DetroitDarin
Scratching a 10 year Itch
I really really REALLY like that truck. 
It's like...a little bit...an off-road SMART
It's like...a little bit...an off-road SMART 
Suzuki Jimny "Expedition" Build
- Thread starter krl81
- Start date
Off road Smart? Sort of like this?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Prvu4RifEQ0
Good that they have a sense of humor and don't take themselves too seriously, but I do wonder about the giant rooster tail of dirt out the back and the V8 soundtrack on the hill attempt...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Prvu4RifEQ0
Good that they have a sense of humor and don't take themselves too seriously, but I do wonder about the giant rooster tail of dirt out the back and the V8 soundtrack on the hill attempt...
krl81
Adventurer
Back again!
Had a little accident at work
We had a trailer loaded with 1,1 tonne of MDF boards standing in the workshop and when we moved it the front wheel/support collapsed/slided so the trailer dipped in the front and the boards slided forward. Of course I was clumpsy enough to have my hand one inch too far to the left and my index finger got caught between the MDF and the front gate of the trailer. :smilies27 Luckily all I got was a swollen and sore finger. Nothing broken and I'm happy that the finger wasn't cut off.
But I've gotten some things done since.
I fixed the passenger sub, routed the hole a bit to sink the sub into the box a little. It works great but I forgot to take pictures.
I have bought more carpet so I managed to finish the second subwoofer.
And that days work ended with me and my boss drinking some JD instead of building the interior. :friday:
I made a new inside to the rear door, the old one was kind of thick and sticking out and therefore in the way for the slide out.
Made it out of 4mm plywood and covered it in carpet.
How to hide screws, make a V shaped cut in the carpet, screw in the screw, spray adhesive into the cut and press the carpet back. Voila!
I have not put it into the car yet because I haven't found any good looking screws. They will be visible so I want them kind of good looking.
I have started with the platform/slide cabinet and have made the floor and the middle wall. I used Lauan plywood and spruce strips to make it lightweight and still strong.
Glue and some nails to hold everything in place.
And of course I forgot to make cuts for letting air and moisture out preventing the board from warping while drying completely. Ah well, it was easily solved.
Had a little accident at work
We had a trailer loaded with 1,1 tonne of MDF boards standing in the workshop and when we moved it the front wheel/support collapsed/slided so the trailer dipped in the front and the boards slided forward. Of course I was clumpsy enough to have my hand one inch too far to the left and my index finger got caught between the MDF and the front gate of the trailer. :smilies27 Luckily all I got was a swollen and sore finger. Nothing broken and I'm happy that the finger wasn't cut off.
But I've gotten some things done since.
I fixed the passenger sub, routed the hole a bit to sink the sub into the box a little. It works great but I forgot to take pictures.
I have bought more carpet so I managed to finish the second subwoofer.
And that days work ended with me and my boss drinking some JD instead of building the interior. :friday:
I made a new inside to the rear door, the old one was kind of thick and sticking out and therefore in the way for the slide out.
Made it out of 4mm plywood and covered it in carpet.
How to hide screws, make a V shaped cut in the carpet, screw in the screw, spray adhesive into the cut and press the carpet back. Voila!
I have not put it into the car yet because I haven't found any good looking screws. They will be visible so I want them kind of good looking.
I have started with the platform/slide cabinet and have made the floor and the middle wall. I used Lauan plywood and spruce strips to make it lightweight and still strong.
Glue and some nails to hold everything in place.
And of course I forgot to make cuts for letting air and moisture out preventing the board from warping while drying completely. Ah well, it was easily solved.
Last edited:
krl81
Adventurer
Oh, I forgot.
One of the switches for the heated seats was broken.
View attachment 220850
So I took contact with a Suzuki workshop to order a new one... 625 SEK almost 90 USD... Yeah, so no thanks and I got two other switches, no print and a green LED instead of yellow light but to the cost of 7 USD instead :wings:
One of the switches for the heated seats was broken.
View attachment 220850
So I took contact with a Suzuki workshop to order a new one... 625 SEK almost 90 USD... Yeah, so no thanks and I got two other switches, no print and a green LED instead of yellow light but to the cost of 7 USD instead :wings:
krl81
Adventurer
Thanks!
Got some more hours in over the last days.
