A light truck based camper in China

[syche]

Hi all,

I will start my Chinese truck project very soon. I wanted an isuzu NPS double cab, but that is not possible to get down here, so i go to built my own.:victory:

There are a few 4wd light trucks available on the market down here, but nothing that match what i want to do.

I will then start on a 2wd light truck that i will convert to 4x4 and then 6x6.

I am in touch with a few companies making a wide variety of axles, including Isuzu axles.

I have a few question for the NPS expert.

-Do you know the rear half shaft diameter on NPS or Fuso. 40mm 19 splines? This comes standard with the truck I want. (center dif is same as Isuzu)

-The front CV joints outer diameter?
I have been offered 102mm diameter it is similar to a landcruiser 80 and 36mm half shaft. This seems way too small to me to run 900R16 or 325 85R16
I am now offered double U joints instead with larger diameter, I am waiting the details but it looks bulky.

The Chinese company offer to custom make the axle to my requirements, but I need to buy a few of them of course.
I am thinking of getting as much compatible parts as possible between the front and rear diff, so shaft diameter has to be the same to use the same differential parts.

I am currently looking for the right truck, wide body, double cab (very hard to find with a wide body) and wheel base around 3.3, 3.4M.
That’s good wheel base to go for a 6x6, the 2 rear axles would be suspended by air springs and their hangers would be right at the position where the original leaf springs are mounted and the frame reinforced.

All in all have to stay within 6M long and I will be able to drive with a normal license, no matter what the weight is.

I will keep you updated when I move forward
:smiley_drive:

 

[alan]

Hi Syche,
Where are you located?

 

[syche]

I am in China, currently Beihai Guangxi but always moving.

I will put diff lock or torsen differential nothing else:coffeedrink:

 

[alan]

Ok,
They are starting to produce some great trucks in China, I usually travel to china and taiwan each year for trade shows.

 

[syche]

Yes i have selected a few,

Foton ollin CTX with cummins engine 3.8L but only extended cab, no double cab on the wide body.

Thsi trucks drives really nice, power full, the gearbox is quite precise for this size, gears goes in and out nicely, steering is accurate, not quite the same for all chinese trucks.

And brakes are really power full, you got to touch it very smoothly else you will kiss the front screen:snorkel:. Air brakes.

I also found the dongfeng N300 double cab very nice and smooth to drive, it is simply a nissan cabstar with a new logo on it, hydraulic brakes, feels liek a europeen light truck...but i am not very confident with the 3l diesel engine from nissan. Same as the patrol 3L but with lower power and torque, 280nm and 140hp, a little weak i think...no?

 

[syche]

Hi all

any of you have experience or knowlegde about the ZD30DDti engine from Nissan?

It equip one of the truck i am looking at, very nice truck actually, but i am worried about the reliabilty of this engine.

it is also not very high on torque, 280nm at 1600rpm.... might be light for a 6x6

 

[alan]

Hi Syche,
This engine is used in the nissan patrol in australia, early versions had a habit of melting pistons but they seem to have fixed this issue, probably lacks power for a 6x6 truck although a power chip and exhaust will give you another 30% of power easily.

 

[syche]

Hi

Yes i thought so, and i am actually looking at a QD32T 3.2L td nissan or a KZT 3Ltd toyota engine to fit in this same truck, or in an other one but in the same weight class.

This to engines can give about 150hp and 350Nm torque.

We can even go for 180hp and 450nm torque for the KZT with a special turbo and good tunning.

I try to get some price down here for the toyota engines. They were not imported here, only gas engine were.

QD32T is made here, torquy but i don't have much experience with it. I know quite well the KZT, it's an amazing engine for it's class:Wow1:.

 

[Amesz00]

KZT 3Ltd toyota engine to fit in this same truck, or in an other one but in the same weight class.

This to engines can give about 150hp and 350Nm torque.

We can even go for 180hp and 450nm torque for the KZT with a special turbo and good tunning.

there a tuning company here in Aus getting 700nm and 250-odd-hp from the 3l diesels.

 

[syche]

:chef:nice recipe, but not sure they are going to get 300 000km out of the engine:sombrero:

On my kzj73 i had 220 000km with a nice setup and african trip, never a problem.

Just keep it bellow 3500rpm on highways...:smiley_drive:

 

[syche]

there a tuning company here in Aus getting 700nm and 250-odd-hp from the 3l diesels.

:coffeedrink:Just in case, :sombrero:,

Do you have any link to that guy, website, or forum:ylsmoke:

 

[Amesz00]

these guys-

http://www.chipit.com.au/