I have built stage 1 of my truck now, and done a 3400km return trip to gnaraloo warroora and exmouth for a kite surfing trip with friends and my brother who has an imported Japanese 4x4 canter motorhome.
The trip was great the truck impressed the hell out of me and gave me a good idea of things I would like to add.
For this initial post I'll keep it brief.
*Edit to add some pictures*
Basics = 2012 canter 4x4 mine spec bus conversion by all terrain warriors, running parabolics and single wheel conversion although I have chosen to change from the atw singles to goanna tracks 17s running 37" dynapros for my own reasons/experience.
A credit to ATW, these things are built tough, no expense spared and the build quality of there vehicles just made for a great blank canvas.
Everything on the truck built/installed myself with the exception of the gas and some of the cabinets where i had the cabinet maker assist.
Electrical:
- 400w of solar
- 2x 160AH fullriver batteries for house batteries
- 1000/2000w pure sine inverter, remote switched from the carling panel next to the door, I am also running a 240v auto changeover that will power up one circuit of the truck from the inverter when turned on, but will change supply to those powerpoints to shore power if you plug in.
- redarc bcdc40 for solar and alternator regulation
- ctek 240v battery charger
- 2kw MHI Air con (some might question the use of a commercial split system, but airconditioning/electrical contracting is my business and with the tray on the back this option was allot more economic/quiet and cost me basically nothing compared to an all in one under seat unit.)
- fiamma roof vent with the higher output fan (did not have time before this trip to have the marine slider windows installed)
- usb/12v points scattered around the van everywhere for phone/accessories charging
- Webasto fridge/freezer
- microwave (forget the brand possibly dometic)
Entertainment
- 32" 12v tv/dvd (I have also run usb and hdmi to the plate on the right hand side of the couch/bed for plugging in hdd's or a laptop to stream to the tv)
- alpine bluetooth stereo (TV connected to rear aux input also for better sound) running 2x sound stream splits
Lighting
- 4x 8w 12v downlights (typical sparky, overkill on the lights, will be installing a dimmer after testing on the first trip, great to have that much light available when cooking etc, but if lying down on the couch/bed they where to bright)
- LED low profile awning light
- Rear tray light bar
- 2x high beam light bars and 2x side angle lights for offroad (very handy finding suitable camp spots pulling into remote places in the dark, as well as just lighting up your surroundings more off road, future plans will see the light bars come off the roof and a rack installed with 4 high beam spot lights, and the angled side lights installed on the rack also.)
Living
- slide out toilet under right hand seat
- swing/swivel table drops into queen bed, 2 long back pillows make up the bed
- deep cupboard on the left of the bed provides a headboard plus a place to store blanket and pillows during the day, also handy for sitting phones/laptops on during the night to charge and be within reach.
- hanging cupboard on the right hand side for shirts etc.
- Tried to maximize storage wherever possible, found it to be more than enough for 2 people, even with 3 kitesurfing kites inside and my big fishing bag under one one of the bench seats as well as a big bag of my milwaukee/hand tools and the 18v milwaukee vacuum under the other bench
- silver Venetians on all windows except the door
Plumbing
- 300L drinking water
- Webasto dual top diesel heater (air heating and water) I have not actually installed this yet, time was tight before this trip and hot water is not a must up north (you can see the cutout for the controller near the switch panel)
- dual gas cooktop/sink combo
- dual spout tap, (water filter behind cabinet runs to the small second spout for water bottles)
- outdoor shower in the locked box next to the entry, for me this was a must, kitesurfing/snorkeling/fishing remote locations like waroora and gnaraloo this was great to rinse off and then step into a clean van, considering inside space is limited and a shower would not be good use of space.
NEXT STAGE BUILD PLANS
I will be removing the rear tray and most likely fabricate a canopy from scratch, something more to the same shape and height as the fiberglass bus body, adding boxes underneath the tray for recovery gear, and on board air and all painted white, and working out a system for a motorbike in the canopy as well as storage for my kite gear and bikes, aswell as a remote start genie, currently im just using the lockable toolbox on the tray for my kiteboards and a small portable genie although did'nt even use the genie this trip.
