DaBears Day Cab

[dabears]

So before I moved to AZ I had built a roller for my red knight hauler as I was gonna stretch it out. BUT after a month or so here I needed the funds so I sold the Knight Hauler SO I was going thru stuff today and found the roller and a day cab i was working on I decided it was time to finally make the day cab to pull the dump trailer. Im gonna have to re cut the rails and shorten it up a bit by about 4-6" maybe more. Everything will be custom except the axles and trans. Will be riding on Super singles up front, air ride all the way around, It'll get a set of Ben's stacks, Steps, tanks, deckplate, grill, breathers from Russ. Eventually wheels from Steve. It'll take some time to finish this one yep no overnight build for me.... Heres where im at so far. the rails are not chopped yet and need some input as to how long it should be for a stretched day cab. Havnt decided yet Pete or KW. KW would be easier and i SUCK at bodywork... Colors are a secret until its all done.
I took some pics of where i thought the cab should be and where it currently sits before the chop. (mind you the frame was built to stretch a knight hauler)

Heres the uncut frame with cab next to the trailer..


Heres where cab currently sits





Heres kinda where i think it should sit..



Here's what's done on the cab so far still a long way to go




I have another cab that got tweaked in the move somehow (hood is kinda twisted) so ill use that one to practice whatever changes i make next.
It will have a 4:1, no MFU but maybe ill put a Servonaut in it.. Depends on funds for this project. I may put a tag on it or make it a tri axle. I have lots of ideas and pics i would like it to look like.

Let me know what you think

[thebat]

good start dude id leave the length alone and put a 3rd axle onto it and make a triaxle and yeah use that twisted up cab for practice.

[plow jockey]

Glad to see your back at it. Cant wait to see the updates. Looks like a start of another great build.

[Dairyland Trucker]

Boy it would be easier if the parts store was closer LOL.

[ihbuilder]

Originally Posted by Dairyland Trucker

Boy it would be easier if the parts store was closer LOL.

HaHa LMAO

[Supermario]

Glad to see ya building again Aaron! I think frame length looks perfect with cab in that spot. Is this your first day cab build? Anxious to see how it works for ya.

Mario

[dabears]

Originally Posted by thebat

good start dude id leave the length alone and put a 3rd axle onto it and make a triaxle and yeah use that twisted up cab for practice.

Tri Axle wouldn't be bad or maybe more along the lines of a lift tag axle?

Originally Posted by plow jockey

Glad to see your back at it. Cant wait to see the updates. Looks like a start of another great build.

Thanks Buddy. Was getting bored and driving the family crazy

Originally Posted by Dairyland Trucker

Boy it would be easier if the parts store was closer LOL.

Tell me about it!!!

Originally Posted by ihbuilder

HaHa LMAO

I knew you'd understand it

Originally Posted by Supermario

Glad to see ya building again Aaron! I think frame length looks perfect with cab in that spot. Is this your first day cab build? Anxious to see how it works for ya.

Mario

Thanks Mario!! No its not my first day cab build ive built 3 other ones but this one is for ME not a customer or for sale. Before I would just go by the stock King rail length or used stock rails. I have a set of stock globe rails but that was a short day cab. The little red day cab I build before was on globe rails..

But hey at least ill be joining the Conventional Club now

[toniolillo]

Very great work friend

[Espeefan]

Boy, if you didn't cut the frame, even with a lift axle, that would still put the word large, in large car! Nice work so far, Aaron! Are you going to cut out the light buckets next?

[1985 kenworth]

Nice job either road you take it will be great...i like the stretched look myself

[TRUCKMAKER]

Hi Aaron, Glad to see your back in the build scene!
It's yours and up to you how you proceed but since you asked I'd say if you want a show piece leave the frame the length it is. If you want a work truck shorten it up where you reset the cab, it looks about right. If its going to remain the tractor of choice for pulling the dump trailer leave it as a tandem. IMO tri-axle tractors under tandem trailers just look like over kill and a waste of motive power!
Just remember make it yours and if you go slow things are bound to change and who knows what you might end up with! Have fun and take lotsa pictures!

[cabs]

It would look cool with a lift axle, I wouldn't go tri-drive. It would look real cool if you put a lift on the trailer to.

[dabears]

Originally Posted by toniolillo

Very great work friend

Thank you

Originally Posted by Espeefan

Boy, if you didn't cut the frame, even with a lift axle, that would still put the word large, in large car! Nice work so far, Aaron! Are you going to cut out the light buckets next?

Tell me about it the Frame measures out at 28inches little long for a daycab

Originally Posted by 1985 kenworth

Nice job either road you take it will be great...i like the stretched look myself

I think it looks cool that long but not practical for pulling a dump trailer

Originally Posted by TRUCKMAKER

Hi Aaron, Glad to see your back in the build scene!
It's yours and up to you how you proceed but since you asked I'd say if you want a show piece leave the frame the length it is. If you want a work truck shorten it up where you reset the cab, it looks about right. If its going to remain the tractor of choice for pulling the dump trailer leave it as a tandem. IMO tri-axle tractors under tandem trailers just look like over kill and a waste of motive power!
Just remember make it yours and if you go slow things are bound to change and who knows what you might end up with! Have fun and take lotsa pictures!

Thanks buddy! Yea I think ill chop about 4-6" off so it'll be about 22-24" long I like tag axles but I agree unless you have a massive load with a oversize trailer with 3+ axles on it it looks funny. I will prob pull the lowboy too but still that's only a tri axle. (which is getting an overhaul too)
-and come on Kent you should know me by now it'll be overkill with pics as usual

Originally Posted by cabs

It would look cool with a lift axle, I wouldn't go tri-drive. It would look real cool if you put a lift on the trailer to.

Tailer has no room for another axle on it the way it was built. The box is gonna get a makeover and maybe the suspension swapped out for a linked rear but that's about all it'll handle. I take pics

Thanks for looking
Bonus is I only live 10 mins from Rick at PMD so if I need emergency parts im covered. lol

[dabears]

So heres what I came up with.

Option A Which is just about stock King Hauler length


Or

Option B which is about 24" long which to me looks better


I like Option B better myself and will prob go with that. lol Just thought I would see what you all thought? I want a large car but still need it practical to pull the Dump trailer or lowboy.

[Espeefan]

Definitely option B! A little extra frame is always nice.

[speedy8305]

opt B is def. better

[flatdeck]

"B" is the best...


Wayne

[dabears]

OK Option "B" won anyways. lol here's what I was able to accomplish running back and forth to the storage unit to get a tool I need come home use it to find out I need a different drill bit etc..... So no I think I have almost all the tools here I need. I was able to get my frame cut took 4" off and then I got the front holes re drilled and the frame back together. I am very happy I went with the 4" cut not the 6" cut. Still Have lots of parts to aquire and LOTS of body work to do but here is how it looks with the trailer and alone.







I have some heavy duty springs in the rear right now to handle the extra weight of a full load. Trying a few different ones out to see what I like best this was just a mock up



Still need to figure out if im going KW which I prob am but how far I am going to go with it.. May leave fenders the same and just get grill and add double headlights.. May order whole cab and hood from russ. Gotta figure out my steps, tanks, grill, stacks, and a few other things. So it will be sitting in this state for some time now as I slowly get parts in.
I have the paint picked out and im excited
Still not sure if im using super wides up front or not..
Thanks for looking.

[Exclusive RC]

Can't wait to see how it's going to come out.

[Stuff]

looking good. I voted for B myself lol