Some more basic questions from the truck newbie

[LOBBS]

I'm thinking about doing some customizing touches to the Lonestar and I've got a few questions again. First, do the openings in the bumper play a functional role on rigs? I know on most modern cars and trucks, the openings are actually designed to draw air in for cooling purposes so they're not just cosmetic. I'd like to change things up a bit on the Lonestar but don't want to get called out for something that would impair the function if it were 1:1.

I'm also looking to give the truck a standard shave and hair cut. Below the door of the cab, there are two large amber lights and a row of smaller "chicken" lights between them. There are more lights along the aero skirts and lower edge of the front bumper. I know the "chicken" lights are an option from building a Lonestar on the International site but is there a DOT minimum for marker lights on rigs?

I'm not a huge fan of a lot of chrome so I'm looking at body color bumpers and aero skirts and redoing most of the chrome with a brushed aluminum look. I've also seen some pics with filler panels in the aero skirts that cover up the fuel tanks which really shouldn't be all that difficult to do. I've seen some trucks with rear fenders covering the drive wheels. Are these available in resin? I particularly like the ones that are flat across the top instead of dipping down between the drive wheels.

Alright, I'll quit bugging you guys for now but I'm sure I'll have more questions later on.

[LOBBS]

  On 5/28/2011 at 8:10 PM, LOBBS said:

I'm thinking about doing some customizing touches to the Lonestar and I've got a few questions again. First, do the openings in the bumper play a functional role on rigs? I know on most modern cars and trucks, the openings are actually designed to draw air in for cooling purposes so they're not just cosmetic. I'd like to change things up a bit on the Lonestar but don't want to get called out for something that would impair the function if it were 1:1.

I'm also looking to give the truck a standard shave and hair cut. Below the door of the cab, there are two large amber lights and a row of smaller "chicken" lights between them. There are more lights along the aero skirts and lower edge of the front bumper. I know the "chicken" lights are an option from building a Lonestar on the International site but is there a DOT minimum for marker lights on rigs?

I'm not a huge fan of a lot of chrome so I'm looking at body color bumpers and aero skirts and redoing most of the chrome with a brushed aluminum look. I've also seen some pics with filler panels in the aero skirts that cover up the fuel tanks which really shouldn't be all that difficult to do. I've seen some trucks with rear fenders covering the drive wheels. Are these available in resin? I particularly like the ones that are flat across the top instead of dipping down between the drive wheels.

Alright, I'll quit bugging you guys for now but I'm sure I'll have more questions later on.

Ok, found the fenders on P & P.

Edited May 28, 2011 by LOBBS

[niteowl7710]

DOT Regulations specify headlights, front turn signals, side turn signals (on the LoneStar these would be the ones directly under the door, the ones under the sleeper are optional), and the 5 "DOT" lights across the top of the windshield. All those other chicken lights are for show. The only thing the DOT says about them, is that if you have them, they have to be operational. Also in back, rear tailights/turn signals, a reverse light...if you're require to display a rear plate (as in some Canadian Provinces and Washington State), there must be a license plate light.

I drive a ProStar (the little sister of the LoneStar) and my lower grill opening directly feeds the lower radiator, and oil cooler. But I can't say for certain, but I speculate they feed air on the LoneStar as well. The too small openings above the lower grilles are where you would install tow-hooks.

P&P Resin (Porky on here) has 3 styles of those kind of fenders.

Edited May 28, 2011 by niteowl7710

[highway]

Well, darn it, James beat me to it!!! The only thing I can add is you would have to modify the rear panel to keep the taillights but get rid of the chicken lights.

  On 5/20/2011 at 10:26 PM, Mr. Can Am Garage said:

Also, you can't go wrong with the fenders from Porky at P&P, I have a set for this beast!

I painted them with DupliColor Chrome, and they turned out nicely.

[SpreadAxle]

LOBBS, you're not bothering anyone. If you're new to trucks, feel free to ask. Some of us, myself included, are truckers by day, modelers by night. I would recommend this site to you for research. www.truckpaper.com It's a site listing trucks for sale, but often, you will find many detail shots. Also, you will see trucks in "fleet dress", so you can see what accessories to remove, etc. As is the case with almost every truck kit, this one seems to be the owner operator version all the way around. To make a fleet truck, some modifications will be simple. Others, will involve some work.

