Why Do moving companies have so many custom super sleepers?

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by PermanentTourist, Feb 3, 2021.

  1. staceydude

    staceydude Road Train Member

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    A lot of the super sleepers are only 120-140”... that is only 5-7 feet longer depending on wheelbase.
    I would love to have one. I hate Truckstop showers.
    I looked real hard at one for sale when I was truck shopping. If not for some motor issues I would have bought it.
    I was in the military (Navy) so I can sleep in some confined areas easily. I could get away with a 36” as far as snoozing goes. The shower and potty in these things is a game changer for a lot of guys.
    @blairandgretchen has a nice one that is perfect in my opinion.

    There are definitely some crazy ones out there that are probably overkill but to each his own.
     
  2. rachi

    rachi Road Train Member

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    Those guys can get away with the huge sleepers bacause the household goods loads are light, compared to what everybody else hauls. No reefer hauler could have a sleeper like that.
     
  3. not4hire

    not4hire Road Train Member

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    They're often making money on both ends too. Charging for packing, loading, unloading, unpacking (sometimes with local crews moving co./they hire, etc.) so it isn't just driving. Makes for long days and can't always be near a truck stop (yay!).
     
  4. blairandgretchen

    blairandgretchen Road Train Member

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    I bought mine for $45k, it’s a 95, old but functional. Yes, the new ones are high $, but so are new trucks.

    I often park at sites that have zero amenities. Often times I’m oversized and taking up a lot of room anyway.

    120” is plenty. Regular truck manufacturers could pack the same features into an 80” bunk, but fleets aren’t generally interested in drivers comfort, and added price would probably kill sales.

    I save a lot on groceries - and eat as healthy as I want. Full size generator runs space and block heater, charges batteries and runs AC rooftop in summer.

    I realize they’re not for everyone, but suits me fine.
    5F7A5F72-9654-428A-A964-5593059803CF.jpeg
     
  5. staceydude

    staceydude Road Train Member

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    I’m just waiting for you to say you need a 63” sleeper and you miss truck stop showers to “come get this thing” outta your shop! Lolol

     
    blairandgretchen Thanks this.
  6. black_dog106

    black_dog106 Road Train Member

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    blairandgretchen, what is your tractor weight full of groceries, water, fuel etc?
     
    Last edited: Feb 3, 2021
  7. Sharky88

    Sharky88 Heavy Load Member

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    Lmao you think we don't take off????? Most of us take off from just after Thanksgiving until mid January. Heck I've been off from December12 and am just now going back to work. Oh and btw I also take 3 weeks in August. I also get home every 3-4 weeks for a couple of days

    Now lets get into numbers. How much are these trucks? Average is $270k for a brand new one. That is stock if you want custom look in the $ 300k range. Savings well I eat a whole lot better and cheaper. I spend around $175 a month th for food, a lot cheaper then eating in the truck stops. Then there is the shower. Its really nice to take a shower whenever you like with no wait or after some knot head halfway cleans it.

    Look for the most part most drivers can't afford a truck like that. Nor can they take the weight needed for general freight. These are specialty truck used by drivers doing special things. For household drivers they can sit for a week or more waiting to load or unload because the shipper hasn't closed on a house or arrived or what ever. Its nice to be able to not have to spend $100 or more a day for a hotel. For the special commodities guys (that's me). We may be sitting at a marshaling yard for a few days waiting for a show to break or what ever.

    These trucks are tools made to do a job. Why not be comfortable doing it
     
    Last edited: Feb 3, 2021
  8. SteveScott

    SteveScott Road Train Member

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    Packing and unloading a house can sometimes take 1-2 days or more, and you have to park in odd areas where there isn't a motel near by or a truck stop. I remember when my family moved across country in the late 70's, and the Mayflower truck had to park a couple miles away and they had to shuttle the furniture on box trucks from the trailer to our house because of tight turns and a narrow driveway. It took 3 days, and that truck was just a cabover with a single bunk. The guy had to live there the entire time.
     
  9. Sharky88

    Sharky88 Heavy Load Member

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    Your right and also wrong. Our trailers are heavy really heavy compared to freight trailers. Even when I had a standard truck I could only haul around 29500 lbs on my spread axle climate trailer. My empty weight was 50500lbs. Most household guys can only haul 28k or so because of all the equipment
     
  10. kemosabi49

    kemosabi49 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    I ran an FLD120 with a crane trailer for NAVL and could just get on 31,500. Sometime I would have to crawl over everything in the trailer to move to crane where I needed it to axle out. Those Kentucky trailer are stout to begin with and then there is a lot of equipment carried too.