Surplus camper idea

[mntbkrguy]

So I am always dreaming of how I would make an affordable expedition camper. ONe idea I have seems like such an easy idea I am shocked I haven't seen one. Maybe I just am not looking in the right place. I may never have the oportunity to build a real expedition camper but one can dream.

Why not take one of these M1078 Stewart & Stevenson 4x4 cab overs and just mount an 18' RV trailer on the back?

http://www.ironplanet.com/for-sale/...Auc|yes&rr=0.0625&hitprm=msg=12491&pnLink=yes

I'm sure there must be some major draw back I'm not thinking of or there would be more people trying it.

 

[SDDiver5]

Who cares if someone has/hasn't tried it. If you want it then do it! I don't see how it would be a bad idea. Wouldn't look the prettiest but it sure would get the job done.

 

[Expedition.Report]

I haven't seen it done with that particular truck, but there are plenty of Fuso's and other trucks with a flat bed that the owners plopped a RV trail onto and called it a day.

There are a few builds on this forum and others showing how they did it, its just a google search away.

 

[Hondaslayer]

Can the M1078 be made street legal?

 

[kmlacroix]

You cannot drive it on a class D license.

 

[Ozrockrat]

Can the M1078 be made street legal?

Yes check my for sale posting. And if you permanently mount a camper it can be converted to RV and no CDL required (actually I don't think CDL is required anyway its under the 26,000 lbs).

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/132589-Stewart-and-Stevenson-1997-M-1078-4x4-diesel-Clear-AZ-title-Phoenix

Also this is an example of what can be done. Not the rig we have for sale.

 

[mntbkrguy]

That is a great example of what I was thinking. I started looking up some additional information on these trucks and they have a radio box version and even one with an expandible box. http://olive-drab.com/idphoto/id_photos_fmtv.php

The whole RV trailer on the bed idea was just a less labor intensive cheaper way to do it. There is no way. I Can take on a project of this size, something like that wouldn't even fit in my driveway! I will have to stick with my motorcycle and a 2 man tent until I retire in 20+ years.

 

[mapper]

a fella can always keep dreaming :sombrero:

 

[Mundo4x4Casa]

I ran across a '95, M-1078, S&S, surplus sales in my area a couple days ago. I live a couple miles from Marc, the guy who owns and builds XP campers in Grass Valley, CA. I have a tricked-out, getting rare, '82 Jeep CJ-8 I would like to sell or trademy rock crawling days are over)

Jefe's Scrambler as of 8/13.
1982 Jeep CJ-8, desert sand and Nutmeg, by now all rattle can Sand. AGR power steering box and pump, MORE 1-1/2” forward steering box brackets, Chevy power discs front and Cadillac disc rear, removable 10 watt CB, Full Kayline Nutmeg soft top and full soft doors, windjammer, 1/2 doors and bikini top, custom soft cab top, custom rear tonnau cover, rear seat. The frame has been beefed up, gusseted, and patched to take the twisting. The last time was by an armourer who does Humvee up armoring for the military.
ENGINE: built for torque. Peak torque: 1400 rpm. Pulls down to 300 rpm.
4.4L I-6 block and crank, with .060” overbore pistons and rings,
4.0L, High Output head with Mopar MPI fuel injection, Hesco adjustable fuel regulator with gage.
H-264-14 cam (.470” lift) and Cloyes double roller timing gears and chains advanced 4 degrees, High Volume oil pump,
stock ‘95 XJ exhaust header, 2.5” aluminized tubing, cat and 12” glasspack.
hand Cesna aircraft throttle, MORE engine mounts.
2-5/8” AutoMeter gauges (0-4K tach, oil, temp, Volt, Vacuum)

DRIVETRAIN:
Ford NP-435 (6.69.3.34/1.66/1.00/R8.26) Adapter by Advance
clocked Dana 300 w/ 5 gear TeraLow 4:1 gears, and Currie twin sticks, Woods drive shafts w/ extra long splines, 6 bolt SuperWinch hubs, u-bolt style u-joints, 130:1 crawl Dana 44, 30 spline front, w/ARB, Warn 4330 ChroMoly shafts, ChroMoly steering-over rods with 1 ton TRE’s, Parts Mike steering-over knuckles, CTM U-joints, 4.88:1 Dana 60, 35 spline rear w/ARB, Mosier H.D. shafts, 4.88:1. 4XDoctor pig cages

SUSPENSION:
Springs-Over-Axle w/ 6 leaf RE SOA 2-1/2” lift springs with front reverse shackles.. Rancho 9000 adjustable shocks. H.D. shackles. Extra long S.S. brake hoses.

OFF-ROAD OUTFITTING:
Fenders trimmed to clear 37-13.50-16 TCL ProComp XTerrains on 8” wheels
Extra wide rubber fender lips. Currie steering brace and welded/over boxed front frame horns, Radiator saver. Stubby 'rockhugger' front bumper, Ford Mutt recovery “D” rings. roll cage, Wrecking Ball Proof custom rocker panels, "Off-Your-Rocker" steel rear diamond plate quarter panels, 24 gal. steel tank and steel skid plate, Premier Power underhood welder (180 amp alternator), welding outfit, 4” AC grinder, Premier 20 lb. CO2 Power Tank. Class III hidden receiver hitch/ pintel Usual extra parts taken: regulator, hubs, spare D-300 T. case, frnt/rr yokes/ u-joints, complete rr driveshaft, main leaf with eyes, bag ‘o NBW’s, some metal plate, brackets, strap, angle. Enough tools.
RECOVERY EQUP: Warn #8274 Winch, 20’ and 30’ towstrap, tree saver, snatch block, 3 “D” rings, 20’ hardened chain with slip hooks, 4’ breaker bar, Safety Seal tire repair kit. 60” hi lift jack. 4 ton bottle jack. 2 ton sissor jack. 2 ton come along.
******
and I thought the M-1078 would be an interesting project on which to put an XP camper. 8' Wide, and 12' 5" long bed.
Has anyone done anything like this on here?
jefe