Lets see your expedition rigs!

[Jarek M]

Hi all

[Zice]

I dont think anyone posted this yet but I came across a new Earthroamer Rubi JK on Ebay and its worth checking out... look through all the pics.


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=280265144641

[85blue4runner]

nice rig, that tent doesnt look like much and would suck in bad weather, even with an external cover of some kind. would also be nice to have support legs underneath it and close that space in for showering, changing, toilet, cooking, etc..

EDIT: and it needs a good diesel engine option, not the one from the KJ Liberty

[MK13]

Anyone ever thought of using a 03' - 05' Toyota Tundra, I am not exactly sure what years came with the power rear window. What I was thinking is a 4 door Tundra with the roll down back window and a topper on the bed. This would give you better access to the cab while you sleep in the bed. Maybe a 2" or 3" lift, nothing huge so you could keep all the toyota reliability.

[mdd0127]

Originally Posted by 87 pathy

IMO, an expedition rig should be capable of.

1) 300 mile round trip without refueling
2) capable of starting itself with a dead battery
3) cary spare parts, able to fix without calling napa.
4) able to go ANWHERE you want. (capable 4x4)
5) repair flat tires.. i.e. spares, patches, plugs OBA.
6) Cary food, gear, and multipel people

This is so far, the best explanation of an expedition rig I've seen yet. I've been living in my deuce and toyota truck for most of this year. I always have two months of food, water, and supplies on hand. I also have 50 spare gallons of filtered waste veggie oil in the deuce and the tank will hold another 50 giving me an 800 mile range. If for some reason, it shits the bed, I can unhook the toyota and go another 400 miles for supplies. If the toyota shits the bed, I can drop the XR250 off the back and go another 200 miles. I can camp long term out of any of the three vehicles. I know this combo works because I've been on an expedition for ten months and have had basically no problems. Absolute reliability and simplicity with two backup plans is the best way to go! I would not hesitate to go anywhere in the world with this setup. If I could only get a diesel for my toyota at a reasonable price, everything would be perfect!

[Justice R]

Here's mine. 95 Montero SR with factory locker in the rear and an ARB in the front. ARB bumper with a 1200lb Mile marker. Its never let me down. Multiple trips including Spike, Pritchets, etc in Moab, Martinez canyon in AZ and The Con. Always driven to and from the trail.

[mudkey]

Originally Posted by mdd0127

This is so far, the best explanation of an expedition rig I've seen yet. I've been living in my deuce and toyota truck for most of this year. I always have two months of food, water, and supplies on hand. I also have 50 spare gallons of filtered waste veggie oil in the deuce and the tank will hold another 50 giving me an 800 mile range. If for some reason, it shits the bed, I can unhook the toyota and go another 400 miles for supplies. If the toyota shits the bed, I can drop the XR250 off the back and go another 200 miles. I can camp long term out of any of the three vehicles. I know this combo works because I've been on an expedition for ten months and have had basically no problems. Absolute reliability and simplicity with two backup plans is the best way to go! I would not hesitate to go anywhere in the world with this setup. If I could only get a diesel for my toyota at a reasonable price, everything would be perfect!

Sure would like to see some pictures of the inside of that deuce you got there!!

[dyogim]

Originally Posted by MK13

Anyone ever thought of using a 03' - 05' Toyota Tundra, I am not exactly sure what years came with the power rear window. What I was thinking is a 4 door Tundra with the roll down back window and a topper on the bed. This would give you better access to the cab while you sleep in the bed. Maybe a 2" or 3" lift, nothing huge so you could keep all the toyota reliability.

The power rear window started in the 04 double cabs.

[MilspecXJ]

Lots still to do but the XJ is getting there.

[sneakyninja]

here's mine, needs a winch and new rocksliders but it's got everything else.


I'd love to get my hands on one of those nissan patrols with the diesel for an expedition rig

[WickedGravityVideo]

This made my me drool and dream about driving away in this

[Red_Beard]

Originally Posted by WickedGravityVideo

This made my me drool and dream about driving away in this

The jeep version that was just a little ways down is owned by the owner of i think its called "back country off-road(They had a booth)" and he was saying it cost him around 120K

[The Adam Blaster]

Originally Posted by Red_Beard

The jeep version that was just a little ways down is owned by the owner of i think its called "back country off-road(They had a booth)" and he was saying it cost him around 120K

You might be thinking the Turtle rig pictured is an Earthroamer --> http://www.earthroamer.com/
It's not, it's a custom job constructed mostly by a married couple that have built 4 previous versions of expo-rigs. This is the 5th variation, hence the "Turtle V" designation.

[johncj]

Originally Posted by Jarek M

Hi all

what size tire u running? i'm debating between 33's or 35's

[roscoFJ73]

Originally Posted by PAToyota

I like that tray (as you call it). Checked out the www.campingWA.com website shown on the back of it, but that isn't the mfg. Any idea who makes that and where to contact them?

