Todd Roccapriore’s Widow Maker

Updated Apr 13, 2015

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Widow Maker Redlight Bws3600A new  association can join the ranks of other widow makers, albeit for another reason: It’s a custom rig with killer looks.

At least that’s how Todd and Beth Roccapriore see their creation in the Clean Slate Environmental fleet – their aptly named 2004 Peterbilt 379 EXHD, Widow Maker.

Widow Maker Engine Bws4739“The whole name and design of the truck came from the shape of the windshield glass, which is angled to look like some mean eyes coming toward you on the highway,” explains Beth, who owns the Hebron, Conn., hazardous waste transporter. “The whole truck is designed to show its bad attitude.”

And show it does. The striking House of Kolor lime green and black Pete, pulling a matching custom dump, also won Best in Show, Best Interior, Best Theme, Best Chrome, Best Lights and Best Engine categories at the 2010 Shell/Rotella SuperRigs.

Widow Interior Bws4841The Roccapriores designed, fabricated and painted the Pete in their shop. Time put in a few winters ago included long hours fabricating custom parts, from mirrors to speaker enclosures, shaving the frame of bolts, building shorter, strapless fuel and air tanks, suiciding doors, shaving door handles and customizing the fenders, all using in-house shears, breaks, lathes, rollers and welders.

They installed the “Widow Maker” windshield glass and an eight-inch exhaust system topped with Outlaw Custom’s’ “Widow Maker” stacks, slipped on a custom grille above the tilt front bumper, made custom side skirts and slid on a pair of Maltese-cross motorcycle headlights with matching turn signals.

Widow Maker Front Bws48421Inside, the Widow Maker is even more impressive — especially at night. The interior is as plush as a fine cocktail lounge, complete with four color-matched, custom-upholstered Qualitex seats, a billet steering column, a steering wheel featuring a spider-web-and-Maltese-cross design, custom dash and stainless floor. Brass knuckle door handles top off the truck’s interior flare.

Step into the flat-top sleeper and it’s even more fun. There’s a brass stripper pole running from floor to ceiling between the bucket seats and speakers mounted ceiling to floor.

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In fact, musical entertainment on the road and at the jobsites comes from 64 speakers positioned in cab and sleeper — all in custom enclosures and powered by 6,300 watts pumping from the Fusion Electronics sound system. Every inch beneath the upholstered cab and sleeper walls is covered in sound deadening material. There’s even a pair of DVD players in case video is on the menu.

And for setting the mood, red LED lights are hidden around the interior of both cab and sleeper. Todd loves his lights — at last count there were more than 400 Trux Stealth LEDs on the truck and matching 2010 Mac frameless trailer.

Under the hood, the 1,000-hp Cat 3406E sports a custom turbo, hand-fabricated intake, chrome trim and stainless braided hoses. The block and radiator are painted to match the exterior theme.

The Mac dump is just as custom: It features Maltese-cross landing gear, custom bulkheads, painted and pinstriped belly panels, custom-cut full fenders attached to the lift axle, hidden light wiring and a custom tailplate.

The kicker? Widow Maker is a fully functional working rig. The Pete hauls contaminated soil every day in and out of nasty landfills and construction sites in New England.

Spec’s:

Owners: Todd & Beth Roccapriore

Model: 2004 Peterbilt 379 EXHD

Wheelbase: 300-inch

Engine: 1,000-hp Caterpillar 3406E

Transmission: Eaton Fuller 18-speed

Exterior mods: Suicide doors; shaved door handles; custom visor; tilt bumper; air suspension; custom mirrors/brackets; motorcycle headlights/turn signals; stepped-out back sleeper panel; shortened and strapless fuel tanks, strapless air tanks/air cleaners; boltless frame rails; custom tailplate; custom “Widow Maker” windshield glass; Lifetime Products name plate; custom cab/sleeper skirts; motorcycle pip on fuel tanks; air-actuated hood release; customize Mac dump trailer.

Interior mods: Custom dash; Qualitex bucket seats; 6,300-watt Fusion Electronics sound system with 64 speakers in custom enclosures; sound deadening; brass stripper pole, iPod docking station; twin DVD players.

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