007's Expedition Build

[007]

... Also, did you change out to anything bigger than 4.30 gears for this truck?...

Forgot to answer this, the answer is no. Not yet anyway, I wish I could just snap my fingers and try a few gear sets first. The 4:30's are giving me excellent fuel mileage in 5th gear, but any hill or headwind puts me in 4th gear. I think 4:56 or 4:88's would "feel" better, but my mileage would suffer a bit. 4:56 would probably be the best, but its hard to swallow the cost and effort for such a minor change... I want air lockers, so I'll have to figure this out when I tear into that.

 

[007]

Howdy!
I like your style - how you write and how you keep the rig light, compact, and simple. What part of MT if I may ask? I lived west of Missoula for a while. And I had a BMW track car once whose numbers were 008...

I'm slowly getting into building my own expedition vehicle, also on a Toyota but much older. The idea of a tent has been pitched (no pun intended) to me a few times, but having lived and wanting to spend more time in places like southern Manitoba, Iceland, and eastern Europe, I'm leaning in favor of rigid walls full of high-efficiency insulation (rigid boards of polyurethane or polyisocyanurate), even if that means cramped quarters and a little extra weight. What's the coldest you've camped in yours, and how has it fared?

I read the OP and saw that you were carrying propane, but using gasoline for the cooking stove. I've been using the latter setup, and questioning continuing to do so. Propane is cheaper, doesn't smell, and doesn't need to be hand-pumped for longer meals. Tanks are a little more awkward than gas cans, but there's plenty of room underneath to mount one. And I realize the logistical efficiency of having one type of fuel for everything, but is there another reason you're using liquid vs. gas for cooking?

Thanks, I appreciate the compliment!

I'm from Helena, the wife is from Superior, where did you live West of Missoula?

Did you Autocross the BMW? I had a 76 SR5 Corolla coupe that I raced a few years back.

As far as the tent and cold, -20f is the coldest I've seen, I hunt with this setup so there has been many nights below zero. First off, I burn a lot of propane in the lower annex with a little buddy heater (1lb/night). A propex heater would work much better because its more automated and has the forced air effect. Second, I use a bunk warmer (12volt blanket) and it can flatten a battery fast! I think a little wood stove would be the best solution, or a hard sided camper. The draw backs of a hard side would be the size, weight, and limited room. I LOVE how small and efficient this truck is, I would lose all that with a camper. The t-top has a lot of room, its light, my mileage is +20 and it can still deal with the cold fairly well.

Gasoline fired stove - it sucks to be honest. Its what I had, so that's what I've been using. The only advantage is that I conserve a little propane for heating, but if I cook inside it evens out.

 

[PlumberGabe]

Super Cool build!, Regular cabs have a fond place in my memories. I had a 1986 in red after high school, 22re 5 speed, lots of fun.

 

[v8turbo]

Awesome. I did this as a kid in 1986 with my Toyota truck... But I had a tent in the bed. Sweet build and you actually use it.

 

[Acher550]

Howdy!
I like your style - how you write and how you keep the rig light, compact, and simple. What part of MT if I may ask? I lived west of Missoula for a while. And I had a BMW track car once whose numbers were 008...

I'm slowly getting into building my own expedition vehicle, also on a Toyota but much older. The idea of a tent has been pitched (no pun intended) to me a few times, but having lived and wanting to spend more time in places like southern Manitoba, Iceland, and eastern Europe, I'm leaning in favor of rigid walls full of high-efficiency insulation (rigid boards of polyurethane or polyisocyanurate), even if that means cramped quarters and a little extra weight. What's the coldest you've camped in yours, and how has it fared?

I read the OP and saw that you were carrying propane, but using gasoline for the cooking stove. I've been using the latter setup, and questioning continuing to do so. Propane is cheaper, doesn't smell, and doesn't need to be hand-pumped for longer meals. Tanks are a little more awkward than gas cans, but there's plenty of room underneath to mount one. And I realize the logistical efficiency of having one type of fuel for everything, but is there another reason you're using liquid vs. gas for cooking?

What could ever make you want to spend more time in Southern Manitoba?
Sorry for the hijack, I just don't see my area mentioned to often on this site.

Also 007, I really like that 12v bunk heater idea. I have been planning a bed platform for the back of my tacoma and was trying to figure out a heating system for our very cold Canadian winters. That seems like it might be the answer, although it wont help to take the chill out of the air when waking up and leaving the bag in freezing temps.