2007 Mitsubishi FG140 on eBay

[vwadventureman]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=171146989812

(sorry for the previous early-morning brain malfunction! Was thinking of my Isuzu FRR at the same time I posted this as an 'Isuzu'!)

 

[pugslyyy]

$21k buy it now is a little pricey, but the mileage is low. Quite a bit of surface rust, but in line with what you would expect from a Connecticut truck

 

[vwadventureman]

Yeah, nice that they haven't covered up the evidence with black paint like every other one I've seen.

 

[S2DM]

Would you ever consider building a camper off of that box, I.E. using that as a starting point? What do you think the box construction and mounting is?

 

[vwadventureman]

The boxes are usually bolted to the frame directly - so expect lots of twisting if driven off-road. You'd probably want a subframe mounted on three points so the frame could flex w/o affecting the box. I think the box 'might be' strong enough to make a camper.

 

[pugslyyy]

I agree - you could use the box but would want to change the mounting. You don't necessarily need a subframe, you could do it with spring mounts.

 

[yabanja]

Excellent spring mount photographs!

 

[mog]

Would you ever consider building a camper off of that box, I.E. using that as a starting point? What do you think the box construction and mounting is?

I'd say 100% yes. That is what I am doing (mine is a Marathon box, that is a Supreme, but the construction is the same).
.040 aluminum rivited to stringers every 16 inches. Rivited aluminum skin has been used since pre-WWII on aircraft that go through 100,000+ cycles without problems. Also these commerical boxes have to hold up to maybe a million+ miles, so if they can handle that, they can handle some 'market roads'. Very easy to run wiring, easy to insulate, etc, etc.
Yup, change the frame U-bolt mounts to a simple 'spring type' and you would be good to go.
Beside a 'box truck' is a pretty safe bet, just running around town, not pushing a snow plow or living its life as a dump truck like so many FGs do/did.
And it is a 2007, the last of the pre-DPF trucks, highest HP/torque Fusos, with pretty low mileage. The perfect (well as perfect as a FG can be) starting point, IMO.
I'd be on it like my dog to an unguarded ham sandwich if I did not already have mine.