Sub-Compact Overlander

[Backroad Explorer]

Sross,

I agree with SRN & everyone else samurai"s are great little ExPO trucks !!! :safari-rig:

Keep us informed on how your build goes.

 

[SRN]

SRN

Your sami is pretty much exactly what I was going for and I have shamelessly copied it since buying mine.
Mine was pretty clean other than a spot on the passenger floor board that had pinhole rust and the hood was pretty beat up. There was also a bullet hole in the driver door from a hunting accident. That has all been fixed and the body taken down to bare metal and primed. I'm still waiting to hear if the paint has been done.

How do you like the rear lockright? This will be my DD/only vehicle and I am most likely moving to a small city and I don't really want to make the truck even worse to drive. I think I am going to hold out for the ARB if I do anything to the rear.

The LockRight has served me well over the last 11 years. Doesn't really make it that hard to drive, you just have to get used to it. If I had the money I would put an ARB in the front at the very least but both diffs would be ideal. Definitely in the top three things I'm doing next behind body and new bumpers.

Out of curiosity, did you pull the body off the frame before you stripped it? I really would love to do a frame off, but since it's my DD, that's not going to happen anytime soon.

Also, I just got back from 250 miles on dirt. Good times in the Samurai!

 

[Ruffin' It]

Very timely thread. My Crusier is up for sale (maybe sold, not sure yet) and this is exactly what I am doing. My Cruiser will climb rocks with the best of 'em, but I'm just not interested in that. I want something that will take the dogs, the girlfriend and me into the backcountry for a few days at a time and still be good on gas. Subarus are at the top of her list, but are lacking a bit in the backcountry part of the equation for me. I'll be watching this thread with lots of interest and possibly replicating it! I've got $6,000 set aside for the project and intend to finish it with a nice trip in the new vehicle.

Funny you ask that....Scott and i have been indeed discussing this possibility this weekend. We are thinking of a low budget but complete build. Possible candidate would include the Vitara, Rav4, Rodeo, Pajero, etc. Perhaps something for less than $5k total...

 

[007]

A 15ft foot platform getting 25 mpg already exists in the form of a regular cab 4cyl toyota truck. That is pretty small and nimble, but nowhere near innovative!

If this idea is going to stand out and turn heads as an accomplishment, it needs to be really small and really efficient.

What do the Samurai's get for mpg with an expedition load?

 

[SRN]

A 15ft foot platform getting 25 mpg already exists in the form of a regular cab 4cyl toyota truck. That is pretty small and nimble, but nowhere near innovative!

If this idea is going to stand out and turn heads as an accomplishment, it needs to be really small and really efficient.

What do the Samurai's get for mpg with an expedition load?

I get about 20mpg loaded down. The biggest suck is the rack, which is a giant sail. Without the rack I average about 24mpg.

 

[007]

I get about 20mpg loaded down. The biggest suck is the rack, which is a giant sail. Without the rack I average about 24mpg.

Good to know, what do does it weigh when fully outfitted?

 

[chet]

for the samurai I found the biggest suck was the small gas tank. A petroworks tank will cure that. I have used OME springs, BDS springs, stock with spring over and finally the best ride was Jeep YJ springs with a kit fromt Trailtough. you can leave it spring under and use some lift springs if you want and the ride was night and day better than the OME's

 

[SRN]

Good to know, what do does it weigh when fully outfitted?

A good question. I don't know. One of these days I should load up for a trip and hit some scales.

for the samurai I found the biggest suck was the small gas tank. A petroworks tank will cure that. I have used OME springs, BDS springs, stock with spring over and finally the best ride was Jeep YJ springs with a kit fromt Trailtough. you can leave it spring under and use some lift springs if you want and the ride was night and day better than the OME's

The 15 Gallon tank from PetroWorks is awesome. I love having 50% more range and not taking up much more space. It's great.

I've never done the Wrangler setup, but I've ridden in several Samurai's that had that setup and I will say it was quite smooth. But I'll stick with OME's. The difference was so minimal to me and the quality of OME springs are the best I have ever seen. Yes, they are expensive, but they are top notch and I'm willing to pay for that.

