"What If...?"

[MEXICOWANDERER]

This is a Daydreaming Special.

Totally bucks up. Money is of no importance...

Design your own RV from the tires upward.

For me, a start would be...

• A titanium frame for vastly increased strength and minimum weight
• Carbon fiber skin for strength
• Vacuum panel insulation
• High R value windows
• Kevlar or Spectra awning. Large disc brakes
• Lithium batteries and a roof jammed with solar panels...

Your turn..............:)

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Honest to god when I first saw it in the early morning mist I thought it was a garbage truck.

[agesilaus]

Geez look at the size of the wheels on that thing, what are they 40 inch?

[valhalla360]

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:

I toured a Unimog in Patzcuaro I think the washer drier could handle a pair of shorts and tee shirt.

Money is no object, I"m sure a bigger washer could be fitted...if need be, the chassis modified and you could have a row of 3 across the back in a separate garage area.

[m37charlie]

pnichols wrote:

m37charlie wrote:
You don't know the difference between locking hubs and a locking diff???

I do now after thinking about it.

I confused the difference with what my 4X4 GMC has - an open front differential, but engaged remotely not via hubs, but via a more reliable mechanical system that I installed to replace the electrically activated solenoid system. The solenoid system could have been prone to failure in the middle of a water crossing when one might need 4X4 the most.

Do you have a reference for stating that Ford 4WD HD truck front drive systems aren't offered with a locking differential option?

of course not, none of them have it!
they wouldn't say "no locking front diff" duh....
like I said the F750 doesn't even come with 4wd, it's a CONVERSION

[pnichols]

m37charlie wrote:
You don't know the difference between locking hubs and a locking diff???

I do now after thinking about it.

I confused the difference with what my 4X4 GMC has - an open front differential, but engaged remotely not via hubs, but via a more reliable mechanical system that I installed to replace the electrically activated solenoid system. The solenoid system could have been prone to failure in the middle of a water crossing when one might need 4X4 the most.

Do you have a reference for stating that Ford 4WD HD truck front drive systems aren't offered with a locking differential option?

[m37charlie]

Are you saying that Ford 4WD options no longer include lockable front hubs? Strange if true ... but maybe due to safety concerns.

The truck isn't even 4WD to begin with, it's a conversion.



I expect that CTIS can be specified at ordering time for the vehicle in my photo.

You don't know the difference between locking hubs and a locking diff??? Please educate yourself.
And no, CTIS is not available on that chassis

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Nope

I'm soaking it all up like a sponge. Raw input coupled with relevant dissemination is a potent learning tool.

Please keep it up.

[pnichols]

m37charlie wrote:
One can get a Unicat on any chassis one wants, including a Ford. Some of us have chosen different chassis.
Dick Smith tried to get his Ford repaired in Mongolia and ended up leaving it there all winter, in a small town!
"Reeking of luxury" like gold plated fixtures - that's GOOD???
You'd think a $1.5M expedition truck would have a front diff lock and CTIS. To say nothing of an engine and transmission not lifted from the pickup truck line.
Charlie

Try getting a typical Unicat chassis repaired in Jarbidge without a long wait, too!

Why not gold fixtures out in the middle of nowhere if money is no object? Along with the gold fixtures you get such things as radiantly heated floors in addition to classic hot air heat ... plus air conditioning with no generator.

Are you saying that Ford 4WD options no longer include lockable front hubs? Strange if true ... but maybe due to safety concerns.

I expect that CTIS can be specified at ordering time for the vehicle in my photo.

The Unicat interior seen in these photos is way too spartan, smooth, and shiny for me and the DW - especially if money is no object:
https://www.unicat.net/en/pics/MD54pickupcomfort-InternationalMXTCC-2.php

P.S. David .... are we still on topic - or getting way too ridiculous? 😉

[m37charlie]

pnichols wrote:

m37charlie wrote:
It is 2 feet too high, about 9 feet too long, and about $1 million overpriced - compared to a Unicat

Firstly -> The OP said price was no object, so what's $1 million overpriced got to do with anything?

Secondly -> Ever try to get a Unicat chassis versus a Ford chassis, repaired out in the middle of nowhere in the good old U.S.? Plus ... the inside of a Unicat expedition vehicle's living area is more sterile than a VA hospital room versus the living area of the vehicle in my photo, which reeks of over-the-top luxury that the extra $1 million buys.

😉

One can get a Unicat on any chassis one wants, including a Ford. Some of us have chosen different chassis.
Dick Smith tried to get his Ford repaired in Mongolia and ended up leaving it there all winter, in a small town!
"Reeking of luxury" like gold plated fixtures - that's GOOD???
You'd think a $1.5M expedition truck would have a front diff lock and CTIS. To say nothing of an engine and transmission not lifted from the pickup truck line.
Charlie

[MEXICOWANDERER]

I suppose if money is no object, you could have a chase semi with a second set of every oddball addition on board to make replacement easy.

This is exactly why I love scenarios. They are ultra rich in reality. Thank you.

Quicksilver is made out of hot dip galvanized riveted 16 gauge mild steel 🙂

I toured a Unimog in Patzcuaro I think the washer drier could handle a pair of shorts and tee shirt.

[pnichols]

m37charlie wrote:
It is 2 feet too high, about 9 feet too long, and about $1 million overpriced - compared to a Unicat

Firstly -> The OP said price was no object, so what's $1 million overpriced got to do with anything?

Secondly -> Ever try to get a Unicat chassis versus a Ford chassis, repaired out in the middle of nowhere in the good old U.S.? Plus ... the inside of a Unicat expedition vehicle's living area is more sterile than a VA hospital room versus the living area of the vehicle in my photo, which reeks of over-the-top luxury that the extra $1 million buys.

😉

[valhalla360]

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:

High strength to weight ratio? Far in excess of fiberglass? Why do five thousand dollar bicycles have carbon fiber construction?

If you aren't a professional racer, a carbon fiber bike doesn't do much of anything for an average rider. Of course bike frames are put under high stress and often operate right at the edge of failure in an attempt to squeeze just a tiny bit more performance out of the bike.

Side walls of RV's don't need much strength. That's not what drives the thickness (and thus the weight) of the panels. It's puncture resistance but carbon fiber doesn't do a lot for the thickness of a non-structural wall panel.

But again, the first time you have an issue, either you slap basic fiberglass over it (negating the supposed strength advantage) or you have to go to a specialty shop and have the entire panel re-fabricated and replaced. Even if you don't care about the money (which will be huge), you will have delays and hassles.

I suppose if money is no object, you could have a chase semi with a second set of every oddball addition on board to make replacement easy.

[m37charlie]

pnichols wrote:
Actually, here's my favorite picture of this $1,500,000.00 RV:

It is 2 feet too high, about 9 feet too long, and about $1 million overpriced - compared to a Unicat

[MEXICOWANDERER]

As to the original list, it might sound nice but first time you have an issue, everything is custom and you will need specialty crews to work on it...seriously, what do you think you will get out of carbon fiber sides?

High strength to weight ratio? Far in excess of fiberglass? Why do five thousand dollar bicycles have carbon fiber construction?

As far as aluminum frame is considered, I have seen many a big rig with aluminum frames. Much thicker than steel. I know aircraft are made from aluminum but it takes a special structure of it to make it effective. The same finish weight of aluminum, a titanium frame is fatigue resistant and break resistant. It's all designed for weight savings

None of these "what if" discussions are practical in themselves. What I intended is a hatchery of ideas and thoughts that might be distilled into practical ideas and adaptations.