Isuzu NPS 4x4 Crew cab Build

[4x4 Truck]

Ok so I've picked up my 2017 NPS what a beast it turned out to be , I had the team at All Terrain Warriors to do the usual mods .

Parabolic springs
Single wheel conversion
Front and rear winches
Tow Bar
Front dif lock
Bull bar and some other odd and ends .

The service at ATW was first class no corner cutting or beating around the bush from the minute i contacted them they were professional and friendly .
Nick picked me up from the airport and we had a pleasurably drive back to ATW place of where dreams come true .

Once we got through the delivery process I was eager to get on the road for the drive back to Sydney . I did it over two days as i had already pre booked accommodation in Coffs Harbor had i known the parabolic suspension was so plush i would have headed straight home .

So now I've started the body build . Im at paint stage now and hope to have it done by this weekend .
I have already started the interior mods with sound and heat proofing and a UHF radio install .
Ultimately my plan is to build a slide on camper .
but first things first body needs finishing .

Id like to thank Jon , Chris and Nick from All Terrain Warriors for such great service .

 

[canter tourer]

Very nice and shiny!! If the Isuzu is anything like the Canter then the sound proofing your doing is worth the time and effort it certainly was in mine. Will keep an eye out on your progress, but with that workshop it'll make your life easier.
Dave

 

[Family Friendly 4x4]

Wow what a well prepared chassis to start your build from!

This is going to be a good'n!

Looking forward to following it on the forum.

 

[Clyde4x4fuso]

Very nice

 

[4x4 Truck]

After paint il be fitting spring mounts between the classis and the body to allow for flex for when off road , once that's completed it's going to be time for fresh water tanks and grey water tank . I plan to make them from Stainless steel , that's unless anyone has had any bad experiences with cracking and can advise otherwise . I plan to have 200L + of fresh water and 100 of grey .

 

[Bris31]

......
I plan to make them from Stainless steel , that's unless anyone has had any bad experiences with cracking and can advise otherwise . I plan to have 200L + of fresh water and 100 of grey .

I have both bad and some lucky experience with my steel tank (105L). As you can see from the picture it is placed within subframe and also within its own angle frame all around. I managed to crack somewhere along the welding joints when filling water at high pressure and forgot to open the breather fully. There was sickening bang and noticed water started leaking underneath (later calculated at the rate of 1L per hr). Couldn't pinpoint the leak as it is not possible to see the welding joints anymore. While I was planning the next step how to fix it, luckily the leak stopped after about a week. I am assuming the steel putty that was on the welding must have plugged the leak (or just a wishful thinking). Now 3-4 month and few trips on corrugated road later, water is still not leaking at all. If I am given a chance again, I would make a design and place the tank where it is easy to repair from underneath, just in case. Hope this episode will help you to decide the tank design and placement.
Cheers

 

[SkiFreak]

Hope this episode will help you to decide the tank design and placement.

Where the tank is located will dictate how it should be mounted, as you may need to make accommodations for chassis flex.

 

[Clyde4x4fuso]

I have two tanks, a plastic RV one and a stainless steel . I have never had a problem with the plastic item. However the same cannot be said for the stainless tank. So far it has cracked twice along the seams, and also cracked in a spot where one of the inner baffle was tacked. I very much regret going syainless. If you are really set on the idea then my advice would be, make sure you have good amount of inner baffling and welded in well.

 

[gait]

I have diy plastic welded polypropylene. I'm a retired metallurgist.

 

[4x4 Truck]

its a standard wheel base 3395mm by memory. Bed length is 3600mm .
today i had a chance to test fit the spring mounts i think they will do the job just fine .I will eventually use a nylock nut and the cotter pin for good measure . spring force rate is 245N per mm

 

[trackadda]

I have two tanks, a plastic RV one and a stainless steel . I have never had a problem with the plastic item. However the same cannot be said for the stainless tank. So far it has cracked twice along the seams, and also cracked in a spot where one of the inner baffle was tacked. I very much regret going syainless. If you are really set on the idea then my advice would be, make sure you have good amount of inner baffling and welded in well.

hi mate, i was looking at doing stainless tank as i need to do a bit of customising to get the max use out of the area available. i got a quote of a poly tank that was just an odd size to get an idea and it was close to $1500 and am looking at 3 like this but with more odd shapes. i was looking at stainless folded tanks with minimum welding as i have a folder available at work. intended sitting them on a supported ply base with just straps to hold tanks in place on the base. what thickness stainless did you use. ps. you have me worried now

 

[Clyde4x4fuso]

hi mate, i was looking at doing stainless tank as i need to do a bit of customising to get the max use out of the area available. i got a quote of a poly tank that was just an odd size to get an idea and it was close to $1500 and am looking at 3 like this but with more odd shapes. i was looking at stainless folded tanks with minimum welding as i have a folder available at work. intended sitting them on a supported ply base with just straps to hold tanks in place on the base. what thickness stainless did you use. ps. you have me worried now

It was made out of 0.9 sheet. Had it sitting on a 1/2" rubber matting and held in place with tabs that where welded to tank, it was then bolted in place with rubber blocks between brackets and attachment points. It holds 200lt. Noticed that both times it cracked the welds was when it was about 1/2 full and obviously going over rough ground. Have since had an extra bead of weld overlaid around the complete tank, but haven't tackled any rough going as yet to tell how its going to hold up. Maybe i need to slow down?

 

[gait]

the payback on the plastic welding gear for diy was three tanks. Since then its been used for all sorts of tasks.

 

[trackadda]

i did look at getting the gear to do the poly thing but as i have gear to do stainless available i thought to go that way, plan is/was to use 1.5mm 304 stainless and maybe 3 or 4 tanks instead of 1 larger tank, still thinking lol

 

[SkiFreak]

today i had a chance to test fit the spring mounts i think they will do the job just fine .I will eventually use a nylock nut and the cotter pin for good measure

The mounts look good.
The only suggestion I would offer might be to have the bolt around the other way (nut at the top), as this will likely make it easier to remove after the body is fitted, should that be required.

Are you using Grade 8 bolts?