Is this a silly idea

[outbackjack]

Hi All,

I am looking at buying a Canter dual cab 4wd. I would like to put a camper body on the back.
However I was thinking about putting a sleeper cab off a truck on it. I am not sure if it would fit or look out of place. But you can buy them from 800AUD upwards. Would be a cheap way for a bed and the kids could have a sleep whilst I am driving?

Whats people thoughts on this?

[engineer]

Great idea Jack, all you need is a lowrise sleeper and you're away. UES in Brisbane sell the sleeper cab Rubber!!!

[roscoFJ73]

Whats people thoughts on this?

It will need to suit the lines of the canter. Maybe a sleeper off a smaller Japanese prime mover like a Hino.
I think they call these sleepers "day cabs" as they are just for snoozing while waiting to be loaded.

[whatcharterboat]

Hi All,

I am looking at buying a Canter dual cab 4wd. I would like to put a camper body on the back.
However I was thinking about putting a sleeper cab off a truck on it. I am not sure if it would fit or look out of place. But you can buy them from 800AUD upwards. Would be a cheap way for a bed and the kids could have a sleep whilst I am driving?

Whats people thoughts on this?

Sorry mate, I'm confused. Do you want to fit the sleeper instead of the camper or as well as?

IMO a single cab with a camper on the back is a much more efficient use of space than using a twincab. If you can fit legal seating to rear camper body then you can also use this for seating when you're camped up.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3398/3500751174_8e9780f37a.jpg

Where as if you put a camper on a crew cab, the camper has to be maybe 7 or 800mm shorter at least, and I would imagine if you're trying to fit kids beds in you would be chasing every millimeter of space you could find. The rear seating in a crew cab is crap for small kids anyway. The rear windows are really small and high up and and the seats are about as comfortable as sitting on a log.

I'm working on a crew cab at the moment to suit a family of 5. Actually it will sleep 6 on 3 x double beds, but it's a huge MAN. I can walk around in the cab just by ducking my head a little and it will seat 5 in the cab on air seats and have an extra 2 to 4 seating positions in the camper.

[outbackjack]

Agree the rear is crap, but I idea was to remove the bench seat and place three separate seats across the back,. Probaly from an Astra or something like that. Astra have a flat rail for mounting. I then could make it higher and there would be room in the middle for little cup holders,crayons etc.

As posted elsewhere I was looking at making a rear body with a sleeper in the front. However I started looking at sleeper cabs on ebay. You can get them for 800AUD plus. So I could have sleeper where the kids could sleep during the day or night.

I could then put a rear body behind it. Maybe a a top camper for the parents??


Just putting ideas out there. I could never afford a camper body. So looking at cheaper option.

The options I have given could be done for less than 15k and still have a nice set up.

[93Canter]

I could never afford a camper body. So looking at cheaper option.


Have you considered building your own camper body? It is likely a 2nd hand truck will have a tray, and it is not difficult to MIG weld a frame together, bolt it down and clad it in alloy.

[whatcharterboat]

Michael , If you were working with only a 15K budget, a design something like yours would be a good place to start. All the gear and a kitchen in a box built on the tray with a frame extended over the cab and a full length pop top with sleeping for everyone above.

That might be the only way you are going to get a family to fit with the short tray of a twin cab.

[93Canter]

15K should easily cover a basic no frills body.

The only catch with my camper on the tray is weight, as my tray is quite heavy.
Adding a pop top that extends over the cabin will requires a lot of extra steel to support it. So if it is an older 5 tonne truck you rapidly start to reach your weight limits.

FGCrazy also has a cheap light weight option with canvas.

[whatcharterboat]

FGCrazy also has a cheap light weight option with canvas.

Definitely.

BTW Haven't heard from Tony for awhile. He's a classic, hey Michael. He did say he was keen on a SRW setup for that thing and so I was expecting him to drop in before the dry season arrived. Should have our own tubeless 19.5 rims in a few weeks too so it would be good timing.

[whatcharterboat]

FGCrazy also has a cheap light weight option with canvas.

You would have to consider security but.

[93Canter]

Yeah security especially with young kids is becoming more important.

FG Tony seems to keep a low profile.

I am after SRW too, but currently my desire is for 16s and XZLs. But we cant rush these things. I will have to do something by winter 2010 before the next big trip.

[outbackjack]

Sleeper Cab could allow the kids to sleep in there for next few years. I dont want anything over the cab. Trying to keep it low for offroad work.

I was thinking maybe a rooftop campler for mum and dad.???

Cheers

[engineer]

Hey Jack, you're an ideas man. Sleepers are great, all glass, no rust and they look ok, i'll see if a mate of mine can do up a photoshop image for you.
Roof top camper, another great idea! not too much capital outlay, and they work well, the ones I've seen on Cape York are very easy, and user friendly.
Should be a good set up and now is the time that folks will be looking to off load some gear pretty cheap. Keep looking and I'm sure you'll find what you need. Just don't be like my mate, and talk about it, buy all the gear and he never makes time to use it.
Loving the plan Jack,
Engineer

[dzzz]

Yeah security especially with young kids is becoming more important.



Dingos? Rabid Wombats?

[outbackjack]

Well am ideas man I guess.

I was qouted around 11 to 15k for the setup I wanted with the sleeper cab built into the rear.

Ive seen low line sleepers for around 1k mark. I think the back could be made for around the 5k mark, not sure how much it would cost for a roof camper, but something like canter93 has would be ideal.

Cheers

[outbackjack]

OK guys and girls.

I am still havent come up with a Canter just yet. I had one all lined up, however the history of the vehicle didnt match the stories told.

Give me a week or two and I should have one.

In the mean time. I have come up with a sleeper cab. But bigger than I wanted but perfect maybe.

It is about 1880mm long, 2200mm high have to add a bit I think for the mounts.and 2400mm wide(maybe a tad wide. Its a bit bigger than what I was looking at. But has a double bed in it, fridge, own a/c if you hook a compressor to it off then engine. You can stand up in it, has little cupboards. The double bed may be able to modified to make a table during the day, like caravans etc. Also there is room to put toddler beds on each side above.
It is a walk through from cab design. I could reduce the height by about 200 or 300 mm by taking the top bunk extension off. But that would require a new roof etc.

I was thinking of having 3 seats in the rear of the dual cab instead of 4, using the 4th space to cut the cab for a walk way and having the window out. Using the same stuff trucks do.

Best part is I can have this cab for around the 2500 mark. I reckon it would cost around 2k to have someone fit. Any one know who could do this job?

Then just need small rear canopy tray, however it will only be about 1300mm? Is this too short? Really only need a canopy for kitchen and other camping stuff?


Whats peoples thoughts?

Cheers