HDJ 80 - evolution from original to….

[Big Blue]

Hi All,

I am new to this forum - so I start by saying hello to everyone.

Here is the story of my traveller – the Toyo is almost finished – the evolution from original to….

January 2008 – 100% org. 1.hand –120000miles
http://up.picr.de/3365486.jpg

…2 month later: with 5” snake racing suspension, Cooper STT 315/75/16, intercooler (200hp/500nm)
http://up.picr.de/3365488.jpg

…October – 325/80/16 on MT 10x16, 4.56 axel ratio, ARB + Warn, Long Ranger, Snorkel
http://up.picr.de/3365490.jpg

…the plan for the body…
http://up.picr.de/3365585.jpg

…and the “little cut”…
http://up.picr.de/3365587.jpg

…in February 2009…
http://up.picr.de/3365588.jpg

…some hours later…
http://up.picr.de/3365668.jpg

….and later…
http://up.picr.de/3365626.jpg

…and later…
http://up.picr.de/3365627.jpg





more photos & infos coming soon

[Big Blue]

…and…
http://up.picr.de/3365666.jpg

…waiting for paintjob…
http://up.picr.de/3365667.jpg

…finished…
http://up.picr.de/3365725.jpg

http://up.picr.de/3365779.jpg

http://up.picr.de/3365784.jpg

http://up.picr.de/3365778.jpg

more photos & infos coming soon

[JMPC]

Hi Big Blue

I must congratulate you, first class job. :wings: I have a Nissan Patrol and was thinking of doing the same thing.

Makes perfect sense. You´re hard pressed to find a better truck but as they don´t come as pick-ups this is the only way to make them into a single unit for expedition travel - I am surprised that more people don't do this. Well done!

The quality of work looks excellent too. I have questions...

What experince do you have? It looks as though you perhaps work in this type of field?

Is the pop-up roof a complete unit that you purchased or did you make it all yourself? If all yourself, where did you source your ideas and materials from?

What is the body made out of? Is it fibre- glass? If so, how did you lay the glass matt - over plywood?

Please give info on the contruction method of the walls and the frame -I am very interested in this.

I think you have made yourself a camper that is close to being perfect.

Toyota, so bullit proof reliability - (Not something you get with a demountable on a landrover for example) and small enough to go anywhere - unlike unimog or other lorries.

Absolutly superb - Pics of the inside please!

All the best
JMPC

ps - I have just finished a self build trailer - see "self build camper trailer" also in this section, about 2 threads before yours.

[bomar]

Awesome truck!

[spencyg]

I think we've seen pictures of your truck before posted by others. I was speechless then, and again, I'm speechless. Quite a vision you had there, and the gonads it takes to chop in half an otherwise pristine 80 is something I don't possess. Great job. Pics of the interior would be nice, as well as some construction method details. Thanks

Spence

[KEENO]

Welcome & Awesome Stefan!

I believe I've also drooled over your talent & truck over on Soenke's build thread. (2) incredible overlanding vehicles.... For Sure!

KEENO:Wow1:

[ersatzknarf]

Hello Stefan,

Thank you for joining and posting photos of your great traveller !
I have seen some of the postings on the German Offroad forum and enjoyed seeing the great work that Marcus does. You must be very happy with the result. It looks great. I really like how you have full access to the driver's area from the camper. Soenke is here, too, I am sure you know. He has been very helpful in answering everyone's questions about his camper.


Frank


Hi All,

I am new to this forum - so I start by saying hello to everyone.

Here is the story of my traveller – the Toyo is almost finished – the evolution from original to….

<snip>

more photos & infos coming soon

[Big Blue]

Thanks fort the „hello“

Spence , keeno – you are right – there are some pictures at Sönke´s Thread. Interior will be finished end of January, I still must build the watertank, do some wiring and paint everything

@ JMPC – it´s my design – body is build by Marcus Haase - http://www.off-road-schmiede.com - everything else by myself. The body is a 3mm aluminium frame with 30mm fibreglass sandwich – and sorry – I can´t give your more details about the construction. You can see it on the pics, that every piece of the frame is handmade – so the real secret is not the construction, it`s time and the experience of Marcus.

