Hi to everyone out there! Hoping to ask some questions here regarding Fuso’s, obviously a great knowledge base on the forum, of which I’m very thankful for. Apologies in advance as I know a lot of the questions I’d like to ask have been asked and answered previously… I’m going cross-eyed searching the forum though!
Anyway my partner and I are just returning to Aus after a fantastic stint travelling overseas with our Nissan Patrol td42ti. 107000km and 43 countries, it’s been an amazing experience and we really hope to hit the road again when the money recovers that is! Might be a while though… Probably 5 years away but who knows...
In the evolution of camper design I am considering moving to a FUSO for our next stint, hopefully to South America and back up into the US (you guys have some amazing country begging so much more exploration!) Anyway the FUSO seems to be a pretty good platform providing a larger living area and still able to be containered for shipping.
It might be me but dissecting Fuso models seems to be the first problem! I guess most of this is Australian model related as well…
I’m considering an FG649 pre common rail vehicle – with the 4D34 engine, I think that’s the model! Probably shorten the wheelbase to around 3150mm or so (I’ve read some of you guys like the sound of that size as do I) or a SWB version if one appears although I’d like a little more wheelbase length I think.
What is the latest year model FG649 pre common rail 4D34 that I could search for in Aus? I’m having some trouble working it out; the models seem to be all over the place!
I’ve also read that the last of the model had an Aluminium gearbox housing, whether that matters or not? Is it a better box?
Any thoughts on whether the non common rail engine which has a computerised fuel pump I’m told would need to be re chipped in order to perform at altitude or just re chipped because I can? I’d expect to play around with the turbo and exhaust for better thin air performance, I changed the Patrols turbo - added some fuel and boost, better exhaust and so on with excellent results up high.
We’ve been to 4700m in the Patrol with only a little harder starts in the morning and one blocked fuel filter giving some trouble before I changed it and all good again.
I know others have travelled at 5000m plus in South America with FG84 common rail Fuso’s successfully, but I’d really like to avoid trying to diagnose fault codes and sort out an issue if it’s likely to occur at height, sounds stressful! So I assume the 4D34 is less likely to suffer electronic issues than the common rail FG84? I realise there are code readers available for both vehicles with massive variation in price and functionality, is the 4D34 able to drop into limp mode as such like the common rail can or does the computer have less control of functions given it’s not controlling the injectors in the same manner? Or am I completely off the mark with the above assumptions? In which case I can look at latter model common rail Fuso's in the comfort that I can pre empt problems that may occur with poor fuel and altitude?
If the pre common rail engine is less likely to give trouble I’d rather refurbish an older vehicle I think… Any thoughts?
Well I guess I’ll leave it there! Hope to be steered in the right direction by you guys as I’m out of my depth with these vehicles! Been Patrols and Cruisers up to now so need some schooling. Look forward to being corrected on inaccuracies and enlightened by your ideas.
Thanks in advance – Jusitn.
Anyway my partner and I are just returning to Aus after a fantastic stint travelling overseas with our Nissan Patrol td42ti. 107000km and 43 countries, it’s been an amazing experience and we really hope to hit the road again when the money recovers that is! Might be a while though… Probably 5 years away but who knows...
In the evolution of camper design I am considering moving to a FUSO for our next stint, hopefully to South America and back up into the US (you guys have some amazing country begging so much more exploration!) Anyway the FUSO seems to be a pretty good platform providing a larger living area and still able to be containered for shipping.
It might be me but dissecting Fuso models seems to be the first problem! I guess most of this is Australian model related as well…
I’m considering an FG649 pre common rail vehicle – with the 4D34 engine, I think that’s the model! Probably shorten the wheelbase to around 3150mm or so (I’ve read some of you guys like the sound of that size as do I) or a SWB version if one appears although I’d like a little more wheelbase length I think.
What is the latest year model FG649 pre common rail 4D34 that I could search for in Aus? I’m having some trouble working it out; the models seem to be all over the place!
I’ve also read that the last of the model had an Aluminium gearbox housing, whether that matters or not? Is it a better box?
Any thoughts on whether the non common rail engine which has a computerised fuel pump I’m told would need to be re chipped in order to perform at altitude or just re chipped because I can? I’d expect to play around with the turbo and exhaust for better thin air performance, I changed the Patrols turbo - added some fuel and boost, better exhaust and so on with excellent results up high.
We’ve been to 4700m in the Patrol with only a little harder starts in the morning and one blocked fuel filter giving some trouble before I changed it and all good again.
I know others have travelled at 5000m plus in South America with FG84 common rail Fuso’s successfully, but I’d really like to avoid trying to diagnose fault codes and sort out an issue if it’s likely to occur at height, sounds stressful! So I assume the 4D34 is less likely to suffer electronic issues than the common rail FG84? I realise there are code readers available for both vehicles with massive variation in price and functionality, is the 4D34 able to drop into limp mode as such like the common rail can or does the computer have less control of functions given it’s not controlling the injectors in the same manner? Or am I completely off the mark with the above assumptions? In which case I can look at latter model common rail Fuso's in the comfort that I can pre empt problems that may occur with poor fuel and altitude?
If the pre common rail engine is less likely to give trouble I’d rather refurbish an older vehicle I think… Any thoughts?
Well I guess I’ll leave it there! Hope to be steered in the right direction by you guys as I’m out of my depth with these vehicles! Been Patrols and Cruisers up to now so need some schooling. Look forward to being corrected on inaccuracies and enlightened by your ideas.
Thanks in advance – Jusitn.
