Next-generation owner-operator Ethan Madden on the 1984 Peterbilt 359 custom rig he’s spent his teens on

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Updated Jul 15, 2018

In the vid above, catch a variety of views on 17-year-old Ethan Madden’s custom 1984 Peterbilt 359, a truck that’s passed now through three generations of Maddens to score a second in its Antique class at the Great American Trucking Show Pride & Polish a couple weeks back now.

Ethan MaddenEthan Madden

In my talk with him, Madden ran through the work he put into the unit over the last two years after pulling it out of the weeds five years ago. His grandfather ran the truck when it was new in the 1980s, and when he passed the rig move on to Ethan’s grandmother, then his father, who sold his Madden Materials end dump and heavy-haul business to another area business somewhat recently.

Ethan got his own authority for the purposes of bringing the ELD-exempt truck (it’s powered by a Cat 3406B) to its first show this year — and to start a little early on his own future plans to match a Lufkin end dump to the tractor and go hauling soon as he can get his intrastate license in Texas next July.

Following find a few more views of the unit, and hear more from Madden in the video at the top.

Full shot: Ethan Madden’s 1984 Peterbilt 359Full shot: Ethan Madden’s 1984 Peterbilt 359 From the passenger side of the rig, as Madden points out, removal of the sleeper on the 246-inch wheelbase unit years ago and repositioning of the tanks on it give the look of an extended-frame truck.From the passenger side of the rig, as Madden points out, removal of the sleeper on the 246-inch wheelbase unit years ago and repositioning of the tanks on it give the look of an extended-frame truck.

Madden 359 Interior Look 2017 09 07 09 51

Madden bought the dash from 4 State Trucks in Joplin, Mo., and tidied it up on install back in his own shop, for great results.Madden bought the dash from 4 State Trucks in Joplin, Mo., and tidied it up on install back in his own shop, for great results. ‘Nuff said?‘Nuff said?

Madden Truck Power Steering Canister 359 2017 09 07 09 52