Minty tough: Owner-op, custom Pete brave tough times together

Updated Aug 4, 2017
Chris VanPelt says the 2007 Peterbilt 379’s mint and teal two-tone paint scheme came to him in a vision, and he worked with Peterbilt to spec it.Chris VanPelt says the 2007 Peterbilt 379’s mint and teal two-tone paint scheme came to him in a vision, and he worked with Peterbilt to spec it.

Chris VanPelt and his 2007 Peterbilt 379 have been through some tough times together, including a divorce and two bankruptcies. But he and the rig have pulled out some good times of late riding the show truck circuit. 

The Menomonee Falls, Wis.-based operator runs the Pete daily hauling general freight nationwide. He’s put more than 750,000 miles on it, and he says it may be the only custom job he turns out. 

VanPelt says the rig’s mint and teal two-tone paint scheme came to him in a vision and that he knew just the shades he wanted his new truck to be. He developed the color himself by mixing a few different shades of DuPont paint, and he worked with Peterbilt to spec the truck with that color from the factory.

VanPelt 1b

Chris VanPelt says the 2007 Peterbilt 379’s mint and teal two-tone paint scheme came to him in a vision, and he worked with Peterbilt to spec it.Chris VanPelt says the 2007 Peterbilt 379’s mint and teal two-tone paint scheme came to him in a vision, and he worked with Peterbilt to spec it.

He picked the tractor up in 2006, but he didn’t finish customizing the exterior and interior until August 2007, adding custom airbags to the truck’s front end, filling holes, reskinning the doors, adding custom headlights, reupholstering the interior, installing aftermarket rocker switches and putting in custom flooring. He also stretched the frame to 312 inches. 

The truck scored VanPelt a lifelong dream: being featured in Shell Rotella’s annual SuperRigs calendar, as he’s included in the 2014 version.

VanPelt stretched the Pete’s frame to 312 inches.VanPelt stretched the Pete’s frame to 312 inches.
Showcase your workhorse
Add a photo of your rig to our Reader Rigs collection to share it with your peers and the world. Tell us the story behind the truck and your business to help build its story.
Submit Your Rig
Reader Rig Submission