Blast from the past

[Mickldo]

G'day

I first got the travelling bug when my parents took me and my brother for a five month long trip around Australia in 1978. They converted an old Toyota Coaster school bus to a camper. They ripped out all of the school bus seats, chopped a hole in the roof for the pop top, fitted out all of the camper conversion and replaced the motor with a Holden 186ci red motor.

I was going through some old photos and found these.

http://inlinethumb58.webshots.com/41529/2093005850103919311S500x500Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2093005850103919311dbnAKG)

http://inlinethumb23.webshots.com/25238/2235464560103919311S500x500Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2235464560103919311IvKaro)

http://inlinethumb52.webshots.com/21299/2732299670103919311S500x500Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2732299670103919311yPecqX)

http://inlinethumb32.webshots.com/31583/2457745740103919311S500x500Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2457745740103919311uwPdID)

[Mickldo]

I have been looking at various camper designs recently for something a bit more comfortable than my Land Cruiser for extended trips. I have been looking at all the usual suspects, you know, Unimogs, OKAs, FGs, NPS 300s, and Hinos, but I am currently leaning towards a Coaster with a 4wd conversion.

I have been looking at the Coasters and there seem to be a lot of already "camperised" Coasters for sale around $20,000. I've spent more than double that on my 80 and it doesn't even have a bed in it.

[Mickldo]

BTW, that was me sitting on the left in that first photo, with my little brother next to me and Dad standing behind.

[whatcharterboat]

Pretty cool. Those old coasters were just unbreakable. I had diesel coaster motor in my old FJ40. Way better than the petrol one your dad pulled out.

Highway wouldn't have been all sealed back then either. Can you remember much of it?

[whatcharterboat]

Have a look at the thread I posted on a 4x4 Coaster in the ExPo camper general discussion and modification forum. I suppose was a month ago. Let me know if you can't find it

[Mickldo]

Pretty cool. Those old coasters were just unbreakable. I had diesel coaster motor in my old FJ40. Way better than the petrol one your dad pulled out.

Highway wouldn't have been all sealed back then either. Can you remember much of it?

Most of it was dirt back then. With the 186 and the 7.50 x 16s it used to go really well.

Even though I was only four years old I still remember a lot from the trip.

I am pretty sure the old bus is still going. We recently saw it travelling up the highway near Gympie. It is a relatively easy one to spot, it was a pre dual rear wheels model and that bullbar stands out. It's been repainted (probably a couple of times) but still travelling.

I wonder how many laps of OZ she has done now. Hmmmm...........

[Mickldo]

Have a look at the thread I posted on a 4x4 Coaster in the ExPo camper general discussion and modification forum. I suppose was a month ago. Let me know if you can't find it

The one with the 350 in it?

[whatcharterboat]

That coaster in the thread was $13k only a couple of months ago. ARB diff locks, 350 chev/turbo 400, F250 diffs and transfer, dual fuel, fridge, heaps of solar, big amped audio, longrange tanks, good seats, big muddies. Very basic cabinets but still someone had spent big bucks in the past. Comes from Lake Cootharabah.

[whatcharterboat]

Yeah that's the one.

[Mickldo]

That coaster in the thread was $13k only a couple of months ago. ARB diff locks, 350 chev/turbo 400, F250 diffs and transfer, dual fuel, fridge, heaps of solar, big amped audio, longrange tanks, good seats, big muddies. Very basic cabinets but still someone had spent big bucks in the past. Comes from Lake Cootharabah.

Even though the price of diesel has gone stupid recently I still prefer a diesel to a petrol. The rest of it sounds perfect for me though. I suppose I could always swap in a 1HD-FTE and it would still be a cheap bus.

[whatcharterboat]

Yeah a cruiser donk would be fine. There is a few getting around on Farser now as Tour Buses but I don't think they would last too long. Have you seen the the really wild looking flouro Red bus that runs up from Brisbane. Must be an adventure travel company. Biggest tyres ever. Looks like you could sit underneath it and have your smoko. Only seen it on the road so I don't know any more.


and that bullbar stands out.
Never seen a 7poster before. Is that something your dad made for NT buffalo?

[Mickldo]

Yeah a cruiser donk would be fine. There is a few getting around on Farser now as Tour Buses but I don't think they would last too long. Have you seen the the really wild looking flouro Red bus that runs up from Brisbane. Must be an adventure travel company. Biggest tyres ever. Looks like you could sit underneath it and have your smoko. Only seen it on the road so I don't know any more.


Never seen a 7poster before. Is that something your dad made for NT buffalo?

I used to do recoveries over on Fraser. There are some cool trucks working over there but they don't last too long with the salt.

I haven't seen the red one. I'll have to keep my eyes open for it.

My Dad sure didn't want it to break, LOL

[whatcharterboat]

There are some cool trucks working over there but they don't last too long with the salt. The FGs we build go for about 4 years before the cab/chassis get sold off but the coasters have too much sheet and light chassis and rust quick.

Also don't know if you've seen the pic I posted up of a factory 4x4 Mitsubishi Rosa. A Jap import similiar to a Coaster but with mainly the same running gear as a Canter. Same deal. Good for a cheap camper but rust quick. The pic was on the beach at Red Canyon just South of Double Island Point a couple of months ago. They tell me that heaps of them made there way to Kiwi land. If you really want to see it and can't find it I'll try and repost.

[whatcharterboat]

Found em. Not sure how they are for size. As you can see they are only running single rear wheels. I think they came out as a dual rear wheel.


http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8d738b3127ccec5721136761600000040O00EcMWrVmzZMg e3nwI/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D480/ry%3D320/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8d738b3127ccec573aca3973900000040O00EcMWrVmzZMg e3nwI/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D480/ry%3D320/

[Mickldo]

Yeah they look like pretty much the same style as the Coaster.

I am looking at this style of camper rather than an FG or NPS as my wife isn't as agile as me to be constantly climbing up into the cab. This way we get the full size camper with acceptable off road performance but still have reasonably good access to the camper and cab. With the arrival of my baby daughter and the possibility in the near future of another that rules out single cab trucks and by the time you go for a DOKA you start losing space for the camper. Whereas with the Coaster the seating can be utilised as part of the living space.

Even though I build trucks and trailers and boats like this all day at work and I did want to build my own camper shell on some really cool truck platform I think that this might be my best option.

[Mickldo]

OK, so what are some other opinions on the pros and cons of bus platforms versus truck platforms?

Assuming both are 4wd with SRW, turbo diesel motor and similar fitouts in the camper.

[whatcharterboat]

Mick Heading up to Everglades for the day on the boat with the kids. My birthday. Have a look through some of the threads on dual v single cab/ cab layout/"Yes it's an FG" etc. over the last few months in the FG and the general mod and discussion forums and I'll reply late tonight. Have a good one.

[Mickldo]

Mick Heading up to Everglades for the day on the boat with the kids. My birthday. Have a look through some of the threads on dual v single cab/ cab layout/"Yes it's an FG" etc. over the last few months in the FG and the general mod and discussion forums and I'll reply late tonight. Have a good one.

Happy Birthday John:birthday.sml:

The Everglades is a very cool spot to be going with the kids to spend your birthday.

Will be checking out as much as I can in between replacing the cylinder head on my 80. I'll be thinking of you out on the water while I am up to my elbows in oil and grease. LOL

[Mickldo]

I love that post. :D

Those pics are a treat. What a great way to enjoy one's family!


That picture of Uluru; looks pretty quiet then. Is it still like that or is it a circus?

Thanks.

Back in '78 we were able to camp right at the base of Ayer's Rock (as it was known back then). There wouldn't have been any more than half a dozen others camped there. Now there is a resort there with bitumen road access and you aren't allowed to camp there anymore. Thousands visit there each week. Total circus compared to what it was.

[Mickldo]

Mick Heading up to Everglades for the day on the boat with the kids. My birthday. Have a look through some of the threads on dual v single cab/ cab layout/"Yes it's an FG" etc. over the last few months in the FG and the general mod and discussion forums and I'll reply late tonight. Have a good one.

Ok, read them again and now I am confused again. D'oh.

How easy is the walk through access on your designs? The ones that retain the tilt cab?

I like your designs of course but they are out of my budget to buy new. The ideas of the side access door, full height roof, and decent walk through to the cab are things that I could build myself if they turn out to be a good thing.

I'd probably have to still go to you guys to get the SRW conversion done but the rest I could do myself.

[Mickldo]

http://www.allterrainwarriors.com.au/images/stories/reconside.jpg

Does the cab tilt forward on this?

Does the raised roof just sit on top of the standard vehicle or is the roof cut out to give more headroom?

http://www.allterrainwarriors.com.au/images/stories/Planrecon2.jpg

[whatcharterboat]

Mick back at 10 oclock our time will talk then

[Mickldo]

Mick back at 10 oclock our time will talk then

How was your day?

[whatcharterboat]

Hi Mick. Just had a huge day. OK.


Does the cab tilt forward on this?Does the raised roof just sit on top of the standard vehicle or is the roof cut out to give more headroom?

Yes the cab tilt is always retained.
No. On this truck the original roof and back of cab are cut out and replaced with a raised roof section, raised hoodliner and then the wind deflector (W.D.) goes over the outside.

On the tour buses the WD sits over the original roof. We cut most of the back of the cab away for access through to the rear.

[Mickldo]

Hi Mick. Just had a huge day. OK.



Yes the cab tilt is always retained.
No. On this truck the original roof and back of cab are cut out and replaced with a raised roof section, raised hoodliner and then the wind deflector (W.D.) goes over the outside.

On the tour buses the WD sits over the original roof. We cut most of the back of the cab away for access through to the rear.

I like the idea of chopping out the roof as well as the back of the cab for easier access.

A single cab truck can then be used as a bus.

The more I look at your designs the more little nuggets of good ideas I find.

[whatcharterboat]

Sorry I was out of phase again and replied too soon.


How was your day?

Awesome. Spent the day up the everglades right up to campsite 3. Then coming home in pitch black, hear this almighty bang and gear stripping sound or like a chain dragging over the hull. So I think the worst. Anyway it turned out to be a big Tailor with its head stuck between the one of the hulls and a deck beam. Had to go over the side to get it out but I can't wait for lunch tomorrow. Just freaky. Best birthday present ever.