[locrwln]

That is incredible. I so wish we had someone that would/could build something like that here. That is my dream for my 80.

Jack

[450 DUDE]

WOW!!!

That is one fine bit of work! I might have to buy another 80 to cut up.


I would love to see interior shots!

Once again great job!:bowdown:
ken

[adventureduo]

Speechless!!!! Any interior shots?

[PelleJeep]

Stefan,

Das sieht super aus! Echt fantastisch! Und Willkommen auf dem Expedition Portal! :)

Gruss,
Pelle

[Big Blue]

…the interior needs some work and i don´t have time at the moment – so no details, just impressions…

…bed 140 x 160 or 210 x 160
http://up.picr.de/3368466.jpg

http://up.picr.de/3368516.jpg
...2 seats (l/r) behind the frontseats (street legal)
http://up.picr.de/3368520.jpg

http://up.picr.de/3368522.jpg

http://up.picr.de/3368524.jpg

http://up.picr.de/3369058.jpg

[soenke]

Moin Stefan,

you build a nice interior meanwhile! And what a giant freeze :Wow1:, what about water-supplies, sink, filter, etc and cooking? More pics please ...

When are you are you going to leave for the long journey?

[Big Blue]

…hot/cold water
http://up.picr.de/3371060.jpg

…engel on slider…
http://up.picr.de/3371061.jpg

…under the box…
http://up.picr.de/3371106.jpg

…the viair…
http://up.picr.de/3371062.jpg

…2 in1 – bumper and airtank
http://up.picr.de/3371065.jpg

…
http://up.picr.de/3371066.jpg

…on the other side – place for spare wheel – on slider
http://up.picr.de/3371063.jpg

…and the airtronic…
http://up.picr.de/3371064.jpg



...what about water-supplies...cooking?...

When are you are you going to leave for the long journey?

Moin Sönke
watertank etc in January...cooking only outside - and maybe Sep/Oct, first i have to finish my project...

[Stan the Man]

Wow! That thing is wild. Awesome job.

[M.Bas]

I think we've seen pictures of your truck before posted by others. I was speechless then, and again, I'm speechless. Quite a vision you had there, and the gonads it takes to chop in half an otherwise pristine 80 is something I don't possess. Great job. Pics of the interior would be nice, as well as some construction method details. Thanks

Spence
We did indeed see pictures posted by someone else:
http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=398083&postcount=90

[Big Blue]

... someone else...

...called Sönke ;)

...some more pics...


...the "snake racing" works perfect...
http://up.picr.de/3374737.jpg

http://up.picr.de/3374738.jpg

http://up.picr.de/3374739.jpg

...first test for the solar panels - France last Summer...
http://up.picr.de/3374756.jpg

http://up.picr.de/3374757.jpg

http://up.picr.de/3374760.jpg

[Jnich77]

damn, thats nuts. Suddenly I want to tear apart my tundra...lol

[AlexJet]

Looks amazing.... Nice work.

[IdaSHO]

VERY nice rig Big Blue :ylsmoke:

Any reason you went without side windows? :)

[DarioCarrera]

Beautiful Job done on that HDJ80 !!!

Congratulations!

[Glides]

That is amazing. I have nothing else to say due to being completely speechless.

[Big Blue]

…Any reason you went without side windows? :)

…2 reasons – with side windows i would loose to much storage space and the main reason was the design - I tried to transfer the original body lines and angles to get a real clean geometrical optic and side windows simply would disturb my concept.

Watch the silver 80 in comparison to my one - it`s a “form follows function” concept - build by another german company – and for sure, it`s also build in a high quality … but the cabin looks like a foreign object on the Toyota…

http://up.picr.de/3379608.jpg

http://up.picr.de/3379609.jpg

http://up.picr.de/3379610.jpg

http://up.picr.de/3379611.jpg

[smittycrusher]

Great work! Very inspiring! One of my favorite builds of all time.