The thing with "chicken lights" is that they must be amber, or if facing the rear, red. No red lights facing forward. Blue is a BIG NO NO!. If you've seen Transformers, you'll notice Optimus Prime is covered in blue chicken lights. I would've loved to do that to my first truck, but in reality, you can't get much more illegal than that. The reason being, blue is for law enforcement. The only blue lights I ever had were on my bumper guide rods on my other Pete. But, they're very small, so everyone seemed to be ok with it. Green doesn't seem to bother law enforcement much, but blue is taboo! lol.

Edited May 28, 2011 by FlatbedKW

[niteowl7710]

  On 5/28/2011 at 9:31 PM, FlatbedKW said:

The thing with "chicken lights" is that they must be amber, or if facing the rear, red. No red lights facing forward. Blue is a BIG NO NO!. If you've seen Transformers, you'll notice Optimus Prime is covered in blue chicken lights. I would've loved to do that to my first truck, but in reality, you can't get much more illegal than that. The reason being, blue is for law enforcement. The only blue lights I ever had were on my bumper guide rods on my other Pete. But, they're very small, so everyone seemed to be ok with it. Green doesn't seem to bother law enforcement much, but blue is taboo! lol.

I enjoy the guys who put the odd ball color lights (purple, pink, yellow, lime green, etc) into the work lights on the back of the cab and then run around with them on at night. This is also a no-no as they have to be clear, and not on while the vehicle is in motion...but then truckers have always been ones to see how far they can bend the law. Just make sure you have them turned off going into the scales B) Oh hey there is a Quality Carrier tanker with a LoneStar parked next to me...hmm where's my camera.

[LOBBS]

  On 5/28/2011 at 8:50 PM, highway said:

I painted them with DupliColor Chrome, and they turned out nicely.

Yep, those are the fenders I'm looking at.

BTW, some one parked a house on the frame of that blue truck there. Just thought you should know.

[niteowl7710]

Looking into the maw of the dragon as it were...

If you look at the area behind where the "V" is made by the cross piece of the opening, you can indeed see radiator goodness lurking back there.

[LOBBS]

Thanks guys for all the information. I'm not a rivet counter by any means. I just don't want to a mistake that'd stick out like a sore thumb with truckers but not be obvious to the average "car" guy.

[LOBBS]

  On 5/29/2011 at 12:09 AM, niteowl7710 said:

Looking into the maw of the dragon as it were...

If you look at the area behind where the "V" is made by the cross piece of the opening, you can indeed see radiator goodness lurking back there.

Ok, so it is functional. Breathing through the bumper is one of my biggest pet peeves in modern vehicles. I understand it's a necessity and there are some examples where it's incorporated well into the overall design. Most the time though, it looks like the car was halfway through development and engineering came back and told them to just cut a hole in the front so it could breathe right. If I decide to rework the bumper a bit, I'll just have to remember to allow for airflow.

[highway]

  On 5/28/2011 at 11:45 PM, niteowl7710 said:

I enjoy the guys who put the odd ball color lights (purple, pink, yellow, lime green, etc) into the work lights on the back of the cab and then run around with them on at night. This is also a no-no as they have to be clear, and not on while the vehicle is in motion...but then truckers have always been ones to see how far they can bend the law. Just make sure you have them turned off going into the scales

You callin' me an oddball!?!?!

I knew the colors like you mentioned were a no-no, but I didn't know the hook up lights had to be clear. I ran red ones on a couple Freightshakers I drove, and even crossed scales with them on at night, and I never had a problem. Of course that was almost ten years ago, so maybe things have changed since then.

[highway]

  On 5/29/2011 at 12:06 AM, LOBBS said:

BTW, some one parked a house on the frame of that blue truck there. Just thought you should know.

By the way, it's more than just blue, it's a color shifting paint and in most pics it also shows some purple. In the sunlight, it shows teal, gold, and even some red too!

[scale trucker]

dont forget there are tow hook holes also..i build my trucks the way i want..ive seen custom trucks that would be illegal in most states..but thats a show truck

[Harry P.]

  On 5/29/2011 at 12:20 AM, LOBBS said:

Breathing through the bumper is one of my biggest pet peeves in modern vehicles.

Isn't the big honkin' grille on that thing enough for the engine to breathe??? I think the bumper slots are more cosmetic than functional.

[highway]

  On 5/29/2011 at 12:51 AM, Harry P. said:

Isn't the big honkin' grille on that thing enough for the engine to breathe??? I think the bumper slots are more cosmetic than functional.

