How heavy is your 'built' Mitsu 4x4?

[off-roader]

A good buddy of mine was featured in a recent article on Overland Expo's website.

Good read and an example of how quickly your vehicle can gain weight when you prep it for off road use.
http://www.overlandexpo.com/overlan...is-gross-vehicle-weight-rating-overrated.html

 

[LaOutbackTrail]

Beat me to it!

Met these fellas at Overland Expo last year. Great rigs!

 

[m3at333hp]

Good read...

 

[Toasty]

I've built a few 4x4's over the years and i have outfitted work trucks professionally. One thing to consider when building a rig is to figure out what it is that you plan to use the vehicle for and then start from the ground up. Sometimes it's easy to get carried away with cool things you can bolt all over your rig, one prime example is that everybody seems to want a roof access ladder. On a Montero they are pretty worthless honestly, It's little things like these that are cool and neat but unnecessary, think about all the things in your rig you really don't need if you want to shave weight.
If you really must have everything you might never need plan ahead for it, building a Montero into a small offroad worthy motorhome isn't a difficult task. Start from the ground up considering your axles and suspension first, Even though the mitsu 9.5 axle is really stout it is a semi float axle. The weight you are stacking up is applied directly to the axle shafts, it is a good idea to consider a full float conversion or buy a full float axle. Next think about your braking, stopping power and weight transfer. Focus more on the weight transfer first because it is a key factor in your stopping power (sounds stupid but it's true). Next is springs, leafs carry loads great but ride like **** and decrease departure angles. Your best bet is coils with overload coils (a stiffer coil within a coil) Montero's have room for this so you can keep the nice ride but carry heavy loads when needed.

Bottom line is do you really need that cappuccino machine and DVD players? and a map with a compass is lighter and more reliable than that Talking GPS.

 

[LaOutbackTrail]

You must not take many girls on offroad adventures do you? :sombrero:

 

[off-roader]

You must not take many girls on offroad adventures do you? :sombrero:

I remember recently when I brought sharp cheddar, feta, & creme cheese along with baby spinach & mushrooms (in my recently purchased ARB fridge) on a trip for 'her' omelet LOL.

 

[GrassCat]

You must not take many girls on offroad adventures do you? :sombrero:

Yeah and I'm not giving up my 5 pound ladder and the cappuccino machine and DVD players if she want them.

Who ever heard of taking a cappuccino machine and DVD players anyway?

 

[LaOutbackTrail]

I was thinking about the extra large tent, camp chairs, air mattress, a -60*F sleeping bag, extra blankets, pillows (gasp!?), six pairs of shoes, three jackets of varying thicknesses, stainless steel cookwear, a Japanese samurai knife for slicing tomatoes, all sorts of spices (of which I only used Tony Cachere's), a bamboo cutting board, a dining table with candles, wine, glass stemware, porcelain plates, only the finest silver, We forgot the ARB fridge (so settled for 10 year old Macaroni in a box), Fluffy, a 10lb bag of makeup, and "etc."

That's just the wife... that doesn't include the daughter's list...............

Oh and I only had room to bring one pair of pants, two tshirts, a sweater, the shoes i was wearing, and my camera.
eepwall:





:xxrotflma

 

[RichardT]

Good read...

I agree, and If I must say, I haven't put as much thought in to that topic as I probably should. More stuff to think about. Although I have thought about getting one of those old surplus Canadian Military trailers before, maybe I should revisit that.....

 

[Toasty]

To compensate for the amount of stuff the missus packs into the truck (delicious food stuff, things to clean up with and extra blankets and pillows) i have removed the jump seats and half of the 2nd row split bench. Now when i go out on my own i pack 2 sleeping bags, no pillow, no tent, just the essentials + enough extra things to survive a few days if something goes wrong. :sombrero: