Greetings from Eastern PA

Hello to all,

New to this forum, not new to forums.

So the wife and I like RV-ing, and I like driving....just don't like much of the stuff they make these days.... too much plastic that just snaps off in your hand. Have a Chevvy 2500 with the Dmax and 6 speed Allison pulling a 30 foot travel trailer right now, but want to do it up right. I also have most of the tools known to man.....torches, grinders, wood working tools....you get the idea. Been building things all my life. So I want to do my own thing.....I know what it'll look like.

First phase is something fun to drive, with a 22' box on the back that will have short trip and on the road living in it for two people....with a real shower and a 20 gallon hot water heater....The back end will be the garage, for the stuff we carry around. With a rail lift to get it to the ground.

First we'll pull the travel trailer we have but then the second phase is to hang a 36 foot long 12 foot tall trailer behind it with living quarters for longer trips, also done up right by myself. You know, solid wood flooring, wood paneling......all the goodies. Something in the 20.000 pound range.

So I need something that's fun to drive, and will carry/pull a load. Trailer needs to be a tagger, otherwise I can't have the lift platform on the back of the truck.

Oh, did I mention I used to drive HDT's? Back in the old country I had the equivalent of a CDL, had it in my hand yesterday.....June 1982.... Time flies. Getting the US version now. Don't need it for work, plenty busy driving an aluminum tube around with wings and 184 people in the back.....In the end it's all trucking.....

So for starters I'm thinking something with around 400 horses, a BBC of around 112, with a 3.30 or so rear end, a NICE ####pit, and something under 500.000 miles.... Take the sleeper and fifth wheel off and sell them, put on a 22 foot box and marry it to the cab. Put some nice tool boxes all around, a genny and finish the inside.....

There is a budget, with kids in school and all, otherwise I'd be talking to the Show Hauler or Chariot design people now. Need to keep it at about 30K or less for the tractor.

Did I mention it has to be a nice truck? So a Pete it will be. After a lot of research, (I mean are they TRYING to get everyone confused with their model numbers?) I think I've settled on a 385....

Now the questions:

Some opinions on the 385? The C12/C13/C15 motors?
Is there a market for the sleeper? A used air slide fifth wheel hitch?
Can someone confirm that the sleeper is detachable from the cab? You know with a harmonica seal, not integrated?
Any other trucks that would fit my profile that I haven't noticed yet?

Anyone have a NICE one for sale?

Thanks in advance...!

 

94 views and no response......guess I'm in the wrong place....sorry to have bothered y'all