FE/FG 4x4 crew??
- Thread starter kjmickelson
- Start date
Kevin, on my canter dualcab, with a standard 3380mm WB (133") i have a 3300mm tray, but this is quite short (only about 1450mm overhang), from rough memory i think the longest you can get (with Aus design Rules that is, max overhang = 60% WB) is 3700mm or so. How 'unbalanced' it looks also depends on how high the body is from the ground, ie our last crewcab had a 3600mm tray, but was quite high, so still provided good departure angles.
Andrew
Ford Prefect
Expedition Leader
I will start by saying I have very limited experience with these things, but personally I would highly recommend that you get an FG that you really like, and then just stick a crew cab on there. It would, I think, be a lot easier for you to accomplish.
Stretching the frame is not that big of a deal, if you do it right. It can cost you a bit, but it is not that hard. Best thing to do would be to cut it between the axles. Yeah sure, you have to get a longer shaft and such, replace cables and hoses, that is fine.
It is not "common place" to lengthen the frame on big rigs, but it is not uncommon either, so if you look around I am sure you will find what you need for a price you can afford.
I believe there are a few on here you can talk with about that, including Jay Shapiro, builder of the Eco Roamer, he lengthened his frame by about twenty feet.
Cheers
Brian
Stretching the frame is not that big of a deal, if you do it right. It can cost you a bit, but it is not that hard. Best thing to do would be to cut it between the axles. Yeah sure, you have to get a longer shaft and such, replace cables and hoses, that is fine.
It is not "common place" to lengthen the frame on big rigs, but it is not uncommon either, so if you look around I am sure you will find what you need for a price you can afford.
I believe there are a few on here you can talk with about that, including Jay Shapiro, builder of the Eco Roamer, he lengthened his frame by about twenty feet.
Cheers
Brian
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JRhetts
Adventurer
Quote:
Originally Posted by whatcharterboat
JRhetts>> John is your truck newer than Dan Ruops's ?? Just interested.
Mike is correct: Darrin converted Dan's truck first, and then built the second for himself [which we persuaded him to sell to us.] Both were purchased new by Darrin; they are 2007 model year trucks with 2006 6M60 turbo diesel engines. Although they have several computers (to control injection, turbo, ABS, etc) they have no emissions controls, so they will digest any diesel fuel, making them suitable for international travel.
John
Originally Posted by whatcharterboat
JRhetts>> John is your truck newer than Dan Ruops's ?? Just interested.
Mike is correct: Darrin converted Dan's truck first, and then built the second for himself [which we persuaded him to sell to us.] Both were purchased new by Darrin; they are 2007 model year trucks with 2006 6M60 turbo diesel engines. Although they have several computers (to control injection, turbo, ABS, etc) they have no emissions controls, so they will digest any diesel fuel, making them suitable for international travel.
John
kjmickelson
New member
FG with crew seems best...
So far the FG seems best, least to deal with by just adding the crew. I have to go through all of Mr Hackney's build, but from the briefest scan of his pics I want to say he didn't lengthen the wheel base...maybe just the frame. This is just my guess as a non-owner newbie. (I am just a Hanes Repair Manual guy with a truck and a TR6)
On a side note, if I was to lengthen and move the rear end back, why do you 'serious' guys change the duallys to SRW? Is this a traction, 4x4 thing? If I just want not to get stuck in the snow now and then, or on some boat launch, is this really necessary?
Once again, thank for the ideas, names, links, etc.
Kevin
So far the FG seems best, least to deal with by just adding the crew. I have to go through all of Mr Hackney's build, but from the briefest scan of his pics I want to say he didn't lengthen the wheel base...maybe just the frame. This is just my guess as a non-owner newbie. (I am just a Hanes Repair Manual guy with a truck and a TR6)
On a side note, if I was to lengthen and move the rear end back, why do you 'serious' guys change the duallys to SRW? Is this a traction, 4x4 thing? If I just want not to get stuck in the snow now and then, or on some boat launch, is this really necessary?
Once again, thank for the ideas, names, links, etc.
Kevin
dzzz
™
I was told that in the U.S. about 10% of cab/chassis are lengthened or shortened. That number seems high to me, but it's still a common practice.
On an FG $3-4K? There's one or two shops in most large metropolitan areas that specialize in this type of work. A Fuso dealer can tell you who does their frame work.
When I first visited my body builder he had 3 bays with Hino CC cut in half. (Hino is another brand with 4x4 that appears to only be sold in OZ. Nice GVW ~22,000 to 30,000 lbs)
On an FG $3-4K? There's one or two shops in most large metropolitan areas that specialize in this type of work. A Fuso dealer can tell you who does their frame work.
When I first visited my body builder he had 3 bays with Hino CC cut in half. (Hino is another brand with 4x4 that appears to only be sold in OZ. Nice GVW ~22,000 to 30,000 lbs)
This is strictly from memory, but I think Doug Hackney did lengthen his wheelbase. If I'm not mistaken he added a section of frame at the junctino of the step down section.
when you say put a fifth wheel on the back are you talking about making the crew cab fuso a tow rig and towing a fifth wheel camper/fiver or are you saying take the RV portion of the camper and put it on the bed of the fuso or what?
