Itinerrant
Observer
Indeed. That's the plan !
MAN LE180C double cab for a long family trip
- Thread starter Itinerrant
- Start date
Ford Prefect
Expedition Leader
Itinerrant,
Congratulations on seeing your dream come to life right before your eyes. It is a marvel to see. I really like the idea of the collapsible aluminum rungs for the ladder, that is a simple and brilliant way to go about it! I never would have thought of that, as those are so traditionally see on the exterior of the vehicles. I really like the set up of the table area, it will be nice to have so many seats, it looks really nice. Now is that the "spare bed" or is that the "Master Bed"? I did not see a bed space other than that of the bunks. Will you install a drop down bed system over the dining area, or just sleep on the dining area yourselves? (I only ask because I recall that you had a bed above the dining area in the plans, but I did not see it in the photos.)
Thanks! Thanks for sharing, for answering our questions, and for giving consideration to our thoughts and ideas.
Regards,
Congratulations on seeing your dream come to life right before your eyes. It is a marvel to see. I really like the idea of the collapsible aluminum rungs for the ladder, that is a simple and brilliant way to go about it! I never would have thought of that, as those are so traditionally see on the exterior of the vehicles. I really like the set up of the table area, it will be nice to have so many seats, it looks really nice. Now is that the "spare bed" or is that the "Master Bed"? I did not see a bed space other than that of the bunks. Will you install a drop down bed system over the dining area, or just sleep on the dining area yourselves? (I only ask because I recall that you had a bed above the dining area in the plans, but I did not see it in the photos.)
Thanks! Thanks for sharing, for answering our questions, and for giving consideration to our thoughts and ideas.
Regards,
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Itinerrant
Observer
Itinerrant
Observer
This is it !
Hello,
We went last Saturday to pick up our newly built expedition truck ! :wings:
Here is the single poor cellphone picture I took :
First trip (our test run) is scheduled next week, so more pictures will come then. :sombrero: Thanks everybody for the support and sharing thoughts, it has been a nice experience ! :wavey:
Hello,
We went last Saturday to pick up our newly built expedition truck ! :wings:
Here is the single poor cellphone picture I took :
First trip (our test run) is scheduled next week, so more pictures will come then. :sombrero: Thanks everybody for the support and sharing thoughts, it has been a nice experience ! :wavey:
Ford Prefect
Expedition Leader
It looks perfect! Again, congratulations!
Brian
Brian
Yup. Time to tested it on dirt tracks! :smiley_drive:
You plans to remove flashlights from roof? They can be crushed by tree branches
Itinerrant
Observer
Testrun
Hello,
First week of November was holidays for our children, so we decided for a week in the French Cévennes as our test run with the truck. Except for some minor issues (and a very bad weather !), everything went well and we had a great trip. Here are some pictures.
Bikes are there to show the scale
Sunset on the Lac de Naussac
Sunrise at the same place, the following morning
Landscape near the Lac de Naussac
Somewhere on a dead-end road in the Cévennes
The Château du Tournel
On a dirt road
Stalagmites in the Grotte de Dargilan
Other concretions in the Grotte de Dargilan
Strange shapes in the Abîme de Bramabiau
Dinosaur footprint in the Abîme de Bramabiau
Exceptional underground landscape in the Aven Armand
A dirt road towards La Citerne on the Causse Méjean
Near the village of Sainte-Enimie
A wolf
Complete story with lot more pictures and videos will be available soon on our blog.
Hello,
First week of November was holidays for our children, so we decided for a week in the French Cévennes as our test run with the truck. Except for some minor issues (and a very bad weather !), everything went well and we had a great trip. Here are some pictures.
Bikes are there to show the scale
Sunset on the Lac de Naussac
Sunrise at the same place, the following morning
Landscape near the Lac de Naussac
Somewhere on a dead-end road in the Cévennes
The Château du Tournel
On a dirt road
Stalagmites in the Grotte de Dargilan
Other concretions in the Grotte de Dargilan
Strange shapes in the Abîme de Bramabiau
Dinosaur footprint in the Abîme de Bramabiau
Exceptional underground landscape in the Aven Armand
A dirt road towards La Citerne on the Causse Méjean
Near the village of Sainte-Enimie
A wolf
Complete story with lot more pictures and videos will be available soon on our blog.
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Ford Prefect
Expedition Leader
Congrats! Looks great!
I am amazed that wolf let you get close enough to get that photo! WOW
Very cool stuff, how is the family adjusting to it? Everything feels like it fits you and your needs, do your kids love the thing or what!?
Cheers
Brian
I am amazed that wolf let you get close enough to get that photo! WOW
Very cool stuff, how is the family adjusting to it? Everything feels like it fits you and your needs, do your kids love the thing or what!?
Cheers
Brian
Itinerrant
Observer
Some answers
Hello,
In the future, we also plan to put a bull bar, a roof rack and some frame protection, we'll see.
It has been taken in the Parc des Loups du Gévaudan where about 80 wolves are living in big enclosed spaces. Very interesting nonetheless.
I'll update this thread when more info will be available on our blog.
Hello,
No, not for the moment. I've been told they (at least one) can be useful at some havens on the path to the ship. Plus, we (especially the children !) like them. As for the trees, the inhabitable part of the truck is yet much higher, so if the branches touch the lights, then it's sure we're not going to pass
In the future, we also plan to put a bull bar, a roof rack and some frame protection, we'll see.Thanks !
Roads are very narrow but we didn't get any trouble. Sainte-Enimie had just been flooded by the Tarn and there were a lot of emergency staff trying to help and clean. We didn't go towards Chanac ; we came to Sainte-Enimie from the Causse Méjean on the D986 road, from there we took the D998 road towards La Canourgue.
Well to be honest, I cheated a bit with this picture
It has been taken in the Parc des Loups du Gévaudan where about 80 wolves are living in big enclosed spaces. Very interesting nonetheless.Yes, everyone is happy. Of course, there are some things that need to be adjusted or more thoroughly tested, but we still have some months to do this before final departure !
I'll update this thread when more info will be available on our blog.
HumphreyBear
Adventurer
Well to be honest, I cheated a bit with this picture
It looks a lot less impressive than 'the beast' in the movie! :sombrero:
.
Far more impressive is your truck build - many thanks for documenting it, I have followed it for a while and look forward to continuing to reading about your travels. :smiley_drive:
.
Cheers,
Humphrey
Itinerrant
Observer
Hhhmmm...
Truck in maintenance... apparently the starter is dead...
Truck in maintenance... apparently the starter is dead...