Here's some pics. The green truck is something you could do in your sleep but if you want the raised roof the fibreglass moldings are probably the best way to tackle it. http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8d722b3127ccec5521a174b4800000040O00EcMWrVmzZMg e3nwI/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D480/ry%3D320/The silver tour bus has a WD but without a raised roof. Note the front the little window/skylight at the front and how the WD is shaped for it. The motorhomes are as I described earlier. http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8d701b3127ccec57cd36872a200000040O00EcMWrVmzZMg e3nwI/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D480/ry%3D320/
Final pic shows the seating from the grey/blue motorhome. http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8d701b3127ccec57c6ae032ee00000040O00EcMWrVmzZMg e3nwI/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D480/ry%3D320/

[Mickldo]

Sorry I was out of phase again and replied too soon.



Awesome. Spent the day up the everglades right up to campsite 3. Then coming home in pitch black, hear this almighty bang and gear stripping sound or like a chain dragging over the hull. So I think the worst. Anyway it turned out to be a big Tailor with its head stuck between the one of the hulls and a deck beam. Had to go over the side to get it out but I can't wait for lunch tomorrow. Just freaky. Best birthday present ever.

Here's some pics. The green truck is something you could do in your sleep but if you want the raised roof the fibreglass moldings are probably the best way to tackle it. http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8d722b3127ccec5521a174b4800000040O00EcMWrVmzZMg e3nwI/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D480/ry%3D320/The silver tour bus has a WD but without a raised roof. Note the front the little window/skylight at the front and how the WD is shaped for it. The motorhomes are as I described earlier. http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8d701b3127ccec57cd36872a200000040O00EcMWrVmzZMg e3nwI/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D480/ry%3D320/
Final pic shows the seating from the grey/blue motorhome. http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8d701b3127ccec57c6ae032ee00000040O00EcMWrVmzZMg e3nwI/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D480/ry%3D320/

What type of boat did you go up the river in? Your own or a tour boat? When I was younger I canoed from the bridge on Cooloola Way to Boreen Point. Very cool.

I am now thinking of a camper body made of aluminium box section and covered in Di-Bond sheeting (same as how we make the race car trailers at work) with a walk through section to a cab with a raised roof and wind deflector like those ^^

[Mickldo]

The other camper design I really like is Susi and Ruedi's OKA.

http://www.schoensleben.ch/sur/content/challenge/vehicles/oka/oka_nt_backsection_e.shtml

http://www.schoensleben.ch/sur/content/challenge/vehicles/oka/thumbnails/AUS_061008_001.jpg

[Mickldo]

What would a typical SRW conversion cost if I couldn't find one already done?

What size tyres can be used?

I know on normal 4wds in Qld you can only go 15mm bigger in diameter. What needs to be done for it to be compliant?

[whatcharterboat]

Is Di-bond a 1mm aluminium/5mm foam/.7mm aluminium laminate? Or something like those dimensions. Anyway given the gear you're used to at work that sounds like a good option. There's a '99 FG (290kms) on ebay that finishes today maybe. Owner wants $20k. That's the sort of truck you're probably going to have to look at.

The boat is a 22' pontoon like a Suntrekker with a 90 4stroke. Not mine. I built the trailer for it and get the use of it in return for the labour. Massive trailer. $1200 just to get it galvanised.

[Lynn]

Mickldo,

Hope you don't mind an outsider nosing in. I don't know anything about Aussie vehicles, but I have been keeping up with Rob Gray's Wothahellizat 1 & 2 builds (http://www.robgray.com/index_files/index_graynomad.php).

Anyway, he shows pix of a WORT (weird off-road truck), as he calls 'em, that was made from an Austin bus body mounted on a Bedford truck chassis. I think it is really good looking, and wish I could come up with something like that over here. Click on the pic if you want more pix and info:

http://www.robgray.com/photos/images_400/31772.jpg (http://www.robgray.com/wothahellizat/worts/wort_09/index.php?48,30)

Just to say, have you considered dropping a bus body on a truck chassis?

[Mickldo]

Is Di-bond a 1mm aluminium/5mm foam/.7mm aluminium laminate? Or something like those dimensions. Anyway given the gear you're used to at work that sounds like a good option. There's a '99 FG (290kms) on ebay that finishes today maybe. Owner wants $20k. That's the sort of truck you're probably going to have to look at.

The boat is a 22' pontoon like a Suntrekker with a 90 4stroke. Not mine. I built the trailer for it and get the use of it in return for the labour. Massive trailer. $1200 just to get it galvanised.

Dibond (http://www.alucobond.com.au/html/s02_article/article_view.asp?id=105&nav_cat_id=161&nav_top_id=69)

Dibond is made by Alucobond and is very similar but it is available in a wider range of colours and sizes.

A pontoon boat would be just about perfect for a day out on the Noosa River.

So does the guy who owns the boat know about your username? With a username like that I wouldn't be lending you my boat ;)

[Mickldo]

Mickldo,

Hope you don't mind an outsider nosing in. I don't know anything about Aussie vehicles, but I have been keeping up with Rob Gray's Wothahellizat 1 & 2 builds (http://www.robgray.com/index_files/index_graynomad.php).

Anyway, he shows pix of a WORT (weird off-road truck), as he calls 'em, that was made from an Austin bus body mounted on a Bedford truck chassis. I think it is really good looking, and wish I could come up with something like that over here. Click on the pic if you want more pix and info:

http://www.robgray.com/photos/images_400/31772.jpg (http://www.robgray.com/wothahellizat/worts/wort_09/index.php?48,30)

Just to say, have you considered dropping a bus body on a truck chassis?

G'day Lynn

The more the merrier. That's what these forums are all about.

Very cool camper pic. I love the old skool stuff.

I am looking at any option I can at the moment. I want to upgrade my cruiser/s but am nowhere near making my mind up yet. There are quite a few ideas I want to incorporate in the finished product but what platform I start with has got me stumped at the moment.

Any ideas are greatly appreciated.

[whatcharterboat]

Sorry Mick don't know whats' going on. Im replying to your post and then after I post I see you have replied twice already. So the conversation is getting a bit disjointed.

OKA's >>> I'm sure there's alot of people who love 'em. All I'll say is the tour operators are all getting out of them and staying with NPS's and FG's. Lots of mismatched parts and the tour guys that were using them were upgrading the suspension anyway.


What would a typical SRW conversion cost if I couldn't find one already done?

What size tyres can be used?

I know on normal 4wds in Qld you can only go 15mm bigger in diameter. What needs to be done for it to be compliant?
Today 01:38 PM

SRW>>> Prices, talk to my boss. Don't want to selling stuff on the forum. Advice is fine.

Sizes >> Spoke a bit with Pattersonimages in the threads he posted on his FG twincab and also recently in other threads. Basically for an FG the go is Michelin XZL 100R/16 or alot of guys are going for the 19.5 in sizes from 265 to 305. NPS run the 19.5's. 15% rule doesn't apply to us cause we have the engineerlng data to support the bigger tyres and supply this for DOT. See the "SRW testing" Thread.

Actually we do the testing spoken about in that thread at the Maryborough airport. We just got the new model NPS 300 in and it looks like I'll be coming up to do the brake testing on it sometime before christmas, so I'll drop in.

[Mickldo]

Is Di-bond a 1mm aluminium/5mm foam/.7mm aluminium laminate? Or something like those dimensions. Anyway given the gear you're used to at work that sounds like a good option. There's a '99 FG (290kms) on ebay that finishes today maybe. Owner wants $20k. That's the sort of truck you're probably going to have to look at.

The boat is a 22' pontoon like a Suntrekker with a 90 4stroke. Not mine. I built the trailer for it and get the use of it in return for the labour. Massive trailer. $1200 just to get it galvanised.

Only Canter I could find is this '93 model camper (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/MOTORHOME-CAMPERVAN-OFF-ROAD-CAMPER-4X4-CANTER_W0QQitemZ270278027423QQihZ017QQcategoryZ326 33QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

[Lynn]

G'day Lynn

The more the merrier.

Well, in that case, and just in case you haven't seen 'em before:

Wot 1:

http://www.robgray.com/wothahellizat/15721.jpg

Wot the 2nd (still under construction):

http://www.robgray.com/wothahellizat/wot2/diaries/diary_19/31757.jpg

and his list of Other Worts (http://www.robgray.com/wothahellizat/worts.php)

All those cool trucks make me want to move to Australia.

[Mickldo]

Sorry Mick don't know whats' going on. Im replying to your post and then after I post I see you have replied twice already. So the conversation is getting a bit disjointed.

OKA's >>> I'm sure there's alot of people who love 'em. All I'll say is the tour operators are all getting out of them and staying with NPS's and FG's. Lots of mismatched parts and the tour guys that were using them were upgrading the suspension anyway.



SRW>>> Prices, talk to my boss. Don't want to selling stuff on the forum. Advice is fine.

Sizes >> Spoke a bit with Pattersonimages in the threads he posted on his FG twincab and also recently in other threads. Basically for an FG the go is Michelin XZL 100R/16 or alot of guys are going for the 19.5 in sizes from 265 to 305. NPS run the 19.5's. 15% rule doesn't apply to us cause we have the engineerlng data to support the bigger tyres and supply this for DOT. See the "SRW testing" Thread.

Actually we do the testing spoken about in that thread at the Maryborough airport. We just got the new model NPS 300 in and it looks like I'll be coming up to do the brake testing on it sometime before christmas, so I'll drop in.

I leaning more towards the FG or NPS rather than the OKA too.

No worries about the prices. It can wait until I come down and visit your workshop.

We have three of the new model NPS 300 4x4s in our workshop at the moment that we are building for Ergon. The new wider chassis has stuffed up all of our tray layouts and rear winch fitments and has caused us to redesign quite a bit too.

[Mickldo]

Well, in that case, and just in case you haven't seen 'em before:

Wot 1:

http://www.robgray.com/wothahellizat/15721.jpg

Wot the 2nd (still under construction):

http://www.robgray.com/wothahellizat/wot2/diaries/diary_19/31757.jpg

and his list of Other Worts (http://www.robgray.com/wothahellizat/worts.php)

All those cool trucks make me want to move to Australia.

