expedition trailer made from an 80 series Landcruiser

[MuruCycles]

hey all.

So here is my cross post from the MySwag site in Australia. http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=41021.0

The short story is that I've always wanted a Tvan. I think every Australian off-roader (with a camper fetish) wants one. But finances (and the minister for spending) said... no.

So I bought a camper trailer that had been made from a converted Toyota Landcruiser 80 series wagon... (see pics below)

The basic part of the conversion, new front wall, drawbar and so on is nice and solid. So great bones to build on. The finish is a little bit... "how ya' goin' mate". (average) But that's fine. I'm ok with doing the rest of it to the std I want.

The previous owner chopped it at the "B" pillar and then fabricated a pair of small side walls and sheet steel front wall.



the roof top tent will not be staying. there is only the wife and I (and the dog). plenty of space for all of us to sleep inside.



a nice shot of the very heavy duty drawbar. Oh yeh... the towing vehicle is a 105 series Landcruiser (white). So the trailer will be painted white eventually.



the previous owner has some heavy MDF drawers in it. These are being ripped out and the whole lot replaced by the guys at Drifta with one of their Australian made, timber pull out kitchens, some storage drawers and a new bed deck.

While we're at it... we'll be fitting a new proper mattress from Ikea.



A 200L water tank (split into 2 x 100L) will be fitted underneath and filled from the fuel cap.
A fridge box for our ARB 60L fridge on the front and we're in business.

Will be towing behind a 105 series Landcruiser so I need to match the wheels up is all.

The extra cool thing is that I can fit our iSi off road bicycle rack on the back of the trailer and take our FATbikes with us when we go remote.


Wayne

 

[HAFICON]

Umm simple yet effective.. Water tight I assume, Doors, never seen one like this. COOL

 

[MuruCycles]

yep. all original doors, windows and seals. So dust tight too.

 

[RagnarD]

Neat trailer. Plenty of room on the tongue for stuff.

 

[MuruCycles]

I thought an update on how this has progressed might be due.

I mean... it's only been three years... right?

We lined the inside front end (the bedhead area) and insulated it with two layers of 50mm thick insulation foam.

Wife made some simple curtains up with 2" wide velcro "hook" across the top. It hooks up on the std felt roof lining just fine. (but I'd still like to "ambulance tint" the windows eventually)

We painted the beast up. Matt grey up top and bed liner black down the bottom. (also did the drawbar, guards and rear bumper with bed liner)

Fitted an original 80 series spare wheel carrier underneath (from the wreckers) and bought a 2nd hand spare.

Dumped the cheap (and way too soft) foam mattress and tried using *just* an Ikea memory foam mattress topper (yes... on it's own). And while it's ok for a single night... after a couple of nights, you tend to notice your hips and elbows pushing into the bed deck. So we added a double layer of high density floor mats. Cheap as chips and works a treat!

Plenty of space inside to sleep. Even space for puppy to sleep at the end of the bed (if/when he wants).

Also heaps of space underneath the bed deck for storage. We have an entire set of walls for the (3 sided) awning, two large camp chairs, puppy's food and all his gear, plus a box of firewood, a 4.5kg gas cylinder, a Coleman 3 burner stove, and heaps more space even after all that...

At the tail end there are two drawers on rollers for food.

On top of the bed deck at the tailgate end are two heavy duty plastic storage boxes. These are also for food. When stopped, they are the right height to become a step to get into the back of the camper easier.

When travelling, the bed is made. On top is a Coleman blow-moulded camp table, puppy's crate and his bed.

The side doors have multi pocketed holders in them now for medicines (hey I'm old), reading glasses (look... I said I was old right), torch and so on.

The inside body trim has been opened up where possible to give you storage "cavities" to put your clothes at night.

It's rough in places... but it's also followed our 105 series Landcruiser all over the place without missing a beat. The only thing better than this... would be a real Tvan.



Added the BunduTec three sided (poleless) awning.






Camped at the Bredbo Inn over XMAS on the inland way back from Melbourne to Sydney. Puppy is 100% happy with his crate overnight.




above and below... camped at the Buckland River.





River crossing at Buckland River.