SuperBurb going Expo

[stover]

For those of you who are into expedition style builds peep this...

Four Wheeler magazine's Project SuperBurb is being transformed into a Exploration / overland rig equipped to handle 3-4 weeks of backcountry fun in remote loactions.
The rebirth of this long-forgotten project just got kicked off, you will be able to read about it in the yet-unreleased Janurary issue of Four Wheeler.
Here is a link to the initial build on this rig.

[Stuntopts]

Originally Posted by stover

The rebirth of this long-forgotten project....

Long forgotten? No f- in' way we'd forget!!!! That is one of MY personal favorite 'burbs of all time!!! Thanks for bringing it back.

[derek840378]

Originally Posted by stover

For those of you who are into expedition style builds peep this...

Four Wheeler magazine's Project SuperBurb is being transformed into a Exploration / overland rig equipped to handle 3-4 weeks of backcountry fun in remote loactions.
The rebirth of this long-forgotten project just got kicked off, you will be able to read about it in the yet-unreleased Janurary issue of Four Wheeler.
Here is a link to the initial build on this rig.

Aw man! SuperBurb was my favorite rig back in the day! I was DDing a K5 and I looked to the SB for inspiration! Thanks for bringing it back, Robin!

[JoshTurner]

Wow...I have been a readr since the 80s & have most of the mags...I dont remember that one...

[locrwln]

Can't wait.

Jack

[stover]

Thanks for the showing of support guys. I'm glad people still remember the truck.
My plan includes a whole assortment of cool expedition equipment that will add utility, capability and comfort. I would like to be able to pack up my gear, strap in my girlfriend and her 12 year old son and drive to Alaska to go exploring in the back country for up to three weeks at a time. I'm considering on of those roof-top tents right now. Anyone else have a better idea for integrating a shelter for three?

[derek840378]

Originally Posted by JoshTurner

Wow...I have been a readr since the 80s & have most of the mags...I dont remember that one...

It was in there 5-6 years ago. Had Xterrains back then.

[Stuntopts]

You already have all that room in the back for sleeping, why not adapt one of those SUV tents that wrap around the rear entry door area? Less drag going down the road than a roof tent in these days of high- dollar fuel (ours is finally down to $3.18/ gal.- unl.). First thing, though.... put a handle on the back door as well as the other doors (yeah, we noticed, ha ha just kidding!). I am "attempting" to build my own expedition style Suburban out of a '79 3/4 ton 4x4 and will be watching your build for some ideas to steal... um, I mean copy!! (Did I say that out loud?) P.S.- Love the new RV mag, by the way!(EDIT: now fuel is at $3.06 here)

[czechsix]

What I'm planning on doing with mine is integrate two roll out type awnings off of the exo, at least one with side curtains, but it'd be easy enough to do both with side curtains. As it is now, I just have a rear carpeted deck we sleep on, but getting in and out is a PITA. Having ground level accomodations would be much easier. I thought about the RTT, but that is waaaaaay the hell up there on my burb. Not to mention there's no way my dogs would be able to get under cover with a RTT - ground level takes care of that.

[Beat95YJ]

Nice suburban, I love straight axle subs. Never heard of this build though. Where are the door handles? Is that a smittybilt rear bumper?

[deepmud]

Originally Posted by stover

Thanks for the showing of support guys. I'm glad people still remember the truck.
My plan includes a whole assortment of cool expedition equipment that will add utility, capability and comfort. I would like to be able to pack up my gear, strap in my girlfriend and her 12 year old son and drive to Alaska to go exploring in the back country for up to three weeks at a time. I'm considering on of those roof-top tents right now. Anyone else have a better idea for integrating a shelter for three?

I like the idea rooftop tents, it can be a booger to get the rig level enough tho'. It would give a feeling of security to be up high in bear country. I've always camped on the ground with a shotgun.

be sure to stop by www.alaska4x4network.com when you plan to come up. Our members take anyone who want to out on the trails http://www.xxxpedition.com/ was one that took advantage, they have some good Alaska trail reports on their site. I am often amazed at how many clearly expedition-ready rigs I see every summer that we don't have contact with. Without some guides, it's unlikely they find any of the trails, IMHO, and the roads can be run with just a regular motorhome.

[1 Leg Lance]

Being a person who has a Roof Top Tent and just completed the Continental Divide Expedition for Disabled Explorers

And as someone who used to have a 72 Burb I would stay away from a roof tent.....I love the "coolness factor" but I have an FJ Cruiser which is too small to use many other options...