Made a space for the battery
And a cover for it
Since I will be attaching one of theese in the four corners of the platform
And I'm going to sink them into the platform so I glued reinforcments on the underside.
And this is where we are right now.
I decided to ditch the idea with the hidden compartment in favor of more useble storage space.
I will go back tomorrow to continue and hopefully finish the driver side of the platform, after that it's time for wiring.
//K-Robin
Got some more hours in over the last days.
Made a space for the battery
And a cover for it
Since I will be attaching one of theese in the four corners of the platform
And I'm going to sink them into the platform so I glued reinforcments on the underside.
And this is where we are right now.
I decided to ditch the idea with the hidden compartment in favor of more useble storage space.
I will go back tomorrow to continue and hopefully finish the driver side of the platform, after that it's time for wiring.
//K-Robin
krl81
Adventurer
I took a little detour on the way going to work on the Jimny.
I finished the driver side
Well more or less, I noticed the plywood was pretty warped
So I took the hatch/lid (not sure what the correct word is) out again and told it how it was supposed to look.
Left it in the press over the night
I could have left it for another night with some more preassure on it but I think it's good enough.
//K-Robin
I finished the driver side
Well more or less, I noticed the plywood was pretty warped
So I took the hatch/lid (not sure what the correct word is) out again and told it how it was supposed to look.
Left it in the press over the night
I could have left it for another night with some more preassure on it but I think it's good enough.
//K-Robin
krl81
Adventurer
I've sunk the tie-downs into the platform to have as little as possible that can puncture the self inflatable matress that will be used.
I think the router bit was a little tired.
Al finished and all I could think about was: What a ********** this will be to cover in carpet!!
I made a get-the-carpet-into-the-corners-easier tool.
And got to work
It took me almost 3 hours but I'm really happy with it.
Especially with these details
So, next thing to do is cover the driver side, build the slide out and the front part of the platform and of course do the wireing.
Just ask if you have any questions.
/K-Robin
I think the router bit was a little tired.
Al finished and all I could think about was: What a ********** this will be to cover in carpet!!
I made a get-the-carpet-into-the-corners-easier tool.
And got to work
It took me almost 3 hours but I'm really happy with it.
Especially with these details
So, next thing to do is cover the driver side, build the slide out and the front part of the platform and of course do the wireing.
Just ask if you have any questions.
/K-Robin
godfather82
New member
nicely done.
i use to have a samurai which i also prepped for expeditions and used aluminum racks for storage. found it a bit more stronger and thinner material compared to wood, which allowed me more space.
i wonder how the kitchen part will go on your truck. is it a pre-ordered unit or something you came up with ?
the upper console idea is very innovative, though i would recommend attaching it to a hinge going out from the upper seat belt socket instead of drilling the body of the truck. think of this also in future plans. if you still insist on drilling, consider adding metal sealant in order to prevent the metal from getting oxadized and then rust will appear. also consider using Rivets instead of simple bolts, it will hold stronger.
i had also a separating net that was segregating the driver/passenger from the rear and had detachable bags hung on it for extra storage on both sides.
suggest also to think of a console like they have for JKs where you can put a CB or other stuff.
can you share the details of the fridge ?
i use to have a samurai which i also prepped for expeditions and used aluminum racks for storage. found it a bit more stronger and thinner material compared to wood, which allowed me more space.
i wonder how the kitchen part will go on your truck. is it a pre-ordered unit or something you came up with ?
the upper console idea is very innovative, though i would recommend attaching it to a hinge going out from the upper seat belt socket instead of drilling the body of the truck. think of this also in future plans. if you still insist on drilling, consider adding metal sealant in order to prevent the metal from getting oxadized and then rust will appear. also consider using Rivets instead of simple bolts, it will hold stronger.
i had also a separating net that was segregating the driver/passenger from the rear and had detachable bags hung on it for extra storage on both sides.
suggest also to think of a console like they have for JKs where you can put a CB or other stuff.
can you share the details of the fridge ?
krl81
Adventurer
Thanks for the kind words!
Yeah, aluminum would be nice and more space efficient but since I'm a cabinet maker/furniture builder/joiner (I've seen like a million translations for what in Sweden is one word so I'm not sure which one to use) I went with what I know. Wood And made it as lightweight as possible using spruce and thin plywood.
