RV 4x4 Conversion

[VikingVince]

I've been following and investigating the motorhome scene for at least 10 years and I did not know this existed until the other day. The only 4x4 motorhomes I was aware of were Xplorer and Tiger CX as well as the expedition rigs built on Fuso,Mogs etc. Salem Kroger can convert most Class B and C (and some Class A) motorhomes to 4x4!!! This opens up more easily affordable possibilities. A small Class C diesel 4x4 on the sandy beaches of Baja...yeah, I'll stay all winter!
www.salemkroger.com

[elcoyote]

You should probably check out http://www.sportsmobile.com as well. I have been to their factory in Fresno, it's pretty darn impressive. They doe their own conversions using Dynatrac axles and Atlas transfer cases. Bullet proof combo if you ask me!

[CLynn85]

I think they do the conversions for the Chinook Baja: http://www.mcmahonrv.com/chinook-baja.htm

There's one in my hometown that I drool over everytime I see it.

[VikingVince]

Mario...yeah, thanks,I forgot to mention Sportsmobile...guess I don't think of them as motorhomes...although technically they are a small Class B...but I've known about them for years and they are very nice units and very offroad capable...about $90K for a fully optioned vehicle

Clynn...I think you're right about the Chinook Baja...they have a pic of them on the motorhome page...I drool over those units as well...a fully optioned Chinook Baja tops out close to $200K however!!!...I think there's better value elsewhere.

[BajaTaco]

Vince, that is so you man! I would have to come down and visit :suning:

[VikingVince]

Visit?...Hell...once I get the RV office setup with moto-sat, laptop, etc, you can work from the RV and stay all winter!!!!!!!!:arabia:

[BajaTaco]

Visit?...Hell...once I get the RV office setup with moto-sat, laptop, etc, you can work from the RV and stay all winter!!!!!!!!:arabia:

Sounds too good to be true :)


Dave, I like the hilux campers. We had discussed that first white one some time ago and wondered if the frame flex would cause any issues with the cab-to-camper interface. Pretty cool looking rig.

[BajaTaco]

My FJ Cruiser conversion...

http://www.bajataco.com/fjcamper.jpg

Complete with stretched wheelbase :)

[VikingVince]

Love that FJ Cruiser conversion!!

Dave...I know what you mean re the van conversions...in fact, Sportsmobiles are built on van chassis. Eventually, however, I want a unit that's more long-term livable, i.e dedicated bed area, couch, toilet/shower,kitchen and dinette area...in other words a motorhome or expedition rig. True expedition rigs are very expensive...a good compromise is a 4x4 motorhome with upgraded suspension, tires, and winch...although not really offroad capable, the 4x4 option would allow you to go on sand and get though some situations where you would otherwise get stuck. The main problem with motorhomes is the lack of a subframe between the cabin and frame rails to isolate the torsional forces of chassis articulation from being transferred into the cabin and breaking things. The RV industry should wake up and realize there's an unmet need/demand there!!!!!

[DaveInDenver]

Dave, I like the hilux campers. We had discussed that first white one some time ago and wondered if the frame flex would cause any issues with the cab-to-camper interface. Pretty cool looking rig.

The one I saw had a piece of flexible rubber about 6" wide between the cab and fiberglass. If you look closely on the white one, you can kinda see the gasket as it transitions from the back of the cab to the camper itself. I would think it'd be something you want to occasionally check, but it seemed no worse than the transition on any other conversion, like the van body to fiberglass on a Class C. The back of the cab was cut out and the gasket was solidly attached to both the metal of the cab and the fiberglass, it was pretty bomber.

The Innovations Camper one is a body separate from the cab, so that's just a utility body and so there's no connection between the existing cab and the camper part.

OK, I got it, Vince. Here's what you're thinking, then:

http://www.earthroamer.com/jpg/canyonlands_6544_std.jpg

http://www.earthroamer.com/main_truck/vehicles.html

We've had this fella speak at a club meeting (Rising Sun 4WD of Colorado). Pretty swank set up he's got going. It's extremely capable (easily handles stuff like a White Rim), but not cheap. Figure ~$150K for one. But I'd still think this would be cheaper than trying to convert something to 4WD. I dunno what a Class C goes for, but by the time you buy that, stiffen the chassis and do the 4WD conversion, it's got to be in the same financial region.

