Buying a new expediter is not as easy as going down to the local car lot and saying I will take that one. We knew we wanted this truck customized and that always takes time and patience to get perfected. Months before the truck was to be built we started the process.
First we met with
the truck salesman and in our case this is Jeff Jones, of Stoops Specialty Trucks and Don Bentz, Brian Callan, of Bolt Custom Trucks to discuss what we were wanting and the time frame. We knew we wanted a Cascadia Evolution, DD13, 12.8L, with 380hp, and the DT12 Transmission and the Bolt Custom Trucks Sleeper.
A couple of special items we wanted are two different size fuel tanks, 120 gallon and an 80-gallon. The 120-gallon tank is to fuel the EVO and the other is to fuel the generator only and if we had a reefer it would also fuel the reefer. Our other big item is to fully skirt the truck from front bumper to back bumper and have built in toolboxes. We added safety features such as orange seat belts, lane departure warning system (LDWS), and the WABCO OnBoard Collision Mitigation System. We also have Michelin Wide Base singles with disc brakes.
Sounds pretty simple right? Well it takes time to get the specs right when ordering a custom truck and often when one item is changed it will cause another item to change so everything will work together. When all of this is completed and the spec sheet is submitted to Freightliner the next process starts. Making the appointments to get the freight box added, getting the lift gate installed, having the skirts mounted, and getting a few of the other items we wanted added to the expediter.
We want a mid box turn signal to let cars know beside us that we need to move into their lane. We also like extra lights on the back of the box so that others know when we are slowing down or stopping. We will be adding a Palfinger Inner Lift Gate that slides under the truck. We have used this type of lift gate for years and like the dependability and the self-leveling features that are just a few of the amenities this gate provides.
This Expediter will be a work in progress as we have many ideas we want to try inside and outside to make our home away from home as comfortable as possible.