Engine Access

[PGW]

If you were designing an expedition camper from scratch (think a big 4x4 bus), how would you design the engine access? Would you rather have a tilt nose or a big access panel/box on the interior. On one hand, the tilt nose would have great access, but it would be significantly harder to engineer, and also your interior would be open to the elements (since the cab and camper are one). The interior access may have a little less space, but would be terrible easy to make and you wouldn't have any body sealing issues.
Any thoughts (besides my insanity)?

 

[kerry]

I recently bought a Mitsubishi Fuso FG. It's the first tilt cab vehicle I've ever owned. If there's such a thing as a mechanic's orgasm, I think I had one the first time I tilted it up. I had thought I would prefer a crew cab, but the crew cab FG does not tilt. The first time I stood right beside the engine, I realized the benefits of tilting probably outweighed the crew cab. The thought of replacing an engine with a tilt cab is not intimidating at all. Replacing an engine through an access panel or doghouse would be very hard by comparison.

 

[Jeep]

If you are scratch building do the tilt cab. I built this rig from scratch, it has 6 man capacity, tilts, and has a large engine access panel for maintenance and most repairs. With the cab tilted the Cummins/Allison combo comes out in about an hour. I also built an air ride system on the cab and it really takes the harshness out of the drive. I've always dreamed of building a complete motorhome from scratch, it's the time thing that gets me.

Good luck,
Mark

 

[Mickldo]

If you are scratch building do the tilt cab. I built this rig from scratch, it has 6 man capacity, tilts, and has a large engine access panel for maintenance and most repairs. With the cab tilted the Cummins/Allison combo comes out in about an hour. I also built an air ride system on the cab and it really takes the harshness out of the drive. I've always dreamed of building a complete motorhome from scratch, it's the time thing that gets me.

Good luck,
Mark

And another vote for the tilt cab.

[mini hijack] Mark we need more pics of your rig. Do you have any links, threads, etc? [/mini hijack]

 

[whatcharterboat]

Replacing an engine through an access panel or doghouse would be very hard by comparison.

Not how you would do it. Either drop it out underneath but requires removal of the front diff and some cross members don't allow it or remove the cab first. Still a big job anyway you look at it. Even for a big workshop. Hopefully you would never ever have to do it. (famous last words. Heh?)

I know I put some pics up in "YES it's an FG" thread awhile back but just to state the biggest benefit of a full body is that the front seats can be utilized for living space when you are camped up so the front of the truck has a double purpose. Sealing a cab and body is no big issue and the chassis/frame flex is alot easier to handle in 2 parts as well. Catering for flex in a one piece body is a little more complicated but we've done it before.

For engine access we made a big insulated cover with a lift up lid. So that the lid could be opened for quick inspections or totally removed for more major work. The seats came out easily so there was plenty of room around the engine and all of the head/injectors/turbo was above the floor height anyway.

Don't get me wrong >the "mechanics orgasm" is an accurate description of a tilt cab. Haha.

This was an FG with the electronic "oil check" so you rarely have to get under there except for routine services. Most of you guys have seen these pics but they help make the point.

[mini hijack] Mark we need more pics of your rig. Do you have any links, threads, etc? [/mini hijack]

Mark, Absolutely.

 

[PGW]

Well, looks like tilt cab easily wins the argument. Also, I've been wondering what all do you have to do to tilt the cab? Just pull a few bolts? Disconnect steering or anything else?
Also, Jeep, do you have any pictures of your steering linkage? I've thought about going full hydro, but I'd feel a little easier with some sort of mechanical link.
Thanks a bunch guys. :arabia:

 

[Jeep]

[mini hijack] Mark we need more pics of your rig. Do you have any links, threads, etc? [/mini hijack

www.liteindustries.ca is my corp. website. Send me an email through the contact section and I'll send some pics, I hate shrinking pics and editing them to put up, that one was already done plus my time is pretty much consumed by everything else in life. I absolutely love the campers you guys put together down there, I will definitely pay a visit when I come to Australia in the next few years. PGW, check out the steering arrangement on a commercial cab over truck, all the parts are readily availble.