Deleted Member 183
Well-known member
C: All of the above!
I'm not talking "Kommando Spezialkräfte", but pretty darn close, how would you build your next RIG?
- Thread starter Deleted Member 183
- Start date
C: All of the above!
NevadaLover
Forking Icehole
NevadaLover
Forking Icehole
Okay then, how's this?
Deleted Member 183
Well-known member
Duh! Jack Webb!
shortbus4x4
Expedition Leader
I have one I've been collecting parts for that I'm probably finally going to start assembly this next year.
It's a 1970 International Loadstar crewcab, Airforce rig. It's going on an 07 International 4300 frame with Axletech 4000 axles and a T600 transfercase. It will be rolling on 395/85/20 Michelin XZLs and powered by a Cummins 8.3 and Allison MT654CR from a M 9XX 5 ton. The "camper" will probably be an old US Forest Service crew buggy body that I picked up cheap and came out of Six Rivers National Forest about 20 miles or so from where I grew up.
I have all the big parts and just need to do some assembly. And it does seem like rigs like Casa Azul that are built and not bought seem to be getting fewer and fewer. My grandfather built a "motorhome" back in the early 70s to survive the Alaskan Highway because he got tired of breaking down on his trips there and back, he started driving up in mid 60s every year for gold mining. He took a 1970 Ford cabover with a CAT 1145, 5 speed and two speed rearend. Proceeded to extend the frame and lighten the rear springs. He then got a brand new 1972 Winnebago 27' fifth wheel, jacked it up, removed the axles and backed the Ford under it. So it was double framed and it was attached at the front with the fifth wheel hitch. He built sides and a front that matched the color and design of the trailer to enclose the front fifth wheel portion and used it as storage. He could unbolt the sides to put big items in, one year he had the finals and doglegs for a D8 in there, he said that was smoothest ride up ever. He had 4 tanks could make it from Phoenix AZ to almost Fairbanks AK without refueling.
His rig inspired me from a very young age and then I saw Casa Azul on a TV show probably 20 years ago and I decided to build my own. I've been collecting parts for just over 10 years now for my build and now it's time to start.
It's a 1970 International Loadstar crewcab, Airforce rig. It's going on an 07 International 4300 frame with Axletech 4000 axles and a T600 transfercase. It will be rolling on 395/85/20 Michelin XZLs and powered by a Cummins 8.3 and Allison MT654CR from a M 9XX 5 ton. The "camper" will probably be an old US Forest Service crew buggy body that I picked up cheap and came out of Six Rivers National Forest about 20 miles or so from where I grew up.
I have all the big parts and just need to do some assembly. And it does seem like rigs like Casa Azul that are built and not bought seem to be getting fewer and fewer. My grandfather built a "motorhome" back in the early 70s to survive the Alaskan Highway because he got tired of breaking down on his trips there and back, he started driving up in mid 60s every year for gold mining. He took a 1970 Ford cabover with a CAT 1145, 5 speed and two speed rearend. Proceeded to extend the frame and lighten the rear springs. He then got a brand new 1972 Winnebago 27' fifth wheel, jacked it up, removed the axles and backed the Ford under it. So it was double framed and it was attached at the front with the fifth wheel hitch. He built sides and a front that matched the color and design of the trailer to enclose the front fifth wheel portion and used it as storage. He could unbolt the sides to put big items in, one year he had the finals and doglegs for a D8 in there, he said that was smoothest ride up ever. He had 4 tanks could make it from Phoenix AZ to almost Fairbanks AK without refueling.
His rig inspired me from a very young age and then I saw Casa Azul on a TV show probably 20 years ago and I decided to build my own. I've been collecting parts for just over 10 years now for my build and now it's time to start.
shortbus4x4
Expedition Leader
Here's the start. Hopefully have a bunch to add this next spring and summer. Tent camping has lost its appeal now that my wife and I are over 50.
forum.expeditionportal.com
Forest Service Crew Buggy Body
Drug this home yesterday. Plan on doing a camper conversion with it and sticking it on an International Loadstar from the 1970s.
forum.expeditionportal.com
Deleted Member 183
Well-known member
FANTASTIC!!!!!