Fifth wheel campers are like this:
and are typically large, hence the need for a fifth wheel or goose neck. Smaller travel trailers (bumper pull) typically do not have the cabover bed..
Fifth wheel campers are like this:
I thought he meant use a fifth wheeler as a 'pick up camper'. It would be difficult since even on standard pickup campers the height of the cab of the Fuso is too tall relative to the bed. Fifth wheelers have even thicker 'cab over' sections. I've looked at Scamp fifth wheeler's and had the same thought.
kjmickelson
New member
FG crew with a 5th wheel!
Yes, I do! I haven't gone and measured any specific 5th wheels, but the idea is to do just that. But I don't want to mount the trailer to the frame in any way. I want to be able to have a flat deck with a camper like 5th wheel. So far lengthening the frame seems easiest, yet my two other concerns are weight balance (front to back, too much overhang?) and the height of the cab.
I am hoping that when I see these rather high boxes on the back of an FG that my 5th wheel wouldn't be any higher even if it had to be up a bit to clear the cab. I realize the 5th wheel posted in the previous pic was HUGE. So I may not be able to get one nearly that big, but some of the older ones I have seen look ok...
Still dreaming.
Anyone know if Hino or the NPR reg cabs come in a 4x4 (sorry if non-Mitsu talk is not for here??). I was wondering if the reg cab NPR came in a 4x4 and what it's wheel base was, longer than 133"??
Kevin
Yes, I do! I haven't gone and measured any specific 5th wheels, but the idea is to do just that. But I don't want to mount the trailer to the frame in any way. I want to be able to have a flat deck with a camper like 5th wheel. So far lengthening the frame seems easiest, yet my two other concerns are weight balance (front to back, too much overhang?) and the height of the cab.
I am hoping that when I see these rather high boxes on the back of an FG that my 5th wheel wouldn't be any higher even if it had to be up a bit to clear the cab. I realize the 5th wheel posted in the previous pic was HUGE. So I may not be able to get one nearly that big, but some of the older ones I have seen look ok...
Still dreaming.
Anyone know if Hino or the NPR reg cabs come in a 4x4 (sorry if non-Mitsu talk is not for here??). I was wondering if the reg cab NPR came in a 4x4 and what it's wheel base was, longer than 133"??
Kevin
DontPanic42
Adventurer
As a design exercise I have thought about mounting a Scamp 5th wheel on an FG. However, I would mount it in reverse with the front facing to the rear. It could be used as a porch if a deck was built about bumper level. Nice place to sit with a cold one in the evening. Only problem is the door would be on the street side unless you could get an export model.
mhiscox
Exp. Leader Emeritus
No 4WD low cab forwards have been available in the US beyond the Fuso. However, the Isuzu N-series trucks and Chevy-badged equivalents do come in a flock of wheelbases, up to 176 inches.
http://www.isuzucv.com/nseries/n_specs.html.
By the way, and you didn't hear it from me (as in caveat emptor) but Tulsa Truck has for many years offered to make an all-wheel-drive out of about anything:
http://www.tulsatruckmfg.com/Pages/cabovers1.html.
Keep up the thinking; it's interesting and producing interesting comments from the attendees.
While I dont know what models you are looking at, fifth wheel campers are usually pretty damn big. I would never in a million years consider putting one onto an FE/FG chassis. In fact, I would be leary of putting a large (12-14') truck camper onto an FE chassis. It will take the weight no problem, but it may look and feel like a fat kid on a marshmellow. The Europeans have the style and design down to a science. I have seen too many people bolt a camper onto a truck, throw some tool boxes on and take off and it looks like it was built by an 7 year old playing with blocks. Maybe some dont care about aesthetics of their rig, but that is a big project to take on and have it look like crap when you are done.
You mentioned that you wanted a crew cab, so the Hino and FM cabs will not work for you. Another option would be to mount an FE Crew on an FM/FH chassis. Now you have a truck that is set up for a 20-26 foot box from the factory, larger running gear, etc. This has advantages and disadvantages of course, but I think you are going down the wrong path if you are seriously considering a fifth wheel trailer camper onto the back of an FE/NPR sized truck.
If you do find one light and small enough to do that with, the construction is going to be staples and 1x2 lumber, laminated or chip board parts, etc... not something that is going to hold up to ANY amount of off road driving. Hell, they dont even hold up on the freeways....
You mentioned that you wanted a crew cab, so the Hino and FM cabs will not work for you. Another option would be to mount an FE Crew on an FM/FH chassis. Now you have a truck that is set up for a 20-26 foot box from the factory, larger running gear, etc. This has advantages and disadvantages of course, but I think you are going down the wrong path if you are seriously considering a fifth wheel trailer camper onto the back of an FE/NPR sized truck.
If you do find one light and small enough to do that with, the construction is going to be staples and 1x2 lumber, laminated or chip board parts, etc... not something that is going to hold up to ANY amount of off road driving. Hell, they dont even hold up on the freeways....
DontPanic42
Adventurer
The body of my Casita is around 14' 4" so not much different than the Escape. When we were doing my build, we moved it about 16" forward from the original planned position so the space was there. Most folks that have gone the RV route use fiberglass over stick builts so they won't shake themselves apart. Doug Hackney and Carl Hunter used Bigfoot units and have many miles on their rigs without shaking the FRV apart.
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