Kenworth Truck Company is the latest manufacturer to offer aftermarket Crew Cab conversions in partnership with Bentz Transport Products, a maker of aftermarket sleeper cabs. Peterbilt and Pierce Manufacturing have also worked with Bentz to build these products.  

Designed for Active Duty         

Kenworth now provides an aftermarket Crew Cab conversion option for Kenworth T170, T270, and T370 medium-duty conventional models. The option is suited to the fuel, oil, fire and rescue, towing and recovery, leasing and rental markets, and utility segments. 

Tested to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) 207/210 occupant restraint mount and seat mount pull tests, the Peterbilt 335 Crew Cab is targeted to fire/rescue, utility/construction, and recreational markets and is available directly to Peterbilt dealers as an aftermarket modification. The Crew Cab modifications feature the same assembly method as OEM cabs, including an all-aluminum Huck-bolted cab, and maintain OEM styling, appearance, and fit-and-finish. 

Wisconsin-based Pierce Manufacturing, specializing in fire trucks, also selected Bentz as the supplier of a new special proprietary Crew Cab for fire apparatus applications. 

Interior Space Increased

Crew Cab modifications allow up to 61 inches of interior height, with a 4-inch raised rear section on the Kenworth models, and 3 inches on the Peterbilt models. The Pierce Crew Cab option is slightly larger: 56 inches in length, 98 inches wide, and 164.25 inches bumper to back of cab (BBC). 

With 157-inch BBC, the remaining structure of Kenworth's Crew Cab is aluminum, provides an additional 52 inches of length, and is 84 inches wide at the rear. Similar in length and width, Peterbilt created a 160-inch BBC with generous legroom and accommodations for three additional passengers. A continuous 3-inch raised roofline creates 61 inches of interior height from front to back. Incremental weight is approximately 900 lbs., excluding seating and option selections. 

From the interior of the Pierce Crew Cab, a pump operator can operate the pump while standing up. It features virtual 360-degree visibility with windows on all sides. Three additional passengers can fit in the cab, with two large, low, side-entry doors provided for easy ingress/egress. 

Customized to Fit the Job

Kenworth model options include an extended horizontal exhaust pipe, separate heater or heater/air conditioner, exterior access steps, carpet and custom trim packages, and DuPont Imron Elite base/clear paint. Bench and bucket seats are available, in addition to self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) seats for fire service units. 

A wide array of optional items on Peterbilt products allows tailoring Crew Cab orders to meet specific vocational applications. Options include HVAC, 12V auxiliary heater only or heater/air conditioner, interior trim, stereo speakers, wire-to-truck stereo, map light, single swivel chairs, and carpet floor insulation pads and mats. 

Seating arrangements include SCBA seats for fire/rescue applications, bench seat for utility/construction applications, air-ride seats for instructional applications, and sofa bed for recreational applications. Two outer seat positions feature three-point occupant restraints and the center seat position has a two-point occupant restraint.