You have a ton of rear space and if you check out some of the Aussie & South African sites there are great ideas for rear setups...

Beyond the hit to mileage from a RTT and rack you will be adding more wgt up high and all the ill effects to wheeling that causes.
The rack will more than likely attach to your rain gutters and then you have a 100lb tent on that...and then you want to add lights, more storage, blah blah blah....the wgt adds up fast.

Some ideas..
-Sleeping platform in rear with drawer storage under that...Fridge along 1 side mounted lower
-Use one of the rear attaching tent like others mentioned
-If you do go with a roof rack then go with a side awning and drop panels that give another room on the side.
-If you do go with a Roof Top Tent then have it rear opening so you can drop panels to make a changing under that matches with your barn doors.
-Blazer tank for aux fuel is better than jerry cans...however water is nice to have portable
-place heat exchanger in heater line for on board shower that the ladies will love
-I saw a guy use one of those ez-up shade things with side walls behind his rig and it made a great room with some cots for sleeping/cooking/changing
-Flip down shelves on your barn doors are great for putting a stove, making a quick lunch, and more


Funny how the things that make the overland trips enjoyable are usually simple comforts...
Good chairs
Cold drinks
Comfy sleep setup
Shower
Quality table/kitchen/eating setup
Nice seats in rig (you do spend alot of time in the rig when overlanding)
Simple camp setup/takedown since you are doing it so often

Oh and just as a side note the 12yr old might like an option that gives private space...that is often important at that age

Oh and 1 last crazy idea....if you wanted to go full blown Expedition Build...take something like a VW Westfalia top and place it on the back of the burb roof for a popup "caravan" setup that would trip people out!

[Todd W]

Sweet project can you post a bunch of pics here too or do we have to wait for the mag ?

[Stuntopts]

Some people rave about a roof tent and how safe it is from bears.... I don't believe THAT for a minute! Maybe from slithering critters and ground- based bugs but, bears? You're WAAY safer from bears inside the back of the truck once you close the doors- NO tent is safe otherwise. And I hope you don't accidentally shoot a neighbor who just wants to visit your camp if you sleep with a shotgun. If memory serves me correctly, you can't even bring a firearm into most other countries, and unless a person took the ferry from Seattle to Alaska, then you would have to drive through Canada and run into all kinds of trouble, eh? Robin says that's one of the places he wants to go, right? Think about it....

[stover]

Originally Posted by Todd W

Sweet project can you post a bunch of pics here too or do we have to wait for the mag ?

I'll continue to post on here as long as I'm getting feedback. You will also be able to find infor about the build on www.fourwheeler.com from time to time.

[deepmud]

Originally Posted by Stuntopts

Some people rave about a roof tent and how safe it is from bears.... I don't believe THAT for a minute! Maybe from slithering critters and ground- based bugs but, bears? You're WAAY safer from bears inside the back of the truck once you close the doors- NO tent is safe otherwise. And I hope you don't accidentally shoot a neighbor who just wants to visit your camp if you sleep with a shotgun. If memory serves me correctly, you can't even bring a firearm into most other countries, and unless a person took the ferry from Seattle to Alaska, then you would have to drive through Canada and run into all kinds of trouble, eh? Robin says that's one of the places he wants to go, right? Think about it....

You can bring 'em(shotguns), just a pain in the butt. Declaration, storage, etc. Handguns is what the Cunucks hate most. Don't bring your .44 mag.

And I agree, they are NOT "Safe", it's more of a "feel good" sort of thing, like you'll get a bit of warning as it mess's with your rig/stuff on the ground, rather than it walking right through your tent. Truly, if the bear wants in, he's in. Truck top, camper, whatever. However they usually are just walkin' thru, on the way to their fishing spot, and if you don't leave food in your tent, you are pretty safe. Heck, I mentioned I've never used one, right? And I've camped without trouble since going with my parents as a toddler, and I am over 40 now.

Worried about getting shot by a gun-toting camper? Don't wander around in the night, messing with camps (making sounds like a bear getting into the cooler, I mean) in Alaska. MANY people carry guns while camping, so whether you agree it's a good option or not, expect that everyone is armed, and when they are not, you at least acted correctly for those that are.

Most other countries don't have brown bears, so the choice of bear protection in other countries is likely moot. I recommend them for Alaska. Your choice, of course. Do without them and you are almost certain to be safe anyway.

