The $15,000 Expedition Vehicle: How would you build it?

[kcowyo]

Hey jkam, Welcome to ExPo! :beer:

That's a great van and the work you've done to it is a great combo of function and comfort. Sure looks to me you've got all the right stuff. Great job documenting on your site, all of the work you've done.

You mentioned gas prices (brutal) but does your van have factory dual tanks? I know some did and some didn't. I saw the fuel can, just wondering if that was extra, extra.

I'm pretty sure that's the only van I've seen with Recaro seats, nice. I know Sportsmobiles get most of the pub, but Pathfinder uses the right stuff too.

With a new 350, fridge, heater, BFG's, winch and stereo, man you're set. I like it alot! Nice work -

***oh, and down by the river. Classic!!

 

[Grim Reaper]

A few years ago I found a Pathfinder van sitting in Albuquerque.
Made an offer and drove away for $1900.
I put about $16,000 into it and have a very comfortable expedition rig.
I've spent plenty of time down in Baja and the setup works fine.
I would have no problem taking it to Tierra del Fuego if I could afford the fuel.
Here is a link to the rebuild I did.
http://www.nomadicman.com/kvan.html

Great set up. Do you have any more pictures of the front suspension and how it was mounted?

Welcome to EXPO!

 

[jkam]

Thanks for the welcome and compliments on the van.

kcowyo.

No dual tanks and the main tanks only hold 24 gallons. I looked into getting a bigger tank but it's too much hassle, thus the Wedco on the rack.
Sadly, I don't use the van these days because of fuel prices and have been wandering around on a motorcycle the last 2 years.

Grim Reaper.

The pictures on the rebuild site aren't very good at showing a lot of stuff. Someday I hope to upgrade the photos to show things better. Right now, those are all I have.
The front axle is from a Ford with the pumpkin on the left, needed for clearance of the driveshaft. The transfer case is also Ford with an adapter to mate to the Turbo 400. Pathfinder did a great job on this conversion. This thing bangs U turns like a much small vehicle, the steering setup they used works awesome.

 

[dirtysouth]

Hey Jay, welcome to the forum man. I figured you and Ara would like it with the way you guys get around. Keep the rubber side down.:ylsmoke:

 

[Hltoppr]

Ok...I'll give my take...

Used 2002 F650GS Dakar....$4500
Farkles (Bags/tires/full service) $2000
Gear for 2 (nice BMW stuff) $2000.00
Camping equip. $1500


Total: $10,000.00

$1000/month for play $$ on the road....

-H- :sombrero:

 

[TxRider]

I often get questions of how to build an expedition vehicle on the cheap. Something reliable and good over long distances.

I am curious of how some of you would build one with the following criteria:

1. 2 Occupants
2. Camping out of the vehicle
3. 4wd for accessing remote locations
4. The 15k includes the price of the vehicle and all modifications.

How would you build it?

I'm going to give it a try with a 1953 dodge M-37.

It's a 3/4 ton army pickup, think 1953 humvee.

It's short wheelbase, full floating axles 4x4, front and rear leaf, 2 speed transfer case. Stock with 36" tires, combat wheels to let you split the wheel and change tire or tube trailside, hard or canvas top, canvas rear cover as well. Also braden pto drive winch stock, 175' of 7/16 cable, gear driven transfer case. Can take 40"+ tires with no lift or suspension mods.

Mods available as kits I intend to do, engine replacement with a 4bta cummins 4 cylinder diesel, easily acquired used from fleet delivery vans, good for 500,000+ miles without rebuild, good fuel mileage.

5 speed overdrive tranny from a duece and half, 4 wheel disk brake upgrade kit, power steering kit running from cummins integrated hydraulic pump, air tank running off the cummins integrated compressor.

Re gear from 5.83 up to 4.88 to get a little highway speed and front and rear lock-rite lockers.

Home built bed storage setup with sleeping on top, under the military canvas top or build a hard top.

http://www.cafsmw.org/smw-images/museum-vehicle/M37.jpg

http://richardsjohnson.net/db5/00408/richardsjohnson.net/_uimages/IMGP1838.JPG

Another alternative would be a 1950's M43 3/4 ton 4x4 ambulance with a cummins 4bt and duece transmission, regear with lockers, change tires and kit out the back, comes with 4 cots in it too.

http://www.militaryvehicles.com/vehicle_104.shtml

But it's not something your going to do for 15k unless you buy one in need of a lot of work and you do all the work yourself.

 

[Nullifier]

interesting thread. I would have to look for foriegn car reliability and good part availability though out the trip. A large part of deciding where to put $ will be determined on how much you can fab on the cheap and DIY vs buy quality parts of the shelf for big $. i would be doing alot of work my self to save money on labor to afford better parts where I can and need to have them.

I would probably look for a toyota mini with the 22r motor ( to save fuel since I'mon a budget to begin with this will be important), it would be manual trans 4cy, with xtracab. This will give you enough leg room and some space to store quick acces items in the cab. I would shoot for an IFS model since they are more common now a days. I would focus on mechanical strength rather then body meaning I could deal with dents and warn paint to save some $ to put toward mechanicals.

