Semi-Truck Fitted With Airstream Sleeper

2004 - Volume #28, Issue #3, Page #02

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When Tom Warren drives across the country in his GMC semi, he travels in style, thanks to the Airstream "sleeper" he mounted on back of the truck.
"You can buy a motor home and end up with it overloaded, not enough power and not enough braking," explains Warren. "This is awesome to drive. You have all the power you need, a good ride, Jake brakes and a 13-speed transmission. Not counting labor, I probably have less than $20,000 in it."
The 1976 GMC had been rebuilt shortly before Warren bought it. It had a big Cummins engine in it, all new tires and wheels, and a new Peterbuilt Air Ride suspension. While the truck already had a walk-in sleeper, Warren wanted even more room for his cross-country runs. An ad for a 1972 26-ft. Airstream suggested a solution. For $2,500, he got a trailer with everything in good shape and working order.
Mounting it was relatively easy for Warren. He has been converting buses for 40 years and restoring vehicles of all types for 30 years. He began by stripping off the sleeper and fifth wheel from the truck and extending the frame by 10 ft. to carry the Airstream.
"I built a 36-in. wide subframe and attached it to the trailer frame," says Warren. "The subframe is mounted to the truck frame on bushings, allowing it to flex."
Skirtings on the Airstream are also mounted to the subframe. At the rear of the Airstream, a 1-in. gap separates the trailer from storage compartments and holding tanks as well as a power generator for the heater and air conditioner. Standard trailers can be hooked on or Warren can flip a panel and hook up a gooseneck trailer.
Warren cut a doorway in the cab end of the Airstream and connected it to the cab with a rubber boot. "We can go between the cab and the trailer just like going into a walk-in sleeper," he says.
Wherever he goes with the big (24,000 lbs.) 38-ft. long rig, Warren attracts attention. "I have had people follow for miles, passing 8 to 10 times just to look at it," he says.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Tom Warren, 1620 S. Johnson, Amarillo, Texas 79102 (ph 806 374-3056).

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Semi-Truck Fitted With Airstream Sleeper TRUCKS Modifications 28-3-2 When Tom Warren drives across the country in his GMC semi, he travels in style, thanks to the Airstream "sleeper" he mounted on back of the truck. "You can buy a motor home and end up with it overloaded, not enough power and not enough braking," explains Warren. "This is awesome to drive. You have all the power you need, a good ride, Jake brakes and a 13-speed transmission. Not counting labor, I probably have less than $20,000 in it." The 1976 GMC had been rebuilt shortly before Warren bought it. It had a big Cummins engine in it, all new tires and wheels, and a new Peterbuilt Air Ride suspension. While the truck already had a walk-in sleeper, Warren wanted even more room for his cross-country runs. An ad for a 1972 26-ft. Airstream suggested a solution. For $2,500, he got a trailer with everything in good shape and working order. Mounting it was relatively easy for Warren. He has been converting buses for 40 years and restoring vehicles of all types for 30 years. He began by stripping off the sleeper and fifth wheel from the truck and extending the frame by 10 ft. to carry the Airstream. "I built a 36-in. wide subframe and attached it to the trailer frame," says Warren. "The subframe is mounted to the truck frame on bushings, allowing it to flex." Skirtings on the Airstream are also mounted to the subframe. At the rear of the Airstream, a 1-in. gap separates the trailer from storage compartments and holding tanks as well as a power generator for the heater and air conditioner. Standard trailers can be hooked on or Warren can flip a panel and hook up a gooseneck trailer. Warren cut a doorway in the cab end of the Airstream and connected it to the cab with a rubber boot. "We can go between the cab and the trailer just like going into a walk-in sleeper," he says. Wherever he goes with the big (24,000 lbs.) 38-ft. long rig, Warren attracts attention. "I have had people follow for miles, passing 8 to 10 times just to look at it," he says. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Tom Warren, 1620 S. Johnson, Amarillo, Texas 79102 (ph 806 374-3056).

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