Truck sleeper cab to day cab conversion kit assembly

Abstract

A conversion kit assembly for converting a sleeper truck cab with a modular sleeper/cab into a day cab includes a sleeper truck cab including a rear sill, two laterally spaced walls, and a roof, with each of the walls having a B-pillar assembly at a rearward end of the sleeper truck cab. The B-pillar assemblies are coupled together at their upper ends by the roof, and at their lower ends by a lower member such as a lower panel or a rear sill such that the rearward end of the sleeper truck cab is substantially square. The sleeper truck cab further has a plurality of attachment points at the rearward end for attaching the modular sleeper. A first plurality of fasteners, which connect the modular sleeper to the sleeper truck cab, are removed. The modular sleeper is removed from the sleeper truck cab thereby creating a rearward opening at rearward end of modular truck cab. A closeoff panel assembly comprising a frame sub-assembly and an outer panel welded to the frame sub-assembly is then attached to the sleeper truck cab by fasteners disposed at locations corresponding to at least some of the plurality of attachment points. The closeoff panel assembly is provided to close the rearward opening created by removal of the modular sleeper from the sleeper truck cab. First and second reinforcement members connect the closeoff panel assembly to the B-pillar assemblies of the sleeper truck cab, and third and fourth reinforcement members connect the closeoff panel assembly to the lower panel or rear sill of the sleeper truck cab, to distribute loads from the closeoff panel to the sleeper truck cab, and thence to the vehicle chassis. A load is distributed from the closeoff panel assembly to the sleeper truck cab with the reinforcement members. A gasket is also used between the sleeper truck cab and the closeoff panel assembly to seal moisture from the cab.