Oz Lust - More Trucks You Can't Have

[Pskhaat]

...passing out the Marlboros Jay Shapiro is recommending we take along to share with helpful locals. [/quote

Excellent suggestion...Marlboros have worked wonders in various Immigration offices.

 

[Mickldo]

I just saw the ad for http://www.offroadtrucks.com.au/ on the idiot box. Apparently they have just opened a new branch in Brissy. I might have to call in and check them out next time I am down there.

 

[FotoValpen]

Why not a Scania with a crew cab?
http://www.scania.com/Images/07083-001_tcm10-153646.jpg

 

[haven]

Good find! Scania does have a distributor in Australia
http://www.scania.com.au/trucks/Truck_Range/allwheeldrive/

 

[DiploStrat]

Hmmm.

"I'd like to know more about what caused this little problem:"

Perhaps that tow strap on the front? And the huge trailer in the back? :Wow1:

 

[whatcharterboat]

Why not a Scania with a crew cab?

22TGVM is a bit of an overkill for an expedition truck here. The heavier rego is a killer, speed limited to 100kph, you need a heavier class license and also are only allowed 0 BAC. Well actually most of this happens over 6 T but 22T is just plain overkill. A 15T or 13T can be dowm rated to 9T GVM to put you down a class but 22T...... Not sure but I think you'd be pushing it to get under weight. 22T is the smallest Scania here IIRC.

As nice as Scania's are. They make great tippers and you see alot of their semis hauling big loads. Funny how the Jap trucks don't have the really heavy end of the market covered like the European and North Americans do.They certainly have everything else.

 

[whatcharterboat]

Some more 4x4 Oz trucks on evilbay and truck hub. For sale. (but who's got any money now anyway?)

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/MERCEDES-BEN...3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66:2|65:1|39:1|240:1318

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ISUZU-FSS-55...3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66:2|65:1|39:1|240:1318

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/isuzu-FTS-70...3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66:2|65:1|39:1|240:1318

http://www.truckhub.com.au/DesktopDefault.aspx?ItemID=473963&TabID=3443

http://www.truckhub.com.au/DesktopDefault.aspx?ItemID=3049911&TabID=3443

http://www.truckhub.com.au/DesktopDefault.aspx?ItemID=3007358&TabID=3443

http://www.truckhub.com.au/DesktopDefault.aspx?ItemID=3033681&TabID=3443

http://www.truckhub.com.au/DesktopDefault.aspx?ItemID=2509737&TabID=3443

http://www.truckhub.com.au/DesktopDefault.aspx?ItemID=3016700&TabID=3443

 

[whatcharterboat]

http://www.truckhub.com.au/DesktopDefault.aspx?ItemID=3015549&TabID=3443

http://www.truckhub.com.au/DesktopDefault.aspx?ItemID=3027912&TabID=3443

Hey Mickldo, Got to be one or 2 of yours in that batch. The 750 maybe?? Are the FG crewcabs going to the US marhet?? I wasn't sure.

Regards. John.

 

[whatcharterboat]

IMO The orange Merc wins (or the RFW for absolute toughness and total overkill)

 

[dhackney]

IMO The orange Merc wins (or the RFW for absolute toughness and total overkill)

I'd go Merc for global parts & service, RFW to impress the mates...

There is currently no FG crew cab model in the US market.

You could always buy an OZ market truck and then swap the cab & steering gear with a LHD market truck. Wow, that would probably be some major bucks.

It would be an interesting research project to find the costs on the parts.

It might be challenging to mount the 4x4 controls themselves, e.g., mechanical controls such as range select levers, etc. If it was all dash switches, the cutouts would likely be there.

If you were planning to use the truck anywhere in the developing world you would need to read this thread to determine what model year chassis to buy: http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25516

Short version: You would probably want a Euro II or III spec chassis to start with.

Depending on where you are intending to travel, it might make sense to ship a suitable wrecker yard cab/steering gear into OZ and do the conversion there. If you are U.S. based, your dollars will buy more in that market. If you are planning to travel in SE or South Asia, then the shipping would be a lot less than bringing the chassis to the states and then all the way back over there.

Hmm. Might be able to make that work pretty easily for an FG too. Find a wrecker yard FE cab & steering gear and ship it in to exchange on an OZ built FG with SRW, extended suspension, ATW camper box...

Oops, excuse my appearance, I just woke up from a wonderful dream...

 

[whatcharterboat]

Not sure about the scenario that would warrant the conversion but after reading this last night I had a crawl around the FG140 cab today. Actually Doug , the cab looks quite generic, so it would only mean shipping small parts. Certainly less difficult than we first thought. I think new parts prices would cost a pretty penny but if you could source everything from a wronghand drive (as Fred calls it) FE/FG thats been crashed then it may be feasable. If it's an FE then you may also need different 4x4 shift cables as they may be a different lengths. What about the wiring harness? That would be a bit of a mission.