There is 3-4 companies making them in western australia alone.
Roscos Trademate
Bull motor body builders
Bosston Canopys

I doubt you will want one.They sre about $8k for a good one and shipping would be a killer

[PAToyota]

Thanks for the company names. Couldn't find a website for Bosston, but found the other two:

http://www.roscos.com/
http://www.bullmotorbodies.com.au/

As you say, importing one wouldn't be economically feasible. More just looking for more pictures to get an idea of how it goes together for ideas on how to fabricate one for myself.

[The Adam Blaster]

Canadian company/importer located in British Columbia, closer than Australia anyway.

http://www.oztray.com/contact.htm

[roscoFJ73]

Originally Posted by PAToyota

Thanks for the company names. Couldn't find a website for Bosston, but found the other two:

http://www.roscos.com/
http://www.bullmotorbodies.com.au/

As you say, importing one wouldn't be economically feasible. More just looking for more pictures to get an idea of how it goes together for ideas on how to fabricate one for myself.

This ones built especially for camping and has 2 compartments but the build method is much the same as all the others.Some of them glue the outer skin to the frame.The sleeping compartment has a fold down platform with canvass to enclose for extra length.
They are almost universally built as a 6'x8'



This pic shows inside the storage compartment.

[PAToyota]

Many thanks for the pics. Is that last one fiberglass over an aluminum frame? I see the ones that are all aluminum but that one and the one I originally posted about aren't the "squared off" shape. Or is it some other sort of composite panel of some sort?

[roscoFJ73]

Originally Posted by PAToyota

Many thanks for the pics. Is that last one fiberglass over an aluminum frame? I see the ones that are all aluminum but that one and the one I originally posted about aren't the "squared off" shape. Or is it some other sort of composite panel of some sort?

Thats all aluminium.They probably bend them in a sheetmetal press.
They were all flat sided once with exposed hinges ,but competition to make the most asthetic shape is feirce.
The govt and phone companies are big buyers of these.

I know there is one ,maybe 2 companies experimenting with a new type of polymer and F/G

This is one made by Trackdata Campers( no website)
I wanted one of these but couldnt afford it,but it really is the best in this kind of camper.
It is all aluminium and fully welded.
The other side is also for storage.

[PoorBoyota26]

Not the most purdy but I built the trailer in a weekend and it worked great for the week that we used it. Picked up the frame off of craigs list for 80 bones and have about 200 in it to date. Going to "rebuld" this winter. It's attached to the SUB right now but it tows well behind the 4 Runner.
Plans call for a perminant lantern post, rebuilding the frame (the axle isn't square on the frame), and generally improving on the design in many places. The top opens up like a book and becomes the kitchen. The cooking surface it too tall for my 5' wife to see what she's cooking. lol.

[The Adam Blaster]

Originally Posted by roscoFJ73

This is one made by Trackdata Campers( no website)
I wanted one of these but couldnt afford it,but it really is the best in this kind of camper.
It is all aluminium and fully welded.
The other side is also for storage.

Any more info on that one? It looks great!!!
Price, weight of the unit, etc. etc???

[roscoFJ73]

These are some of the pics the owner of the company sent me.
He only makes a few a month I think.
Price is about $18k He told me the price of aluminium has gone through the roof.
I think the weight is about 500kg.
The landcruisers in the pics are good for about 1000kg

[PAToyota]

Originally Posted by roscoFJ73

It took me a bit to notice that most of these setups are a flatbed with the "camper" bolted to it in some way. That idea is really growing on me.

Here in the US the "standard" is to have a pickup bed with a fiberglass or aluminum cap that sits on top of the bed rails:


Slide-in campers don't seem to be as popular as they once were, but you still see them:


But the problem is that you are somewhat limited by the narrow width of the bed and then the camper hangs out over the bed rails.

Then you have utility bodies that replace the pickup bed:


Mostly, these are for full-size duallies. And the problem is that they can limit you when it comes time to carry something large.

The flatbed tray with the "container" setup seems to be a much better idea. With the fold-down/removable sides, you can carry items and don't have to worry about fitting them between the wheelwells:


Slide your camper in when you need it. And you could even come up with different bodies for different uses. The camper body vs. the utility body or such.

[roscoFJ73]

Originally Posted by PAToyota

It took me a bit to notice that most of these setups are a flatbed with the "camper" bolted to it in some way. That idea is really growing on me.

The flatbed tray with the "container" setup seems to be a much better idea. With the fold-down/removable sides, you can carry items and don't have to worry about fitting them between the wheelwells:


Slide your camper in when you need it. And you could even come up with different bodies for different uses. The camper body vs. the utility body or such.

Im firmly sold on them
Ive noticed there is 2-3 companies in North America making aluminium trays now,so I guess the idea is catching on.
The company that made my tray also sell water tanks,tool/jack storage,battery racks that fit underneath.
The space in between the wheel wells,under the tray is a good place for spare tyres,tools or other heavy items.
There are now slide out storage trays that fit beteen the wheels wells and underneath the top tray also.

Having the tray at waist height means you can lift things off the tray without the awkard bending of the back

If you make the dropsides strong enough,they can used as ramps for quads or cement mixers etc