Very cool. Thanks for the links.

[whatcharterboat]

We have three of the new model NPS 300 4x4s in our workshop at the moment that we are building for Ergon. The new wider chassis has stuffed up all of our tray layouts and rear winch fitments and has caused us to redesign quite a bit too.

Us too. Not just the 850mm width but the old step in the chassis was a much better to work with than the new straight ones.

That Canter must have finished today. Don't think it came close to reserve so it might go back up. Had a tray and a 4.2 NA motor. We've had aftermarket turbos fitted to these and they go great. Actually they go great standard.

Thanks for the links Lynn. Our Army used to use the old Inters so there is a few older "WORTs" around. I've actually seen one with FG motor/box transfer cause the original motors really suck the juice.

[whatcharterboat]

he new wider chassis has stuffed up all of our tray layouts and rear winch fitments and has caused us to redesign quite a bit too.

You forgot to mention the "what tha" DPD that looks like a nuke reactor in the middle of the exhaust. Oh and a tip, dont play with the exhaust length or change the muffler setup. They don't like it at all.

With the old ones we would literally pull the chassis apart a make it whatever length we liked, put the crossmembers were we liked and refab/ upgrade everything else, air cleaner, exhaust, battery cradle, fuel tanks for ExPo type vehicles. The new Euro IV is going to change things quite alot.

[Mickldo]

Us too. Not just the 850mm width but the old step in the chassis was a much better to work with than the new straight ones.

That Canter must have finished today. Don't think it came close to reserve so it might go back up. Had a tray and a 4.2 NA motor. We've had aftermarket turbos fitted to these and they go great. Actually they go great standard.

Thanks for the links Lynn. Our Army used to use the old Inters so there is a few older "WORTs" around. I've actually seen one with FG motor/box transfer cause the original motors really suck the juice.

We fit rear mounted hydraulic capstan winches and Palfinger cranes to the trays. The wider chassis means we can't squeeze everything under there like we used to. I still haven't figured out where to stick the number plate with our design. It will probably have to get attached via a hinge under the taillights. Not ideal on an off-road truck but there is no other room left with all the other stuff that has to go there.

[Mickldo]

You forgot to mention the "what tha" DPD that looks like a nuke reactor in the middle of the exhaust. Oh and a tip, dont play with the exhaust length or change the muffler setup. They don't like it at all.

With the old ones we would literally pull the chassis apart a make it whatever length we liked, put the crossmembers were we liked and refab/ upgrade everything else, air cleaner, exhaust, battery cradle, fuel tanks for ExPo type vehicles. The new Euro IV is going to change things quite alot.

Oh yeah I forgot about that. Luckily our design calls for the exhaust to be out the back like it is so we don't have to modify it like we used to. It would be a PITA though if we needed to relocate it though.

You've heard about the bull bars having to be genuine Isuzu only for the air bags? Makes it hard when you need to fit a front winch cause Isuzu don't have one.

[sprale]

Wish I had the time and space to put an ExPo project together.

Growing up, my father took a late 60s Bluebird school bus and converted it to an ExPo budget camper. He removed all but the front two rows on the driver side, added full cabinets and a vented gas stove to the passenger side. He built a full-sized bed transversely set across the rear with full-sized slide-outs below and a large rack above. A welder we know built a 2/3-length rack on top and a ladder up the driver's rear. She was tagged Elizabeth Ann across the side, painted purple after the conversion. 20 years later, the name is just starting to come through. I think she had a Ford V8 and a 2-speed rear axle. That was the first vehicle I ever drove.

Lookd something like this body:
http://www.firenews.org/mass/PrincetonR1bus.jpg

I really enjoyed the trips we took in the Elizabeth Ann. We took trips across the US in her, usually with a few extra guests. Every year we lived in her for around a month or two in the summer when school let out. You would be surprised where you can go in one of those. My father says she got around 8mpg petrol.

http://www.weeville.com/redneck%20school%20bus.jpg

I'd really like to build an ExPo like that, maybe on a shorty bus with a diesel engine. Traveling with hippies, I got to see quite a few creative bus conversions. Some had VW vans and even other bus bodies grafted to the top.

http://www.geocities.com/crazy_hill77/images/Bus_Schweitzer2.jpg

[whatcharterboat]

Yeah. We are looking at that now. You have to supply 2 bars for destructive testing and $3.5k per test. So at least $7k (plus the bars) to get a new "airbag" bullbar with a winch mount approved. We are probably going to have to go down that track soon. Seems like I only just finished making a jig for the old model winch mount. I like our bullbars over everyonelse's cause you don't have to tilt them when you tilt the cab.

You know the old 6x6 and 4x4 Army Inters that Lynn posted? They had a huge winch ( and I mean huge) mounted behind the transfer case and a turntable at the rear and a fairlead through the front bar. Maybe that would work on the new NPS. Just sucks having a winch there cause you can't watch the cable spool etc.

I went round Oz once in an old Landie with a PTO rear winch with a roller under it. I've always thought that was a great setup as long as the cable run forward is easy and maybe a syncronized fairlead to keep the cable neat. I used to do a lot of pipeline robotics and when we would reverse out of a pipe the umbilical cable would spool in sync with the reversing tractor so you didn't run over it and the fairlead would travel from side to side to keep it even across the drum.

Maybe I'm worrying to much. You know what I mean about not being able to see it down there behind the transfer case, don't you? Especially if your in chest deep water in croc country.A guide tube through the chassis rails too.

Have a read of the "How often do you use your winch thread?" Some good stuff in there. Be back on late tonight if you up.

[Mickldo]

Wish I had the time and space to put an ExPo project together.

Growing up, my father took a late 60s Bluebird school bus and converted it to an ExPo budget camper. He removed all but the front two rows on the driver side, added full cabinets and a vented gas stove to the passenger side. He built a full-sized bed transversely set across the rear with full-sized slide-outs below and a large rack above. A welder we know built a 2/3-length rack on top and a ladder up the driver's rear. She was tagged Elizabeth Ann across the side, painted purple after the conversion. 20 years later, the name is just starting to come through. I think she had a Ford V8 and a 2-speed rear axle. That was the first vehicle I ever drove.

Lookd something like this body:
http://www.firenews.org/mass/PrincetonR1bus.jpg

I really enjoyed the trips we took in the Elizabeth Ann. We took trips across the US in her, usually with a few extra guests. Every year we lived in her for around a month or two in the summer when school let out. You would be surprised where you can go in one of those. My father says she got around 8mpg petrol.

http://www.weeville.com/redneck%20school%20bus.jpg

I'd really like to build an ExPo like that, maybe on a shorty bus with a diesel engine. Traveling with hippies, I got to see quite a few creative bus conversions. Some had VW vans and even other bus bodies grafted to the top.

http://www.geocities.com/crazy_hill77/images/Bus_Schweitzer2.jpg

Yeah, that's the stuff. Growing up travelling around the country in a home built camper is what got me started. When I was a kid and everybody else was reading comics I was reading "Overlander" and "4x4 Australia" magazines and designing my own campers.

[Mickldo]

Yeah. We are looking at that now. You have to supply 2 bars for destructive testing and $3.5k per test. So at least $7k (plus the bars) to get a new "airbag" bullbar with a winch mount approved. We are probably going to have to go down that track soon. Seems like I only just finished making a jig for the old model winch mount. I like our bullbars over everyonelse's cause you don't have to tilt them when you tilt the cab.

You know the old 6x6 and 4x4 Army Inters that Lynn posted? They had a huge winch ( and I mean huge) mounted behind the transfer case and a turntable at the rear and a fairlead through the front bar. Maybe that would work on the new NPS. Just sucks having a winch there cause you can't watch the cable spool etc.

I went round Oz once in an old Landie with a PTO rear winch with a roller under it. I've always thought that was a great setup as long as the cable run forward is easy and maybe a syncronized fairlead to keep the cable neat. I used to do a lot of pipeline robotics and when we would reverse out of a pipe the umbilical cable would spool in sync with the reversing tractor so you didn't run over it and the fairlead would travel from side to side to keep it even across the drum.

Maybe I'm worrying to much. You know what I mean about not being able to see it down there behind the transfer case, don't you? Especially if your in chest deep water in croc country.A guide tube through the chassis rails too.

Have a read of the "How often do you use your winch thread?" Some good stuff in there. Be back on late tonight if you up.

We get our winches and bullbars from ATS in Brisvegas. They are usually capstan winches and they need to be exposed at the front so the Ergon guys can wrap the rope around the capstan for pulling the cables through underground and tensioning the cables. The bullbars they make don't need to be tilted either to tilt the cab.

One of my other long term projects is a Daihatsu F55 Scat Ute that I want to make into a winch challenge rig/ hardcore wheeling rig. I want the winch to be a mid-mounted PTO winch just like that. I have been nutting the design out over on ih8mud. There are a couple of guys over there that have some very cool mid-mount winch setups.

[whatcharterboat]

Growing up travelling around the country in a home built camper is what got me started. When I was a kid and everybody else was reading comics I was reading "Overlander" and "4x4 Australia" magazines and designing my own campers.

Me too. I still have all those old mags in a box at the folks house. Not "4x4 Australia", but "Overlander" and my favorite comic was the old "Bushdriver". Mainly from the 70’s and early 80’s.

My family pioneered alot of the Daintree area in the early 1900's, so I have really early childhood memories of bouncing round the back of old Jeeps left over from WWII and Series I Landrovers with drums of fuel for the hippie communes at the base of Cape York (Cape Tribulation). Now the uncles run really slick new tankers.


http://www.weeville.com/redneck%20school%20bus.jpg
That thing is just wrong on so many levels!!!!!


One of my other long term projects is a Daihatsu F55 Scat Ute that I want to make into a winch challenge rig/ hardcore wheeling rig.

I'm going to check out the centremount winches that you mentioned. Afraid I don't follow that scene at all but sounds like I should broaden my horizons a bit. Have been using mainly Cutsnake Hydraulic winches front and rear with wireless remotes or 24v APE's.

