Maximising Vehicle size and Parking Limits on large vehicles!

[Stafford]

I am looking to start a new build of a camper with a fold down stage for music performances.
Needs to have quite a long tray but just found out there are limitations on parking on suburban streets for vehicles ove 4.5tGVM and 7.5m length, which would be a pain given that I intend to use it as a motorhome aswell as mobile stage!

Has anyone had problems with these restrictions?

Or can anyone recommend a 4WD truck with a 5m long tray, under 4.5t GVM? Any of the NPS models?

cheers,
Staf.

 

[SkiFreak]

Firstly, welcome to the forum Staf.
I think that you might be challenged finding a truck with a 5m tray that has a GVM less than 4.4950 tonne, especially if you want it to be a motorhome as well.
You could possibly do a chassis extension of a NPS or FG to get a flatbed that size, but once you start putting water tanks and the like on it you would get pretty heavy, pretty quick.

 

[Stafford]

Perhaps I will just have to do away with the 4495GVM limit then. But surely people have built motohomes under this weight limit? Mine would be simple, no toilet shower and only minimal kitchen. Main thing is space so that I can turn it into a stage for performing... Perhaps the tray and fridge panels themselves would use up the available weight...

So the Chassis on the NPS300s are only about 4300mm and would need further extension?

Thanks for your help and glad to be a part of the forum, looking forward to sharing my build.

Staf.

 

[whatcharterboat]

Perhaps I will just have to do away with the 4495GVM limit then. But surely people have built motohomes under this weight limit? Mine would be simple, no toilet shower and only minimal kitchen. Main thing is space so that I can turn it into a stage for performing... Perhaps the tray and fridge panels themselves would use up the available weight...

So the Chassis on the NPS300s are only about 4300mm and would need further extension?

Thanks for your help and glad to be a part of the forum, looking forward to sharing my build.

Staf.

Hi Staf,

Yes of course there are motorhomes under this weight but most people wanting a 4x4 expedition-style motorhome will want maximum water, maximum fuel, carry two spare wheels, at least a winch (sometimes two), bullbar, big fridge and food storage (at least enough to go bush for a month), maybe even a bike on the back or kayaks on the roof, etc, etc.

Look at the tare weight of the chassis before you start if keeping under 4.5 is such a big deal. The current Isuzu NPS has the strongest chassis in its class....therefore it is the heaviest...around 2800 kg. Add that to an estimate of your total payload including yourselves and all tanks full and then subtract from 4500kg.... and that will tell you what's left for the camper body. The FUSO's are about 180kg lighter and the Iveco is lighter again.

The max body length on a NPS or MWB FG is around 4700mm on standard wheelbase(WB). They are both close enough to 3400mm WB. In Australia we can only have 60% of the WB as overhanging the centre of the rear axle. this ic called "Rear Overhang(ROH)" . Transport is very strict on ROH and it is exactly what it means....... If there is a screwhead, or antenna, or spare tyre or anything at all fixed the rear of the body then they drop a plumbline down from that point and measure back to the centre of the rear axle.

So if you need a 5000mm body then this is a little tricky......it would hardly be worth stretching the chassis 180mm (60mm stretch for every 100mm in the body) to achieve this.....but if you wanted a 5000mm body plus spare wheels on a rear bar then a 500mm or so stretch would be worth it.

Hey, welcome to ExPo. Are you a Broome local or just passing through?

Regards John

 

[dlh62c]

Is the plan to have the stage mounted outside the body or housed within?

What about a U-Haul Band Wagon?

 

[Stafford]

Thanks for the detailed reply John, I think i can do with a slightly smaller truck than I have been thinking of if I maximise my space. I am concerned to keep things practical and minimise 'pain in the ********' factor. Agreed, 300mm body extension is not worth extending the chassis!

And dlh62c, the plan would be to have the stage outside the vehicle, as I want to keep the space inside as a mobile living setup, with the option to extend it for long stays in one place, and also set it up as a stage for performances in remote places and festivals, see what I can make of it. Regardless, that is a cool setup, the U-Haul.

Here is a very conceptual initial sketchup model of what Im talking about. First time using the program so Im going to get more practical with the next one, and work on a 4700mm body length.

 

[Stafford]

As for being a Broome local, no, no rellys in the cemetery as yet
But i am here for at least 2 years, and will be rolling out of here is a crazy truck with any luck!

 

[whatcharterboat]

As for being a Broome local, no, no rellys in the cemetery as yet
But i am here for at least 2 years, and will be rolling out of here is a crazy truck with any luck!

Hi Stafford,

Man, what a cool concept but there are going to be a lot of issues building this. Please don't take anything I say the wrong way.....just as long as you are thinking about the build in detail before you start.

Firstly there will be a problem trying to seal the top edge of that drop-down stage against water and dust. I worked on a build like this before but the side swung upwards to open .... then the stage folded down after the outer panel-side was up. A hinge at the top and locks at the bottom is much easier to seal. By the way, we used hydraulics to lift the side and drop the stage but this was a much bigger vehicle.......and it never went on dirt roads. If you did this and have the side panel swing up and the stage swing down...then you could also have your stage lighting built into the swing-up side. Just a thought.

With that Luton peak out front, I presume you won't be planning to go down too many tight bush tracks.....maybe then you could push the overall width out to 2400mm. That would give you a little cupboard space at the end of your bed. It will have a lot of frontal area no matter which way you go. Roll the top leading edge if you can to give a little aero benefit and offer some advantage if you hit any branches.

You are still going to need an easy access entry door.....possibly at the rear.

Are you planning to use the roof as a stage too?

It's very cool either way Staf. A friend is actually setting up a truck at the moment for a similar use but it doesn't have the stage. More of a roadies truck with big inverter, genset , sleeping and they will just set up the music gear outside. It's only a 2wd Isuzu pantec with a roller door on the rear.

I've also seen a unimog that camps a lot up on the beach near my house. It has one side that completely opens up. They have a shade cloth side panel that ( if I remember correctly) rolls down. That might be worth incorporating in your design too.

Hey, must be great to spend a couple of years in Broome.......such an interesting place. I've only ever passed through. Read "The White Pearl Divers of Broome" recently. Man, that place had a colourful past.

Regards John

 

[whatcharterboat]

Is the plan to have the stage mounted outside the body or housed within?

What about a U-Haul Band Wagon?

Hi Daryl... my ears hurt after watching that clip....hahaha. Yeah, there are plenty of good "stage truck" examples on youtube

...this concept of how the stage dropped down here was similar to the event truck I worked on. http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4fZC82zEgF8

 

[Maninga]

It's a little bit larger and not 4wd, but would something like this work for you? Might at least give a few ideas on how someone else has done it.

http://www.trucksales.com.au/buy/details.aspx?R=15197403

 

[SkiFreak]

That looks like a pretty good buy for 45K.
Being an ex military vehicle, I am pretty sure the servicing would have been thorough and regular.