UJOR Box Truck

[zip]

I recently attended the Overland Expo SoCal event, and my only complaint was that they did not schedule a third day. I attended both days and it was an amazing event. Prior to attending the event I was pretty sure the next build was gonna be a Transit. At this event there were lots of Sprinters, and I only recall seeing three transits. For me, the biggest issue with the Transits is the ground clearance. Previously owned an E350 RB Quigley, and I had no issues with ground clearance. Currently running a Roadtrek 190 with the Weldtech 5" lift, and it does well too. After seeing the lifted Transits at the show, I do not believe they will allow me to go the remote areas I want to visit. I was a little depressed. I then stopped by the Field Van display and talked with Jonathan Feld. He said if they ever got caught up with demand on their Classic sales, he might consider selling me a stripped Classic. No 4WD, pop top, or interior. This would be an E350 EB with their proprietary "van" on the cutaway chassis. This gave me a glimmer of hope. Fiberine top, UJOR 4WD, DIY interior, and I gotta new Alpha Van. With the high demand for Field Van Classics my wait could be years though. But wait, a new option just popped up on Instagram, the UJOR box truck. I have never seen one of these before, and this might work for me. Anyone here have experience with this vehicle?

 

[Cummins_expo]

You could pick your flavor of E350 Cutaway and have a modern composite body built and end up with similar results but better in many respects, then have Ujoint convert it to 4x4.

Most of your off-the-shelf box vans are built with a wood/FRP wall and steel floors. Many are mass-produced by companies like Spartan, Supreme, Unicell. They are great platforms to start with, as long as you don't mind some of the limitations and are willing to remedy them. I have converted a handful of them and really enjoy working with them.

If I was going to start from scratch and build my own personal rig I would start with a fresh 138 srw Cutaway. Send it to Ujoint to get converted. Then, build out a composite body with all the benefits that the technology has to offer. End up with a killer 4 season rig. I have been working with the guys at Lemker Overland, and I am super impressed with their product and the company as a whole. Spent a few days with them in Texas and talked about this very subject at length.

 

[normal_dave]

I think this is an ideal path. I have a 2wd van and tow a 7x16 cargo trailer conversion, (a big hardwall tent and gear hauler for mountain bikes, kayaks, etc.).

From time to time, I think about grafting a smaller cargo conversion box onto a cutaway chassis. The box lends itself to a build out that suits you not necessarily everyone else. In my case the trailer with it's ordered higher ground clearance meets a very large portion of our needs. Having it on a box truck type 4x4 chassis is having your cake and eating it too.

A Ford van box truck with a UJOR package would give me all the features and benefits of a Fuso/Canter 4x4 camper, without the penalties of low horsepower and higher cost.

 

[CaptainBuilt]

Yup. Working on converting mine to 4wd right now.

 

[zip]

You could pick your flavor of E350 Cutaway and have a modern composite body built and end up with similar results but better in many respects, then have Ujoint convert it to 4x4.

Most of your off-the-shelf box vans are built with a wood/FRP wall and steel floors. Many are mass-produced by companies like Spartan, Supreme, Unicell. They are great platforms to start with, as long as you don't mind some of the limitations and are willing to remedy them. I have converted a handful of them and really enjoy working with them.

If I was going to start from scratch and build my own personal rig I would start with a fresh 138 srw Cutaway. Send it to Ujoint to get converted. Then, build out a composite body with all the benefits that the technology has to offer. End up with a killer 4 season rig. I have been working with the guys at Lemker Overland, and I am super impressed with their product and the company as a whole. Spent a few days with them in Texas and talked about this very subject at length.

CE,
Great info.
I looked at Lemker Overland but only saw pickup and flatbed composite bodies.

 

[zip]

Yup. Working on converting mine to 4wd right now.

Just went through your build thread. Quick read but quite impressive. Any idea on weight?

 

[zip]

This looks like it would be optimum for me.
Previously I owned a Sportsmobile E350 Quigley PSD 7.3 that weighed around 9K pounds.
I drive very conservative and would average around 14 MPG on the freeway.
With the information I have gotten on the Internet I have seen estimates of 7 MPG with the new Godzilla 7.3 gas engine. If this is accurate, that's disappointing.
Does anyone here have any idea what a new ford cutaway with box, UJOR conversion on 35s, weighing around 9K pounds would get for MPG?

