Trucks under 6m
 

Hello, I've just started looking at this site as I'm becoming very interested in building a camping truck.

I've been reading most of the truck threads and most of the trucks seem to come out at around 7m, I'd preferably like to keep the total length under 6m if possible. Is this going to be possible and what sort of trucks would I be looking at and what would the maximum length of my camper box be?

I was going to go to Withams and have a look sometime this week just to get a feel for things. I'm a bit of VW nut so like the look of the Man 8.136s but the only ones I've seen for sale are on mobile.de and they seem to be a bit pricey. Is there anywhere else I can look?

Also can anyone point me in the direction of any good sites which offer advice in building the camper box or possibly designs? I was thinking of using steel box section frame and ali sheet to keep things simple. I'm not sure what thickness of box section I should be looking at?

Last question, if I bought a flat bed truck and mounted the camper box onto that would I still need a torsion free mounting or does it depend on the truck?

Thanks in advance.
Clive

Man
 

Hi Clive - I presume you have seen Chris Scott's update plus the new owners conversion:

Chris Scott - Man truck

How many people are you building for, an Iveco daily 4x4 makes a good base truck at reasonable prices (not that i'm biased or anything)

the 8.136 is probabily the smallest of the 7.5 tonne trucks, but like you say , they are expensive

Have you asked jacksons
MAN 8.136 4x4 Drop side cargo truck - Cargo Trucks - L.Jackson & Co. Ex MOD and NATO Vehicles Plant and Equipment

I'd stay away from the reynolds boughton RB44 (5 tonnes i think)

Talk to stan about the construction of his , detailed here blog

My friend who built his 101 body did that with mild steel and glued the aluminium on (as per aircraft), its a while since i've seen the truck but the steel wasn't as big as the stuff on stans (which may have not been steel - looked a bit bright)

you need to look at the man - is it designed to twist and by how much. It is a very short truck so may twist less , but I guess some sort of frame is needed - have a look at a solid bodied one if you can find one, i can't find the photos I had of an ambulanced bodied one - or ring man , they may have a guide on body construction like the mercedes one

good luck

Limiting length to 6m will make for a very small camper, under 4.0m.
I can speak from experience that a 7.5m vehicle with 3.9m wheelbase is quite maneuverable:
UNICAT® - TERRACROSS
Look at the vehicles at
UNICAT® - going there is half the fun
For some perspective.

Charlie

I've been pointed at an 4x4 Iveco Panel for sale for maybe about 3k. Vehicles for Sale It looks like a MWB but I'm not sure of the dimensions, any idea?

Yep, 14k with no MOT or UK reg. I read Simon only paid 7.5 ish for his from Leaveslys which is just 10 minutes up the A38 from me. Unfortunately they don't appear to have any more and it was probably before the other people started selling them for silly money. I could get one from Denmark but would only save about a grand. I don't think I'll bother unless I can get one for about 10k.

I plan to.

I have contacted Stan and he kindly sent me some photos and answered some questions. At the moment though I don't have that sort of money sitting in my bank until my house sale completes. So it just depends how quick he sells it and what I decide to do.

Stan's is stainless but I'd also use mild steel for my frame to save cash.

Stan reckons that the flatbed is mounted independantly but I'll have to look into it.

cheers

the iveco is a swb 2.8 metre

so they are small , think of a 110 landrover but with more useable space

Mark did cut the back off a short wheelbase and mount an ex bt box on the back

if you search here you'll find his posts and link to his blog

Stan reckons that the flatbed is mounted independantly but I'll have to look into it.

It is and even then the short MAN twisted around a whole lot off road - maybe because it's designed to. Something like MAN arrangement - or 3-pt as on Mogs - is essential when building a cabin unless you use concrete. Some don't realise this until its nearly too late (see half built fabr' pic).

What a shame the 8.1s are now going for Mog 1300 money.... A much simpler machine that does nearly as much IME.

Chris

Hi Clive, its Clive here

I've just seen your original post.

I've a Land Rover 127 Ambulance which I converted to a camper. I think its a great size (can still park it in a normal carpark) but there's quite a lot of space inside (tho thats subjective of course). Length is about 5.2metres.

You can pick them up either empty or ready converted. Not common but they do come up every so often. From about £6-10K.

You can look at the Yahoo group '127-130 ambulance owners and enthusiasts' . Theres photos and ideas there. I'll try to get the link in here 127-130-ambulance-owners-enthusiasts : 127 / 130 ambulance owners & enthusiast register.



Theres also the SBMCC - Self Build Motor Caravan Club. An excellent resourse for conversions.

Good luck anyway. I really enjoyed converting mine, but its taken about 3 years, with hours and hours (and hours) of research and work

Clive

cheap mans
 

Problem with 127 ambi's is that they need a diesel engine installing imho which pushes up the price

Cheap mans on mobile.de , seems a far better price

Truck Ad: Detailed Item Page

127 ambi's also have a lot of weight on the rear axle? Not much payload perhaps since same gross as a 110 but more body? The cost to convert to diesel would buy a lot of fuel, but is sensible long term.