Scat sounds good. Had a F55 hardtop with a Nissan Sunny motor of all things.
Really strong 4by. Sounds like a great project. Had to sell my project 2 years ago to help pay for my Uni study. (I'm partime at Allterrainwarrior now. Probably do 3 weeks in every 4 depending on study load. Unbelieveably considerate boss) I‘ve been there since the start of '03.

This was my project. Took the all the needed parts from a rusty ’73 Ford XY 4x4 ute. Obviously not this one.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8d700b3127ccec57fbdf90a6400000040O00EcMWrVmzZMg e3nwI/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D480/ry%3D320/

and picked up a ’74 Ford XB coupe that someone had ripped the front end out going over a traffic island drunk. As you do.

Aka “last of the V8 Interceptors” from Mad Max

http://www.aussiecoupes.com/images/madmaxes.jpg

and put it all together. This was as far as I got before the brain kicked in and decided to head back to school.
It’s finished and prowling around the Warwick area now.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8d700b3127ccec57f999f0a1000000040O00EcMWrVmzZMg e3nwI/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D480/ry%3D320/

[whatcharterboat]

Sprale just for you. Bail on the monster truck/school bus idea. Saw this driving round my neighborhood yesterday. True but also wrong on so many levels. I think it's a homemade amphibious MAN with what looks like a Hamilton Jet for propulsion. Perfect for that next ExPo camper project. LOL.

http://media.thedaily.com.au/img/photos/2007/11/28/350x350bus_t350.jpg

[Fergie]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v176/bergferg/REFCTH75.jpg

This is my Dad and his childhood buddy back in 1975.

They both owned buses and traveled around the country from the time they got back from Vietnam in 1972, until my Dad met my mom in 1981...quite the nomads.

[whatcharterboat]

Fergie that dog is freaking out up there on that bonnet. Way cool pic. Looks like the cover from an old Eagles record.

Ok. I’m coming out of the closet as a past school bus owner too. My girlfriend (now wife) and I bought this in ’85 from the local bus company. Originally a City Council bus in Brisbane , then a school bus in Mooloolabah. BTW They were the ones who gave it the hippie paintjob. Fitted it out on a mates farm and lived in it for 3 years. Used all antique brass hardware inside and solid timer. No veneer or ply. The white panel on the left side was another double stairwell, which was filled in for the bathroom. It’s a ’66 Leyland Leopard with a 6cyl diesel laying flat under the floor and a pre-select 4 speed auto. A tip if anyone is looking at buses to convert. Buy something that will cruise the hwy easily. This was a start/stop city bus and wasn’t that happy at speed.

The rear bumper was of getting a spare wheel rack fitted and sorry about the mess inside. It was a “morning after” shot.


http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8d700b3127ccec57f12b7cbd500000040O00EcMWrVmzZMg e3nwI/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D480/ry%3D320/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8d700b3127ccec57fc3478bd500000040O00EcMWrVmzZMg e3nwI/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D480/ry%3D320/

Hope none of our customers see this.

[whatcharterboat]

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8d700b3127ccec57fc3478bd500000040O00EcMWrVmzZMg e3nwI/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D480/ry%3D320/

[Fergie]

Fergie that dog is freaking out up there on that bonnet. Way cool pic. Looks like the cover from an old Eagles record.



They were quite the dynamic duo...still are when they get together. As a family, we've stopped in to some back country towns just to search out some of his old hippie buddies...they're still aroudn too!

This is his old Cruiser, and an old travel trailer he lived in for a few years as a Warden on a private ranch near Glacier NP.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v176/bergferg/REF1974.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v176/bergferg/REF2.jpg

[whatcharterboat]

How old is that cruiser?? Had one of them too. You can just see the front of mine parked ahead of the bus. Was a factory soft top FJ40 with a diesel Coaster bus engine. Love the old hubcaps and white stripe tyres on your dads.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8d700b3127ccec57f12b7cbd500000040O00EcMWrVmzZMg e3nwI/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D480/ry%3D320/

[Mickldo]

Me too. I still have all those old mags in a box at the folks house. Not "4x4 Australia", but "Overlander" and my favorite comic was the old "Bushdriver". Mainly from the 70’s and early 80’s.

My family pioneered alot of the Daintree area in the early 1900's, so I have really early childhood memories of bouncing round the back of old Jeeps left over from WWII and Series I Landrovers with drums of fuel for the hippie communes at the base of Cape York (Cape Tribulation). Now the uncles run really slick new tankers.


http://www.weeville.com/redneck%20school%20bus.jpg
That thing is just wrong on so many levels!!!!!



I'm going to check out the centremount winches that you mentioned. Afraid I don't follow that scene at all but sounds like I should broaden my horizons a bit. Have been using mainly Cutsnake Hydraulic winches front and rear with wireless remotes or 24v APE's.

Scat sounds good. Had a F55 hardtop with a Nissan Sunny motor of all things.
Really strong 4by. Sounds like a great project. Had to sell my project 2 years ago to help pay for my Uni study. (I'm partime at Allterrainwarrior now. Probably do 3 weeks in every 4 depending on study load. Unbelieveably considerate boss) I‘ve been there since the start of '03.

This was my project. Took the all the needed parts from a rusty ’73 Ford XY 4x4 ute. Obviously not this one.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8d700b3127ccec57fbdf90a6400000040O00EcMWrVmzZMg e3nwI/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D480/ry%3D320/

and picked up a ’74 Ford XB coupe that someone had ripped the front end out going over a traffic island drunk. As you do.

Aka “last of the V8 Interceptors” from Mad Max

http://www.aussiecoupes.com/images/madmaxes.jpg

and put it all together. This was as far as I got before the brain kicked in and decided to head back to school.
It’s finished and prowling around the Warwick area now.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8d700b3127ccec57f999f0a1000000040O00EcMWrVmzZMg e3nwI/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D480/ry%3D320/

I've still got all my old Overlanders too.

I want to build up something similar to Piglets old Scat.

http://www.offroadimages.com.au/gallery/albums/userpics/10014/normal_Piglet_0505_145.jpg

I'll probably be old and grey before it gets finished though.

That looks like a very cool XB/4X Falcon.

[Mickldo]

Sprale just for you. Bail on the monster truck/school bus idea. Saw this driving round my neighborhood yesterday. True but also wrong on so many levels. I think it's a homemade amphibious MAN with what looks like a Hamilton Jet for propulsion. Perfect for that next ExPo camper project. LOL.

http://media.thedaily.com.au/img/photos/2007/11/28/350x350bus_t350.jpg

Looks like a newer version of the LARC like they use up at the Town of 1770 for tours up to Bustard Head.

http://atdw.tq.com.au/multimedia/TQ/502700_1.jpg

[Mickldo]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v176/bergferg/REFCTH75.jpg

This is my Dad and his childhood buddy back in 1975.

They both owned buses and traveled around the country from the time they got back from Vietnam in 1972, until my Dad met my mom in 1981...quite the nomads.

I love all these old photos. Very cool.

[Mickldo]

Fergie that dog is freaking out up there on that bonnet. Way cool pic. Looks like the cover from an old Eagles record.

Ok. I’m coming out of the closet as a past school bus owner too. My girlfriend (now wife) and I bought this in ’85 from the local bus company. Originally a City Council bus in Brisbane , then a school bus in Mooloolabah. BTW They were the ones who gave it the hippie paintjob. Fitted it out on a mates farm and lived in it for 3 years. Used all antique brass hardware inside and solid timer. No veneer or ply. The white panel on the left side was another double stairwell, which was filled in for the bathroom. It’s a ’66 Leyland Leopard with a 6cyl diesel laying flat under the floor and a pre-select 4 speed auto. A tip if anyone is looking at buses to convert. Buy something that will cruise the hwy easily. This was a start/stop city bus and wasn’t that happy at speed.

The rear bumper was of getting a spare wheel rack fitted and sorry about the mess inside. It was a “morning after” shot.


http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8d700b3127ccec57f12b7cbd500000040O00EcMWrVmzZMg e3nwI/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D480/ry%3D320/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8d700b3127ccec57fc3478bd500000040O00EcMWrVmzZMg e3nwI/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D480/ry%3D320/

Hope none of our customers see this.

They are all coming out of the wood work now.

Another cool bus.

[Mickldo]

They were quite the dynamic duo...still are when they get together. As a family, we've stopped in to some back country towns just to search out some of his old hippie buddies...they're still aroudn too!

This is his old Cruiser, and an old travel trailer he lived in for a few years as a Warden on a private ranch near Glacier NP.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v176/bergferg/REF1974.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v176/bergferg/REF2.jpg

I am a bit partial to old 40s with whitewalls and hubcaps too.

Keep the cool old photos coming.

[whatcharterboat]

Mick, This isn't a LARC. It is what I said. Found out today. A converted MAN. I will try and get some more pics. Some guys did the same thing up in Cairns with a big Jap truck. Imagine the maintence. Just wrong, Wrong ,Wrong. Got to go . On lunch.

[Mickldo]

Mick, This isn't a LARC. It is what I said. Found out today. A converted MAN. I will try and get some more pics. Some guys did the same thing up in Cairns with a big Jap truck. Imagine the maintence. Just wrong, Wrong ,Wrong. Got to go . On lunch.

Yeah I could pick it wasn't a proper LARC but it still is very cool. Probably a lot better than the original too.

[whatcharterboat]

Owe you an apology. Only just saw these responses now. Had some trouble with expo a month or so back. About the time I had to repost the plastic interior thread. Haven't been able to access any old threads in that forum. Only the current one . Until now. Wierd. You must have thought I was snobbing ya.

Anyway you said


Where do you get the Canon Uni Solar PVL's? I am just up the road a bit from you and I'd like too look into them a bit more.

We buy them from a wholesaler in West Oz. Email me if you need to know more. The frieght's not much cause if we buy 3 or 4 say for a vehicle, they just roll them up into a 400mm cube box and they hardly weigh anything. They are ideal for a boat cause there's no frame to corrode and the have a cool textured surface that you can walk on. At first I thought it was actually a non-skid surface but I later found out that it has a prismatic effect and helps to catch and magnify the energy at low sun angles. Like I said the only drawback is the wierd size available here. I know you can get a bigger range in Europe. I'll never use a rigid solar panel in a frame on a truck or boat again.