 

[CaptainBuilt]

This looks like it would be optimum for me.
Previously I owned a Sportsmobile E350 Quigley PSD 7.3 that weighed around 9K pounds.
I drive very conservative and would average around 14 MPG on the freeway.
With the information I have gotten on the Internet I have seen estimates of 7 MPG with the new Godzilla 7.3 gas engine. If this is accurate, that's disappointing.
Does anyone here have any idea what a new ford cutaway with box, UJOR conversion on 35s, weighing around 9K pounds would get for MPG?

Funny you ask. I just got the box truck weighed the other day. This weight is without 4WD. And there is a lot of weight on the rear. But once I add my air bag / 4 link rear suspension (DIY Kelderman setup), it will shift that weight forward a lot.

I get 10 mpg. Doesn't matter if it's in town, or the highway or how fast I drive. 10 mpg.

My box truck has the 5.4, 4.10 gears. When I switch to 4.56, the mpg's should stay the same since I already have a high gear ratio on stock tires.

9.8 avg over 125 fuel stops.

 

[zip]

Funny you ask. I just got the box truck weighed the other day. This weight is without 4WD. And there is a lot of weight on the rear. But once I add my air bag / 4 link rear suspension (DIY Kelderman setup), it will shift that weight forward a lot.

I get 10 mpg. Doesn't matter if it's in town, or the highway or how fast I drive. 10 mpg.

My box truck has the 5.4, 4.10 gears. When I switch to 4.56, the mpg's should stay the same since I already have a high gear ratio on stock tires.

9.8 avg over 125 fuel stops.

CB,
Great info. Thanks for sharing. With 4WD, probably gonna be over 10K pounds. Would love to know how you got 18.4 MPG? Downhill, with a 200 MPH tailwind?

 

[iggi]

I once got over 25mpg while rolling downhill with a good tailwind.

 

[b. rock]

Seems relevant, Quadvan wrote this a little bit ago: https://quadvan.com/2021-econoline

 

[yfarm]

One of Ujoint first new box conversions was a Unicell, spoke with him about it as is a fiberglass box. Did not go into details but said in the future was doing steel boxes which the current one is clearly not all glass. I struggle with this approach vs an Aterra XL allowing me to upgrade the truck as mileage/ warranty experience dictates without having to do another camper build. Box truck with ujoint may exceed cost of new 3/4t 4wd truck.

 

[zip]

One of Ujoint first new box conversions was a Unicell, spoke with him about it as is a fiberglass box. Did not go into details but said in the future was doing steel boxes which the current one is clearly not all glass. I struggle with this approach vs an Aterra XL allowing me to upgrade the truck as mileage/ warranty experience dictates without having to do another camper build. Box truck with ujoint may exceed cost of new 3/4t 4wd truck.

Steel as in a Connex type box? I think that would be quite heavy. I could understand a possible steel or aluminum frame with a lightweight fiberglass or aluminum skin. Chris said he would have a video out soon, and maybe we will get more details at that time.

 

[CaptainBuilt]

He probably was talking about a box like mine. Steel floor and corners. My walls are gel coated plywood. Rear wall where the door was is all steel.

I've had my box truck for 3ish years now. Absolutely love it. It's the same length as a EB van, not counting all the crap I have hanging off the back. It fits in a regular parking space. Flat walls. High (6'2") ceiling. And very easy to work on.

Mine didn't come with cruise control, but the new ones do. I added it later. And I have the 5.4L gas. My old van had a 7.3L diesel, and I'll never make that mistake again.

My old van:

I used to live in Asheville. One of his first box trucks he did. I think he converted one more before this one:

 

[zip]

He probably was talking about a box like mine. Steel floor and corners. My walls are gel coated plywood. Rear wall where the door was is all steel.

I've had my box truck for 3ish years now. Absolutely love it. It's the same length as a EB van, not counting all the crap I have hanging off the back. It fits in a regular parking space. Flat walls. High (6'2") ceiling. And very easy to work on.

Mine didn't come with cruise control, but the new ones do. I added it later. And I have the 5.4L gas. My old van had a 7.3L diesel, and I'll never make that mistake again.

My old van:

I used to live in Asheville. One of his first box trucks he did. I think he converted one more before this one:

CB,
Glad you are enjoying your rig. Hope to have my vehicle soon.

The 7.3 engine in my RB was the best part of my vehicle. Had a cam position sensor failure, and a broken fuel filter bowl, but that was it.
tfpu