You'd be surprised how hard a diesel inhales, Harry! Even in the diesel pickup world, as grille openings got smaller, both Ford and Chevy added holes in the bumpers for added airflow for their diesels. Here's a 92-96 Ford that has the diesel bumper, identified by the holes in the center above and around the front license plate.

[Harry P.]

If they can't get enough airflow going through the grille and they need to add holes in the bumper, then they have a basic design flaw to begin with.

And explain to me how those "heavy breathing" diesels work in the winter when the truckers cover up the grille!

[LOBBS]

The main reason I asked was that I see alot of the custom trucks with a solid front bumper even if the stock version originally had holes.

I saw a picture of a truck awhile back that had a huge pair of running/fog lights centered in the bumper. I was throwing around the idea of something similiar with the Lonestar (see my post in the Wanted section, the Revell 1/12th Chopper lenses were the biggest lights I could think of). I was looking to fill the center vent and stock fog lights and mount some big ole driving lights in the bumper.

Edited May 29, 2011 by LOBBS

[LOBBS]

  On 5/29/2011 at 1:14 AM, imatruker said:

First thing you have to remember is pick ups draw air from under the hood for the engine most trucks draw air from an external air cleaner or inlet.even on the aerodynamic big rigs air for the engine comes through an external inlet some where, not through the same opening as the radiator . the covering up of the radiator during winter aids in keeping the engine warm as cold air running through the radiator would actualy cause the engine to run way too cool.

That makes sense. Here in Missouri, I've never seen a truck's grille completely buttoned up in the winter. I do know that they keep them running or plug them in or they're not going anywhere for awhile the next morning.

Edited May 29, 2011 by LOBBS

[Harry P.]

  On 5/29/2011 at 1:14 AM, imatruker said:

First thing you have to remember is pick ups draw air from under the hood for the engine most trucks draw air from an external air cleaner or inlet.even on the aerodynamic big rigs air for the engine comes through an external inlet some where, not through the same opening as the radiator . the covering up of the radiator during winter aids in keeping the engine warm as cold air running through the radiator would actualy cause the engine to run way too cool.

Right! So the slots in the bumper are NOT needed for engine breathing, like I said in the first place.

[LOBBS]

In any case, I need to get my Nova done so that I've got something to take to the Heartland show next weekend and then get cracking on this kit.

[SpreadAxle]

As far as winter fronts, remember this. It still needs a hole in the middle, or the engine will actually run too hot, and the fan will constantly be turning on and off. But, the bad thing is that snow and ice build up on that center opening. That also causes the engine to run hot. This I know from experience.

[niteowl7710]

Let be honest down here in the States, winter fronts are more for keeping the engine warm during those 10 hours of sitting around a truck stop than serving any real purpose out on the road. I'm not sure what you can actually even attach a winter front to anymore. The last truck I drove that had the attachment points on the outside, was a 2004 Pete 379.

With Esbar heaters and APUs (along with the bevy of Government intrusion via Idle Regulations) you don't really have to worry about parking the truck at night in the winter worrying about which way the wind is blowing.

And Leo is right Matt...they can be red and on, I misspoke...but you can't leave the clear ones on in motion, and they can't be funky colors and on, or both or either...

[highway]

  On 5/29/2011 at 1:35 AM, imatruker said:

sorta yes and sorta no, breathing for cumbustion no

air to aide in the cooling of radiator and air charge coolers and tranny coolers yes.

Thanks for clearing that up Leo, I was in a hurry to leave the house to get the better half from work! I was more or less lumping all of that into the "heavy breathing" comment.

[scale trucker]

i live on the east coast and work for a trucking company .we have 25 trucks and 75 trailers .6 are kw,and the rest are petes,with 1 lonestar.making the last truck.rear work lights can be red and on all the time if you want,clear only when hooking up or backing under trailr in the dark.. ps the new trucks with the peepeepee tank bight the big 1

Edited May 29, 2011 by scale trucker

[clayton]

  On 5/29/2011 at 2:58 AM, scale trucker said:

i live on the east coast and work for a trucking company .we have 25 trucks and 75 trailers .6 are kw,and the rest are petes,with 1 lonestar.making the last truck.rear work lights can be red and on all the time if you want,clear only when hooking up or backing under trailr in the dark.. ps the new trucks with the peepeepee tank bight the big 1

peepeepee tank???????????