Building expedion vehicle

[rideglobally]

first time posting. i am building an expedition vehicle from a 1981 hj47 landcruiser crew cab, i plan to take it to so. america, southeast asia, china, africa etc... the vehicle is now in the process of being rebuilt. one of the immediate challenges is building the camper shell, obviously want to build it from the lightest and most durable material possibe, i am thinking aluminum. if you have experience or links that i can look at please let me know. the camper shell is only 6.5 foot wide x 8 long foot x 5.3 foot high plus a over hang, over the cab of 4 feet wide x 6.5 feet x 1.9 feet high. i am also gathering info on true and tested equipment, suspendsion, clutch, gps, solar panel, porto patties etc...list is long. thank you very much, i have enjoyed visiting the site.
:26_16_2: http://expeditionportal.com/forum/images/smilies/26_16_2.gif

 

[haven]

constructing a camper

Most campers are constructed with an internal frame, and covered with a skin that is not load-bearing. Here are links to a few examples

steel frame and structural foam skin
http://www.ki7xh.com/boxskin.htm

steel frame and aluminum skin
http://michelszulckrzyzanowski.blogspot.com/2007/03/fuso-santek-8.html

wooden frame with marine plywood skin

It's possible for an individual to build a camper using a material that functions as both frame and skin. Here's an example using Nida-core, a polypropylene honeycomb faced with fiberglass.

http://thesupercamper.blogspot.com/search?q=construction+begins

Fiber reinforced plastic with plywood internal supports
http://www.xor.org.uk/unimog/mymog/purchase.htm


Chip Haven

 

[rideglobally]

very helpful thanks

i was thinking of constructing the frame with square aluminum tubing. also the inside cabinets with the aluminum tubings.....thanks

 

[rideglobally]

pictures hj47

here are some pictures, sorry took me a while to figure it out, hope this works http://gallery.mac.com/sinag#100048

 

[calamaridog]

Good luck with your build. The vehicle has tons of potential.

 

[rideglobally]

building landcruiser for overland expediton

here is the link for a camper shell that i want to build for my cruiser http://www.expeditionoverland.com/selection_and_design.htm and here is the link for my cruiser http://web.mac.com/sinag/globalcruiser/globalcruiser/globalcruiser.html if you want to see it, it is now being serviced and painted. do you know a place in the United States who can build this camper shell?

 

[ntsqd]

I think that if you work up an actual design, with the various loads involved, that you'll find that the aluminum tube has to be a bit larger than steel tubing would need to be. By the time you're done I believe that you'll find that you haven't saved all the much weight and you'll have also spent a good deal more on the tubing. Then factor in the higher level of fabrication competency required and the dramatically lower fatigue life (if you design to minimum weight) and aluminum tube won't look so appealing. BT, DT.

Using steel tube with an aluminum skin does pose a galvanic corrosion issue. Personally, I think the best solution to that is the use of 3M VHB to bond the skin to the frame. It will pick up strength in the process of electrically isolating the two metals as well as sealing off the gaps so that moisture can't get in to start the corrosion process.

 

[ckkone]

Where are you located?

 

[MountainBiker]

Wow, that is a neat project!

I'm a mechanical engineer, and I would also go with a steel camper frame rather than aluminum for the reasons stated.

 

[rideglobally]

i am in Los Angeles, California..thanks all

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

I missed this somehow as has Michael Slade...
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/member.php?u=147

He built his 4 door defender 130 to have an aluiminum storage/camping area on the back. I wish I had a link but there is a web site somewhere with a very comprehensive build of the project. Also despite that engine being diesel and rugged, I would perhaps scrap it for something more powerful as it really is a very outdated design. I hope that is not bad news to your ears...

 

[rideglobally]

update on the expedition build

last weekend took the landcruiser hj 47 for the first test drive here is my link; http://web.mac.com/sinag/globalcruiser/globalcruiser/globalcruiser.html mechanical preparation is still underway, next is to build the camper shell, if you know someone let me know...thanks

 

[rideglobally]

expedition build up date

been busy building, here is the current state of our build. i tried posting pictures here but for some reason it would not work. here is our draft website you can go to the "build update" section to see the most current pictures on the build. http://web.mac.com/sinag/globalcruiser/globalcruiser/globalcruiser.html
we appreciate you suggestions