My Fuso FM260 is converging...

[Ford Prefect]

Don't count on it! I really appreciate how the white color does not absorb heat from the sun. And based on my experience this summer in the Yukon, I have rigged up a very quick and easy portable wash system that gets us back to white really quickly. I could wash inches of mud off the vehicle using a rain-water puddle in a matter of minutes. [If you are interested, I could post the set up.]

+1 for being very interested! Thanks for posting it!

Thank you so much for posting up all of this information. I have long loved your set up, and hope to imitate it is great detail someday. I have two children, so mine will have some differences, but I love your truck so very much. I will also not attempt to do a 4x4 system as a cost savings. Thank you, very kindly.


On your storage ideas... If you check out some of the larger Army surplus stores, the military uses a lot of strong but thin enough aluminum boxes, and their sides are straight up and down, ergo more storage capacity. If you ever decide that you need to replace your existing set up, I would recommend looking through the former military surplus boxes. (Obviously ammo cans are a good bit heavier, but there are many different shapes and sizes of containers that are light weight.

Regards,
Brian


Edit: Wow that was an awesome read. Thanks so much for all of the information! Going to subscribe in case more comes of this thread! By the way, did you get into some mud then? How did it go for you? Cheers

 

[BeratE]

Very, very cool rig; thanks for sharing! I am not to the point to build a bigger rig like yours yet, but love the inspiration. And if you need a co-driver for your Mongolia and beyond trip, drop me a PM

 

[DzlToy]

Bump for updates on this rig.

Did you ever do any additional modifications like seats, suspension or super singles?

A non-air ride suspension seat like one from Mastercraft Safety could be more comfortable than the stocker and should be easy to mount.

Companies like Deaver and Alcan can make custom springs for your weight and use with some basic measurements and info from you.

 

[JRhetts]

DzlToy

I wanted to add air suspension seats, but I could not find a base that fits the FM space, so that never got off the ground.

I looked at super singles, but the cost, the Mitsu & Dana engineers' rejection of the off-set issues, and my own experience that I am not having any 'go-forward' issues in mud, snow or sand so far — all these terminated my pursuit of super singles. Perhaps if I was on the beach or back-of-beyond powdery sand in AU a lot I might find them really useful.

Suspension, esp. front end, is something I'd REALLY like to improve. Handling is great stock, but pot holes, off-roading, and other irregularities have me hitting the bump-stops VERY HARD, VERY FREQUENTLY. I have talked with Deaver [and others] by phone, but am not persuaded that they know the FM truck specifically. Without that, I am hesitant to dump a bunch of $$ into something that might have very little return.

As to the power question, the original topic, I am satisfied that the engine is producing within reasonable ± of spec, and it is certainly sufficient to cruise anywhere I have gone so far, including the Rockies, the Sierras, the Yukon, etc. In 4x4 low even without the rear diff locked, I can pull through just about anything I'd even think about taking a 23,000# rig into. So, I am satisfied on that point.

John