And


we use a similar product on the boats we build called Sea Board. It looks like the Star Board is available in a few different varieties. I might have to check out a few of the different ones.

Yeah I've heard of SeaBoard before. When I was the electrician at Noosa Cat.
Same stuff, different supplier. That caravan was a one off. All our furniture is molded now but I thought the "Plastic Interior" Thread might give some of these guys who are building campers at the moment some different options to what they are used too. I got a ton of pics on flat panel composite construction to post in the mog forum soon. Mainly for Iandraz cause he was asking questions.

http://www.offroadimages.com.au/gallery/albums/userpics/10014/normal_Piglet_0505_145.jpg
Piglet.Was that the Scat that they built for Roothy to use at Tuff Truck?? If it was, somewhere in all this mess I'm sitting in is a DVD on the build. You've probably seen it ???.

Anyway. Saw this on my way to work to today definetly belongs in this thread. It’s another Leoplard. Maybe mid ’70 model. Mine had ( as did this one ) airbag suspension. So when the air leaked out after a little while of being stopped it was almost on the ground. Way ahead of its’ time . LOL

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8d705b3127ccec565e67df19f00000040O00EcMWrVmzZMg e3nwI/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D315/ry%3D315/

As for this. Well it’s too cool for school. A Scooby Doo Mystery Machine. Very trick running gear and setup for camping inside too.

http://www.shutterfly.com/jsp/proceserv.jsp?uid=0EcMWrVmzZMv&rostate=67b0de21ee23febf947b&co=-1&js=1222262003578&ps=1&rs=6

[whatcharterboat]

http://www.shutterfly.com/jsp/proceserv.jsp?uid=0EcMWrVmzZMv&rostate=67b0de21ee23febf947b&co=-1&js=1222262003578&ps=1&rs=6

[whatcharterboat]

http://www.shutterfly.com/jsp/proceserv.jsp?uid=0EcMWrVmzZMv&rostate=67b0de21ee23febf947b&co=-1&js=1222262003578&ps=1&rs=6

[whatcharterboat]

Just click on the link. Don't know what's going on there. Hope I don't end up in the "group that can't post pics".

[Mickldo]

Owe you an apology. Only just saw these responses now. Had some trouble with expo a month or so back. About the time I had to repost the plastic interior thread. Haven't been able to access any old threads in that forum. Only the current one . Until now. Wierd. You must have thought I was snobbing ya.

Anyway you said



We buy them from a wholesaler in West Oz. Email me if you need to know more. The frieght's not much cause if we buy 3 or 4 say for a vehicle, they just roll them up into a 400mm cube box and they hardly weigh anything. They are ideal for a boat cause there's no frame to corrode and the have a cool textured surface that you can walk on. At first I thought it was actually a non-skid surface but I later found out that it has a prismatic effect and helps to catch and magnify the energy at low sun angles. Like I said the only drawback is the wierd size available here. I know you can get a bigger range in Europe. I'll never use a rigid solar panel in a frame on a truck or boat again.

And



Yeah I've heard of SeaBoard before. When I was the electrician at Noosa Cat.
Same stuff, different supplier. That caravan was a one off. All our furniture is molded now but I thought the "Plastic Interior" Thread might give some of these guys who are building campers at the moment some different options to what they are used too. I got a ton of pics on flat panel composite construction to post in the mog forum soon. Mainly for Iandraz cause he was asking questions.

http://www.offroadimages.com.au/gallery/albums/userpics/10014/normal_Piglet_0505_145.jpg
Piglet.Was that the Scat that they built for Roothy to use at Tuff Truck?? If it was, somewhere in all this mess I'm sitting in is a DVD on the build. You've probably seen it ???.

Anyway. Saw this on my way to work to today definetly belongs in this thread. It’s another Leoplard. Maybe mid ’70 model. Mine had ( as did this one ) airbag suspension. So when the air leaked out after a little while of being stopped it was almost on the ground. Way ahead of its’ time . LOL

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8d705b3127ccec565e67df19f00000040O00EcMWrVmzZMg e3nwI/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D315/ry%3D315/

As for this. Well it’s too cool for school. A Scooby Doo Mystery Machine. Very trick running gear and setup for camping inside too.

http://www.shutterfly.com/jsp/proceserv.jsp?uid=0EcMWrVmzZMv&rostate=67b0de21ee23febf947b&co=-1&js=1222262003578&ps=1&rs=6

I'll chat to you about the solar panels and starboard on the weekend.

Where did you get a pic of that Kombi?

I have worked on that Kombi. When I worked as a mechanic at a 4x4 hire place in Hervey Bay the owners came into hire a Land Rover to take to Fraser Island. When they came back they realised we did mechanical repairs too. They got us to fix the horn and the sliding door lock. I remember this because they were four VERY hot young blonde female European backpackers and while we worked on the Kombi they sat in the back in their very short skirts. The job took a little bit longer than we expected;) Two of us worked on the job and luckily I got to fix the sliding door.

The funny thing about it all was they didn't speak a word of English and to ask us to fix the horn there was lots of "horn/horny" charades and "honk, honk" sounds in their cool accent.

[Mickldo]

Oh, I got distracted there. Forgot to reply about the Scat.

No it isn't Roothies Scat. I think by the time Roothy built that Scat Piglet had rolled his and had grafted on a Feroza body instead. I prefer the old Scat body though.

[Mickldo]

Just click on the link. Don't know what's going on there. Hope I don't end up in the "group that can't post pics".

http://www.shutterfly.com/jsp/proceserv.jsp?uid=0EcMWrVmzZMv&rostate=67b0de21ee23febf947b&co=-1&js=1222262003578&ps=1&rs=6

How's that?

[Mickldo]

http://www.shutterfly.com/jsp/proceserv.jsp?uid=0EcMWrVmzZMv&rostate=67b0de21ee23febf947b&co=-1&js=1222262003578&ps=1&rs=6

How's that?

Nah, I can't post that one either. Hmmm.....

[whatcharterboat]

Oh how this thread has disintegrated. If we aren't careful the moderators are going to change the name of this thread "2 Aussies talking !@#$ all day" Hahaha.

The kombi pic was taken 100 metres from my back fence. It's a real vehicle mod heaven here. Why don't you move down? Serious.

Anyway I'd like to keep this thread going. Why not go through all those old mags and see what we can dig up? Not just "offroad" but more like "expedition" and "heavy vehicle stuff". My wife runs a book store. They had a book in the other day about a guy who did a round the world trip in the 1920's. Had some of the most unbelievable expedition style pics ever. I just flick through them and give 'em back. Never thought of scanning a few pics and posting them. Is that even legal?

It's cool to see how basic these guys traveled back then. We've definitely become too dependant on technology somewhere along the way. Remember when doing something like a Simpson Desert crossing was mega. Now with EPIRB's, Sat Comms, fridges, flying doctors, Google Earth, GPS's, Air-con, bla bla. It seems too, I dunno "safe". You know what I mean.

I shudder at the things we got away with when I was a teenager just in 2wd cars and kombies. I did the track from Norseman to Hyden in an XW Falcon with my girlfriend in '82. Saw 2 wheel tracks heading off through a gap in the fenceline. Thought "Aw Yeah, That must be the track". Maybe 300 klms of soft sand, desert and salt flats later we came across a geologist from Kalgoolie in a cruiser collecting samples. He nearly fell over. Said "Aw yeah, Your going the right way. Another 200 klms to go". Crazy stuff ( all in search of waves). They would have never found us if we got lost. Didn't even have any food cause we had to declare all our fresh fruit and stuff at the WA border crossing back then. The XW was even on retreads. Can you believe that?

That's it in the fore ground next to a mates blue pop top kombie. The white one. In fact look at the other cars in the pic. Not one 4by amongst them.

Dig up those old pics.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8d732b3127ccec54fe95ba28d00000040O00EcMWrVmzZMg e3nwI/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D480/ry%3D320/

[Mickldo]

Oh how this thread has disintegrated. If we aren't careful the moderators are going to change the name of this thread "2 Aussies talking !@#$ all day" Hahaha.

The kombi pic was taken 100 metres from my back fence. It's a real vehicle mod heaven here. Why don't you move down? Serious.

Anyway I'd like to keep this thread going. Why not go through all those old mags and see what we can dig up? Not just "offroad" but more like "expedition" and "heavy vehicle stuff". My wife runs a book store. They had a book in the other day about a guy who did a round the world trip in the 1920's. Had some of the most unbelievable expedition style pics ever. I just flick through them and give 'em back. Never thought of scanning a few pics and posting them. Is that even legal?

It's cool to see how basic these guys traveled back then. We've definitely become too dependant on technology somewhere along the way. Remember when doing something like a Simpson Desert crossing was mega. Now with EPIRB's, Sat Comms, fridges, flying doctors, Google Earth, GPS's, Air-con, bla bla. It seems too, I dunno "safe". You know what I mean.

I shudder at the things we got away with when I was a teenager just in 2wd cars and kombies. I did the track from Norseman to Hyden in an XW Falcon with my girlfriend in '82. Saw 2 wheel tracks heading off through a gap in the fenceline. Thought "Aw Yeah, That must be the track". Maybe 300 klms of soft sand, desert and salt flats later we came across a geologist from Kalgoolie in a cruiser collecting samples. He nearly fell over. Said "Aw yeah, Your going the right way. Another 200 klms to go". Crazy stuff ( all in search of waves). They would have never found us if we got lost. Didn't even have any food cause we had to declare all our fresh fruit and stuff at the WA border crossing back then. The XW was even on retreads. Can you believe that?

That's it in the fore ground next to a mates blue pop top kombie. The white one. In fact look at the other cars in the pic. Not one 4by amongst them.

Dig up those old pics.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8d732b3127ccec54fe95ba28d00000040O00EcMWrVmzZMg e3nwI/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D480/ry%3D320/

I agree lets dig up more old pics.