Smitty

[Sleeping Dog]

MAHVOLUS simply MAHVOLUS :bowdown:

[Michael Slade]

Now I want to start all over again...

Nice job! :Wow1:

[soenke]

Marcus from www.offroad-schmiede.com bought the silentblocks.
The cabine construction follows his expertise....

I can ask him thought wich rating our silentblocks have...I remember they ain´t cheap..
Maybe Stefan form the Big Blue knows any details, I think Marcus used the same silentblocks on his car..
__________________
greetings Sönke

Moin Stefan, do you know any details about the rubbermounts?

[Big Blue]

Moin Stefan, do you know any details about the rubbermounts?

Hi Christian, moin sönke,

my rubber blocks are the original ones. I´ll ask my rubber dealer next week…

[KEENO]

Stefan...

Thank you for sharing the details of your vision!

I continue to investigate your rig in detail and find it to be near perfect for a light & capable offroad rig. Between your design & Stoenke's hard-sided Rig (both Marcus constructed) I loose much sleep at night.
Speaking of sleeping: I know Soenke keeps his spare tire under the bed.... Where is yours located in your semi soft-sided camper design?

Thanks.... KEENO:)

[michaels]

have any photos of the internal structure of the sides? i'm curious to see what you did. ribs bend sheetmetal? a frame and skin design?

thanks.

[Big Blue]

.... Where is yours located…

Keeno…

…on the left side, vertical on a slider, straight compared to the fridge – for a perfect weight distribution – both around 35 - 40kg. Pics in 2 weeks - the construction is still under process.




…have any photos of the internal structure of the sides?....

Sorry – I don`t have one, maybe next week, I`ll see Marcus next monday. But the structural stability (30 t shear force, 3t vertical force – I don`t know how to say it in english) is given by the frame sandwich combination.

… the latest feature – table arm…

http://up.picr.de/3547057.jpg

http://up.picr.de/3547059.jpg

http://up.picr.de/3547060.jpg

http://up.picr.de/3547061.jpg

[ForealBoreal]

nice job.
can you take some shots of your intercooler set up?

[JayGannon]

That is beautiful work, whats the floorspace dimensions and height?

[Big Blue]

...whats the floorspace dimensions and height?


...effective length behind the front seats: 220cm (+ 40cm raked) / 86,61 inch + 15,75 inch
...overall width: 190cm – 160cm bed / 74,80 inch – 63 inch bed
...height: 125cm (closed), 285cm (open) / 49,21 inch (closed), 112,20 inch (open)

[JayGannon]

Yeah would make an excellent mobile edit suite, something Ive been toying with, was planning on using a Landrover 130 but this would be nice too.

[adventureduo]

Stefan, can you point me to the company that built the silver body in Germany?

[ersatzknarf]

Hi Dave,
Just in case Stefan misses this, I think what you are looking for is here :
http://www.custom-campers.de/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17&Itemid=32

Have fun looking around the site - lots of food for thought.

Cheers,
Frank

[adventureduo]

Frank, thank you

Does anyone know the price of these conversions? Just the body or housings only?

[ersatzknarf]

You are very welcome, Dave.
Enjoy ! ! !


Cheers,
Frank

[ersatzknarf]

Dave,
I would guesstimate that it's somewhere in the 25k Euro range for just a "box," based on what was said by another fellow much earlier and in a different thread <hint>... I don't think there's any pricing to be found on their site - it's all custom stuff... Maybe you'll need to go there and discuss it with Ralf over a beer ;)

However, there's a cool little link at the bottom of the page that I found and has a lot of photos that might be of interest :
http://hdj80-under-construction.blogspot.com/

Going back to the first posts there are photos from when they cut the body behind the rear doors.


Cheers,
Frank



Does anyone know the price of these conversions? Just the body or housings only?

