Isuzu NRR 16' Box: Plan... Auditing?

[CowpokePaul]

Hi, guys! First time poster, long-timer lurker. I am a 100% Green/Noob/Neophyte when it comes to overlanding and camper builds. I've been a long-time motorcycle adventurer, but getting older and wanting to travel with my wife past some of the long mid-country stretches to get from Tennessee to the West. Started looking at toy haulers, towing, etc. Then salivated about LMTV conversions. Then actually prioritized our needs as: hauling 2 motorcycles, having a camper "home base" from which to daisy-chain day rides, and having a reliable, economical mechanism to travel long (boring?) highway distances to get to a destination of interest. We have toured lots of toy hauler options, and (at least in our estimation), have found the pre-manufactured route to have a little less soul, character and quality than we would like. Maybe famous last words.

Enter: "the plan." buy a medium-duty Isuzu NRR with a 16' landscaping van body. Empty box with a good ramp system. Come up with a design where we can haul the bikes, and then have a comfortable camper with them removed. I feel like I have watched just about every #VanLife video out there, consumed as much #BoxTruckConversion content as there is to consume, and I have digitally sketched my little fingers to the bone. So the main question for the post - is there any place or service where a pro or a veteran can actually take a look at the proposed layout and/or build plan and kind of "audit" it? What am I missing? What questions have I forgotten to ask? Where are my assumptions wrong or need to be tweaked? Etc. Maybe that's a forum feature (sounds heavy) - but if there are actually any pro's out there that offer this as a service, I'd be just as interested in that.

Thank y'all so much for any advice! I am happy to post my #NoobDreamDeck if there are any takers who like to red pen naive dreams for us newbies.

 

[Ultimark]

Sounds like you've done quite extensive homework, the basics are good.

Some food for thought.

A motorcycle accessory supplier in Australia has done exactly what you are proposing, but in an F series Isuzu. I know, more money. In the first iteration they designed, it was pretty much the same as yours. After an 1150 GS developed weeping fuel lines on the tank crossover hose, the ensuing headaches made them re-design their interior layout. They then made an enclosed garage for the motorcycles and ensured it was airtight from the garage to the living space.

The N series of light trucks from Isuzu, seat wise, are literally a pain in the posterior. The crew cab version you are thinking of, I think, comes with a basic mechanical suspension seat for the driver, but a bone jarring bench seat for two on the passenger side. F series (I know, more money) has Isringhausen air suspension seats for the driver and passenger that are a dream to sit in.

The 1200 GSA is quite a high bike, handlebars and screen wise that is. This may make it hard to sleep in your drop down bed with the bikes garaged when the weather is bad or you don't wish to leave them outside for whatever reason.

In Australia there are three standard wheelbase lengths in the N series range, short, medium and long. But the wheelbase for the crew cab version is longer again. Then there is an even longer wheelbase for the single cab, which may be possible to order in a special order crew cab version; if you are buying new that is. The F series has a slightly longer wheelbase as well, I know, more money. I have an N series, for what its worth.

Welcome to the forum.

Mick.

 

[CowpokePaul]

Sounds like you've done quite extensive homework, the basics are good.

Some food for thought.

A motorcycle accessory supplier in Australia has done exactly what you are proposing, but in an F series Isuzu. I know, more money. In the first iteration they designed, it was pretty much the same as yours. After an 1150 GS developed weeping fuel lines on the tank crossover hose, the ensuing headaches made them re-design their interior layout. They then made an enclosed garage for the motorcycles and ensured it was airtight from the garage to the living space.

The N series of light trucks from Isuzu, seat wise, are literally a pain in the posterior. The crew cab version you are thinking of, I think, comes with a basic mechanical suspension seat for the driver, but a bone jarring bench seat for two on the passenger side. F series (I know, more money) has Isringhausen air suspension seats for the driver and passenger that are a dream to sit in.

The 1200 GSA is quite a high bike, handlebars and screen wise that is. This may make it hard to sleep in your drop down bed with the bikes garaged when the weather is bad or you don't wish to leave them outside for whatever reason.

In Australia there are three standard wheelbase lengths in the N series range, short, medium and long. But the wheelbase for the crew cab version is longer again. Then there is an even longer wheelbase for the single cab, which may be possible to order in a special order crew cab version; if you are buying new that is. The F series has a slightly longer wheelbase as well, I know, more money. I have an N series, for what its worth.

Welcome to the forum.

Mick.

Thank you so much, sincerely, for spending your time to scan the plan. I appreciate it so much. These insights are GREAT and *exactly* the kind of thought-provoking comments (and eventually hopefully criticism) I'm looking for. What an absolute gift to have a forum like this and a community of helpful people in it. Again, thank you!

