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  1. poormansearthroamer

    1983 Toyota 4X4 Chinook Build

    Build update time: I finally got the solar system installed with the help of my father, who owns all the tools and has all the knowledge. I went with mostly Renogy products. I've got a 250ah lithium battery, 2000w inverter charger, and 320w of panels on the roof. On my recent trip to Ouray, we...
  2. poormansearthroamer

    1983 Toyota 4X4 Chinook Build

    Thanks! I don't expect the glue alone to hold. During my research, I found that most upholstery shops thin out fabric glue, spray it down on both the board and the fabric with a gun, let it tack up, then lay the fabric down. Apparently that'll keep it in place. But mine is held in by 20 or 30...
  3. poormansearthroamer

    1983 Toyota 4X4 Chinook Build

    Here's how I created the headboard for the roof. I started with 1/8in ply, and glassed the pieces together to create one single piece. This hid the seams and has made removal super easy; it was definitely worth the wait for the epoxy to cure. Next, I started laying out the lights and...
  4. poormansearthroamer

    1983 Toyota 4X4 Chinook Build

    Finally, a fix for an issue that's been around since before I bought the rig: the missing piece of my rear door frame. It's a huge gap that's been letting in some water and tons of dust for at least 20,000 miles; now that the floor is done, I can't have this happening anymore. I extended out...
  5. poormansearthroamer

    1983 Toyota 4X4 Chinook Build

    Time for an update. I've got an ice climbing trip planned in February and I promised my partner that the camper would have heat and power so it can function as a chalet while we're out there. So, crunch time. I finished the walls (made from 1/8 ply and Formica), the floor, and built a trial...
  6. poormansearthroamer

    1983 Toyota 4X4 Chinook Build

    Figured you guys might like some wheeling pictures. As far as the build goes, I've got the walls in; I went with a dark blue off brand Formica. I've been out of town for well over half the summer, so it's been going a little slow. Next, it's time for the camper to explode into a bunch of...
  7. poormansearthroamer

    1983 Toyota 4X4 Chinook Build

    It seems to do pretty okay. It's two pieces of plywood with some foam insulation board sandwiched in between. Beneath that, I have a 1" square steel subframe. There's big grade 8 bolts that go through the subframe into the bed mounts. It flexes pretty independently of the cab; I have the cab...
  8. poormansearthroamer

    1983 Toyota 4X4 Chinook Build

    Here's the painted final product: It looks pretty unlevel in the photos, but I used bondo glass and blocked it out; it should seal up pretty okay. It's still not my finest work. I've also been chasing a henious vibration that is only present at around 45mph. I replaced most of my bushings...
  9. poormansearthroamer

    1983 Toyota 4X4 Chinook Build

    Got a couple updates for you guys. First, I knocked a decent hole in my roof in Moab while I was coming up out of a wash. I saw the tree branch, it didnt rub at all before it smashed into the rear of the Chinook. Kinda a bummer, but it was a quick afternoon's work to get it patched up. Enjoy...
  10. poormansearthroamer

    1983 Toyota 4X4 Chinook Build

    Finally got the photos uploaded. ExPo really needs to bring their uploading system into the 2020s; over on YotaTech, the images are all resized and koshered up automatically... Anyways, here's a picture of something I've been looking almost a year for. Finally found one that was reasonably...
  11. poormansearthroamer

    1983 Toyota 4X4 Chinook Build

    Alright guys, a quick update. I've finished up trimming down the spray insulation and begun to work on the wall panels. Trimming the spray foam was nearly as unfun as fiberglass work, at least the way I did it. I used an angle grinder with a wire wheel to shave down the large chunks, then I...
  12. poormansearthroamer

    1983 Toyota 4X4 Chinook Build

    It's tough for sure. I had my city give me flak for the same thing, but mine's still titled as a Toyota Pickup. I fought back and they gave up because, I think, they didn't want to deal with it all. Luckily I'm not in an HOA; they're out of control.
  13. poormansearthroamer

    1983 Toyota 4X4 Chinook Build

    The controller on most of the units, or at least the one's I've looked at, allows you to change the frequency that the fuel pump pumps. By reducing fuel, you can compensate for the lack of O2 at higher elevations. The Facebook group "Chinese Diesel vehicle air heaters - Troubleshooting & Parts...
  14. poormansearthroamer

    1983 Toyota 4X4 Chinook Build

    I'm hopeful, too! Maximizing insulation on this was a top priority of the build, I'm pretty pumped to have gotten it done. I'm still gonna start with the Chinese diesel heater option and go from there. Their fuel mapping is easy to modify so they should be pretty receptive to tuning for high...
  15. poormansearthroamer

    1983 Toyota 4X4 Chinook Build

    Next, an even more exciting update: the camper finally got spray insulation! I've been searching for about a year for someone willing to come spray it or who's willing to let me meet them at a job site to spray it there while they're all set up. No company I could find would do it for less...
  16. poormansearthroamer

    1983 Toyota 4X4 Chinook Build

    Got a couple of updates for you all. First, the L52 I rebuilt blew 5th gear into chunks on the highway about 800 miles in. There's supposed to be a C clip that fits in where you can see the arrow pointing; it fell off... Not really sure how that managed to happen, but after it was gone, 5th...
  17. poormansearthroamer

    1983 Toyota 4X4 Chinook Build

    Now for some build progress. I got the fabric back from the upholsterer and I love it. It was made by candle light with a foot powered machine by an Amish guy on the east coast. He used YKK zippers and Sunbrella fabric, both of which I can wholeheartedly recommend if people are on the fence...
  18. poormansearthroamer

    1983 Toyota 4X4 Chinook Build

    Figured it's time for an update. Not a whole ton of camper build progress, but I've been sorting the truck side of things out, mechanically. I've also been wheeling this thing across the western US for the last year and have a bunch of good photos of that that I'll include. I've gotten the...
  19. poormansearthroamer

    Toyota Chinook 4x4 Wheel Well Clearance

    Hey man! I would be very hesitant to remove your wheel wells; I absolutely would not consider it for myself. I'm not sure what kind of adventures you have planned for this, but I think you'll be severely hobbling your truck's capability. If you really only see yourself using it on off the...
  20. poormansearthroamer

    1983 Toyota 4X4 Chinook Build

    Alright guys, a build update is long overdue, so here goes: Like I mentioned a while ago, COVID forced me to accelerate my plans to return to Colorado. Since this truck was still in strewn in pieces across my yard and because I found myself completely unemployed, my work was set out for me...
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