ntedelkraut
New member
Hello,
this is my first post on ExPo. I am from Germany so English is not my first language. Correct me if necessery
This will be a build thread but as you all guess it won't be about a real troopcarrier. Here in Germany you can get long wheelbase Toyota J7s most of us wish to have, but they are really expensive to buy and even more expensive to run. I am 26 now and the Toyotas are just not for my budget. Maybe in future, but for now I don't want to spend much money for a 4x4 camper. I still want to travel by plane without the feeling that I have to spend all my holidays in an expensive 4x4 just because its waiting in the garage. I hope you understand what I want to explain.
What I want is a reliable and affordable 4x4 camper to go on trips in Europe and for some raceweekends with my mountainbike. It is possible to get large 4x4s like Nissan Patrol, Hyundai Terracan or Mitsubishi Pajero in used condition for 2000-4000€. But all those have diesel engines without filters thus high emissions. Over here, in most areas you aren't allowed to use them anymore. So these are no option for me. I decided for a bit more compact: A Suzuki Samurai
Yes, 'subcompact' as you would say. Just perfect for european mountain roads or ancient villages! Model year 1988 with the stock 1300ccm patrol engine (efi) you are allowed to go everywhere. Silly if for example a diesel Toyo J9 MY2000 isn't allowed in Cologne anymore. Just German emission laws...
Samurai as a camper? Here comes the topic 'poor man's troopcarrier':
It is a long wheelbase Samurai with high roof hardtop
Condition is good with very few rust (for a Suzuki). The underbody was waxed by the previous owner however years ago.
Plans are to strip and check the car first. Then I start the conversion into a camper. The hardtop seems to be the perfect base. I want to build a simple bed (planned 200x125cm) for my girlfriend an me. Underneath room for clothes and equipment. A fridge comes in and maybe in future a second battery or perhaps a solar panel. Weight is a factor. Every saved kilogram will make the Samurai run better. So I don't plan heavy duty winchbars or other protection. Wheels are most important for the performance so I won't mount large tires. Some 31s are easily 40kg+. I will go for 215/75 R15, just slightly larger than the stock wheels. They still can be used with stock gearing. Other modifications may come. We will see.
My Samurai is made in Japan by the way. Here in Europe that is quite unique because almost every lwb Samurai ist made in Spain by Santana. Most people belief the japanese models to be better quality. I don't know, my first car was a Suzuki Jimny, also made in Spain. Never had a real problem in 5 years of use. Had to sell it for faster and cheaper commuting to work. But know the Samurai is my second car for free time.
Now pictures.
Right after I bought it:
A second set of wheels was included:
But it runs very bad with the 275 tires. I sold both wheelsets. The ugly mirrors will go off.
One of the brake calipers was out of function. This was the first thing to be fixed:
Some pictures of the condition.
The brown spot is wax.
If you are interested I will keep you updated. Right at the moment it doesn't look like this anymore
this is my first post on ExPo. I am from Germany so English is not my first language. Correct me if necessery
This will be a build thread but as you all guess it won't be about a real troopcarrier. Here in Germany you can get long wheelbase Toyota J7s most of us wish to have, but they are really expensive to buy and even more expensive to run. I am 26 now and the Toyotas are just not for my budget. Maybe in future, but for now I don't want to spend much money for a 4x4 camper. I still want to travel by plane without the feeling that I have to spend all my holidays in an expensive 4x4 just because its waiting in the garage. I hope you understand what I want to explain.
What I want is a reliable and affordable 4x4 camper to go on trips in Europe and for some raceweekends with my mountainbike. It is possible to get large 4x4s like Nissan Patrol, Hyundai Terracan or Mitsubishi Pajero in used condition for 2000-4000€. But all those have diesel engines without filters thus high emissions. Over here, in most areas you aren't allowed to use them anymore. So these are no option for me. I decided for a bit more compact: A Suzuki Samurai
Yes, 'subcompact' as you would say. Just perfect for european mountain roads or ancient villages! Model year 1988 with the stock 1300ccm patrol engine (efi) you are allowed to go everywhere. Silly if for example a diesel Toyo J9 MY2000 isn't allowed in Cologne anymore. Just German emission laws...
Samurai as a camper? Here comes the topic 'poor man's troopcarrier':
It is a long wheelbase Samurai with high roof hardtop
Condition is good with very few rust (for a Suzuki). The underbody was waxed by the previous owner however years ago.
Plans are to strip and check the car first. Then I start the conversion into a camper. The hardtop seems to be the perfect base. I want to build a simple bed (planned 200x125cm) for my girlfriend an me. Underneath room for clothes and equipment. A fridge comes in and maybe in future a second battery or perhaps a solar panel. Weight is a factor. Every saved kilogram will make the Samurai run better. So I don't plan heavy duty winchbars or other protection. Wheels are most important for the performance so I won't mount large tires. Some 31s are easily 40kg+. I will go for 215/75 R15, just slightly larger than the stock wheels. They still can be used with stock gearing. Other modifications may come. We will see.
My Samurai is made in Japan by the way. Here in Europe that is quite unique because almost every lwb Samurai ist made in Spain by Santana. Most people belief the japanese models to be better quality. I don't know, my first car was a Suzuki Jimny, also made in Spain. Never had a real problem in 5 years of use. Had to sell it for faster and cheaper commuting to work. But know the Samurai is my second car for free time.
Now pictures.
Right after I bought it:
A second set of wheels was included:
But it runs very bad with the 275 tires. I sold both wheelsets. The ugly mirrors will go off.
One of the brake calipers was out of function. This was the first thing to be fixed:
Some pictures of the condition.
The brown spot is wax.
If you are interested I will keep you updated. Right at the moment it doesn't look like this anymore