[adventureduo]

I have a friend that travels to germany every year quite a bit and is fluent. We're going to find out for sure. . so $25k isn't too bad for what your getting. It would make quite the amazing rig thats for sure.

[ersatzknarf]

It sure would be amazing ! You're very fortunate to have a friend to help you there. Will you be shipping your car over for the conversion ? I don't see how they could do it otherwise - it's all custom. Also, the guesstimate is 25k Euros, not dollars... I heard that there's been a slight improvement in the exchange rate, due to the troubles in Greece (?), but generally speaking the it has been costing about US$1.35 or so for one Euro.
Good luck - I sure hope you can do it !



Cheers,
Frank

[brentbba]

Oh My! Jaw dropping beautiful! Just an amazing modification. Beautiful rig!!

[Big Blue]

Hi folks – after months a little update.

Watertank 100L (cold water)

http://up.picr.de/5216923.jpg

http://s1.up.picr.de/5216927.jpg

Waterfiller left side/cold water – right side/hot water

http://up.picr.de/5216990.jpg

http://s1.up.picr.de/5216993.jpg

http://s2.up.picr.de/5216996.jpg

Sparewheel on slider

http://up.picr.de/5217039.jpg

http://up.picr.de/5217063.jpg

http://s1.up.picr.de/5217043.jpg

http://s2.up.picr.de/5217047.jpg

http://s3.up.picr.de/5217050.jpg

...90% is done…

http://s2.up.picr.de/5217156.jpg

http://s3.up.picr.de/5217157.jpg

http://s4.up.picr.de/5217158.jpg

http://up.picr.de/5217103.jpg

http://s1.up.picr.de/5217104.jpg

http://s2.up.picr.de/5217105.jpg

...paintjob...

http://up.picr.de/5217154.jpg

http://s1.up.picr.de/5217155.jpg

http://up.picr.de/5217180.jpg

http://s1.up.picr.de/5217182.jpg

...next to do: the final paintjob and some electric wireing ... 2 more weeks ...

[ersatzknarf]

Hi Stefan,
Wow ! You have been busy !

[Overland Hadley]

Amazing rig, simply amazing.

[adventureduo]

That spare slide out is perfect. Do you notice the weight back there in the corner? Thanks for the update!

[AFSOC]

:drool:
Incredible

[Jnich77]

Wow...I think I need a hand picking my jaw up off of the floor!!

[sandcruiser]

very nicely designed and built.

I hope that someday I can build something similar, then I'll show you what I would do differently. Until then, I'll just be impressed at your accomplishments.

I am curious: why did you you put the spare tire indoors?

[Big Blue]

... why did you you put the spare tire indoors?

...... the simple reason is, there´s no place for the spare wheel outside, the weight is too heavy for the door, on the top the solar panels and under the car the 2 tanks...

[AxelG]

This really looks awsome! Grongrats - well done!!! :Wow1:

Which type of paint did you actually use?

Thanks,
Axel

[valeriano]

Nice mods! I'd love to do something like that with my old Bandeirante, but it would be impossible to make it street legal.
My intention was something like that:
http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/197995_184842674892306_100000997237514_440664_3868 020_n.jpg

Only it would be without the back doors. I gave up after reading about the legal measures to make it street legal in Brazil.

[trackhead]

My reading comprehension is limited, please help me.......what are those walls made out of? Is it a fiberglass/foam sandwich?

[ersatzknarf]

Hi Stefan,
Hope you have been out enjoying your camper ! :sombrero:

That is a very nice size for the water tank.
Was it custom or is it a standard one, please ?
I really like the shape and the two (red) access covers...




Watertank 100L (cold water)

http://up.picr.de/5216923.jpg

http://s1.up.picr.de/5216927.jpg

[Phil7b]

Hello Big Blue

It's simply the best evolution on 80's séries I've ever seen :Wow1:

Many thanks for this !

[fyreles]

Strong work. That looks great, can't wait to see more..

[銀チタン]

iPhone subscribed.