Unsure if I will go a completely enclosed aluminum canopy like the trademate style on my hilux, or a nicely fabricated tray with built in boxes and then framework with a canvas canopy. It all comes down to cost at the end of the day. A trademate with doors of that height would take some decent engineering/fabrication time.
Awning, This is waiting for the rear canopy really, because of the height of the vehicle i would like to put a full length fiamma wind out awning on, so i will need the rear canopy fabricated with a mount to support the awning.
Also will be adding a winch, looking at the 17000lb runva at this stage. (whatcharterboat maybe you could shed some light on this, can these ATW bullbars be modified to take a winch? has anyone done it?)
front bar work, brush bars going up the side of the windscreen to a luggage rack on the roof, with 4 spotlights fabricated in nicely and side lights.
relocate start batteries, and install pull out sealed bbq under fiberglass body.
end of build info edit**
My question, my truck is built light, under 4.5t, the truck went really well without low range, even on steeper crawls 1st was low enough, just one scenario In super soft shell sand I felt I would have liked the extra gearing of a low range reduction box. ATW has informed me Mitsubishi themselves can add low range for around 15k, I am wondering how hard it would be to do myself with say a reconditioned transfer case, when I say myself I basically mean with my mechanic doing the work with me, basically I am wondering what the big hurdles will be, is it worth 15k or could it be done allot cheaper/smarter, given the 4wd selection is push button, would driveshafts need customizing? Would the canbus computer accept the low range system. I am not a mechanical guru (sparky by trade) and by no means trying to cheap out, as nothing on these trucks is cheap. I just feel like 15k is steep, and if I can save some of that, that's more money that can be thrown at the second load of fabrication plans I have.
Second question, truck is speed limited to 100 for mining, this is annoying economy wise, on the long stretches up north I often found it braking on downhills where you would normally let momentum do it's thing for the next uphill to keep your speed up, what's involved in removing this?
Third question, power! (Not a huge priority) power upgrade suggestions for these trucks? Exhaust upgrade? Of course anything improving economy is a plus also.
Hopefully some of the gurus on here can help.
The trip was great the truck impressed the hell out of me and gave me a good idea of things I would like to add.
For this initial post I'll keep it brief.
*Edit to add some pictures*
Basics = 2012 canter 4x4 mine spec bus conversion by all terrain warriors, running parabolics and single wheel conversion although I have chosen to change from the atw singles to goanna tracks 17s running 37" dynapros for my own reasons/experience.
A credit to ATW, these things are built tough, no expense spared and the build quality of there vehicles just made for a great blank canvas.
Everything on the truck built/installed myself with the exception of the gas and some of the cabinets where i had the cabinet maker assist.
Electrical:
- 400w of solar
- 2x 160AH fullriver batteries for house batteries
- 1000/2000w pure sine inverter, remote switched from the carling panel next to the door, I am also running a 240v auto changeover that will power up one circuit of the truck from the inverter when turned on, but will change supply to those powerpoints to shore power if you plug in.
- redarc bcdc40 for solar and alternator regulation
- ctek 240v battery charger
- 2kw MHI Air con (some might question the use of a commercial split system, but airconditioning/electrical contracting is my business and with the tray on the back this option was allot more economic/quiet and cost me basically nothing compared to an all in one under seat unit.)
- fiamma roof vent with the higher output fan (did not have time before this trip to have the marine slider windows installed)
- usb/12v points scattered around the van everywhere for phone/accessories charging
- Webasto fridge/freezer
- microwave (forget the brand possibly dometic)
Entertainment
- 32" 12v tv/dvd (I have also run usb and hdmi to the plate on the right hand side of the couch/bed for plugging in hdd's or a laptop to stream to the tv)
- alpine bluetooth stereo (TV connected to rear aux input also for better sound) running 2x sound stream splits
Lighting
- 4x 8w 12v downlights (typical sparky, overkill on the lights, will be installing a dimmer after testing on the first trip, great to have that much light available when cooking etc, but if lying down on the couch/bed they where to bright)
- LED low profile awning light
- Rear tray light bar
- 2x high beam light bars and 2x side angle lights for offroad (very handy finding suitable camp spots pulling into remote places in the dark, as well as just lighting up your surroundings more off road, future plans will see the light bars come off the roof and a rack installed with 4 high beam spot lights, and the angled side lights installed on the rack also.)
