DAF Leyland

[ccburns]

Hi Everyone,

I'll apologise up front from my complete ignorance of all things trucks and expedition campers but I am very keen to learn. I am a bit of a computer geek who is currently travelling around South East Asia with my family trying to spend more time with them while the kids are young and less time working.

While we were travelling through Laos we met a Belgium family who have been travelling for about 2 years through Africa, India, China and South East Asia. They are about to ship their truck over to the US for a trip through South America.

For anyone who is interested or can read French - http://www.angaleo.org

Here is a picture of their Truck is attached...

Okay, so to my actual questions.

First Question:

I have been looking for a suitable platform for an expedition camper that is within my price range (as cheap as possible but reliable). At the website http://mod-sales.com I have seen a Leyland DAF former Military truck - http://www.mod-sales.com/direct/vehicle/,26,/23128/Leyland_Daf___.htm and I thought I would ask peoples opinions about this vehicle.

I noticed someone on here mentioned that it can't be registered in the US which isn't too much of an issue for me as I am Australia and don't live in the US would just be travelling through the US on a Carnet (I think that is what they are called).

Second Question:
To mount a accommodation box on the rear of this type of vehicle will it need anything special to ensure that as it goes off road it won't bend and break the box? I think I read somewhere about a torsion free mount or something similar. Is this needed or is building directly on the tray would be acceptable?

EDIT - Just found a 25 page thread about mounting types that can be found here - http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25494. I'll be reading this for a while I think

Thanks in advance for helping this geek learn a little more about trucks

Regards,
Colin

 

[scottishpinz]

Same source you could get your camper box http://www.mod-sales.com/direct/vehicle/,36,/25442/Demountable__Box_.htm and mount it straight on. OK you would not have standing room but I guess it depends what you want!

 

[kerry]

There aren't many people on this forum with experience with the Leyland trucks. As for the mounting system, it depends on what kind of box you use. I seem to remember a Leyland or Bedford pictured on here with a modified shipping container as a box. I doubt such a box needed protection from flexing. Same could be said for the box linked in this thread.

 

[ColinTheCop]

A friend in the REME reckons the only thing that breaks down more than a Land Rover is a Bedford Truck.....

 

[charlieaarons]

The description of their truck is here:
http://www.angaleo.org/fr/page/notrecinema/34.aspx

They use a (standard Unicat type) 3 point torsion free mount. This is essential with a plastic cabin so it doesn't get ripped apart. Something indestructible like a steel freight container may not need this mounting system but it will weigh a lot. It will also need windows and doors cut, insulation, etc. The plastic type cabins have the advantage of inherent excellent thermal insulation; on the order of a standard modern house in a moderate climate (R13 or 0.44W/degK x m**2).
There are camper mfgs in mainly in Germany that can provide you with a mounted camper bare of any interior fittings for you to finish. Except for windows and door.
But I imagine with the mounting that may cost you considerably more than the truck, on the order of at least 15-20000 quid. And then you've just gotten started.

Charlie

 

[kerry]

A friend in the REME reckons the only thing that breaks down more than a Land Rover is a Bedford Truck.....

I've heard similar comments but do they apply to these DAF/Leyland trucks? Did they always have Cummins engines?

 

[Lynn]

I'm no expert, but regarding question one, the MOD Sales site you listed has two Renaults and an Iveco for sale. Wouldn't all of those have better world-wide parts and service availability then the DAF?

 

[ccburns]

I'm no expert, but regarding question one, the MOD Sales site you listed has two Renaults and an Iveco for sale. Wouldn't all of those have better world-wide parts and service availability then the DAF?

Again not knowing anything much about trucks I had been told that the Cummins engine in the DAF was pretty simple and easy to find parts for throughout the world. But again, only taking the word of someone else. A lot of the ivecos I have seen don't have much of a cabin (we have two young kids [3 & 5yo]) so would like a slightly larger cabin that would accommodate us if needed.

Thanks for the suggestion though. I guess I'll keep reading and learning.

 

[ccburns]

The description of their truck is here:
http://www.angaleo.org/fr/page/notrecinema/34.aspx

They use a (standard Unicat type) 3 point torsion free mount. This is essential with a plastic cabin so it doesn't get ripped apart. Something indestructible like a steel freight container may not need this mounting system but it will weigh a lot. It will also need windows and doors cut, insulation, etc. The plastic type cabins have the advantage of inherent excellent thermal insulation; on the order of a standard modern house in a moderate climate (R13 or 0.44W/degK x m**2).
There are camper mfgs in mainly in Germany that can provide you with a mounted camper bare of any interior fittings for you to finish. Except for windows and door.
But I imagine with the mounting that may cost you considerably more than the truck, on the order of at least 15-20000 quid. And then you've just gotten started.

Charlie

Thanks Charlie,

That's the next part of the equation. Working out if I realistically have enough money to build one of these at the moment. My heart wants to build one now, but my brain says, just buy a C-Class RV in the states and take it down through South America for this trip and then when I decide to settle down somewhere I can start building my Expedition Camper for the next big trip rather than trying to cram it all into this trip.

