Overland Build Idea

[valhalla360]

Crazy thought...(not really clear where this should fit in in terms of forum).

If you look at the custom overland rigs, usually built on something like an issuzu cab over truck...they start in the $250k range and easily move up into the $500k or higher range.

What if you picked up a basic truck with no box or flatbed. Then picked up something like a 17ft travel trailer.

Yank the axles off the trailer and mount it on the truck frame. Maybe install a 3 point support for the trailer to minimize twisting of the house box on rough roads. There would be some work involved but I wouldn't think it would be too extreme.

Say $50k for the truck. $15k for the source trailer. $5k to weld up a 3 point support and another $5 for misc work to do the mounting (maybe fabricate a set of steps, integrate running lights, charging the house batteries, etc...).

Now you would have a brand new overland rig for $75k. If you bought used, you could probably cut that in half.

Comparing the livability of your average overland truck to a 17ft travel trailer, the travel trailer looks a lot more comfortable to live in.

You could look for a 4x4 cab over truck but really most of the advantages lie in the high ground clearance. It's a pretty standard truck so no issues getting work done on it.

Crazy or doable?

[BurbMan]

That is definitely a TT mounted to a truck chassis though. Added a lot of basement storage too

[valhalla360]

The internet is watching...this showed up on facebook without me searching for it.

Not exactly what I was thinking about but interesting. Toy hauler with hydralic lift to get toys in.

[Bert_the_Welder]

BurbMan wrote:


One thing to keep in mind is that very few TTs come with a generator option, or have room for multiple batteries, so you'll need to plan space for that in the build.

That's where getting a longer bed then the trailer body comes in. Add all sorts of storage with cabinets, etc.
May have been the same article I mentioned previous, where the guy said he went with all locking cabinets on his current build. Nothing exposed on the exterior as on a previous rig he had shipped, stuff that wasn't in locking cab's got stolen by the crew. I'd think this would hold true in any impoverished area of the world. Outta sight, outta mind.

[valhalla360]

BurbMan wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:
They did do a lot of remodeling of the trailer interior which would defeat my idea of throw a trailer on the truck deck (minus the axles) and head out but it certainly confirms the idea as viable.

Wouldn't defeat it per se, would just take longer. Depends on how custom you want the interior to be.

This is really an interesting idea and would be a fun build. Around here guys spend big money to have Class C's converted to 4WD for beach access, your idea would deliver almost the same result at a lower cost.

One thing to keep in mind is that very few TTs come with a generator option, or have room for multiple batteries, so you'll need to plan space for that in the build.

If you do some minor modifications, no it wouldn't defeat the purpose but the youtube guys basically gutted the trailer and rebuilt the interior...at that point, building a custom box wouldn't take much more effort. My thought is quick, easy and cheap.

Generator and batteries could be placed on trays/boxes along the frame. It's easy to bolt things on as it's all exposed and easy access.

[BurbMan]

valhalla360 wrote:
They did do a lot of remodeling of the trailer interior which would defeat my idea of throw a trailer on the truck deck (minus the axles) and head out but it certainly confirms the idea as viable.

Wouldn't defeat it per se, would just take longer. Depends on how custom you want the interior to be.

This is really an interesting idea and would be a fun build. Around here guys spend big money to have Class C's converted to 4WD for beach access, your idea would deliver almost the same result at a lower cost.

One thing to keep in mind is that very few TTs come with a generator option, or have room for multiple batteries, so you'll need to plan space for that in the build.

[valhalla360]

BurbMan wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:
Cab overs are used worldwide, so better chance of getting work done on it.

Ah, OK, you didn't mention going around the world with it, I assume you were talking NA, there are plenty of overland places in Mexico.

Is this the truck you're talking about using?

Sorry, I wasn't specific. Overlander vehicles are usually focused on a wider range of areas.

Yes, something like the truck in the picture. Though since seeing the youtube link from someone who has done it, getting a dump flatbed looks like a simpler approach as it's a 3 point support already designed and built, so you just need to set the trailer on the deck and secure it so it doesn't fall off.

They bought a used 2006 truck and indicated they only have about $30k total into it.

They did do a lot of remodeling of the trailer interior which would defeat my idea of throw a trailer on the truck deck (minus the axles) and head out but it certainly confirms the idea as viable.

[BurbMan]

valhalla360 wrote:
Cab overs are used worldwide, so better chance of getting work done on it.

Ah, OK, you didn't mention going around the world with it, I assume you were talking NA, there are plenty of overland places in Mexico.

Is this the truck you're talking about using?

[valhalla360]

noteven wrote:
There is a YouTube channel called Barefoot Expedition where a couple mounted a travel trailer on a Fuso FG140 that had a flatbed with a hoist. The left the flatbed alone as it had a front tele hoist and 2 hinges at the rear...”wa la” - 3 point mount to isolate the travel trailer body from the truck. This one is also set up so the trailer body can be set off the flatbed without a crane or fork lift.

The channel The Cruisin’ Crew also did a nice rig tour with them.

That's almost exactly what I was thinking.

Yeah, saw the video where they were talking about the dump bed and it effectively is a prebuilt 3 point support system.

