Looking for opinions as we start phase II of our build

[Jfet]

We have finished enough of the interior of our living pod camper on our 2006 Isuzu NRR 176" wheelbase 19,500 lb GVWR truck that we are ready to start the garage pod build.

Our current plans are to make the garage pod a foot shorter than the living pod (still 7 feet of headroom) and have a roof rack for kayaks and such. Thus even with the kayaks up there the overall vehicle height is still 12 feet.

In order to fit our snowmobiles into the garage pod, it needs to be nearly 11 feet long. There is some possibility of taking the skis off of the snowmobiles during transport, but would be annoying.

I plan to make the garage pod in a similar fashion to the living pod. The frame would be welded square tube steel with aluminum siding attached with Sikaflex 252. I am going to weld in a rear workbench in such a fashion that it does not need legs and the snowmobile front skis will be able to slide under it. The workbench plus front engine weight of the snowmobiles will put the center of mass of the garage pod closer to the rear axle than the actual midpoint of the garage pod.

A quick calculation of the steel for the pod and ramp door is around 620 pounds. Off the cuff the completed empty garage pod will likely be in the range of 1400 to 1700 pounds. Loaded with motorcycles and snowmobiles, plus gear, 4000 pounds.

Our current weight with camper only is 13,125 pounds with 6323 on the front axle and 6802 on the rear. The front axle is rated for 6830 and the rear for 13,660

With the fully loaded garage pod mounted and the camper loaded with gear, I estimate the front axle will be at 5865 pounds and the rear at 12060 pounds with a total vehicle weight of 17925.

So the numbers work, at least on axle loads, but there is not a lot of room for error. Upgrading to a T7500 cabover with a 12000 pound front axle rating and 26k GVWR would be nice, but at double the cost of our Isuzu NRR for similar age/miles.

I have some concern about the overhang of the garage pod. It will hang off the end of the 20 foot flatbed by 2 feet. I might be convinced to make the pod 10 feet instead of 11 feet long but that would be the minimum length and it will still overhang by a foot.

Here is a current picture of what we have so far and also a picture of the proposed garage pod:

 

[Gatsma]

I would think as long as the garage pod is built strong enough in the floor and floor-to-wall joints, 1' or even 2' of overhang should not be a problem. Going by the weights you've given above, the truck will be OK, but the engine will have its work cut out for it! Hills WILL be taken patiently! ;-)

 

[LoupGarou]

It looks and sounds like to me, you didn't think this whole build out very well.

It also sounds from another thread that your second guessing the effort and thinking about the purchase of a different truck altogether.

You do have me considering bigger trucks now lol.

I don't know what is currently available in the USA that is cab forward and larger than the NRR. It does look like the front axle capacity on the new NRR has been increased from 6830 to 7250 pounds.

I can't seem to find if Isuzu still makes the F series or GMC makes the similar T-6500 series for sale in the USA. They have front axle capacities of 10,000+ pounds and 26k GVWR. The frames are also much much beefier.

Still, I have the NRR right now and have done some work on it (adding the storage boxes).

But having a 26k GVWR vehicle with a beefier front axle and maybe a 22 foot flatbed instead of 20 feet...

IMO, I'd nix the garage pod idea and use a trailer. Take a light weight snowmobile trailer and see if you can add a roof rack for the kayaks. You'll have plenty of storage for gear and the loading and unloading height would be manageable.

You could tow the trailer behind any present and future truck purchase you make.

 

[Jfet]

It looks and sounds like to me, you didn't think this whole build out very well.

It also sounds from another thread that your second guessing the effort and thinking about the purchase of a different truck altogether.

Actually the build has worked out pretty well and I had these concerns at the start too. Things are a little heavier than I thought they would be but they are also built stronger than is probably called for.

We are already pulling a light boat trailer (about 2000 pounds with boat) so that is the reason to have the snowmobiles on the truck itself.

 

[LoupGarou]

We are already pulling a light boat trailer (about 2000 pounds with boat) so that is the reason to have the snowmobiles on the truck itself.

So, if I understand correctly, you plan to haul two snowmobiles, two kayaks and tow a boat at the same time?

If you plan to haul the snowmobiles on the back, would you really need a full blown garage pod, why not source the clam shell lid seen in the photos and just use it?

 

[Jfet]

So, if I understand correctly, you plan to haul two snowmobiles, two kayaks and tow a boat at the same time?

If you plan to haul the snowmobiles on the back, would you really need a full blown garage pod, why not source the clam shell lid seen in the photos and just use it?

View attachment 252541

Well, actually add two Yamaha dual sport motorcycles (290 pounds each) in there.

We only want to transport the snowmobiles for a few years but I like the idea of having a garage bay to work on projects since this will be our full time home. I thought about just using the clamshell as it would be so easy and quick but the wife wants to build the garage unit to have a portable workshop while in remote places. When we dump the snowmobiles it will be a nice dry area to do maintenance or random projects.

The NRR is looking like it might just squeak by on limits if things are balanced properly and we limit our off-paved road travels. I am looking at Isuzu FTR and GMC T-7500 as potential replacements with their 189? inch wheelbase and 26k capacity. I have definitely seen them with 24 foot refrigerated boxes so they may be more up to our 22 feet of pods. It is not a deal killer to change vehicles, people do it all the time.

 

[Curtis in Texas]

I don't know jack about Snowmobiles other than what I've seen on TV, but D S motorcycles are my thing.
Have you thought about turning your garage sideways, or are you hoping to have room for a smart car on occasion?

I've seen some really nice side loading garage Motorhomes. To me it would make getting the bikes out a lot easier if you have a boat attached. Use an electric winch with a remote control. I use one to load my bikes on my tall bed trailer all the time and have yet to have an issue loading my Tenere & KLR up on with one.

Like I said, maybe Snowmobiles are longer than your scooters, but if overhang is a concern I would think a 10 wide garage would be plenty if the bikes were loaded sideways.

Heck, ramp both sides and ride them on and off! It'd give you twice the patio space that way too.

Nice set up. Really thinking I want a flat bed camper on an NPR too!
But, I'm having a hard time convincing the wife we can live in something shorter than our 37' Motorcoach. She calls it our 1 bedroom apartment on wheels.