jaimeruiz3
New member
Well i have made my account few months back mainly for looking at the pictures of your awsome rigs but know after being attacked by insomnio, my handy clever mind and Expedition portal I decided i want a Real expedition rig i mean i have a 4WD geo tracker maybe trading it for a Sammy and a Jeep ZJ but i want something i can took back to the forest, sleep 2 fine and 4 cramped have some amenities (Port a potty, Sink, stove etc...) and i want something reliable because i want something i can do some miles i live near mexico city and i'm planning a little expo for this year end to Guerrero negro and the Vizcaino Natural park in the ZJ but i'm planing in a year or 2 make a long trip maybe to canada or to south america, so i like a lot something like the Pinz but its almost impossible to get here (even in the US i think) i can get a UNIMOG but they have really thirsty engines (I know its a diesel but any way if people have made it to tierra del fuego in a stock sammy why not in a more reliable gas engine) (BTW i love the sammy but i wouldn't want to get one modded as an expo rig because it would be my DD) and are way expensive (i mean 12 grand for a half restored ex mexican army 1970 404 with the radio box) and i've got the idea to make a Cab over truck out of a light pick up and lots of aluminum.
Reasons for a Light Pick UP (AKA: Toyota Hilux, Tacoma, Ford Ranger, Mazda B Series, Nissan Hard Body Etc...)
Dirt Cheap Here in mexico you can get a rust free nissan HB or B2200 for $1500 with minor repairs and a good lift you have something to start with.
4 or 6 Cil engines, i have drove a 2WD 2006 crew cab ford ranger for 5 years and that rig could get 25+ MPG stock in 30" At's it had the 2.4 engine and 5 spd tranny never let me down and never got any problem with the engine. also i have drove the Hard body and a B2200 and are great and dependable never drove a toyota but i know they are as good as hell.
Not too big These trucks are maybe 5 Meters long max and are maybe 2 meters wide so they can be driven easily in these badly designed latin american cities
They can be lifted up to fit 37's maybe i will do 33's max to keep costs and mods low.
Reasons for Cab Over
Space The usual pick up design wastes like 1 meter only in the engine area so if you put the cab oven the engine you can get a great space for living and keep the total truck not to long for ease of transportation and city maneuvering.
You cant deny it looks cool.
not to hard to build, if you are already building a camper why not a full body.
access from the cab to the living area.
Shorter rig, less overhang and better off road ability
Why not a stock cab over van?
Here in mexico you cant get a 4WD van or cab over sadly.
never had seen one as good as a toyota pick up.
Fewer after market support.
even if would get a 2WD van and fit a Transfer and front diff assembly to a van most vans are in a real bad shape because had been used for public transport or are way too expensive.
Here in mexico have what we call "peseros" that are like Penny or dime buses and most of them are built over a Ford 350 or GM 3500 chasis (i'll ad a pic of one) and they are built from aluminum sheet and tubing they are tough and really well built for lasting a lot of time with the beating of the mexican drivers
and they are built in almost every workshop who mades trailers or truck boxes so you can build it you self from aluminum or hire them to build the body.
lastly the base i have been thinking in 4 main options that can be bought cheap and are reliable.
Nissan Hard Body Really good, here you can see them any where they have the 2.4 or 3.0 engines and you can find the parts every where also every mechanic has seen lots of them. i would be looking for a late 80's to early 90's model
Toyota pick up well they are really good but a bit scarce here and they are like twice the expensive of a nissan or ford but have great after market and are trail proven also most of them here have the 3.0 and i dont really know about the head gasket problems. a carbed 80's model or a early 90's
Ford ranger The first 2 generations have the TTB suspension wich is better than the IFS offroad also here are dirt cheap and you can find parts anywhere and have good after market support.
Mazda B series 2000, 2200 they are good pick ups also cheap and with good parts support but i don't really know the after market because its the newer model the 3200 that its the same as the ranger the 2x00 is an inhouse design and i dont know where to get lifts or stuff.
I have had made some sketches in scale but i don't have a scanner so i'll upload them later
finally i have seen some who made a fiber glass Humvee body and fited it to a nissan pick up so its not so impossible
Reasons for a Light Pick UP (AKA: Toyota Hilux, Tacoma, Ford Ranger, Mazda B Series, Nissan Hard Body Etc...)
Dirt Cheap Here in mexico you can get a rust free nissan HB or B2200 for $1500 with minor repairs and a good lift you have something to start with.
4 or 6 Cil engines, i have drove a 2WD 2006 crew cab ford ranger for 5 years and that rig could get 25+ MPG stock in 30" At's it had the 2.4 engine and 5 spd tranny never let me down and never got any problem with the engine. also i have drove the Hard body and a B2200 and are great and dependable never drove a toyota but i know they are as good as hell.
Not too big These trucks are maybe 5 Meters long max and are maybe 2 meters wide so they can be driven easily in these badly designed latin american cities
They can be lifted up to fit 37's maybe i will do 33's max to keep costs and mods low.
Reasons for Cab Over
Space The usual pick up design wastes like 1 meter only in the engine area so if you put the cab oven the engine you can get a great space for living and keep the total truck not to long for ease of transportation and city maneuvering.
You cant deny it looks cool.
not to hard to build, if you are already building a camper why not a full body.
access from the cab to the living area.
Shorter rig, less overhang and better off road ability
Why not a stock cab over van?
Here in mexico you cant get a 4WD van or cab over sadly.
never had seen one as good as a toyota pick up.
Fewer after market support.
even if would get a 2WD van and fit a Transfer and front diff assembly to a van most vans are in a real bad shape because had been used for public transport or are way too expensive.
Here in mexico have what we call "peseros" that are like Penny or dime buses and most of them are built over a Ford 350 or GM 3500 chasis (i'll ad a pic of one) and they are built from aluminum sheet and tubing they are tough and really well built for lasting a lot of time with the beating of the mexican drivers
and they are built in almost every workshop who mades trailers or truck boxes so you can build it you self from aluminum or hire them to build the body.
lastly the base i have been thinking in 4 main options that can be bought cheap and are reliable.
Nissan Hard Body Really good, here you can see them any where they have the 2.4 or 3.0 engines and you can find the parts every where also every mechanic has seen lots of them. i would be looking for a late 80's to early 90's model
Toyota pick up well they are really good but a bit scarce here and they are like twice the expensive of a nissan or ford but have great after market and are trail proven also most of them here have the 3.0 and i dont really know about the head gasket problems. a carbed 80's model or a early 90's
Ford ranger The first 2 generations have the TTB suspension wich is better than the IFS offroad also here are dirt cheap and you can find parts anywhere and have good after market support.
Mazda B series 2000, 2200 they are good pick ups also cheap and with good parts support but i don't really know the after market because its the newer model the 3200 that its the same as the ranger the 2x00 is an inhouse design and i dont know where to get lifts or stuff.
I have had made some sketches in scale but i don't have a scanner so i'll upload them later
finally i have seen some who made a fiber glass Humvee body and fited it to a nissan pick up so its not so impossible