 

[iguana4x4]

Suzuki Jimny

It doesn´t get any better than this! Sub-compact overlanding at it´s maximum expression.

This one I took out of SOLO AUTO 4X4, a magazine from Spain.

265/75R16 BFG Mud Terrains on 15x8" steel bealocks. Custom ring and pinion sets had to be made to move the big (for this vehicle) tires.

A decent amount of camping gear is stored inside

1. House electrical system neatly installed just behind the front seats, all the interior componentes from the seats back have been removed. Also note the hi-lift equivalent hidraulic jack

2. Dedicated compartment for camping stove gas bottles

3. 2m Radio, 12V outlets and switches for battery (AA and AAA type) chargers, air compressor and fridge

4. Voltmeter for second battery and house electrics kill switch

5. 220V outlets and 12V accesory fuse box

6. Aluminum storage drawers and fridge slide

7. Engel 30 Liter Fridge

8. Stock 1.3L gasoline engine with reprogrammed ECM for better performace

9. On-Board air compressor inside engine compartment


ENJOY!

 

[SRN]

^ Oh good god man, that is AWESOME!!! Bring it up to the States and drop it off for me! Screw import laws, I will make it work!

 

[Riptide]

My 95 soft top just got ARB's installed front and rear last week. I've yet to pick it up. It's having a second battery tray fabricated for it as we speak. I'll pick it up next week...

Plans include the OME suspension (I have a SPOA setup on there now from the PO that I'm not too fond of), install the roof rack I've had laying around, rust-proof the interior and underside (it's rust-free right now, and I want to keep it that way). I'm going back to 29" tires too, down from the 31's on there now.

New bumpers fore and aft should complete the truck. My goal is something as bullet-proof and reliable as possible, but I also try to maintain a relatively stock drivetrain for parts availability. Long range, will probably pick up the 15 gal tank, and maybe a snorkel, now that they're available again.

So far, the wife, kid, and I have had a real blast exploring with this little mountain goat, and I get questioned all the time about it by those that remember them and wonder where they went, and by those that have never seen such a small rig before.

Sami's rock!

 

[SRN]

My 95 soft top just got ARB's installed front and rear last week. I've yet to pick it up. It's having a second battery tray fabricated for it as we speak. I'll pick it up next week...

Plans include the OME suspension (I have a SPOA setup on there now from the PO that I'm not too fond of), install the roof rack I've had laying around, rust-proof the interior and underside (it's rust-free right now, and I want to keep it that way). I'm going back to 29" tires too, down from the 31's on there now.

New bumpers fore and aft should complete the truck. My goal is something as bullet-proof and reliable as possible, but I also try to maintain a relatively stock drivetrain for parts availability. Long range, will probably pick up the 15 gal tank, and maybe a snorkel, now that they're available again.

So far, the wife, kid, and I have had a real blast exploring with this little mountain goat, and I get questioned all the time about it by those that remember them and wonder where they went, and by those that have never seen such a small rig before.

Sami's rock!

Post up a picture of the dual battery set up. That is something I've been interested in for a long time.

 

[Viggen]

Why not an Isuzu Trooper RS?

Its SWB and there is a diesel drivetrain that is all but bolt in.

 

[SRN]

Why not an Isuzu Trooper RS?

Its SWB and there is a diesel drivetrain that is all but bolt in.

I always liked those, but they have become fairly hard to find.

 

[Viggen]

I always liked those, but they have become fairly hard to find.

Yeah, they pop up from time to time. I really do like them. Im just not sure if they are "compact" enough for what they are going to do. The aftermarket is no where near as strong as for the Samurai but the usable space is much better. Cant beat the box on wheels.

As much as I love my Disco, part of me wants to build a first gen Trooper. JDM 4JG2T diesel/ trans assemblies are readily available, solid axle swap kits are readily available and there is more than enough room to run something like 33's. Now THAT would be a killer expedition rig.