[valhalla360]

free radical wrote:
Definitely doable,,with enough time and money lol

Or you could build your own design to make it stronger better insulated longer lasting,heres an example

https://youtu.be/ao2LiqegRJQ

For another interesting,
maybe better TC construction look up Kimbo camper on YT

Sure you can build a box and then fit it out piece by piece but rather than a project that takes maybe a week to finish and doesn't require a lot of specialized skills... it's likely several months of work and you need the right skill set to build the box from scratch. This is basically the reason why commercially built units are crazy expensive.

Using a small trailer, the box is all built out ahead of time. Biggest project is welding up the subframe for the 3 point support and setting it on the truck. That doesn't have to be pretty, just strong.

[free_radical]

valhalla360 wrote:
Crazy thought...(not really clear where this should fit in in terms of forum).

If you look at the custom overland rigs, usually built on something like an issuzu cab over truck...they start in the $250k range and easily move up into the $500k or higher range.

What if you picked up a basic truck with no box or flatbed. Then picked up something like a 17ft travel trailer.

Yank the axles off the trailer and mount it on the truck frame. Maybe install a 3 point support for the trailer to minimize twisting of the house box on rough roads. There would be some work involved but I wouldn't think it would be too extreme.

Say $50k for the truck. $15k for the source trailer. $5k to weld up a 3 point support and another $5 for misc work to do the mounting (maybe fabricate a set of steps, integrate running lights, charging the house batteries, etc...).

Now you would have a brand new overland rig for $75k. If you bought used, you could probably cut that in half.

Comparing the livability of your average overland truck to a 17ft travel trailer, the travel trailer looks a lot more comfortable to live in.

You could look for a 4x4 cab over truck but really most of the advantages lie in the high ground clearance. It's a pretty standard truck so no issues getting work done on it.

Crazy or doable?

Definitely doable,,with enough time and money lol

Or you could build your own design to make it stronger better insulated longer lasting,heres an example

https://youtu.be/ao2LiqegRJQ

For another interesting,
maybe better TC construction look up Kimbo camper on YT

[Bert_the_Welder]

noteven wrote:
There is a YouTube channel called Barefoot Expedition where a couple mounted a travel trailer on a Fuso FG140 that had a flatbed with a hoist. The left the flatbed alone as it had a front tele hoist and 2 hinges at the rear...”wa la” - 3 point mount to isolate the travel trailer body from the truck. This one is also set up so the trailer body can be set off the flatbed without a crane or fork lift.

The channel The Cruisin’ Crew also did a nice rig tour with them.

That's the one I was trying to remember!
And I seem to recall reading something in an article on the Truck Camper Magazine website about getting a 2006 or earlier with the Fuso's. I think it had to do with after 2006 the engines changed with a bunch of new fangled emissions stuff or some such thing. 2006 and before, the Fuso was a straight forward engine you could have work done on and parts available for pretty much anywhere in the world. Get one with or put on the 3-point mount for a flat deck and drop a mod'ed TT on it. Have the deck longer then the TT so you have exterior storage options. Might need to Dynamat the cab for sound and maybe add some air-ride seats for comfort.
If you got the money/time/skill/tools, all is possible.

[noteven]

There is a YouTube channel called Barefoot Expedition where a couple mounted a travel trailer on a Fuso FG140 that had a flatbed with a hoist. The left the flatbed alone as it had a front tele hoist and 2 hinges at the rear...”wa la” - 3 point mount to isolate the travel trailer body from the truck. This one is also set up so the trailer body can be set off the flatbed without a crane or fork lift.

The channel The Cruisin’ Crew also did a nice rig tour with them.

[valhalla360]

silversand wrote:
....just yesterday while doing the winter prep for our Ford Edge, I checked out a "clearance" brand new 2019 Ford Transit-350 base cab/chassis V6 Ti-VCT 24V with 16 foot box....selling for $48,000 CAD ($36,106 US). The box is bulletproof, and has nice shaped wind-cutting accouterments.

Mind you, its no 4x4, but with this truck, you can add any pre-built furniture you want, cut in 4 or 5 large RV windows, and plenty of space under the box's over-frame for 3, 4, 5 large water/grey/black tanks and batteries? Its serviceable at any Ford dealer anywhere from northern Alaska down to Argentina.

You can do a van conversion but now it's a much more complicated build (as opposed to basically bolt a prebuilt trailer onto the frame with a 3 point support and you are done) and you don't get the big ground clearance or durability of an actual truck. Also, payload has to be watched closely as the transit vans aren't real heavy duty.

Basically a van conversion is a different animal. If that was an option, I would either stick to a towable or a class C prebuilt and be done.

[silversand]

....just yesterday while doing the winter prep for our Ford Edge, I checked out a "clearance" brand new 2019 Ford Transit-350 base cab/chassis V6 Ti-VCT 24V with 16 foot box....selling for $48,000 CAD ($36,106 US). The box is bulletproof, and has nice shaped wind-cutting accouterments.

Mind you, its no 4x4, but with this truck, you can add any pre-built furniture you want, cut in 4 or 5 large RV windows, and plenty of space under the box's over-frame for 3, 4, 5 large water/grey/black tanks and batteries? Its serviceable at any Ford dealer anywhere from northern Alaska down to Argentina.