It won't stop me dreaming & learning all I can now though

Cheers,
Colin

 

[charlieaarons]

Thanks Charlie,

. My heart wants to build one now, but my brain says, just buy a C-Class RV in the states and take it down through South America for this trip

Cheers,
Colin

With all due respect, Class Cs are pretty cheaply built and would fall apart most likely on a South America trip.

Charlie

 

[nick disjunkt]

I have l limited experience with the daf truck in question but for a year or so I owned a leyland roadrunner which is essentially the 2-wheel drive equivalent. It had the cummins 5.9 b-series engine which I presume is the same one used in the DAF 4x4. The engine is excellent in every way, it has more torque than you would need in a 7.5t truck, it is extremely reliable, it is easy to work on, it revs nice and high and it is familiar to every diesel mechanic I ever showed it to.

The engine is good and is certainly used internationally. It is essentially an agricultural engine, commonly used in tractors and plant although also seen in many truck brands. It is not designed as a static engine so it would be unlikely to find it in a generator or pump but there are plenty of them used in excavators, shovels, etc so I don't think getting engine parts would be difficult.

The rest of the truck may be more problematic though. I am unaware of any of these DAF 4X4 trucks which did not originate in the MOD and so outside of england (where ex-MOD parts are easy to come by) you're best source of spare parts is likely to be the 2wd daf 45 which is extremely common throughout europe. Unfortunately DAF do not have a big export market and you will be unlikely to see the 2wd brother outside of europe.

With regard to the bedford, it is a good truck although you have to be prepared for hot, loud and uncomfortable miles if you plan to travel in it. I have a friend who had the earlier MK (non-turbo multifuel engine) and he had many years of (largely) trouble free travelling around europe. A lot of the MKs and MJs were made and they have been exported all over the world so despite now being a defunct manufacturer, Bedford parts amy be easier to get internationally out of scrap yards. The later MJ with the turbo engine is slightly faster and less agricultural but it is still and old vehicle and so it is unlikely to be as relaibel as the new DAF.

 

[LukeH]

It may be a DAF but...

It's assembled by BRITISH LEYLAND.

They were capable of tightening bolts and getting the chunky stuff to hold together, but trim and panels were shocking.

Yes the engines go on forever, yes the axles will probably as well, but all the connected stuff (cables, airlines, wires etc.) were assembled by...

No I'm not going to get rude, you can do your own homework on BL and it's troubled history.

Remember the truck was thrown together under licence in the BL factory for the SOLE REASON to award a defence contract to a British company.

Then there's the small issue of driving ex-mod vehicles outside the UK. (I didn't research it because it doesn't concern me)

This guy has a few, including a Volvo like mine: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Daf-Bedford-TM-RB-44-Unimog-Volvo-tanker-All-4X4_W0QQitemZ120586651345QQcategoryZ122192QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp4340.m263QQ_trkparmsZalgo%3DDLSL%252BSIC%26its%3DI%26itu%3DUCI%252BIA%252BUA%252BIEW%252BFICS%252BUFI%26otn%3D8%26pmod%3D120573633214%252B120573633214%26po%3D%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D7084584023839899565

His needs a new engine but they're very cheap and easy to find. it drives fantastically, is amazingly quiet and you can get spares for it all over the world because the model is identical to the 2wd version except for the Steyr transfer case and the Rockwell (Italy) axles.
The FL6 is everywhere it seems.
Anyway 'sup to you.
cheers
Luke

 

[kerry]

With all due respect, Class Cs are pretty cheaply built and would fall apart most likely on a South America trip.

Charlie

X2. There may be a few class C's that might be built well enough to survive the trip but I can't think of what they might be.

If you look at www.mobile.de I suspect you could find a used expedition camper built on a Mercedes or Magirus or Iveco chassis for a reasonable price.

http://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/s..._WHEEL_DRIVE&adLimitation=&daysAfterCreation=

 

[ccburns]

X2.
http://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/s..._WHEEL_DRIVE&adLimitation=&daysAfterCreation=

Thanks for the link, I had tried looking, but mostly under the Truck category rather than the motorhome category. The link has been quite useful in getting comparisons and ideas.

I don't know much about the C Class motorhomes and yeah, perhaps they won't stand up to the rigours of a South American trip. I guess I'll just keep looking around to see what I can find within my budget

Thanks,
Colin

 

[ccburns]

It's assembled by BRITISH LEYLAND.

They were capable of tightening bolts and getting the chunky stuff to hold together, but trim and panels were shocking.

Yes the engines go on forever, yes the axles will probably as well, but all the connected stuff (cables, airlines, wires etc.) were assembled by...

No I'm not going to get rude, you can do your own homework on BL and it's troubled history.

Hi Luke,

Thanks for your reply, I'll definitely try to do a bit more research about BL and the DAF truck in particular.