Bit pricey perhaps but Atkinson Vos near Lancaster have two U1300l Unimog camper conversions for sale on behalf of people who have travelled in them for a while, so you could go and look at how they've been built, what compromises a 3250 wheelbase forces you into, and maybe speak to the owners for their views?

Including the spare tyre hanging on the back my camper is 6.5m and don't see that as a problem for the two of us up to now. Adding a young kid as it is now would also be fine, but much more and you'll cut down on living space, which is fine if the weather allows you to live outside a lot :)

This camper goes up a size for long term family travelling, but they set out to spend days outside and only eat and sleep inside;

[url=http://opensens.com/unimog.htm]Exp

Get Russian Metal!
 

Stop wussin about and get yourself some Russian metal!

As little as £2.5k will get you inside a barely used ex mil surplus GAZ66 with 6 litre V8 or for about £5k to £7k anything from a Zil 131 to a URAL 4350 with a diesel and all will have a super insulated box on the back plus you can invade any country you wish.

A GAZ 66 will fit into an ISO container too.

You have to fettle them somewhat and ignore fuel consumption but outside of the EU that's not an issue. They are super reliable, will genuinely go anywhere and run on any fuel and spares are plentyfull and cheap as chips and they are soooo simple easy to work on if you need to.

Check out our forum and get genned up: Russian Military Trucks | The English Language Russian Truck Resource | For everything GAZ, ZIL, URAL, MAZ, UAZ & More!

cubes and torsion
 

Last question, if I bought a flat bed truck and mounted the camper box onto that would I still need a torsion free mounting or does it depend on the truck?

I was looking closely at flatbed (2WD) cab-over trucks while abroad and thought a lot about this. They were everywhere from 0.5 to 4? tons payloads.

The way I see it a direct-to-chassis mounted 2WD flatbed, especially one with fold down sides, will flex harmlessly even over a 4-m bed length because it's essentially a flat 2D plane with plenty of give in the hinged sides.

Once you rigidly mount a 3D 'cube' on the back it all changes if you want that cube to not creak and flex like a cheap camcorder. It could lead to either leaks, cracks and snaps, depending on where you drive.

I suppose it all depends how much an OE chassis distorts with the axles crossed up, but whatever it will want to do it more with full payload.

I know this is the 4WD section but I would consider doing your job on a 2WD. Plenty more around in old RWD to modern FWD.
You want big diameter wheels - 15 or more - and IMO same-size singles on the rear. Something like the old Toyota Dyna which I've eyed up for years (too small for you of course).

You get great angles and clearance equal to a 4x4, easy access for digging out and a lot more choice to buy, new or old. As long as you have the build quality all you'll miss in the low range, but some may have an extra low first (I know old 2WD VWs did). The 4WD element is comparatively marginal for overlanding in my experience, though I know people may disagree.

This one pictured had a 20mm layer of wood between the chassis and the flatbed sub-chassis - to reduce resonance or maybe give a bit of give? Who knows but with the extra cab and 4m-bed it looked OK to me (total 6m). The dual 700x16 LTs on the back could possibly be replaced with a single 750 LT for a bit more air without doing the gearing in. Depends on the engine - it was a Korean brand I've never heard of but could be a Cummins which is no bad thing.

Having said that, I could still see the value for torsion free- or rubber mounted cabin on a long 2WD flatbed with cabin.

2WD is something to think about if you're not going through the Congo Basin in the wet.

Ch

short 4WD truck
 

No references above to the BREMAG, Italian made small utility truck based on Iveco parts, a bit like the smaller Unimogs. Good stuff, a bit hard to find though.

Cheers,
Noel

Hi all
since when as fuel consumption been no concern out of Europe! Also think shipping, e.g iso containers door width and height not inside dimensions.. Shipping costs always rise when you dont fit the norm as we have found out! Can make a big, big difference in your travel plans.

4x4 has allowed us to camp in fields where its quieter and one of the highlights of are trip was going into the Kaluts desert in Iran 4 four 5 days so its 4x4 all the way for me. On are trip the mercs, toyotas and mitsibushi have appeared to be the only vehicles that seem to have parts in all countires but I could be wrong on this!

What you are descovering it all a comprimise size v fuel, living space v shipping, weight v water capacity etc. What ever you decide it will be right. I was on the roof of are truck buggering about with solar when I looked down and saw to Solvienians sunbathing and swimming they were traveling with a dog, camping stove and a solar shower in a standard landcruiser" My point is you can get two tied up in the vehicle rather than the travel, personally I permently nead a project! others dont they just enjoy!

Also left or right hand drive I was so glad I had right in India but you'll cope with what you got

all the best Mark
Jo and Mark Overland
Mark