Thoughts on ability (in Sahara)? Experiences?

Sam.

i have just bought a 40-10 4x4 flat bed that i will be converting to a camper, well what I am thinking of is bolting a caravan on the back as this will be a cheap option and I can take the van off and I have transport wherever I am. I have spent a lot of time and money in the past converting a 608 merc to go to india and dont wont to do it again!

I would love to hear from anyone with a 40-10 to share tips so the desert/off road suitibilty interests me as well

Graeme

i,m on my second iveco 4x4 now,only sold last on as swb & needed more room.My only concern with fitting caravan on rear is how long it will last once your on the corrigations but a cheaper options than full build(i've converted a merc 508 too along with a iveco 4x4)Ive had no problems with there off road ability in sand or mud but once stuck they take some digging out(4 ton),so, make sure you have a good compressor,spade & plates.Good luck & go 4 it.

Where can I find one of these for an Iveco 4x4?
Sam.

This is just a suggestion as I have no idea what they are really like, but I've often wondered about the possibilities of converting a 4x4 Ford Transit. Worth looking into?
Matt

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Hi Matt
I did buy one of these as they are a good size, and cheap and easy to get bits for. But because they are monocoque, I could see the dampers coming through the cab floor after a day of corrugations, (and they arn't called Dagenham dusbins for nothing) so bought an Iveco, as its mounted on a solid chassis and much better built.
Happy Travels
Bruce

thanks for the tips, I know what your saying about the caravan falling to pieces on courogated roads, but I am thinking that I can always repair stuff and it is so cheap. If I spend £1000 I can get one in good condition and new enough to be light. I am thinking to take the body of the Iveco so I can cut down the wieght. I have heard of someone india with one on a truck and I have seen it done in the uk.
Graeme

Hi,
I’ve had one since 2000, coachbuilt onto the 3.2m wheelbase chassis. The box is grossly overweight so mine will never see the high dunes, but in the gently rolling dunes of western Mori it was very well behaved, plodded along with the engine screaming. Our guide in his 4.2l Jeep kept on getting stuck but I think he was a bit too heavy footed (a case of too much power for sand?) and on 15” tyres. I didn’t dare stop to help him, the sand was way too soft to take a stop-start.
They’re very tough, and popular with the German Saharians. No need for any of that LR after market protection bunk, they come with a sump and transfer case guard strong enough to jack even my 5.5t version on.
The 2.5 TD is great, it has a timing CHAIN in a water and sand proof casing, bloody noisy though. At only 100 hp it’s worth looking at tuning options.
With a bit of grinding you can get 9 x 16 tyres under the civvy cab, and the gearing’s designed for them; my workshop manual shows a stripped chassis version with the same ratios but 9x16 tyres, and the military ones have that as standard.

Issues:
The outside CV boot seems to be a bit fragile and requires extra vigilance.
It’s a mini HGV chassis, and as such it’s the chassis that twists first, rather than the suspension (there’s a good photo on exremecamper.com). I’ve seen a Daily van that had to be extensively rewelded and reinforced around the front doors and our furniture unscrews itself from the walls because of the flex in the body.

Graeme, I would recommend a diamond style mounting similar to the Mog system. The caravan lends itself quite well to that: hard mount the caravan’s axle part transversally and then attach a single pivot at the front (and rear if there’s enough chassis) of the caravan. The caravan will follow the twist at the axle level of the truck, and the pivot will allow it to.

Happy preparations
Luke

I've actually bought three now (they're difficult to find though - got them in Belgium, France and Italy!!).

They are great, looking forward to trying them in the rough stuff. BUT you don't want to be in a hurry (and mine are the 2.8L)!

Sam.

Hi folks

just bought seconed hand swb 4x4 iveco 1993 hope fully will transport me and partner on two year in 2008. A bit concerned about room thought of cutting off rear body of van and replacing with grp body to try and get extra couple of feet on rear and six inches on sides. Grays world did you ever fix on a caravan body and how did it work?

Sorry if Ihave butted in on someone elses thread but couldnt work out how to start new one. Luckly my parctical skills are better than my computer skills.

cheers Mark
suffering the daily grind to fund a life of adventure

Hi, welcome to the in hurried half deaf crowd
structurally you could cut off the back and put something else on, as they have a real chassis so the body isn't structural.
It's not something to take lightly; the DVLA might have something to say about it, but then seeing what Foley and others do with LRs there must be a way to keep them happy.


XZL tyres under an Iveco: I only have experience of the 7.5x16 and 235x85x26 on 5.5 rims and I'm happy.
Very good up front, wobbly as a high tyre is they are progressive so you get plenty of warning that you're pushung an OR tyre too hard on the tar.
On the back I've mixed 2 XZY inside and 2 XZL outside in 7.5 x 16.
The combination would have done well over the 60000 oddkm it had already done if I hadn't blown out one of the Y's (thank you Hassan
Put another Y in its place (off the front so same kms) and we're still on them (just)
What I like about the Ls is there are no steel radials to fatigue when you run them soft, so the shell is supple and bends around angry rocks rather than piercing.

Pity they're so expensive, but I suppose you get what you pay for.
Enjoy the planning
Luke

As most of this type of vehicle are regarded as commercials, inc Land Rover the DVLA, police etc expect the bodies/bodyworkk will be played with - read chopped about. And will poss morph with different owners, so as long as the vehicle can pass an mot you will have no problems on that front.

Chris

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Sam.

Hi sam

took a peek at the ebay one.

Nice idea of being a tipper ! easy to clean out the debris after long haul across the desert !!!!!!!

& of course excellent way for the other half to make sure I am up for breakfast !

BTW - Happy New Year all the best for '07

phil.

iveco dailly 2.8. shortwheelbase towbar required can anybody help I am in Scotland