I'm in the early design stages of a new camper build, basically deep into solidworks renderings, and once again, facing the great debate on which base vehicle. We'd really like to be smaller than our current f550 is, but we also need more room for kids and dogs. Hence, I've been considering a 4wd conversion on an Isuzu NPR crew cab. There are a few of them running around and a few guys have more than a few under their belts or currently being built.
Keeping cost considerations aside, how reliable would the crowd estimate a well done 4wd conversion, with new dana axles front and rear, a very good quality transfer case and put together by a skilled builder (not myself)?
I know the quigleys, UJOR and sportsmobile conversion have a long track life at this point. Given the NPR is offered overseas as a 4wd NPS, which is largely the same, it seems once you get through the fitment issues, a well done NPR conversion should be robust as the truck was originally engineered to be able to accommodate a 4wd drivetrain. But, I'm also out of my element here a bit so any advice appreciated.
It would have a Dana 80 front, Dynatrac pro rock 80 rear and either an NP205 or Trail Worthy hero transfer case.
What I keep on coming up against design constraint wise is what I faced with my first build, the extra length of the super duty platform in a crew cab makes for a pretty long vehicle. We are really looking to get more nimble, are ok with sacrificing a little long freeway run comfort for in town and forest road maneuverability comfort, and had kinda already anticipated being 100k in on the base vehicle either way. Obviously its preference, and some will (again) think I'm crazy, but I'd really like to do a crew cab thats closer to 21' total length and substantially narrower than the 93.5" to outside of tire my current rig is. We just seem to always end up in situations where the smaller size would be desirable and I'd like to use the rig more for day trips with the fam as well.
My concern is I'd like something relatively trouble free and easily serviceable and I don't know enough about these conversions to know whether once the initial hiccups are smoothed out, are they just as reliable as say, a stock super duty might be?
Keeping cost considerations aside, how reliable would the crowd estimate a well done 4wd conversion, with new dana axles front and rear, a very good quality transfer case and put together by a skilled builder (not myself)?
I know the quigleys, UJOR and sportsmobile conversion have a long track life at this point. Given the NPR is offered overseas as a 4wd NPS, which is largely the same, it seems once you get through the fitment issues, a well done NPR conversion should be robust as the truck was originally engineered to be able to accommodate a 4wd drivetrain. But, I'm also out of my element here a bit so any advice appreciated.
It would have a Dana 80 front, Dynatrac pro rock 80 rear and either an NP205 or Trail Worthy hero transfer case.
What I keep on coming up against design constraint wise is what I faced with my first build, the extra length of the super duty platform in a crew cab makes for a pretty long vehicle. We are really looking to get more nimble, are ok with sacrificing a little long freeway run comfort for in town and forest road maneuverability comfort, and had kinda already anticipated being 100k in on the base vehicle either way. Obviously its preference, and some will (again) think I'm crazy, but I'd really like to do a crew cab thats closer to 21' total length and substantially narrower than the 93.5" to outside of tire my current rig is. We just seem to always end up in situations where the smaller size would be desirable and I'd like to use the rig more for day trips with the fam as well.
My concern is I'd like something relatively trouble free and easily serviceable and I don't know enough about these conversions to know whether once the initial hiccups are smoothed out, are they just as reliable as say, a stock super duty might be?