I will have to look at the seats, especially as our "travel map fleshes out." Like all good plans it awaits wadding up; but we're thinking mostly pavement (?) in the near term, and save the (light) offroads for the bikes? But I have a sneaking suspicion that the boondock life is going to fit us, so we'll have to figure out where we can get safely with a 2WD. I'll also look to see what else the aftermarket has to offer in terms of a seat swap-out.

I didn't think about the F series, primarily for a) cost, and b) doesn't it require a CDL to operate? Being a first camper... I guess I was thinking "minimum viable footprint" to start. I think now you can get an air suspension seat (maybe driver only?) - I'll have to look into that over spinal fusion surgery!

We have ordered a crew cab NRR with the 176" wheelbase and a 16' Morgan Proscape box - primarily for the ramp to load the bikes. I think the build will service 95% just the wife and I, but we went crew cab for the 5% we may take guests, kids, (eventually) grandkids - who knows. Hoping we won't look back and regret that. :S. Bone-jarring bench seats may just be the price the younger generation has to pay to travel.

I think you're absolutely right on the "bed access with the bikes installed." I'm not sure we could lower an elevator bed enough to sleep without taking out the bikes. That may be just one of those concessions that has to be made: ZZZs=OutPark the bikes. Which I guess is still an upgrade from the moto-camping we're doing today.

I have watched SO MANY Australian N-series builds, and drool. I lament that we can't get the 4x4 option here in the US. For the "light duty offroad" we may tackle, that would have been ideal. I will look for more information specifically on the toy hauler builds; that's a great lead.

One more time - thank you so much for your considerate time in replying to my post!

 

[mog]

Perhaps I missed it, is there a bathroom/lavatory/head?

 

[CowpokePaul]

Perhaps I missed it, is there a bathroom/lavatory/head?

We're intentionally not leaving space for a shower (casualty of toy hauler build), but enabling external shower. Cassette toilet is the plan to be stowed in lower cabinetry.

Once again - many thanks for your time in review!

 

[Ultimark]

Have you thought of a composting toilet?

If we ever upgrade our slide-on camper, this is certainly what we would do. Recently I inspected this particular model and it would definitely be on my short list. Essentially you could slide it out, use it, then slide it back. It does require either a ventilation hose, or a closed loop air purifier, with from memory silver and charcoal inside. A very easy to adapt system which really lengthens your pit stops...

Edit, the closed loop purifier is supplied by them if your installation requires it.

Go and explore with Cuddy, your new composting toilet.

Cuddy™ lets you "go" whenever you need, wherever you are. With no smells, no chemicals and no dump points, Cuddy™ sets you free. Ideal for your van, camper, boat, ute or tiny home. You can install Cuddy™ permanently or leave it portable. The choice is yours.

compocloset.com.au

Mick.

 

[DarcyOlson]

Couple of comments, treated OSB is really only needed if the OSB is exposed to dirt... ie foundations, planters. And the treating preservatives are kind of toxic, no need for anything treated in an overlander.

On the crewcab grandkids etc.... just get what works for you and the wife, I spent 40 years buying for family but in the end if they want to come.... which is rare.... let their parents get them there. I now build for me.

Really, a CBX.... one of the worlds most beautiful bikes.

View attachment 781858

Yeah, I agreed with you. I love it.

 

[DzlToy]

Rent a U-Haul for a day with the size box that you would like to place on your NPR or FTR. Buy Goodwill store furniture, stack boxes, take stuff out of your house, load the bikes and so on. This is the only way that you are going to know how things look and feel in real life. Coming from car camping and camping out of a couple of first-gen 4Runners, I can assure you that a 16 foot box on an NPR provides lots of room, but also limits where you can go. If the vehicle is to be a toy-hauler of sorts and you are OK with traveling freeways and state highways, staying in hotels, campgrounds and state parks with provisions for RVs, then you will be fine. If you intend to get off the beaten track and travel on fire roads or get out into the back country to explore, you are going to struggle with a truck that large.

There are a million ways to skin this cat and all of them are fraught with compromises. I have helped convert three NPRs to 4WD and while the kinks are worked out for the most part, it was quite an involved process, not DIY friendly at all.

I would encourage you to keep the single cab truck and a 12-14' box. That 3' of space taken by the second cab is quite poorly used, e.g. jackets, an extra cooler, boots, etc. Add this space to your box or shorten your truck by 3'. Over hang, wheel base, overall length and overall weight all come into play if you are going to do anything other than travel the highly-trafficked roads of the country.

If anyone figures out how to build a 4WD Tardis, I will be your second customer.