Looking for advice: adapting a Casita '16 to 2007 Fuso FG

[edgans]

Have the truck already, bought it in Kansas City a few months ago. Just locked down a used 2011 Casita 16ft camper, should have it on hand in a few weeks. Looking to have this complete by the holidays.

I plan to post details of my design when complete for the community.

Before diving in, I'm looking for as much of the following info / answers as possible:
- Advice on if/when to change from dually to super singles. Cost, specific parts list, recommended vendors
- Any advice on suspension: 2000lb casita and any frame I design to mount it is going to be significant under the capacity and that suspension will be way too stiff. Should I drop leafs? Change to air suspension system? any experts here have advice?
- Any additional drawings/diagrams of the Casita camper? A CAD model would be brilliant. I tried contacting Casita directly, haven't heard anything.
- 3D CAD model of the Fuso? Pretty good drawings in their service manuals and 2D DXFs, but will need to make a 3D CAD model and would love to see what others have done.
- Best place to get a deer guard? I don't want to lose my legs if I hit a moose at 60mph
- Best place and specific part recommendations for upgrading the seats? I'd like to fit three in the cab but also have primary bucket seats for passenger and driver
- Any design details from people that have done this or something similar with their FG. Pictures, drawings, CAD models, lessons learned, advice, etc.

 

[SkiFreak]

A lot of the questions you have asked have been covered previously throughout this forum.
To be honest, I have never had too much luck finding stuff using the forum search tools, so I use Google and specify Expo as the site. You might want to give that a try.
search strings site:expeditionportal.com

 

[edgans]

Will do. Any specific forums of value to my questions above, please link here. Thanks!

 

[SkiFreak]

Will do. Any specific forums of value to my questions above!

This one... Japanese Heavy Truck: Mitsubishi and Isuzu

 

[Decanter]

Have the truck already, bought it in Kansas City a few months ago. Just locked down a used 2011 Casita 16ft camper, should have it on hand in a few weeks. Looking to have this complete by the holidays.

I plan to post details of my design when complete for the community.

Before diving in, I'm looking for as much of the following info / answers as possible:
- Advice on if/when to change from dually to super singles. Cost, specific parts list, recommended vendors
---->>>There are a few vendors - Earthcruiser, All Terrain Warriors, Rickson Truck Wheels, Stockton Wheel come to mind. Do it when you get the money. It will track better in soft surfaces / snow and not get rocks stuck between the dually's.
- Any advice on suspension: 2000lb casita and any frame I design to mount it is going to be significant under the capacity and that suspension will be way too stiff. Should I drop leafs? Change to air suspension system? any experts here have advice?
--->>>You can take out leafs or have custom springs done. You can buy springs from Earthcruiser and All Terrain Warriors specifically for the Fuso but most springs shops should be able to dial you in.
- Any additional drawings/diagrams of the Casita camper? A CAD model would be brilliant. I tried contacting Casita directly, haven't heard anything.
- 3D CAD model of the Fuso? Pretty good drawings in their service manuals and 2D DXFs, but will need to make a 3D CAD model and would love to see what others have done.
--->>>The Body Builder guide help you. You can take 2D CAD's and convert to 3D in some design programs (Soldiworks I believe is one)
- Best place to get a deer guard? I don't want to lose my legs if I hit a moose at 60mph
--->>>Earthcruiser and Aluminess come to mind.
- Best place and specific part recommendations for upgrading the seats? I'd like to fit three in the cab but also have primary bucket seats for passenger and driver
--->>>I'm working on that now - see my instagram. There are threads on this as well.
- Any design details from people that have done this or something similar with their FG. Pictures, drawings, CAD models, lessons learned, advice, etc.

I worked my replies into your post - see --->>> above

 

[Coachgeo]

Consider mounting trailer facing backward. Tounge end facing the rear. While with a Casita it may make no difference in look or may make just a sublte difference that makes all the difference. Looked at many trailers for this idea and for sure on most IMHO mounted back assward makes the merger of the truck and camper much more appealing.

There is a huge discussion on here about mounting options of Cabin/Camper/Expo box on back of a truck. When I was considering this route the thought I had was to use a trailer ball on back end of chassis with a refabricated tounge on camper tucked right next to camper wall or maybe under slightly and use camper suspension (but modified without wheels etc.) as the other two mounts in a 3pt mount configuration. Might consider using suspension limiting straps orrrr? to limit the supension if go that route. Sounds hokey but seems like it would work.... seems to me Camper would never feel difference between being towed or on the bed this way; thus would not be subject to stesses any different than it was designed to be when towed normally was my thinking, .... but..... am no engineer by any means and have no experience yet. Could swear; but don't quote me... that I've seen a few builds since I considered this idea that have gone similar route on there mounting. Sorry can't recall enough info to help you search for them though.

 

[Mock Tender]

If you like water, dust, cold air, etc.... coming through your windows while you drive, i would highly recommend the backwards mount.

Also while mounting the fiberglass cassita, make sure you cause no flex issues. You can cause lots of spider cracks and on such a delightfully thin and lite body, major structural damage. This from a former fiberglass catamaran and current trouble free heavy Bigfoot owner.

 

[dlh62c]

^ Mounting backwards will put the entry door on the street side. Make sure your looking both ways prior to stepping out.

Mounting an all ready fitted camper on the back will make the RV recertification on the truck easier.

If the truck came with a cargo body on the back, have you considered fitting it out instead?