If someone really wanted a crew cab this could be an option.


Of course DoT may be an issue. Dunno.

Can someone please confirm for me that the current '09 US FG 140 has a Distillate Particulate Diffuser (DPD) in the exhasut system. As you may know the 140 has only just been released here a few months back and ours doesn't have a DPD yet but the '09 NPS does. At work, we are trying to determine whether or not the '10 FG model will have one. I am thinking that the 140 we are getting now is the same as your first 140. '05 was it.

A little bit of trivia. Our current 140 has an all alloy gearbox as the US models probably do too. Fuso were really worried about how they would stand up to corrosion situations so they sent one out to us back in '03 I think it was. It was a special delivery to for one of our customers to trial and report on. Of course it was Adventure Tours who I've mentioned many times before. They are the Fraser Island Tour company that are on their 26th FG. So it's taken nearly 6 years to finally reach us as a production model,

Actually this is why I ask about the DPD in the US. The guys don't exactly like the look of them (on the NPS) as far as how they'll stand up to the beach. So they're thinking of getting in on some '09 models before any further changes happen.

 

[dhackney]

Not sure about the scenario that would warrant the conversion but after reading this last night I had a crawl around the FG140 cab today. Actually Doug , the cab looks quite generic, so it would only mean shipping small parts. Certainly less difficult than we first thought. I think new parts prices would cost a pretty penny but if you could source everything from a wronghand drive (as Fred calls it) FE/FG thats been crashed then it may be feasable. If it's an FE then you may also need different 4x4 shift cables as they may be a different lengths.

FEs are very common, FGs are very rare, so if you found a wrecker (salvage) yard cab here, it would almost certainly be an FE.

What about the wiring harness? That would be a bit of a mission.

I thought about this after I posted my fantasy/dream, while thinking through the steps required to make it a reality.

There are two scenarios:
1. Full cab swap of a LHD cab onto a RHD chassis
2. A component swap of a LHD dash and necessary steering gear components into a RHD cab.

These scenarios would be the same for any truck, FG, Isuzu, MAN, etc.

For either scenario, you would need to look at how the wiring harness attaches, specifically if there are wiring harness connectors at the cab hinge.

The FG service manual does not mention the wiring harness specifically in the section on removing the cab (42-12), just a typically generic "Before lifting the cab, check to ensure that cables, hoses, wires, etc. have been all disconnected."

If you were just swapping the components, and were only swapping out the dash, steering linkage, etc., there might be enough slack in the wiring harness to reach either side. It would depend on where the wiring harness for that particular model truck came up from the frame and entered the cab for each configuration (LHD/RHD).

This is our cab hinge area on our U.S./Canada 2007 model year LHD FG. The wiring harness is the large black tube that looks like flex radiator hose.

It is located on the driver's side (LHD) frame rail. If the RHD wiring harness is located in the same position, then swapping the driving position from RHD to LHD would be very straightforward, just a matter of swapping in a dash and some steering gear components.

If you were working with another truck and the wiring harness was centered on both LHD and RHD, then there would probably be enough slack to reach the cab terminations for either configuration.

If someone really wanted a crew cab this could be an option.

Agreed.

Of course DoT may be an issue. Dunno.

It would definitely be on this end if they tried to bring the truck here with its RHD VIN.

Can someone please confirm for me that the current '09 US FG 140 has a Distillate Particulate Diffuser (DPD) in the exhasut system.

Contact our service manager, Ron Lucero, at Kearny Mesa Truck Center, San Diego. Ron posted up on a thread titled "Get your service here". I can PM you his email address, but don't want to put it up here myself.

I am thinking that the 140 we are getting now is the same as your first 140. '05 was it.

The current generation FG was first sold in the U.S. market in 2005.

Actually this is why I ask about the DPD in the US. The guys don't exactly like the look of them (on the NPS) as far as how they'll stand up to the beach. So they're thinking of getting in on some '09 models before any further changes happen.

We experienced the same thing in the medium to heavy duty truck market here with the 2008 model year. 2008 model year trucks introduced new pollution controls related to the ULSD fuel. For the few people buying trucks right now (sales are off 30-60% depending on the segment), most are expected to buy 2009 model year trucks to avoid the next new wave of pollution controls on the 2010 model year trucks. The 2010 trucks will all, except for Navistar, use urea injection systems, and there is a lot of trepidation about a first model year truck with that system. For more info on pollution controls, fuel, etc., on various market and model year trucks, click here: http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25516

 

[whatcharterboat]

Doug Thanks again for all this info. You had already made me aware of most of this in the earlier threads and emails but it's the DPD that confuses me. We were led to believe that our '09 FG was Euro IV but doesn't have anywhere near the same level of emmissions control as the new Euro IV NPS, so we think that there will be more install for our FGs soon.

