were called coffin sleepers because they were introduced as sleepers HUNG UNDER THE TRAILER and that a driver would sleep in one while his codriver drove for his portion and that they weren't the safest due to road debris, CO poisoning, and a lack of crash protection. Is the guy just a bit mistaken or was this mad idea actually implemented?
I tried to do some research but couldn't narrow anything down. Did come across some info about sleepers in the nose of a trailer, but nothing about sleepers hung under a trailer.
Coffin sleeper/historical question
Discussion in 'Questions To Truckers From The General Public' started by Avenger29, Jul 7, 2011.
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Maybe someone much older then me may know the correct answer, but with length laws being restrictive like they were I wouldn't doubt that such a setup was attempted at one time.
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I kind of remember something about that. I think if it was, it would have been waaaaaaaay back in the 30's possibly. But not sure.
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In the old days, a coffin sleeper was one that was 24" wide and approx 36" tall. It was mounted behind the cab of the truck and level with the top ofthe cab. There was no access from the cab directly. You had to climb up into it thru a door in the side, located on the passenger side end.
You had no way to communicate with the driver while you were in the sleeper and he couldn't tell you when he was going to jump when the brakes failed going down a 6% grade, on a two lane road, in western states in the 50"s.
Ergo "COFFIN". -
My first team run in1975 was in a 48 kw with what was called a coffin sleeper.It was 30inches long and you crawled thru a hole where small window used to be. You used to kind of fall down to the mattress and it was attached with 4 bolts. No heat or air and first trip was to nogales az. Never heard of one under trailer.
allniter Thanks this. -
You might get in touch with the American Truck Historical Society.
http://www.aths.org/
There might be an old timer there who could answer your question and fill in some details. If there is, I'd like to hear his answer. -
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There were sleeper compartments in the bottom nose of trailers years ago. I have seen several pictures, but never one in person. There are several pictures of these with drivers waving out the door at the C Grier Beam museum in Cherryville, NC. Nice place to visit if you're ever in the area.
He was the founder of Carolina Freight, and this is the Beam/Carolina Freight museum.
http://beamtruckmuseum.com/trucks.htmroshea, Saddletramp1200 and allniter Thank this. -
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOGVBsgwJEc[/ame]
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Snailexpress, wore out, allniter and 6 others Thank this.
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