Very High Quality Molded Expedition Cabin

[haven]

From the "almost exact" measurements photo, the center of
the wheelwell is 62.5 inches from the front of the camper.
It's probably not a good idea to mount the camper flush with
the truck cab, so add a couple of inches of space between them.
That puts the center of the wheelwell at about 65 inches from the
back of the cab.

Here are a few measurements taken from the body builders'
manuals for Ford, Chevy and Fuso:

2009 Ford F350, F450 and F550

Cab/Chassis and Regular Cab

141 inch wheelbase, Cab to axle distance 60.6 inches
165 inch wheelbase, Cab to axle distance 84 inches


Fuso FG

Short wheelbase 112.6 inches
Cab to axle distance 91.9 inches
Cab to end of frame 133.8 inches

Long wheelbase 136.2 inches
Cab to axle distance 136.2 inches
Cab to end of frame 157.4 inches


GMC Topkick / Chevrolet Kodiak 4500 / 5500

regular cab
wheel base 128 inches
cab to axle 60 inches
cab to end of frame 100.5 inches

regular cab
wheelbase 140 inches
cab to axle 72 inches
cab to end of frame 145.6 inches

crew cab
wheelbase 194 inches
cab to axle 84.9 inches
cab to end of frame 146.6 inches

 

[over2land]

Hey Mike... I'll bring the 715 for collateral and you can have fun with it till I pay the shell off, how's that? LOL I'll MAKE it work. That thing is way beefy, and for anyone even thinking about doing something like this, there will never be a better basis for it....

 

[mhiscox]

Hey Mike... I'll bring the 715 for collateral and you can have fun with it till I pay the shell off, how's that? LOL

Ummm . . . well, there's the problem that the 715 would take up more space than the shell, and I'm selling the shell because I have no space, so I'm thinking that won't work. :sombrero:

That thing is way beefy, and for anyone even thinking about doing something like this, there will never be a better basis for it....

Even if I didn't have a sizable vested interest in this, I'd sure second this observation. You could not buy the windows and raw NidaCore to build your own for the price. Anyway, about ten days left until it's assigned to "cottage" duty in the back yard.

 

[mhiscox]

Hey, lookey here . . .

While looking at the pictures of the U2450 discussed nearby, I came across this:

See the bigger pictures at

http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp283/mhiscox01/EurotruckU140L.jpg

This is the truck the shell was designed for. You could mount it in no time flat. Definitely the way to go, except for that pesky $52,000. :victory:

 

[Sleeping Dog]

Hey, lookey here . . .

This is the truck the shell was designed for. You could mount it in no time flat. Definitely the way to go, except for that pesky $52,000. :victory:

$52K and the small issue of convincing US customs to let it in the country, it not being 25 years old.

 

[toyfunraider]

Mike,

What is the final word on the box ?

Do you still have it ?

 

[mhiscox]

Mike,

What is the final word on the box ?

Do you still have it?

Oops . . . got caught up in selling the Mog and forgot to update this thread.

I still have the shell, but it's theoretically sold to a gentleman from the LA area; I have a deposit on it. There are the usual questions about how the heck to get the thing up on a trailer or truck and transported, but it should be gone by the end of July. I'll let everyone know if anything goes awry with the plan. Thanks for all the interest.

 

[18seeds]

Damm how did I miss this. That is a sweet deal WITH the windows. Keep us updated.

Trade ya my 4 runner

 

[mhiscox]

Damm how did I miss this. That is a sweet deal WITH the windows. Keep us updated.

Trade ya my 4 runner.

Hmmm . . . How did you miss this? :sombrero:

I'll post up here with any more details I get about the progress of the sale.

 

[18seeds]

got any pics on how this would work with a Kodiak?

 

[mhiscox]

got any pics on how this would work with a Kodiak?

No pics, but the regular cab C-K 4500/5500 4x4 was probably my first option for shell mounting. Not uncommon in a 60" cab-to-axle (though more crew cabs than regular cabs), plenty of capacity, good engine with the Duramax (or even the Vortec), some fancy-up parts available and, when I was looking, dramatically discounted from list. You have to put up with some extra length vs. a Fuso FG, but it's significantly better than an F450/550, and it also turns more sharply.

FWIW, the Body Builders manuals for the C/K medium duties can be accessed at:

http://www.gmupfitter.com/body_builder_manuals.html

No sign in required, and much useful information for anyone thinking about using one.

 

[39Ronin]

Just looking for an update, did the sale go through?

 

[mhiscox]

Just looking for an update, did the sale go through?

No, I've still got it. But it's pretty much not for sale any longer. Transporting it did in the expected sale, as the cabin is just too wide to fit between the fenders of most trailers and we don't have any good way here to get it high enough to set onto a flatbed big enough to carry it.

So while it's still in the garage, won't be long until it's dragged into the yard for "cottage" duty. There's one local guy who'll come check it out later--he's on fire-fighting duty in Central Oregon for a while--'cuz if he wants it, he can pay for a rollback wrecker to get it the five miles to his house. Beyond that, though, it's looking like too much trouble getting it into the hands of someone with a good plan for it.

Thanks for asking, though.

 

[39Ronin]

hmmm...

I will be coming to Oregon for the NorthWest Mog Fest in August, if you still have it then I would like to come look at it. Besides it came from BC originally so maybe it is fitting that it returns here again.

BTW I have a FG that would go really nicely with it.

Cheers,
Neil

 

[mhiscox]

Funny, but one of the principal reasons that transporting it seems such a hassle to me is the scary trip :Wow1: it had on a trailer--sitting on timbers to clear the fenders--from Richmond to Portland. And that was with a forklift to position the cabin; not sure how we'd have managed otherwise.

Still, you're welcome to come and see it going to or from MogFest. Just let me know your schedule preferences.