When we toured around OZ in the old Coaster we took all the old "4wd only" tracks. We helped out a few broken down 4wds on the trip and they were suprised we were doing it in an old bus. One of the couples we met were in an old Land Rover towing a caravan. They had snapped the drawbar on the caravan. We pulled up and Dad grabbed the drill and grinder out to start to help them repair it. They laughed at us and asked which tree we were going to plug them into. Dad just pulled the Honda generator (which I own now) out, fired it up and and made a strengthening piece to repair the drawbar. They ended up travelling with us for the rest of the trip and we are still friends today.

[whatcharterboat]

Best 2 bush repairs I can remember, Both on the same vehicle. A '65 VW micro bus which was the first vehicle we did serious surf travel in:

First one. Heading up to DI on the the beach. Nos dived into a huge washout. Stopped us dead. The roofrack with all the boards flew off and landed about 20 metres away. The old 6volt battery had exposed lead bridges between the cells. It broke free and shorted out on the body. Blew a big gap across the bridge. What do we do? Tides coming in fast. We see a fisherman half a kay up the beach in the surf. Paul runs up and bums some lead sinkers, I rip a hubcap off and light a fire, Tony cuts a Coke can up for a mold with some scissors from the first aid kit. We melt down the lead in the hubcap over the fire and pour it into the mold across the bridge. No worries. Battery back in and off we go with water washing up around the wheels.

Next one was down near the Vic border. Another car was with us. Trying to get up this big hill and the coming starts slipping. Us thinking the obvious go "Aw Yeah It's the clutch". Drop the motor out onto a skateboard and what do you know. Clutch is good. Put it back in (In out in less than an hour) Still no go. Turned out it had stripped a spline on the left brake drum. Cut along story short of how we all (8 of us plus a big dog) fitted into the FB to go 3 hours back to a rusty old VW wreck we had spotted in the bush the day before. We arrive and start pulling the hub off . Really stuck. Wish I had a pic. 3 of us standing a long bar. Anyway this aboriginal dude comes out of the bush and goes "Hey mat,Wat ya duin ta ma ka". Had to give him all our beer and he was stoked.

[Mickldo]

Best 2 bush repairs I can remember, Both on the same vehicle. A '65 VW micro bus which was the first vehicle we did serious surf travel in:

First one. Heading up to DI on the the beach. Nos dived into a huge washout. Stopped us dead. The roofrack with all the boards flew off and landed about 20 metres away. The old 6volt battery had exposed lead bridges between the cells. It broke free and shorted out on the body. Blew a big gap across the bridge. What do we do? Tides coming in fast. We see a fisherman half a kay up the beach in the surf. Paul runs up and bums some lead sinkers, I rip a hubcap off and light a fire, Tony cuts a Coke can up for a mold with some scissors from the first aid kit. We melt down the lead in the hubcap over the fire and pour it into the mold across the bridge. No worries. Battery back in and off we go with water washing up around the wheels.

Next one was down near the Vic border. Another car was with us. Trying to get up this big hill and the coming starts slipping. Us thinking the obvious go "Aw Yeah It's the clutch". Drop the motor out onto a skateboard and what do you know. Clutch is good. Put it back in (In out in less than an hour) Still no go. Turned out it had stripped a spline on the left brake drum. Cut along story short of how we all (8 of us plus a big dog) fitted into the FB to go 3 hours back to a rusty old VW wreck we had spotted in the bush the day before. We arrive and start pulling the hub off . Really stuck. Wish I had a pic. 3 of us standing a long bar. Anyway this aboriginal dude comes out of the bush and goes "Hey mat,Wat ya duin ta ma ka". Had to give him all our beer and he was stoked.

LOL

Gotta love the ol Kombis. I am currently restoring two for my Father-in-Law. A '76 dual cab ute and a '77 camper. I used to borrow the '77 camper and take it up to Inskip Point back before they bitumened it. Pulled up on the beach in the pouring rain sitting in the back with the sliding door open and the fishing rods out the side.

Most of my bush mechanic stories are from working over on Fraser Island doing recoveries. One time there was two recoveries to do on the same day so the detailer and I went over. They were both old Series III ex army Land Rovers. The one the detailer had to drive back had snapped a front axle so was in two wheel drive. The one I had the gearbox was stuck in third gear. I had start off in low range and then double shuffle it into high range. Which if you have ever driven a Landy you will know pops it back into 2wd when you shift so you have to shift back into 4wd at the same time otherwise you get bogged again straight away. We were headed back to the barge when we came across a brand new Land Rover Discovery (series 2 at the time - no centre diff lock but traction control) who was stuck at the base of a sand hill. We pulled him out using the 2wd one, let his tyres down and watched him have another go at the hill. He only made it about halfway up the hill before the traction control wouldn't let him go any further. We pulled him out again but by know we were running late for the barge so we drove around him and up the hill. We both made it up the hill first go even with the skinny 7.50R16 bar treads at full pressure. We ended up missing that barge and had to wait for the next one. The Disco guy eventually turned up after somebody else towed him to the top of the hill and came over and chatted with us. He was ****ed off that a couple of broken down old Landies had made it and his whiz-bang new one couldn't. He reckoned he was going to sell it as soon as he got home and buy a Defender instead.

[whatcharterboat]

Mick.Dad used to be a VW dealer so we always had 'em around. Only ones I've ever had was a '71 single cab with Webers on 15's. Never saw another one on 15's before this, so I got heaps of questions. A '73 single cab and a mint '75 dualcab. Never owned a normal one but dad and my brother always had em. If only you had a crystal ball cause of the money they bring now.

When I lived in North West Tasmania we found a really old one (really old like a '50 model) in the long grass behind the house. When I described it to a VW guy a couple of years ago he said he thought there was only ever one in the country. That one sold unrestored recently for $75. He was like "where is it? Where is it?"

Don't get me started on Landies. Lost a wheel in the Barrington Tops in a Series III by myself. Never found it. Probably ended up in a ravine. When the wheel came off, the truck came down hard on the brake drum and shattered it. So I had to vise grip the brake line and drive with one front brake. Maybe this is OK on flat ground but parts of that Range are STEEP. Scary.

[whatcharterboat]

That one sold unrestored recently for $75.

Of course that should have read $75,000. If you weren't wise to it already

[Mickldo]

Mick.Dad used to be a VW dealer so we always had 'em around. Only ones I've ever had was a '71 single cab with Webers on 15's. Never saw another one on 15's before this, so I got heaps of questions. A '73 single cab and a mint '75 dualcab. Never owned a normal one but dad and my brother always had em. If only you had a crystal ball cause of the money they bring now.

When I lived in North West Tasmania we found a really old one (really old like a '50 model) in the long grass behind the house. When I described it to a VW guy a couple of years ago he said he thought there was only ever one in the country. That one sold unrestored recently for $75. He was like "where is it? Where is it?"

Don't get me started on Landies. Lost a wheel in the Barrington Tops in a Series III by myself. Never found it. Probably ended up in a ravine. When the wheel came off, the truck came down hard on the brake drum and shattered it. So I had to vise grip the brake line and drive with one front brake. Maybe this is OK on flat ground but parts of that Range are STEEP. Scary.

Found a couple of young guys in a Nissan MQ SWB minus a wheel on a trip home from Land Cruiser Mountain Park one time. They had borrowed their brothers bling alloy rims and 35" muddies for the weekend off his Land Cruiser. Of course the LC and MQ wheel studs are different threads so they used the cone MQ nuts on the alloy rims which of course got flogged out by the end of the weekend. The rim ended up down the bottom of the gorge but most of the brakes were missing as were the wheel nuts. We did the same trick with the vise grips but he reckoned the brakes were heaps better now than they had ever been so he took off down the range at breakneck speed. I was flatout keeping up in the 80. His brakes must've been way out of adjustment. :eek:

[Mickldo]

Of course that should have read $75,000. If you weren't wise to it already

Yeah splitties are starting to pull serious money now. I'm restoring the two for the FIL in the vain hope the same thing will happen with bays in a few years time. :rolleyes:

[whatcharterboat]

Already has. I've seen really top bays in the $30k bracket. Good story on Fraser by the way and Happy anniversary for the weekend. This 'll blow you out. Where is it . Have to search a bit. Have a pic somewhere of my wedding day and the dualcab all covered in paper and heading off to Central Australia. I'll find it any way.

[Mickldo]

Already has. I've seen really top bays in the $30k bracket. Good story on Fraser by the way and Happy anniversary for the weekend. This 'll blow you out. Where is it . Have to search a bit. Have a pic somewhere of my wedding day and the dualcab all covered in paper and heading off to Central Australia. I'll find it any way.

Kombi pics are always welcome

Cheers.

[whatcharterboat]

Will half an hour Mick if you're still up. Still scanning. Bla bla.

[whatcharterboat]

Kombi pics are always welcome

Well I suppose it is "Blast from the past" so technically we are'nt off topic. See if we get thrown off?

This one is identical to the '65 we used to go on Surfari in.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8d704b3127ccec5674cdaa94100000040O00EcMWrVmzZMg e3nwI/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D110/ry%3D110/

And this one cause it's your wedding anniversary this weekend. Congrats.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8d704b3127ccec567c333e97700000040O00EcMWrVmzZMg e3nwI/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D110/ry%3D110/

I was working in Roxby Downs when we got married and we sold the twincab down there. Regret it to this day. Bought this cruiser in Adelaide and made all the bar work and battery cradles, long range tanks, completely rewired it and replaced the springs with Ultimate Springs, Donaldson, spoties, Recaros etc.etc. As you do. Did everything after work in the mine workshop. After all that , it was still a lemon. This is the one with the Diesel Coaster Bus engine in it.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8d704b3127ccec566edc748e800000040O00EcMWrVmzZMg e3nwI/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D110/ry%3D110/

Spent a couple of months heading home via the Northern Territory. See how simple it was back then. Just a swag on the ground and cooking on a fire.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8d704b3127ccec5666d56c90900000040O00EcMWrVmzZMg e3nwI/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D110/ry%3D110/

When we were in Roxby one of my friends bought this from on of the US Airforce guys based up the road in Woomera. $5oo. This was the best desert rig ever. 400 cubes and just floated over the corrugations so this was how we traveled out there for much of the stint. About a year. Hottest day was 127degrees F. and dust storms like in the movie > "The Mummy"

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8d704b3127ccec566501289cb00000040O00EcMWrVmzZMg e3nwI/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D110/ry%3D110/

Lastly is another old pic from Fraser Island. 3 little kids in the back on our way home from 4 weeks just South of Happy Valley in the Tailor season. Travelling light. Have to with such a small rig.

