First post and I thought I'd mention something I've noticed in my travels. Dually pick-ups are over 80" wide and have lighting requirements that cannot be removed. Dually pick-ups have the ID and marker lights on the cab and rear of the truck because the lighting is mandated by federal law. Part 393.11, the lighting regulations are available on-line at:

Part 393.11 Lighting

The web site includes illustrations to demonstrate how lighting has to appear.

To keep a long story short some dually pick-up have three ID lights mounted at the top of the tailgate or below the tailgate above the license plate. The three ID lights are required. Therefore, if a person removes the factory tailgate with the ID lights mounted to the top of the tailgate to install a fifth wheel tailgate they have removed required lighting.

The fix? Install the three ID lights at the bottom of the tail gate above the license plate.

On the subject of lighting, when dually pick-ups are being towed I believe the required marker, ID lamps and tail lights should be operational and lighted. Lighting just the taillights is insufficient lighting.

FYI, I have requested clarification from the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance regarding the quad cab conversion kits for sleeper berths. Personally, I don't believe a quad cab conforms to Part 393.76:

I visited with Larry last night and we measured his cab:

Widest point at mattress 77"
Approximately 6" above mattress 73"
Approximately 12" above mattress 65 1/2"
Approximately 18" above mattress 55 "
24" above mattress 38"

The requirement the sleeper berth be generally rectangular with rounded corners not more than 10 1/2" radii is not retained for the required 24" X 24" X 75".

I'll keep folks posted on the outcome of the CVSA’s decision.

Be safe.

JQP

 

They have a lot of ridiculous rules about sleepers and I'm not sure how any of them are followed. For example any sleeper requires there to be things that would only ever apply if you were team driving, with one driver in the sleeper and one at the wheel - like a curtain between the sleeper and the cab, and the cab and the sleeper HAVING to be connected by an opening of a certain size.

I have my '03 Quad Cab Ram set up for sleeping in, but it's not sleeper-legal even though it's comfortable enough. However you'll see lots of trucks with those things in the rear side windows that extend the openings, or with those sleepers that are like a truck topper, but only 3 feet long and connected to the cab through the back window opening. Those aren't any longer than the space I made in my quad cab, and they definitely don't have as much room above and to the sides, but are sold as DOT legal.

The rounded corners thing isn't a requirement, it's an option for aerodynamics. The rule is just that you can't have them rounded TOO much so that it restricts sleeping space.