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For years we were teased with pics of a very cool 359 on the Pickett Custom Trucks website. When this cool 359 showed back up on Picketts website getting a makeover, we knew we had to learn more. Turns out the 1980 Peterbilt 359 and 1997 Mississippi propane trailer belongs to Doug Gerhardt of Snohomish, Washington. Doug’s 359 rolled off the Peterbilt production line in Newark, California on December 21st 1979 as a 220” wheelbase, aluminum frame, 400 Cummins with a 12/5 13 speed transmission, short hood with a 36” crawl through sleeper. Since that time Doug and Pickett Custom Trucks have transformed the 359 into a 266” wheelbase 4 axle with steel frame and a unibuilt  sleeper opening and a 425 Cat with an 18 speed transmission. The transformation continued with the addition of an extended hood, but being a Pickett build it was made 3” longer than a stock extended hood. 7” pipes were added next as well as a bow tie visor, new Vortox breathers, custom built breather lights, and cab lights. Rounding out the exterior are a pair of custom battery boxes, custom deck plates, custom built light bar, and stainless full fenders sitting over the Hendrickson ultra drop axle. Inside all new upholstery was added along with new seats. An HD Bluetooth compatible Kenwood stereo with four 6×9 speakers, two 10” subs. Two amps produce 1750 watts of power to push through all those speakers. The 1997 11,600 gallon Mississippi spread axle propane trailer is nothing short of phenomenal. The Picketts went above and beyond on the custom fab work on this trailer! Everything that was stock, such as the front and rear fenders and all the lights, were scrapped with new parts fabricated by the Picketts put in their place. Hydraulic lines were custom made for running the hydraulic pump used in unloading the product and a whole lot of lights were added. Doug hauls propane within a 200 mile radius of Washington state. He would like to thank Rod, Kevin and Dale Pickett for all their work and IXL Propane where Doug has been leased on to for nearly ten years.  Doug says if it wasn’t for IXL, he wouldn’t be where he is today. We would like to thank Doug for taking the time to meet with Roger Snider so we could share his incredible combo with the LargeCarMag community.

1 Comment

  1. randyj

    Wow! Cant believe this is the same truck!!! My personal favorite. 359’s have to be the coolest rides on the planet! I like the 3″ stretch on the hood. Classy and not over done like some of the longer hood stretches I’ve seen. Used to haul anhydrous ammonia In a bottle like that too. Nice to see someone fix those up. He could lease on to Farmers Oil and fit right in with that ride. Very classy job. Awesome pics too.

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