Living
- slide out toilet under right hand seat
- swing/swivel table drops into queen bed, 2 long back pillows make up the bed
- deep cupboard on the left of the bed provides a headboard plus a place to store blanket and pillows during the day, also handy for sitting phones/laptops on during the night to charge and be within reach.
- hanging cupboard on the right hand side for shirts etc.
- Tried to maximize storage wherever possible, found it to be more than enough for 2 people, even with 3 kitesurfing kites inside and my big fishing bag under one one of the bench seats as well as a big bag of my milwaukee/hand tools and the 18v milwaukee vacuum under the other bench
- silver Venetians on all windows except the door
Plumbing
- 300L drinking water
- Webasto dual top diesel heater (air heating and water) I have not actually installed this yet, time was tight before this trip and hot water is not a must up north (you can see the cutout for the controller near the switch panel)
- dual gas cooktop/sink combo
- dual spout tap, (water filter behind cabinet runs to the small second spout for water bottles)
- outdoor shower in the locked box next to the entry, for me this was a must, kitesurfing/snorkeling/fishing remote locations like waroora and gnaraloo this was great to rinse off and then step into a clean van, considering inside space is limited and a shower would not be good use of space.
NEXT STAGE BUILD PLANS
I will be removing the rear tray and most likely fabricate a canopy from scratch, something more to the same shape and height as the fiberglass bus body, adding boxes underneath the tray for recovery gear, and on board air and all painted white, and working out a system for a motorbike in the canopy as well as storage for my kite gear and bikes, aswell as a remote start genie, currently im just using the lockable toolbox on the tray for my kiteboards and a small portable genie although did'nt even use the genie this trip.
Unsure if I will go a completely enclosed aluminum canopy like the trademate style on my hilux, or a nicely fabricated tray with built in boxes and then framework with a canvas canopy. It all comes down to cost at the end of the day. A trademate with doors of that height would take some decent engineering/fabrication time.
Awning, This is waiting for the rear canopy really, because of the height of the vehicle i would like to put a full length fiamma wind out awning on, so i will need the rear canopy fabricated with a mount to support the awning.
Also will be adding a winch, looking at the 17000lb runva at this stage. (whatcharterboat maybe you could shed some light on this, can these ATW bullbars be modified to take a winch? has anyone done it?)
front bar work, brush bars going up the side of the windscreen to a luggage rack on the roof, with 4 spotlights fabricated in nicely and side lights.
relocate start batteries, and install pull out sealed bbq under fiberglass body.
end of build info edit**
My question, my truck is built light, under 4.5t, the truck went really well without low range, even on steeper crawls 1st was low enough, just one scenario In super soft shell sand I felt I would have liked the extra gearing of a low range reduction box. ATW has informed me Mitsubishi themselves can add low range for around 15k, I am wondering how hard it would be to do myself with say a reconditioned transfer case, when I say myself I basically mean with my mechanic doing the work with me, basically I am wondering what the big hurdles will be, is it worth 15k or could it be done allot cheaper/smarter, given the 4wd selection is push button, would driveshafts need customizing? Would the canbus computer accept the low range system. I am not a mechanical guru (sparky by trade) and by no means trying to cheap out, as nothing on these trucks is cheap. I just feel like 15k is steep, and if I can save some of that, that's more money that can be thrown at the second load of fabrication plans I have.
Second question, truck is speed limited to 100 for mining, this is annoying economy wise, on the long stretches up north I often found it braking on downhills where you would normally let momentum do it's thing for the next uphill to keep your speed up, what's involved in removing this?
Third question, power! (Not a huge priority) power upgrade suggestions for these trucks? Exhaust upgrade? Of course anything improving economy is a plus also.
Hopefully some of the gurus on here can help.
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