Gotta watch those Dingoes too as you'd know. They might look cute but I would't trust em as far as I could throw em. This one always hangs near the ferry.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8d704b3127ccec567c01aa9c700000040O00EcMWrVmzZMg e3nwI/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D110/ry%3D110/

[Mickldo]

Thanks John.

Had a good chat with you on the weekend. I really loved your campers. Very cool set up. Pass on to your boss my thanks for letting you show me round your factory.

Hopefully I will be back down your way to watch the Noosa Classic Car Club Hillclimb. Might be able to catch up and chat a bit more then.

BTW nice pics of the Kombis.

I stopped in at my parents place on the way home and grabbed some more photo albums to go through and scan more cool old pics of campers. Stay tuned...

[whatcharterboat]

Mick , This is a test to see if my "pic posting" skills have returned.

Took this pic at Cutta Cutta Caves just near Katherine, N.T. in '89? What caught my eye was the security bars on the windows then I noticed it was LHD. Check out the heavy duty alloy cases on the roof too. They were obviously a Swiss couple doing a Round The World trip but never saw anyone around. They were probably still back in the caves checking a different section to us. If you've never been down them take plenty of water cause it gets really hot the further in you go.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3147/2905859953_8ca804f81c_o.jpg

[whatcharterboat]

Sorry. Not Swiss meant to write Danish

[whatcharterboat]

These definitely fit into the "Blast from the Past" category. The first one is of Earnest Marples Landrover "Caravan. I believe it was custom built for him by Landrover in the late '50s for "honeymoon" / expedition transport. At the time he was the British Minister of Transport. He was the guy that gave them parking meters and seatbelts. Anyway guess there was a few perks with the job. Note the double skin "Tropical" roof.

This must have been before the Forward Control (FWC) Landrover or they would have simply converted one of them. The one in the sling was exported to the Securitas Express company. This FWC would have made a perfect ExPo truck in its day too. Even today either of them would still be great.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3211/2905945037_0938d8f264.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3209/2905945043_1e20e0e71d_o.jpg

Mick. Have found plenty more really old pics. How's your treasure hunting going?

[Mickldo]

Nice finds :D

I like the Landie in the sling.

My wife is scanning all of the old albums and sorting them out when she gets a chance during the day. Usually only when the girl goes to sleep.

I know there are some really cool pics in the albums but it will be a case of waiting till they are done.

[whatcharterboat]

Nice finds, I like the Landie in the sling.

Mick, I can remember seeing a few of these as a kid but very rare now. Ever worked on them? Very clever hey. They used the 109” chassis. You can just make it out in the diagram. They ended up as a 110” but because they had a stronger floor frame piggy backing the chassis, upgraded springs and 9.00R16 tyres they were rated at 30cwt. IIRC that was exactly double that of a standard 109” Series II Landrover. The early ones ran the 4 cylinder motor and then later the 6 when it was developed for the SeriesIIA. A mates’ dad had one, which he left over on Moreton Island for fishing trips.

They sort of remind me of an OKA a bit. I know they were really heavy and I don’t think the military ever took a shine to them. The ‘70s alloy V8 101 FWC were a completely different animal, especially when coupled to a driven trailer giving an effectual 6x6.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3193/2920150625_09c93c69a3.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3177/2920133343_a59784d2ab.jpg

And check this out. Hardly the basis for an Expedition vehicle but seeing as how you build race car trailers I thought you'd appreciate it. Maybe you could do this with a modern Jap truck like an FG or NPS. Haha.

It's obviously a FWC LR converted for Rovers race team. What else would you expect? Definitely a blast from the past.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3100/2920133349_03fa1fcd81.jpg

[Mickldo]

Mick, I can remember seeing a few of these as a kid but very rare now. Ever worked on them? Very clever hey. They used the 109” chassis. You can just make it out in the diagram. They ended up as a 110” but because they had a stronger floor frame piggy backing the chassis, upgraded springs and 9.00R16 tyres they were rated at 30cwt. IIRC that was exactly double that of a standard 109” Series II Landrover. The early ones ran the 4 cylinder motor and then later the 6 when it was developed for the SeriesIIA. A mates’ dad had one, which he left over on Moreton Island for fishing trips.

They sort of remind me of an OKA a bit. I know they were really heavy and I don’t think the military ever took a shine to them. The ‘70s alloy V8 101 FWC were a completely different animal, especially when coupled to a driven trailer giving an effectual 6x6.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3193/2920150625_09c93c69a3.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3177/2920133343_a59784d2ab.jpg

And check this out. Hardly the basis for an Expedition vehicle but seeing as how you build race car trailers I thought you'd appreciate it. Maybe you could do this with a modern Jap truck like an FG or NPS. Haha.

It's obviously a FWC LR converted for Rovers race team. What else would you expect? Definitely a blast from the past.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3100/2920133349_03fa1fcd81.jpg

I've worked on plenty of Land Rovers but unfortunately never a 101.

I better not show the boss that last one. He might go getting ideas :rolleyes:

[whatcharterboat]

I better not show the boss that last one. He might go getting ideas

Me either. I could just me turning up to work and finding the front half of a 4x4 FG or NPS on the workshop floor and the back half in rubbish skip.

Actually seen this done (or something similar anyway) with a 4x4 pick up. Looked like a normal pick up but the floor of the ute back dropped straight down between the wheels so that it could transport a quad bike. Obviously the rear wheels were on a single sided swingarm like the Rover truck. Have a pic somewhere. A bit off topic but I'll attach it to the next "blast from the past".

Have found some more old Landrover expedition stuff. Perks of Julie working in an old bookshop. Will post it on the weekend.

[ntsqd]

It's obviously a FWC LR converted for Rovers race team. What else would you expect? Definitely a blast from the past.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3100/2920133349_03fa1fcd81.jpg
This was also done here in the States about 14 years ago. I saw it at the SEMA show. They started with a 4x4 F-350 and deleted the rear axle output & locked it in 4wd High. The rear suspension was done with air springs, but the details of which are lost in the mists of time. Their show piece was a flatbed ("trayback?") auto transporter intended to pick up cars with very low ground clearance (road racers etc.). Haven't seen one since.

[whatcharterboat]

Thom.

Took this pic at World Expo ‘88 in Brisbane. IIRC it was at the Canadian Pavilion. Sort of what you are talking about.

Not sure if he is still in business, but there was a guy around the corner from our workshop that was building caravans on this concept. Haven’t seen him for awhile. Anyway they had a very low roof height and everything was down low (about halfway to the floor). The entry was from the rear and the floor of the central aisle way dropped down to the ground and was sealed by a waterproof vinyl type screen that dropped with it.

Ok. So it was very aerodynamic and much easier to construct than a pop-top but the biggest advantage was that it was wheelchair accessible. How cool is that? Don’t you think there would be a market for a motorhome like this, based on a front half of a 4x4 truck ??

Sure a wheelchair lift can be easily adapted to a rear entry motorhome but how much easier would entry/exit be if the floor of the motorhome were right down at ground level?

You’re a clever guy Thom. I can hear the cogs spinning in your head from here.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3088/2923419237_668bd4237d.jpg

[Mickldo]

Me either. I could just me turning up to work and finding the front half of a 4x4 FG or NPS on the workshop floor and the back half in rubbish skip.

Actually seen this done (or something similar anyway) with a 4x4 pick up. Looked like a normal pick up but the floor of the ute back dropped straight down between the wheels so that it could transport a quad bike. Obviously the rear wheels were on a single sided swingarm like the Rover truck. Have a pic somewhere. A bit off topic but I'll attach it to the next "blast from the past".

Have found some more old Landrover expedition stuff. Perks of Julie working in an old bookshop. Will post it on the weekend.

I think I have seen that ute before somewhere.

I was wondering where you were digging up all of those gems. Keep it up. :cheers:

[Mickldo]

Thom.

Took this pic at World Expo ‘88 in Brisbane. IIRC it was at the Canadian Pavilion. Sort of what you are talking about.

Not sure if he is still in business, but there was a guy around the corner from our workshop that was building caravans on this concept. Haven’t seen him for awhile. Anyway they had a very low roof height and everything was down low (about halfway to the floor). The entry was from the rear and the floor of the central aisle way dropped down to the ground and was sealed by a waterproof vinyl type screen that dropped with it.

Ok. So it was very aerodynamic and much easier to construct than a pop-top but the biggest advantage was that it was wheelchair accessible. How cool is that? Don’t you think there would be a market for a motorhome like this, based on a front half of a 4x4 truck ??

Sure a wheelchair lift can be easily adapted to a rear entry motorhome but how much easier would entry/exit be if the floor of the motorhome were right down at ground level?

You’re a clever guy Thom. I can hear the cogs spinning in your head from here.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3088/2923419237_668bd4237d.jpg

That's the ute I was thinking of.

[whatcharterboat]

I think I have seen that ute before somewhere.


Mick There was someone here building utes like this (think they were called Rhinobacks or something) based on late '90s early '00s frontwheel drive VW cab chassis. Were you thinking of one of them.


I was wondering where you were digging up all of those gems. Keep it up. :cheers:

Heaps of old albums but all my really good pics are on slides and I don't have any way of scanning them as yet. Also the old black and whites are from old books. Have plenty more old Landie pics of guys doing the Darien Gap in the "60s and "70s. Will post them on the weekend and cause Julie (to quote Roothy: the handbrake) runs an old book shop, I've got her on the hunt so I hope to continue this thread for awhile to come (till someone complains anyway. Haha).

[whatcharterboat]

How do you get 2 adults, 4 or 5 kids, and enough camping gear for the entire school holidays into an old WWII Jeep?

I think this pic was in one of the current mags and was taken on the beach at Teewah. Just north of here and a gateway to Double Island Point and Fraser Island. The beach was declared as an official road back in the ‘80s and therefore ALL road rules now apply. They even get the occasional speed camera and RBT (Random Breath Testing van).

