Diving in Head First!
- Thread starter yabanja
- Start date
yabanja
Explorer
110" wheelbase. 37" tires. My suspension has been modified. Cab height is significantly higher than with the original suspension. It will also sag significantly once I put a load on it. Where would you like me to measure to?
Allan
SkiFreak
Crazy Person
In Australia you would only be allowed to have 67.5" behind the rear axle on a shortie, or it would exceed our 60% rule (max overhang = 60% of wheelbase)
One really nice thing about the short wheelbase Fuso is that it has a great turning circle. The medium wheelbase version, which I have, is 600mm longer in the wheelbase. Even though that is not a lot, is seriously affects the turning circle, but it does allow for a much bigger box on the back.
Just be aware... by having a lot of overhang it will increase the weight behind the rear axle which can adversely affect the way the truck handles on and off road. Keep as much weight as you can between the wheelbase.
yabanja
Explorer
Owen, Your input is always valued, although I am not sure how you can have the patience to politely reiterate these facts over and over to every new Fuso owner who naturally makes the same mistakes for the same reasons! You are a better man than I!!!
That having been said, everything is a compromise. I have spent the last two years going every which way trying to arrive at the best solution to the problems at hand. Sometimes you just have to admit that you have limited skills and resources and move forward and hope for the best. I cannot tell you what a relief it is to be finally moving forward and not have to mull over the details any longer!! I am seriously excited about sitting in the desert in the shade of Fido sipping on a cold beer and reminescing about all the sleep that was lost in the design of this thing!!!
I do love the short wheelbase. The truck is easy to drive in the most cramped parking lot and the turning radius is better than my honda civic!!!
The new camper will be 8" shorter than the bed I took off in total length so I do have an idea of what it will look like. We do not have a 60 percent rule here but I think the rule is sound and honestly would like to be better than 50 percent. The camper will overhang by 72". It will also be about 4 feet off the ground which means that I will maintain an excellent departure angle. I am currently in a rush to have the vehicle on the road for the overland expo in about ten days which will be the initial trial. Likely in the near future I will be extending the rear wheelbase by maintaining the front mounts of the rear leaves and getting significantly longer leaves and moving the rear mounts. Unfortunately, the former owners of the truck shortened the frame and welded the lift gate to it which necessitated cutting it even shorter to remove it. So, I will be needing to extend the frame. I will also be installing the new fuel tank and building storage boxes as part of Phase II construction. After that the remodeling of the interior of the camper. So much work. Luckily I really enjoy it!!!
Today I will be lifting the trailer on an automotive lift and cutting the tongue off. No going back after that! I have borrowed space in a friends shop and the lift needs to be vacated by the time the shop opens on Monday! I have five good friends who have volunteered to help. Sort of like a barn raising party!!! So excited to be camping soon!
Allan
That having been said, everything is a compromise. I have spent the last two years going every which way trying to arrive at the best solution to the problems at hand. Sometimes you just have to admit that you have limited skills and resources and move forward and hope for the best. I cannot tell you what a relief it is to be finally moving forward and not have to mull over the details any longer!! I am seriously excited about sitting in the desert in the shade of Fido sipping on a cold beer and reminescing about all the sleep that was lost in the design of this thing!!!
I do love the short wheelbase. The truck is easy to drive in the most cramped parking lot and the turning radius is better than my honda civic!!!
The new camper will be 8" shorter than the bed I took off in total length so I do have an idea of what it will look like. We do not have a 60 percent rule here but I think the rule is sound and honestly would like to be better than 50 percent. The camper will overhang by 72". It will also be about 4 feet off the ground which means that I will maintain an excellent departure angle. I am currently in a rush to have the vehicle on the road for the overland expo in about ten days which will be the initial trial. Likely in the near future I will be extending the rear wheelbase by maintaining the front mounts of the rear leaves and getting significantly longer leaves and moving the rear mounts. Unfortunately, the former owners of the truck shortened the frame and welded the lift gate to it which necessitated cutting it even shorter to remove it. So, I will be needing to extend the frame. I will also be installing the new fuel tank and building storage boxes as part of Phase II construction. After that the remodeling of the interior of the camper. So much work. Luckily I really enjoy it!!!
Today I will be lifting the trailer on an automotive lift and cutting the tongue off. No going back after that! I have borrowed space in a friends shop and the lift needs to be vacated by the time the shop opens on Monday! I have five good friends who have volunteered to help. Sort of like a barn raising party!!! So excited to be camping soon!
Allan
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Do some research on what a rear bumper height is for the GVWR on your FUSO. In Missouri, its 31 inches. You may have to install what's called a Mansfield Bar.
http://m.mentalfloss.com/article.php?id=28155
mog
Kodiak Buckaroo
Re the 'Mansfield Bar', Probably not. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 223 and 224, Rear Impact Guards applies to trailers only.
571.224 Standard No. 224; Rear impact protection.
S3. Application. This standard applies to trailers and semitrailers (built post 1998) with a GVWR of 4,356 kg or more. The standard does not apply to pole trailers, pulpwood trailers, road construction controlled horizontal discharge trailers, special purpose vehicles, wheels back vehicles, or temporary living quarters as defined in 49 CFR 529.2.