[VikingVince]

Dave...oh yeah...Earthroamer...I forgot to mention them too...I've drooled over them for several years now...the going price for a fully optioned Earthroamer is right around $200K now!!!

I was thinking buying a used Class C for $25-30K...there are lot of used Winnebago Minnies (Ford chassis) in that range with low mileage...and then converting to 4x4...have no idea what the conversion costs...$10K?...from what I recall I believe Quiqley 4x4 van conversions run around $5K...so I'm guessing that the Class C 4x4 total project would still be ALOT less than an Earthroamer...like around $40K total, i.e. with a used RV...that's palatable!

[DaveInDenver]

Dave...oh yeah...Earthroamer...I forgot to mention them too...I've drooled over them for several years now...the going price for a fully optioned Earthroamer is right around $200K now!!!


His trucks are quite something, but far from cheap!



I was thinking buying a used Class C for $25-30K...there are lot of used Winnebago Minnies (Ford chassis) in that range with low mileage...and then converting to 4x4...have no idea what the conversion costs...$10K?...from what I recall I believe Quiqley 4x4 van conversions run around $5K...so I'm guessing that the Class C 4x4 total project would still be ALOT less than an Earthroamer...like around $40K total, i.e. with a used RV...that's palatable!

Yeah, definitely I'd think that converting a used van or truck chassis over would be /significantly/ less money (and more fun) than a turn key. I think that's a great plan. If you start with a E350 platform, I think figuring $10K would be fair. I dunno much about such conversions beyond a SAS, but if the chassis was available with 4WD, then I'd think it would be feasible. I mean, it's obviously done already, so maybe there's even kits available. It's a matter of spring hangers, a transfer cross member, some sheet metal work, driveshafts and lots of cutting, measuring and welding. It's not exactly rocket science, afterall. Cool idea!

How about custom body mounts? Isolate the camper from the frame and add in a piece of flexible material between the old van cab and the fiberglass. Leave the hockey pucks for the driving part and for the camper maybe use something like the dampers that they use on OTR sleeper trucks with the mini shocks and air bags

[G35Vortec454]

http://www.edmarms.com/gallery/other/rv_012b.jpg

[CLynn85]

G35Vortec,

Very cool looking rig, how about some more pics/specs?

-Edit: Just saw it in another post.

[G35Vortec454]

More pics at:

http://www.chevytalk.org/threads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/1596452/an/0/page/0#Post1596452

[pete.wilson]

Hey

I had up until a couple of weeks ago, a 95 Ford E350/Horton 453 ambulance with a 7.3 turbo diesel and Salem Kroger gave me a price of $13,200 to modify it to 4X4. With so many other options, I couldn't justify the expense of it, plus I want something smaller, lighter and can reach more places.

[njtaco]

Vince,

I used to sell/service motorhomes, etc. We would send NEW class C motorhomed to Quigley in Pa. for 4WD conversion, and roll the cost into the financing. Quigley was VERY conservative regarding weights...we had to weigh the camper as-is before they would consider it, leaving a comfortable payload for "camping stuff." The RV always left with the same or greater GVW from their shop.

The down side is they only did new chassis, would not convert a used one.

Pricey? I think after we marked up their work, retail was about $10K for the conversion. Ouch! Our cost was more like $5-6K.

[77blazerchalet]

Total ignorance on my part for this subject matter - I was google searching various 4x4 camper word variations (for whatever info I can find on Blazer Chalets), and just ran across this craigslist ad. http://capecod.craigslist.org/rvs/463449364.html

Must be a home made conversion, right? Winnebago didn't offer 4x4s that I ever saw.....

Partial ad text here, for when the link expires (no photos there now, I have the full text copied if anybody needs it)

1971 Winniebago D-20 4X4 camper Beach Ready - $5000
20' long
four wheel drive
318 ci
727 Auto
NP 203 tranfercase
Dana 60 front axle
single rear wheel rear axle
new 33" offroad tires