Building an expedition vehicle, Who makes the box?

[The Artisan]

Buffalo,
I Pm'd you another option.
Kevin

 

[pappawheely]

Overland Explorer does very nice work. I had a chance to check out their trailer build at the Offroad Expo. They build all types of custom vehicles and campers.

 

[Buffalobwana]

Have you heard of Total Composites ?
They sell insulated plastic panels that asemble to make a camper box,,or even build one for you,located in Victoria BC
I think?

Yes, they are in BC.

They were one of the first guys I contacted. I like the look of their boxes. Looks like a Action Mobil truck box. I got pricing, and they will remain on the short list for what I want out of this particular project.

 

[Buffalobwana]

Another option. I think he's a member on here and there may be a link to his personal build.

http://www.idacamper.com/

I'll give them some specs, see what we can come up with. Thanks. I had not heard of them before.

 

[Nomads365]

Check with Marc at XPCamper. http://xpcamper.com/versions/xpcube/

 

[Buffalobwana]

Check with Marc at XPCamper. http://xpcamper.com/versions/xpcube/

Looks like a solid option. I need to put together specs to send to these guys, and all the guys here, to get a feel for pricing as a start. Not as a final determination, but just as a start.

But, more important, I need to put my hands on some of these boxes. Pictures are nice, but the feel of a door or window that closes solid can make the difference. If everything else is the same, but the price is 25% more, I need to see if it's worth it. If it feels like that 25% is worth it, I don't mind paying it. I'm not price shopping. I'm just shopping.

 

[rlrenz]

I'm reworking a medium ambulance right now. The construction is all per a GSA spec: KKK-A-1822E. Take a look at that spec (Google search), and you'll see just how durably these creatures are built. The skins are 0.125" aluminum, and the roofs are 0.10" aluminum. Framing is welded 2x2x1/8" aluminum box tubing with the skin and roof welded to the framing.

Definitely durable!

 

[ski_bike_camp]

Have you heard of Total Composites ?
They sell insulated plastic panels that asemble to make a camper box,,or even build one for you,located in Victoria BC
I think?
Sorry have no link,but they also post here so try searching for it..

These guys will make you a total kit. Windows and doors included. Easy to find on google.

 

[Victorian]

Just follow my signature below Cheers

 

[guidolyons]

How about a command box AKA Expando Van:






Ward's (HealeyJet) http://forum.expeditionportal.com/threads/143852-Dodge-Ram-5500-motorhome truck box was built by Intercontinental Truck Body in Canada

http://www.itb.ca/about.aspx

Sister company in Washington TriVan http://www.trivan.com/truck-bodies-trailers/

In 1974, Intercontinental Truck Body was formally established. The company's first Canadian plant, located in Coaldale, Alberta, was servicing all of Canada and the United States from a single locale. With rapidly growing industrial development, it was critical to expand with additional manufacturing facilities closer to key markets - including offices in Edmonton and Calgary and a manufacturing plant in Surrey, British Columbia to cover the greater Vancouver market.

In the early 2000's, to answer the emerging need and opportunity identified in the U.S., TriVan Truck Body was established in Ferndale, WA as a partnership between the principles of Intercontinental Truck Body and four partners in the U.S. Initially, TriVan focused on simple vehicles such as freight vans, cutaway van bodies, and trailer shells. Quickly, TriVan's capabilities expanded, and while the company continued to build small straightforward units, it began to successfully diversify in other markets.

A few more ideas (more DIY than prefab though):
This RV uses some really slick interlocking aluminum panels http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/125714-Ford-E450-4x4-build-revival?highlight=panel

I think I'd just stag a box off a U-Haul or similar to save some time, but if I was to build from scratch I'd look at pre-fab honeycomb sheets like Nida Core http://www.lbifiberglass.com/NIDA/nida.html with some aluminum trim like Westyss' build http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/48351-out-with-the-old-in-with-the-new

Foam core with fiberglass or carbon fiber laminate http://www.expeditionportal.com/for...re-fiberglass-skin-pop-up-camper-build-thread


More redneck, but if done well, can turn out quite nice, find a ~16 travel trailer that you like, pull the axles off and mount it to your truck.

 

[dlh62c]

This Morgan cargo body conversion was spotted parked up at a RV park in San Carlos Mexico.

 

[Nomads365]

Looks like a solid option. I need to put together specs to send to these guys, and all the guys here, to get a feel for pricing as a start. Not as a final determination, but just as a start.

But, more important, I need to put my hands on some of these boxes. Pictures are nice, but the feel of a door or window that closes solid can make the difference. If everything else is the same, but the price is 25% more, I need to see if it's worth it. If it feels like that 25% is worth it, I don't mind paying it. I'm not price shopping. I'm just shopping.

Marc will have one of the large boxes on a former Mercedes firetruck at Overland Expo. There's some pics of it on his Instgram page: https://www.instagram.com/p/BPLB3AdBIM-/

 

[Victorian]

Marc will have one of the large boxes on a former Mercedes firetruck at Overland Expo. There's some pics of it on his Instgram page: https://www.instagram.com/p/BPLB3AdBIM-/

That truck turned out nice. Panels are from us.

 

[Nomads365]

That truck turned out nice. Panels are from us.

It's a beast in person. We saw it during a visit to XP in December.

 

[Buffalobwana]

Is that box for sale? I have talked to a few guys here and get confused on who is who when it comes to who built what.