If you don't mind me sharing my opinion ( and as the saying goes... opinions are like ***wholes, everybody has one).
And, I'll be more than happy to help you however I can!
If you don't mind me sharing my opinion ( and as the saying goes... opinions are like ***wholes, everybody has one).
- Personally I'd "trim" the Loadstar crewcab to an expended cab to buy yourself more living space.
- Though I like the 8.3 Cummins ( I have one in my prototype LMTV), I'd go with a 5.9 12-valve because they are less mass and with all the "off the shelf" performance bling out there for them... You will have plenty of "juice". Casa goes MUCH faster than I am comfortable driving a truck that size!
- I also would choose an Allison MT653 because it has a wider gear range ( 1st gear 8.04:1). Granted it is not capable of handling the same load ( 73k lbs. vs 84k lbs.), but given that Casa weighs under 21k fully wet and loaded... I don't see that as much of an issue!
- I'd bail on the crew buggy body and try to find an antique trailer to cut and hack on like this:
Granted "to each their own", but whatever you do I ( and I'm sure several others here) will be cheering for you!!!
And, I'll be more than happy to help you however I can!
shortbus4x4
Expedition Leader
Yep, that's why I got a 07 International 4300 frame. It was under a 24 foot or so reefer box so it has plenty of nice straight frame rail to play with. I'll switch the cab over to it. The stock Loadstar frame would have to be lengthened and it would be lots of work to fit everything on it.
shortbus4x4
Expedition Leader
I actually looked for an Airstream or Avion truck camper but decent ones are expensive. The other thing is I'm up here where there are trees, and I need something that can take a branch or two and not dent. I do have a 24' U haul box, FRP, that I've also thought about using after shortening it some. Of course I only paid $700 for the crew buggy body and most of the parts I've acquired were on the cheap.
The crewcab body is shorter than modern ones and I'm 6'6" so it's going to stay a full crewcab. I'm also planning on stuffing the 8.3 in with no firewall mods, I have an extra donor Loadstar front clip to lengthen my current one.
shortbus4x4
Expedition Leader
Found this yesterday evening, thanks @Deleted Member 183. Been in communication with the seller. Says it's a 1954 Travelux 16' trailer. My limited research says it's a Canadian company that built it based off the Avion design.
shortbus4x4
Expedition Leader
Well it took a while but the price was finally dropped enough that I hit the "buy now" last Thursday night. Picking it up over the 4th weekend, it's 280 miles from my house so relatively close.
And what's the love affair with European cabovers? I'm going 'Murican!
I was up at Ritchie Brothers Auction in Spokane WA a couple of weeks ago to fix a big hydraulic leak on a 45 ton crane truck. I recognized some of the rigs there as from Pappy Boyington airport in Hayden ID. I saw this beautiful 1985 International Cargostar that was also from there, Airforce at Fairchild and then surplused to Pappy Boyington. One of the cleanest rust free ones I've ever seen. The box isn't so nice as it's had some leaks. Well I won it Wednesday, it's a 6.9 with an Allison. I'll pick it up next week.
Hmmm, 16 foot box. 16 foot trailer. 16 foot box, 16 foot trailer.
Deleted Member 183
Well-known member
JUST SAY NO! To CRACK!
It detracts ones attention into building your KILLER PERFECT RIG (wink, wink, nod... your well service truck) and it clutters the yard and probably piss's off your wife (it sure does mine).
! Not that I am the one to preach!
Hey Shortbus, please post up more pictures of your well service truck on this thread!
It detracts ones attention into building your KILLER PERFECT RIG (wink, wink, nod... your well service truck) and it clutters the yard and probably piss's off your wife (it sure does mine).
! Not that I am the one to preach!
Hey Shortbus, please post up more pictures of your well service truck on this thread!