I would probably start with the obvious mechanical stuff assuming the engine has good compression and the trans is working good and the chassis is in good condition. Figure 1K to replace all belts hoses, u joints, axle seals, bearings, brakes, replace rubber brake lines, fluids, radiator, water pump, alt, starter, plugs, plug wires, cap, rotor, all new vacume lines fuel filter, fuel pump, Probably pull tank and inspect for excessive rust. air filter, clean throttle body and replace injectors. headlights and corner lights. once this was done and truck was up to top mechanical shape I would have spent roughly 6K

Next up would be armour Spending roughly 1500 to get new front & rear bumper along with beefy skid plates. A big priority sice unknown terrain can produce serious trail damage. Front bumper would have a winch mount.

Next I would add tires a basic mud terrain tread no larger then 33" an regear acordingly adding arb a locker to the rear and a selectable up front. figuring a shop to set up gear but me pulling the thirds roughly 1700.

Forr a lift an arb system would suffice at $1000

snorkel $300

Front aux lighting @ 200 and rear lighting at $40

Upgrade seats $400

durabak interior $200

Electrical do dads Invertor, air compressor, GPS, dual battery system, @nd fuse block, CB radio, interior led lights, $1000

Jerry cans and holders, $225

Dry storage and lockable boxes to mount in bed. $600

Fridge (60l) $1000
Winch $700

Spare parts $500

Assuming I already had tools, camping gear this is about where I would be.

 

[Mobryan]

1973 1300 International pickup, 4x4, long box, factory rear locker, dual fuel tanks, V-345, 5 speed transmission, 4.88 gears, "medium duty" 8600 GVW, $600 + 1400 misc. upgrades/repairs (Brakes, lights, hoses,new radiator, redundant fuel pump, ect)

$25 convert old A/C pump into air compressor
$100 for redundant battery setup, welding cables.
~$200 in steel for skid plates, rear tire carrier/bumper combo, tie rod protector.

~$500 creature comfort upgrades (install radio, GPS, better seat)

$750 for tires (235/85/16)

~$5000 for used slide in camper, another $1000 for camper related misc.

I followed a similar path for our current off road camper, went all over the Southwest on our honeymoon, the only breakdowns in ~4000 miles were a flat tire, and a vacuum leak in the heater controls (fixed with bubblegum).

That in a rig that was on the used car lot before I was born:Mechanic:


Matt

 

[Rezarf <><]

Very cool thread-

I would go with a used early 90's Toyota Pickup, and strap AT's box to the rear with the RTT.

Add a freezer and new suspension and tires, and you are really close to being set up.

An 80 series with cargo room/drawers and a few camping creature comforts could get you out playing quickly as well.

Drew

 

[Clutch]

I might be a little bias here, but, what I have already.

An early Tacoma with a Wildernest. I would sell it as it sits today for $9000.

Camburg front coil overs, OME rears with Bilsteins 5100.

A fridge/freezer would be nice, but, not necessary.

What I really like about the Wildernest is the ability to stand up in it, ease of setup, fairly "aero" when closed. Plus you can mount a rack to it. If you wanted to, you could probably sleep 4 people in there. I almost went the RRT route, but, the 'Nest seemed far more practical. Worth the wait looking for one.

So with the other 6 grand, I would ad an ARB bumper, winch, new rear bumper for a spare tire and Jerry cans. Still leaves a bunch money left over for travel.

I would assume a Toyota would be a great vehicle to take world wide, since they are readily available, parts should be easy to come by.

 

[Speaker]

Some day, I'll have $15,000

 

[Clutch]

Some day, I'll have $15,000

Oh, I remember those starving student years...

 

[98roamer]

Some place online that sells scratch and dent units.

Pretty sure it was Ron the Bus nut, but now the URL doesnt work www.ronthebusnut.com[/QUOTE


It's back up and running with another Norcold Chest
http://www.ronthebusnut.com/detailDisp_MRFT-.html

 

[Clutch]

Hey, why is this thread under the Earthroamer/Uni-cat section? Aren't those machines uber expensive?

 

[Ruffin' It]

If going this route you could aways buy a VW with a TDI in it, steal the engine and part out the rest of the car. If done properly you would likely be able to end up recouping the majority of your money.

1995 Suzuki Sidekick 4door, bad engine: $500
Acme Adapters VW diesel to Sidekick adapter: $1,000
New or remanufactured VW 1.6 TD: $3,000
Lift kit/underbody armor/winch bumper: $2000
Winch: (with synthetic line, etc ...) $1,000
OME shocks/struts: $650
Fridge/Tent/Rack: $2,000
Tires: 245/75/16 or 235/85/16 (with trimming): $750
Snorkel: $250
ARB lockers, front and rear, $1500.

$12650 - lots of leftover for miscellaneous.

The VW diesel in these rigs can give you up to 40 mpg, great torque offroad and easy parts availability.

Suzukis, like Toyotas, are everywhere in South America (at least active in the 4wd clubs whose pictures/videos I've seen) so I suspect parts would be fairly easy.

Take the rear seats out and you could build storage for water (footwells of the rear seat), low center of gravity, and storage platforms for gear.

I have the $500 Zuk, now, the other $12,000 and change is the challenge.