On my first trip up (early ‘70s) I can remember seeing 4 or 5 guys standing on a timber deck with a handrail around it, a large ice box in the middle and all their fishing rods tied on out the back. Just looked like they were leaning on the verandah of a house having a few beers. Only the deck was bolted straight on top of an old Jeep chassis (like this one)!!!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3286/2927624025_b4efd19d7f.jpg

[Lynn]

No personal attachment, just something I ran across on the 'net a few years ago:




http://www.ms-t-inc.com/c-hall/flordellen.jpg (http://www.ms-t-inc.com/c-hall/flordellen.html)


Click on the pic for the full story

[Carlyle]

Looks like an extended hearse...

[ntsqd]

I've read just a tiny bit on those late 20's era "RV's". Most commonly I see them referred to as "House Cars."

On the Dodge (?, looks like a Dodge mid-size pick-up) "drop-bed", I see the rear suspension as being the hardest feature to design. You end up with a long boom that you're putting a twisting load on the end of. Then that boom has to have hinges in it for suspension travel.....
Wouldn't a powered & articulated ramp be easier? :)


A friend of mine is in a chair. Some time ago he built himself a CJ7 to go off roading in. Mounted the front fenders on hinges at the cowl so that pulling two bolt out of the grill allowed him access to the engine bay. About 4 years ago he decided that he wanted to go desert racing, so he built a truck. The adaptation needed for him to drive the truck actually makes rough trails & tracks easier for me to drive as well. No foot pedals, twist throttle and push the throttle arm fwd for brakes. Does tend to tire your left arm........
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u196/ntsqd/host/jav2-1.jpg

[Mickldo]

No personal attachment, just something I ran across on the 'net a few years ago:




http://www.ms-t-inc.com/c-hall/flordellen.jpg (http://www.ms-t-inc.com/c-hall/flordellen.html)


Click on the pic for the full story

Sweet. Now that is a blast from the past.

[whatcharterboat]

This definitely a Blast from the Past and as this trip was briefly mentioned in a thread recently, I thought I’d post these pics.

They are of course from Major Bashford-Snell’s famous Alaska-to-Cape journey in 1971-2 using Range Rovers. Undoubtedly the highlight of the military expedition was the crossing of the Darien Gap between Central and South America.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3042/2988357417_c25ef2d54a.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3050/2988359571_59c43c5fa6.jpg

The Range Rovers turned out not to be as all conquering as expected and the group found this battered old Land-Rover in Panama and flew it in to the jungle to use as a pathfinder for the remainder of their jungle crossing.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3212/2989218702_911dfba973.jpg
I love this bit about the old Land-Rover. This came from Russell Braddon’s book, “The Hundred Days of Darien”> “Setting up their Tirfor jacks, attaching ropes to the apparently lifeless Land-Rover, they winched it upright and hauled it diagonally back on to the track. Never a thing of beauty, it now looked more derelict than ever. But the Land-Rover is tough and without conceit. As if capsizing into jungle ditches were something routine, she responded to the first touch of the starter.”

Many believe that this was the first vehicular crossing of the Darien Gap but apparently Richard Bevis and Terry Whitfield set out from Toronto and did the Darien Gap leaving Panama City in February 1960. These guys also used a Landie. An 88” Series II. Get this They took 134 days of hacking and winching through the jungle into Columbia without any sponsors, radio links or air support and Bevis said they built 125 palm log bridges and got no less than 90 punctures!!!

Referenced from “The Land-Rover: Workhorse of the World”

[Octamog]

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q91/autodoc/imperialcamper1.jpg

[kerry]

This definitely a Blast from the Past and as this trip was briefly mentioned in a thread recently, I thought I’d post these pics.

They are of course from Major Bashford-Snell’s famous Alaska-to-Cape journey in 1971-2 using Range Rovers. Undoubtedly the highlight of the military expedition was the crossing of the Darien Gap between Central and South America.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3042/2988357417_c25ef2d54a.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3050/2988359571_59c43c5fa6.jpg

The Range Rovers turned out not to be as all conquering as expected and the group found this battered old Land-Rover in Panama and flew it in to the jungle to use as a pathfinder for the remainder of their jungle crossing.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3212/2989218702_911dfba973.jpg
I love this bit about the old Land-Rover. This came from Russell Braddon’s book, “The Hundred Days of Darien”> “Setting up their Tirfor jacks, attaching ropes to the apparently lifeless Land-Rover, they winched it upright and hauled it diagonally back on to the track. Never a thing of beauty, it now looked more derelict than ever. But the Land-Rover is tough and without conceit. As if capsizing into jungle ditches were something routine, she responded to the first touch of the starter.”

Many believe that this was the first vehicular crossing of the Darien Gap but apparently Richard Bevis and Terry Whitfield set out from Toronto and did the Darien Gap leaving Panama City in February 1960. These guys also used a Landie. An 88” Series II. Get this They took 134 days of hacking and winching through the jungle into Columbia without any sponsors, radio links or air support and Bevis said they built 125 palm log bridges and got no less than 90 punctures!!!

Referenced from “The Land-Rover: Workhorse of the World”

The quintessentially British part of Bashford-Snell's expedition was the building of a motorized wheelbarrow to carry the bridging ladders which would otherwise have overloaded the Range Rovers.
He did another kayak expedition somewhere, the beginning of which involved unloading the mold, cloth and resin from the plane, laying up the kayaks and then getting on the river. Not the typical start of a modern kayak expedition.

Did Bevis and Whitfield write up their account somewhere?

[kerry]

More info on the Darien Gap.

http://www.4wdonline.com/Places/CentralAmerica/Darien.html

[whatcharterboat]

Did Bevis and Whitfield write up their account somewhere?


Hi Kerry. I tried to find out more about them but the only published reference I can find is as I stated from The Landrover: workhorse of the world by Graham Robson, 1976 on page 66. Just a couple of sentences, most of which I have paraphrased in that post, so hopefully such an incredible journey was recorded for prosperity sake in more detail somewhere in cyberspace.

BTW How did you get on with your new spare? Has it turned up yet?
Hey, also Kerry I meant to ask you > Was that your trailer sailor I saw in an old thread a few months back?

[whatcharterboat]

The quintessentially British part of Bashford-Snell's expedition was the building of a motorized wheelbarrow to carry the bridging ladders which would otherwise have overloaded the Range Rovers.

Kerry Speaking of motorised wheel barrows > have a read of this. Is it just me or does this seem just a little crazy?

http://www.ferret.com.au/n/Power-carrier-conquers-Simpson-Desert-n698847

And this was the same as the one he used. Sorry about the pic size.

http://www.maystrailequipment.com/images/hpc_100h.jpg

[mtnbike28]

Did Bevis and Whitfield write up their account somewhere?[/QUOTE]

the 4wdonline.com link had these

1971-1972 British Trans-Americas expedition, led by Major John Blashford-Snell, drove two Range-Rovers from Alaska to Cape Horn. A SWB Land Rover SIIA also helped over the Darien Gap:

* Russell Braddon, The Hundred Days Of Darien, 1974.
* John Blashford-Snell, Where the Trails Run Out, 1974.

on Amazon the 100 days book is $155, the Trails Run Out is $14 put appears to be more about all his travels, not just the Gap

Sounds like fun reading

[whatcharterboat]

Did Bevis and Whitfield write up their account somewhere?

the 4wdonline.com link had these

1971-1972 British Trans-Americas expedition, led by Major John Blashford-Snell, drove two Range-Rovers from Alaska to Cape Horn. A SWB Land Rover SIIA also helped over the Darien Gap:

* Russell Braddon, The Hundred Days Of Darien, 1974.
* John Blashford-Snell, Where the Trails Run Out, 1974.

on Amazon the 100 days book is $155, the Trails Run Out is $14 put appears to be more about all his travels, not just the Gap

Sounds like fun reading [/QUOTE]

Yer. A bit pricey for me. The "100 days" copies are nearly always over the $120 mark. My wife runs a 2nd hand book shop and I've been getting her to keep an eye out on her book search engines for a couple of titles and that was one of them. What did you mean about Bevis and Whitfield?

[mtnbike28]

I didn't mean anything... I was just poking around and googled the titles...
I agree too much for me too...

[kerry]

I guess I was lucky. I picked up the 100 days book about 20 yrs ago for $5. After I asked about the Bevis and Whitfield expedition I noticed in the Darien Gap link that it states they wrote an article for the National Geographic in 1961(?). Don't know if it's available in a library somewhere. I might try to find it.

The wheelbarrow was about as goofy as that version. There's a picture of it in the book. As I recall, they built the motorized wheelbarrow themselves. Only the British could come up with such a goofy idea (and I'm British myself)
I do have a trailer sailor--23' MacGregor Venture Newport. I haven't had it in the water for a few years. It awaits my retirement.
I'm still waiting for the rim. The US Postal Service is slow.

Just dug out the book. I paid only $2.50:victory:

[whatcharterboat]

Obviously "Blast from the Past" books are making a come back. Maybe we should start an ExPo 2nd hand bookshop section on the forum. Haha

[whatcharterboat]

I do have a trailer sailor--23' MacGregor Venture Newport. I haven't had it in the water for a few years. It awaits my retirement.
Bet you can't wait for that.

It's only that we just had a few days away on the boat last week. 20-35kt broad reaches over and back after the wind change. Great stuff.So good to get away from study and work (and ExPo) every now and then.

Email me some pics if you get a chance. Always keen to talk "sailboats.

[kerry]

Link to the 1960 Whithfield expedition:

http://www.geocities.com/landroverpty/trans.htm

http://www.geocities.com/landroverpty/tw_page.htm

By the way, Withfield was an Aussie.

[Mickldo]

Obviously "Blast from the Past" books are making a come back. Maybe we should start an ExPo 2nd hand bookshop section on the forum. Haha

I was given a copy of "Who Needs A Road" by an IH8MUD forum member. I like the idea of a 2nd hand bookshop or even a library.

[Kilroy]

Obviously "Blast from the Past" books are making a come back. Maybe we should start an ExPo 2nd hand bookshop section on the forum. Haha

We already have a classified section. May be there could be a seperate section for books, though I've never seen one for sale there.