Will try to answer the questions as good as possible.
The kitchen will be more of a slide out counter-top with built in storage. The counter will be about 500x700 mm (20x27") so there will be some space for preparing food and I can put the burner in one corner. I will probably fit an aluminum peice for heat protection. Since I'm not planning any longer trips, more like long weekends, I will use my Trangia alkohol burner. It works well to cook when out hiking, doesn't take up much space or weight and I have one so I will go with it to begin.
About the upper console. I have only fixed it through the roof lining, which is pretty sturdy, and re-glued it to the roof. No drilling into the body involved and as I said earlier, time will tell if that was a bad idea If it is I will go with Godfather82's advise and fix it to the seatbelt bolts instead.
The idea with the separating net and bags is a good one for more storage. Not possible in this build but... Hmm, maybe if put just behind the driver seat... Will have to think about that. Expo is a dangerous place, you get more and more ideas about your build when other people comment on it
Not planning on getting a CB but if I do I will have a good look at a solution like that.
The fridge, I think you would call it a cooler, is 27 liters big and cools down to about 20 degrees C, 32 degrees F, colder than the surrounding temperature. It is a cheepo one but I've spoken to the phonesupport about having it running for longer times and it should not be any problems having it running for weeks. And as I said it will probably not be longer trips than long weekends so I will be good.
Yeah, aluminum would be nice and more space efficient but since I'm a cabinet maker/furniture builder/joiner (I've seen like a million translations for what in Sweden is one word so I'm not sure which one to use) I went with what I know. Wood
And made it as lightweight as possible using spruce and thin plywood. Will try to answer the questions as good as possible.
The kitchen will be more of a slide out counter-top with built in storage. The counter will be about 500x700 mm (20x27") so there will be some space for preparing food and I can put the burner in one corner. I will probably fit an aluminum peice for heat protection. Since I'm not planning any longer trips, more like long weekends, I will use my Trangia alkohol burner. It works well to cook when out hiking, doesn't take up much space or weight and I have one so I will go with it to begin.
About the upper console. I have only fixed it through the roof lining, which is pretty sturdy, and re-glued it to the roof. No drilling into the body involved and as I said earlier, time will tell if that was a bad idea
If it is I will go with Godfather82's advise and fix it to the seatbelt bolts instead.The idea with the separating net and bags is a good one for more storage. Not possible in this build but... Hmm, maybe if put just behind the driver seat... Will have to think about that.
Expo is a dangerous place, you get more and more ideas about your build when other people comment on it Not planning on getting a CB but if I do I will have a good look at a solution like that.
The fridge, I think you would call it a cooler, is 27 liters big and cools down to about 20 degrees C, 32 degrees F, colder than the surrounding temperature. It is a cheepo one but I've spoken to the phonesupport about having it running for longer times and it should not be any problems having it running for weeks. And as I said it will probably not be longer trips than long weekends so I will be good.
krl81
Adventurer
I finished the driver side of the rear platform as well
And started on the removable front piece of the platform
I'm building it in the same way as the platform walls but a little thicker to be able to climb on top of it. I have to make two support legs for it as well.
So it's 12 mm ply on top, spruce in the middle and a 4 mm in the bottom.
This will also double as a hanging table when in camp not sleeping. The top will be covered in carpet. I think I will just stain the underside black and cover it with a couple of layers of clear coat. At first I was thinking of using the wood Panga Panga for the underside/tabletop, we had some veneer in the shop, but I came to think about the Kind of cheap approach so I went with plywood instead
K-Robin
And started on the removable front piece of the platform
I'm building it in the same way as the platform walls but a little thicker to be able to climb on top of it. I have to make two support legs for it as well.
So it's 12 mm ply on top, spruce in the middle and a 4 mm in the bottom.
This will also double as a hanging table when in camp not sleeping. The top will be covered in carpet. I think I will just stain the underside black and cover it with a couple of layers of clear coat. At first I was thinking of using the wood Panga Panga for the underside/tabletop, we had some veneer in the shop, but I came to think about the Kind of cheap approach so I went with plywood instead
K-Robin
godfather82
New member
you really wish to be a loner in your trips ? or I didn't get it right ?