As soon as I get a camera I'll post up a similar pic of a RHD FG. I had a good look at the LHD SWB work body on ebay. Our 4x4 shift is where the old gear stick used to be but I couldn't see it on the SWB. Is that the big lever on the left of the steering wheel???

I have been trying to get hold of Ron but only have the main KMTC1 desk email. I'm sure we'll make contact soon as I asked them for his direct line.

BTW I making plans to go up to Far North Queensland at the start of July for a family wedding and while I'm there I want to catch one of the Tour Company mechanics and do another "FG Mechanic Interview" so if you or anyone eles has specific questions let me know otherwise I'll use the same template as last time. These guys do Cape York constantly so it will be very different information than last time. I'm sure I mentioned this before but just haven't had a chance to get up there. FNQ in July. Can't wait.

 

[dhackney]

Doug Thanks again for all this info. You had already made me aware of most of this in the earlier threads and emails but it's the DPD that confuses me. We were led to believe that our '09 FG was Euro IV but doesn't have anywhere near the same level of emmissions control as the new Euro IV NPS, so we think that there will be more install for our FGs soon.

I don't know of any diesel truck engine that is meeting 2007 US or Euro IV without a DPD. I can't see how it would be possible to meet the particulate emissions requirements without one.

For global use, there are two things that disqualify a potential truck:
- Requirement for low sulfur diesel fuel (anything less than 350 ppm)
- A Diesel Particulate Device/Trap/Catalyst that will plug when used with high sulfur fuel

Obviously, it's not these two things that do the disqualification, it's the integrated electronics that expect these things to be there.

As soon as I get a camera I'll post up a similar pic of a RHD FG.

Sorry to hear about your phone.

I had a good look at the LHD SWB work body on ebay. Our 4x4 shift is where the old gear stick used to be but I couldn't see it on the SWB. Is that the big lever on the left of the steering wheel???

On our current generation FGs, the 2wd/4x4 switch is on the dash. It's a rocker switch with a 4x4 chassis graphic. The big lever on the left end of the dash is the low/high range selector for 4x4.

Photo of the 2wd/4wd switch. I moved all the switches around on our truck, so this may not be the stock location.

Switches are, top to bottom: fast engine warmup (stock), fuel filter heater (non-stock, added as part of dual fuel filter array), 4x2/4x4 switch, door locks.

The seat heater switch is non-stock. I added that with the air seats.

This shot is from Album 22 of our buildup photos. There are a lot more photos of the cab disassembled in that album, so you can compare them to a RHD model.

Albums are here: http://www.hackneys.com/mitsu/index-buildup-photos.htm

I have been trying to get hold of Ron but only have the main KMTC1 desk email.

Check your email. I sent you his contact info.

BTW I making plans to go up to Far North Queensland at the start of July for a family wedding and while I'm there I want to catch one of the Tour Company mechanics and do another "FG Mechanic Interview" so if you or anyone eles has specific questions let me know otherwise I'll use the same template as last time. These guys do Cape York constantly so it will be very different information than last time. I'm sure I mentioned this before but just haven't had a chance to get up there. FNQ in July. Can't wait.

What a great trip! You've GOT to get a camera before then!

I can't think of much more. Given the things that have happened since the last interview and the terrain they work in, perhaps some questions about frame/chassis failure points/areas/experiences would be good. I think any advice about common crack/corrosion/break points for the frame and suspension would be valuable.

Doug

 

[whatcharterboat]

Given the things that have happened since the last interview and the terrain they work in, perhaps some questions about frame/chassis failure points/areas/experiences would be good. I think any advice about common crack/corrosion/break points for the frame and suspension would be valuable.

I agree. Given the current discussions I'll remember to include a focus on this.

Sorry to hear about your phone.

Yeah. Bummer. Happened in a classroom with 6 people in it but how can you prove anything. It was one of those phones that did it all too. GPS/plotter, Street Nav, FM radio, word, video, audio recorder, MP3 /MP4, internet, blah, blah, even took 360 degree panoramic pics. It'll be ages before I can afford to replace it.

Hey, Doug, speaking technology ..We've just installed a micro data projector with wireless Tx/Rx in that white motor home I posted the pics of. Very cool. You can watch video on the side of the truck outside or big screen inside or any size you want actually. It's about the size of a deck of cards has serial port or AV connections and a rechargeable battery similar to a phone.

BTW our Hi/Lo shift is where the old gear lever was.

Doug thanks again for this info. We're talking to guy who wants a wronghand drive Isuzu NPS for Dubai ATM. Like the Scout on our website. Not sure how that's going to work either.

Regards John.