Really, as I think about it, I like the "quick setup" options of a roof tent. If you can swing it open and have a place to sleep in less than 10 minutes, I'd say that's a good option to consider. Traveling a lot can mean taking a LOT of time setting up and then breaking down camp. I drove from Alaska to California to D.C. and back all in one 7 and 1/2 week trip, with my wife, two teens and 2 year old - I really REALLY wished over and over again I had a tent camper to tow instead a trailer full of camping supplies. That's 15 thousand miles of driving, there-abouts, and a quick set-up camp would have been a Godsend. I did use a pretty large vehicle, a Ford Aerostar, but there was not enough room to have a permanent bed in the back. Time was lost every day to setting up camp (I was NOT used to it getting dark by 6-7 in the summer!) and breaking camp every day, that could have been put to traveling.

Oh - and I did not bring my shot gun on my trip, FWIW. I thought Canada would be too much trouble too.

[AK-Josh]

Originally Posted by deepmud

I like the idea rooftop tents, it can be a booger to get the rig level enough tho'. It would give a feeling of security to be up high in bear country. I've always camped on the ground with a shotgun.

be sure to stop by www.alaska4x4network.com when you plan to come up. Our members take anyone who want to out on the trails http://www.xxxpedition.com/ was one that took advantage, they have some good Alaska trail reports on their site. I am often amazed at how many clearly expedition-ready rigs I see every summer that we don't have contact with. Without some guides, it's unlikely they find any of the trails, IMHO, and the roads can be run with just a regular motorhome.

X2 on hitting up us locals...

[locrwln]

Originally Posted by 1 Leg Lance

Oh and 1 last crazy idea....if you wanted to go full blown Expedition Build...take something like a VW Westfalia top and place it on the back of the burb roof for a popup "caravan" setup that would trip people out!

Either that or adapt the top portion of a Flippac (kind of a poor mans earthroamer XP Jeep type idea) camper to the roof of the 'burb and cut the roof to fit. That way you can leave the bed deployed while one of you is up moving around, making coffee or getting dressed.

Jack

[Merlin_57]

I used to have an 86 Burb which was the last of the solid axle versions so I have liked this truck even before I was into Expo builds. Keep posting Stover. Maybe I'll see you on the Mojave Rd with it sometime.

[85blue4runner]

What if you made a roof platform with a cantilever/overhang/porch of some kind that was supported by poles. This would give a large platform for 1-2 tents up top dep. on size and then a porch or cooking area underneath. If you just made the platform, you could use any tent and a roof tent would not be required.

[MilspecXJ]

Originally Posted by locrwln

Either that or adapt the top portion of a Flippac (kind of a poor mans earthroamer XP Jeep type idea) camper to the roof of the 'burb and cut the roof to fit. That way you can leave the bed deployed while one of you is up moving around, making coffee or getting dressed.

Jack

Exactly what i was going to recommend. Theres a guy over at ExpeditionPortal who did this with a custom camper shell on an F350. This method would be more aerodynamic but also more costly than a larger RTT.



www.flippac.com

[SwampDonkey]

Originally Posted by Merlin_57

I used to have an 86 Burb which was the last of the solid axle versions so I have liked this truck even before I was into Expo builds. Keep posting Stover. Maybe I'll see you on the Mojave Rd with it sometime.

1991 was the last of the solid axle Suburbans. 86 would have been the last of the solid axle 1/2ton trucks I believe

[JollyGreen]

Originally Posted by SwampDonkey

1991 was the last of the solid axle Suburbans. 86 would have been the last of the solid axle 1/2ton trucks I believe

x2 my '88 3/4ton has solid axles.

[brian4wd]

Just make sure the Cal Poly sticker stays.

Brian

[kodiak1232003]

We used an autohome Maggiolina tent on top of a fullsize blazer on 38's. Here's a small list of impressions after many trips in it.
__________________________________________________ ____________________________

-->Very involved to get in and out of (i almost always have to use the bathroom right after i get snuggled into a tent) especially during the night, when you are groggy.

--->Puts you right at head height for a normal sized grizzly bear.

-->Tons of wind noise/drag when driving on the road. (I would think this would be worse with the Howling Moon/"Square bag" type of tent)

-->Very nice having your bed already made

-->If a ranger comes up, as you have just made camp and says, "can you pull my stuck F.S vehicle out of the mud" and you decide to help out a nice bloke, you have completely strike camp to move your vehicle. (it happened, oh yes...)

-->When the wind blows past your truck the springs rocking will TOTALLY rock you to sleep. I miss that part very much.

Thats my take after years of RTT usage. Probably why you'll find most RTT's on expensive "offroad" trailers these days. I'll take my 70.00 walmart tent, thanks.

BTW, we are a family of four now, but we're a family of two when we RTT'd.