1985 TOYOTA MULE BUILD

[60toyetero]

So a couple of months back The wife and I decided that after my military contract ended, we were going to hit the road for a year. We want to volunteer all over the US and spend some time in south america. here is the progress now. I started a thread under pop up campers but figured I move it here, seems more appropriate. I am not building an expensive machine. I am working with an extreme tight budget but I believe the adventure relies on the people we meet and the places we go.


1985 TOYOTA PICKUP STRAIGHT AXEL, 22RE, 5 SPEED, 170K ZERO RUST.

Made a trip to Spokane Washington and picked up a roaming chariot Pop up camper. I looked into FWC but man they are expensive and well… I been on government pay for 4 years so getting one built from them was not going to happen.



So just because I'm on a budget, it does not mean I can't make my set up look cool and be preactical... so here is where I am now






Though I am not done with the outside, I decided to start working on the inside as well.

 

[Dwill817]

That's awesome! My favorite model Pickup (don't tell my '81 that)..

What's your lift/tire size? Kinda looks higher than stock..

 

[JasonRedwood]

Looks great!

 

[Arktikos]

I like your camper. The chrome wheel combo looks more appropriate for the vintage in my opinion. Is the spare underneath? A smaller tire diameter would be better for power and handling without any real world sacrifice.

 

[4runnerteq]

Niiice rig

 

[tanglefoot]

Great combo!! Nice find on the clean X-cab. The camper looks great as well. It looks like there's plenty of room for bedding in the cabover with the roof down. I can't even fit a 1" foam pad over the mattress in mine.

 

[djtc]

good choice on painting it!

 

[Derek24]

Very nice! Wish my 83 had an extra cab! Keep us updated!

 

[Mike368]

Great setup you have started!

How hard is it to put in and take out without jacks?

 

[60toyetero]

That's awesome! My favorite model Pickup (don't tell my '81 that)..

What's your lift/tire size? Kinda looks higher than stock..

This model pickup has been my favorite for a long time as well. I picked her up not too long ago after my wifes Honda got stolen so she could use it as a DD... yes my wife loves pickups . my rig was an fj60 with a 4bd1t but had to let him go to make this trip possible.. I had too much money tide up on it.
RIP snif snif

To answer your tire size inquire..32x11.5x15


The lift, nothing special i'm thiking is sitting 2 to 3 inches higher than stock

 

[60toyetero]

I like your camper. The chrome wheel combo looks more appropriate for the vintage in my opinion. Is the spare underneath? A smaller tire diameter would be better for power and handling without any real world sacrifice.

The chrome wheel combo did look old school but I'm wanting to put my touch on the rig you know. I have been using this specific rim in all my rigs and I dig the look.. is the most simple rim you can find out there thats in black but has a old school touch to it. Yes, the spare is underneath.. thinking about ditching it just to loose weight and keeping tire plugs and small pump. I don't really feel like the rig is poor on power or handling, the slightly bigger tires lowered the rpm a litle bit and is actually give me good MPGs with the camper on top.. on a note... when is windy.. you do feel it.

 

[60toyetero]

Great combo!! Nice find on the clean X-cab. The camper looks great as well. It looks like there's plenty of room for bedding in the cabover with the roof down. I can't even fit a 1" foam pad over the mattress in mine.

The mattress that came in it is about 5" and its really confortable and light weight unlike the memory foam mattresses that are being made now days. With the top down, I have about 11 inches give or take so is nice to be able to leave bedding up there for sure.

 

[60toyetero]

Great setup you have started!

How hard is it to put in and take out without jacks?

Man! I wish I would have not deleted some phone photos yesterday.. I had the perfect picture to answer your question. the camper is not very heavy at all. I'm thinking empty like this is weighing around 300lbs? maybe 400? to take the camper off all I did was back right into a picnic table at my work, and dad and I slid the camper right off the back onto the table. I dont' plan on taking the camper off anymore. I have airbags comming in tomorrow and that should level her right up. If for some reason I need to ditch the camper when I start my trip, I will just find a picnic table somewhere, tie it down and lock it up ?

 

[60toyetero]

Added some airbags to the rear to bring that ******** up. had to modify how the airbags attached to the springs because the mounts that came with it did not fit the pickup ... looks like the closest match to fit is actually for t-100 pickups.