All Terrain Warriors campers

[whatcharterboat]

Just some more recent shots of that SWB FG Scout posted earlier. Should be finished in a couple of days.
The new tube bullbar worked out really well. Bars that you have to undo before you can tilt the cab are a real pain. From plenty of the ones I've seen, it's only a matter of time before a mechanic somewhere forgets and before you know it, you'll have a dented front panel. So easy to do when you aren't in that habit.

 

[fgcrazy]

Great

Hi John sorry i missed you on Monday but had a long drive home and what a sweet drive it was That cruise control is AWESOME i cant belive ive gone so long with out one. it make it a pleasure to drive and those bigger tyres make it fly im rapt. The fuel economy stayed the same thou but had about 10ks more top end. You guys did some great work on the mud gaurds too. If anyone wants a top job done right the first time atw is the place to go (not cheap at $110 hr) but as ive learnt before pay once and get it done right. Thanks for your help John and its getting more work done down here to bring it up to scratch. will post soon thanks Tony

 

[whatcharterboat]

Just flew back from Broken Hill. Had to deliver this new bus and give the tour company driver's some 4wd training on it (not that those old timers needed much instruction). Only finished the thing late on Thursday, then dropped into Zupps in Brisbane just before closing time to show the sales guys what we did to the little white FG cab / chassis they gave us a couple of months earlier. Made Broken Hill mid-Friday afternoon. That's a bit over 1000 miles away with an average fuel consumption of 20L / 100km (or 5km / L or 11.7 miles / US Gal) sitting on the 100km / hr limiter virtually the whole time.

Everything was going fine till the locusts hit. It's been one of the greenest times the locals can remember from the recent rains and the locusts are certainly one downside of the unusually lush vegetation (upside was no kamikaze roos). Anyway the front was completely green and yellow on arrival. All the mesh vents were blocked in the bullbar and snorkel and the bottom half of the intercooler was too. They were even piled up in the wheels.

The locals of Broken Hill are some of the friendliest people you will ever meet too. One place I'll have to return to and spend some quality time.

Shot these pics up at the "Sculptures" this morning.

Look no more bugs.

The new 3900 wheelbase FG84 replaces their aging 6x6 Landcruiser which ran into the Corner Country, White Cliffs, Minindee Lakes, etc.

(Chocko: The 6x6 was bought by another tour company down in SA so it must still have some life left in it.)

 

[alan]

Hi John,
Nice rig! I just got back from Taiwan yesterday, found some interesting new products, will let you know how they pan out.

 

[nugget]

Hi John,

You are sounding a little more relaxed now than you looked as you were fighting your way through the Gympie Rd/ Stafford Road roadworks on your way through. Bus looked great.:sombrero:

 

[whatcharterboat]

as you were fighting your way through the Gympie Rd/ Stafford Road roadworks on your way through. Bus looked great.

Thanks mate. Yeah, Should have gone the Gateway but wanted to take the new tunnel.

BTW Wayne, Remember we talked about Nav once before. That bus has a new VMS unit in it. Really cool, double DIN touchscreen with "turn by turn" 3D street nav as well as Hema offroad maps, various trip computers, plus blue tooth to your phone (with a remote mic too) , DVD, multiple camera inputs, Ipod, USB, AM/FM, bla, bla. Even can have built in tyre monitoring. Super user friendly and everything in one box.

 

[engineer]

Just some more recent shots of that SWB FG Scout posted earlier. Should be finished in a couple of days.
The new tube bullbar worked out really well. Bars that you have to undo before you can tilt the cab are a real pain. From plenty of the ones I've seen, it's only a matter of time before a mechanic somewhere forgets and before you know it, you'll have a dented front panel. So easy to do when you aren't in that habit.

I'm seriously in love with this truck, How good would it look with a bus on the back!!!!

 

[whatcharterboat]

Hi Chocko,

I'm seriously in love with this truck,

I'm starting to worry about you, man. You've been living in FNQ for too long. It must be about time you came back to the Sunny Coast. Haha.

BTW The next one we're halfway through is on a new NPS 300 with big side tanks and parabolics. Really looking forward to this.

How good would it look with a bus on the back!!!!

I agree. We haven't done a SWB bus since the one for Tri State Safari's. BTW did you see the article on them in the last 4wd Custom magazine?

