How do you plan to get it OUT of the garage? It looks too tall now and even if you take the "rack" off and add tires it looks like it would be too tall then as well.

 

I'll drive it out on the extra rims. The house is a rental, so the doors aren't permanent.

Roy

 

Any progress made within the last couple weeks? I am subscribing to this thread.

 

wow....

i have been wanting to do a frame off build for so long, and this just makes me wish i had a garage that much more badly...

Very nice...that's a pretty sweet way to do an expo truck. just curious but why do do you need to seat 8 people? I would hvae thought gear storage for the expedition part would be more of a priority, not seating? Still, looks very good.

 

Seats fabbed up. Fridge and microwave mocked up. I simply split the stock seats down the middle and extended them.

 

The seat bottoms and backs are all hinged. Left side lifted up. (storage) A sink and 10-gallon water tank go under this seat.

 

Right seat bottom up. This is all tool, parts and rescue equipment storage.

 

Now to sleep three length-wise, we need to get rid of the microwave and utensil drawer. In the bottom photo, you can see the left seat-back folded down as well. This will be 1/2 the sleeping platform.

 

The aisle is still plenty wide for walking. I am down to seven passengers with adding the appliances. It is correct that as an expedition rig, 7 passengers is a little odd.

I made it POSSIBLE to seat 7 in an emergency, like while I'm volunteering during a flood or similar disaster. The seats will have special cargo-securing points so I can add plastic totes secured to the sides, but resting on the seats.

I still have a nearly empty roof rack. I put the spare on the roof for two reasons. Number one, I want to see out my back windows. Two, a bumper mounted spare would prevent the back doors from opening from the inside.

The seats/cargo boxes with be plated with steel sheet.

Roy

 

I decided to use 110v appliances with an inverter. I could run out of propane, the microwave is faster, and the fridge was $70 instead of $800 for a 12v. I was going to add an inverter anyway.

The 2nd fuel tank is mocked up, and I now need to route the new fuel fill neck. I should have the rest of the rear interior finished and trimmed in about a week or so. Only the rear upholstery will remain. I'm planning to finish all parts of the rear section in bright white, maybe even the vinyl upholstery.

A semi-truck vent will be placed over the back doors. I'm adding two 42-CFM PC fans to the vent as well. With the front windows cracked, it will pull a draft the full length of the interior.

Roy

 

Nice!

 

wow this is getting pretty awesome. Although i dont need one or anything it would be pretty cool to have that.

 

Dude, that is pretty sweet, a great safari type vehicle. Will you make it so you have a tent on top? Not much space to sleep inside it looks like...

 

The roof rack will pivot open to create a tent platform. I'm working on that now. With BOTH rear seat-backs folded down, you can actually fit a full-size mattress in the back.

Roy

 

Looks Awesome. Soem really cool ideas. I like making the most of the limited space we have. Keep it up!

 

How are you going to run the 110AC equipment (microwave, fridge, etc)? Will it be a separate generator (which would be better for camping stuff) or a big alternator with an inverter?

Just curious

 

I am going with an inverter. I am trying to keep things as compact as possible, and I really don't want any gasoline onboard.

Roy

 

Subscribe. This is looking pretty cool, can't wait to see it finished up. Keep it up!!

 

So are you going to run a multiple battery set-up? I'm trying to figure how you will keep stuff cool in the fridge without leaving your engine running all of the time... Of course, it could just be "food storage" instead of "cold food storage."

I was thinking "doesn't want any gas on board... what about the tank?" until i realized you are going diesel. By the way, what're the stats on that diesel you're putting in?

 

Mercedes Turbo Deisel can't be beat. you can run those things into the ground. I worked on mercedes at one of the premier restoration and service shops in the southeast, and I love those little things.