Here's some more anyway.

If anyone's interested, the bars on the roof are for canoes and the little blue boxes on the rear are to lower the spare wheels. Something new, gearboxes that you can plug into with a battery drill, rattle gun, air ratchet spanner or just a plain crank handle and the wheels swing out to the side and lower right to the ground so it doesn't matter if you're towing anyway. I was away when they tested them but they tell me they work well.

The checker plate bin holds the battery's and tools.

This truck has plenty of air too for fast tyre pumping, air tools, jacks, etc. About 13 to 15 CFM depending on the engine rpm and coupled to a 20litre tank.

But seriously, what can you tell us about these black lift supports...Any at the back?
Thanks

Hey Davo, yep, 4 of them. BTW I'm not that grey either ...... or that tall.

 

[nugget]

Yeah they are excellent. I have had really good reports from a couple of ARB stockists who carry them that I was checking them out with as well. Seem to be the best of the double din options and a damn sight better than my Pioneer Over priced AVIC!

The other weekend we were jsut the other side of Beaudesert..less then 2 hours from Brisbane and it recognised where I was going but wouldn't navigate to it!

Thanks mate. Yeah, Should have gone the Gateway but wanted to take the new tunnel.

BTW Wayne, Remember we talked about Nav once before. That bus has a new VMS unit in it. Really cool, double DIN touchscreen with "turn by turn" 3D street nav as well as Hema offroad maps, various trip computers, plus blue tooth to your phone (with a remote mic too) , DVD, multiple camera inputs, Ipod, USB, AM/FM, bla, bla. Even can have built in tyre monitoring. Super user friendly and everything in one box.

 

[whatcharterboat]

I noticed that on that LWB NPS scout you guys did the pop roof struts were not the (4) exterior mounted type like on this new SWB FG.

Is the difference because you had more length to be able to have them open at an angle next to the cross braces?

Hi Leon. How's your camper plans progressing? And hope you don't mind me asking but...

Leon, how much are the Toyo M608Z's in the USA?

Anyway we think in the long run 4 will give a smoother operation. One is certainly trick though. In an early Scout we had 4 but had a real drama achieving synchronization. Once we got that nailed ........... well especially on this FG as it will nearly always have a load of canoes on the roof so if it's unevenly loaded it won't matter with 4. One actuator would probably not work reliably in that case. Note the roof lift on the "FG in a Box" thread too. Same quad setup.

The next step will be to conceal them all. Probably on the next generation Scouts. The hydraulic rams on that big MAN Scout worked well too. They could lift 250kgs each. So effectively 1000kgs of boat, bikes or whatever.

 

[john101477]

amazing looking rigs in here. really wish I had the $$$ to do this to my NPR. unfortunately it is not 4x4 and I am unsure what the process is to make it 4x4 much less the issues of getting the camper portion of the machine.

 

[whatcharterboat]

The toyo m608z's cost $367 + tax per tire.

Amazing. Never ceases to amaze me how much import duty we must pay here in Oz. Even on raw materials. Most of the tyre shops here have them for around the AuD equivalent of $575 USD per tyre. (based on the today's exchange rate)

Thanks for the info on the roof lifts.

No problem. I've seen guys here use Sat TV dish actuators too but ours have custom gearing for the right speed and load rating.

Have you guys ever installed run flat inserts on any of your trucks?

Only inflatable bead locks with big Michelin 16" XML's.

 

[justduck]

the little blue boxes on the rear are to lower the spare wheels. Something new, gearboxes that you can plug into with a battery drill, rattle gun, air ratchet spanner or just a plain crank handle and the wheels swing out to the side and lower right to the ground so it doesn't matter if you're towing anyway. I was away when they tested them but they tell me they work well.

Can you tell us more about the spare mounts. Maybe some pics showing how they mount and where to get them?

Thanks, Earl

 

[The Adam Blaster]

Can you tell us more about the spare mounts. Maybe some pics showing how they mount and where to get them?

Thanks, Earl

I would also be EXTREMELY interested in those as well.

 

[Peter_n_Margaret]

This was my solution.

The central curved derek has a cable running thru inside it. It can swing to either side wheel. The cable is driven by a 5:1 boat winch and powered by a drill or the wheel brace.

Cheers,
Peter