Making of MB 4x4 Expeditionstruck

[Allroader]

Hello Everyone,

Now it took a little bit longer then expected, but here are some Pics to start with. Input is always welcome.


After searching all over Europe, we found or base Truck in Germany. Though it's life was servd in the Netherlands in the militäry as a Bomb-Response-Truck.

http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/7057/kaufbild1.jpg
By swedensyncro (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/swedensyncro), shot with Canon PowerShot A520 (http://profile.imageshack.us/camerabuy.php?model=Canon+PowerShot+A520&make=Canon) at 2010-02-20

Here some Information:
Model: MB 917 AF
Engine: 172HP, (366 Model)

Only the short wheelbase (310cm <122">) was to short.

So first the Box had to be removed.
http://img697.imageshack.us/img697/6114/fahrgestell01.jpg
By swedensyncro (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/swedensyncro), shot with B2100 (http://profile.imageshack.us/camerabuy.php?model=B2100&make=SAMSUNG) at 2010-02-20
http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/1584/fahrgestell03.jpg
By swedensyncro (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/swedensyncro), shot with B2100 (http://profile.imageshack.us/camerabuy.php?model=B2100&make=SAMSUNG) at 2010-02-20

Big Thanks, to our Friends Tom & Nettie who helped us big time.


Now the "Problem of the Wheelbase" was on the Programm.
We had the Truck stretched to a 400cm <158">.
http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/1833/foto0025n.jpg
By swedensyncro (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/swedensyncro), shot with B2100 (http://profile.imageshack.us/camerabuy.php?model=B2100&make=SAMSUNG) at 2010-02-20

In the meantime our new rims arrived and also the new tires.
http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/5701/attachment5.jpg
By swedensyncro (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/swedensyncro), shot with B2100 (http://profile.imageshack.us/camerabuy.php?model=B2100&make=SAMSUNG) at 2010-02-20


Nexted Week the new (used) Box shelter will be mounted.

Our plan for the Interior is pretty much done. We need room for 2 adults & 2 Kids. Since we are going to take longer trips, we wanted to have lots of storage.
http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/3822/12english.jpg (http://img175.imageshack.us/i/12english.jpg/)
The Messurements are in cm.


Now this should be it for tonight. I'll keep you up to date on future changes.

Mike, Nikki & Kids

[Scott Brady]

So the shower stall is part of the entry door? That is always a great space saver and makes for a much better shower.

[Allroader]

Hello,

Our Main Shower will be outside (driverside). But will have a backup in the entrance.
Yeah saves much room setting the Bathroom like this. Also gives a nice a dirt trap, when its raining and so on.

Mike

[Lynn]

Allroader, color me green with envy. You have my dream truck.

I'll be following your build with great interest.

Thanks for the build thread.

[Allroader]

Hello Lynn,

No Problem. :elkgrin:

I can't wait to be finished with the buildt and start driving In America.



Progress:
Now the new tires are mounted, also did most of the prep work for the new Livingquarters, so soon the Box will be on it.

http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/7063/056neuereifenfelgen08.jpg

http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/1633/058neuereifenfelgen10.jpg

One step in front of the other and soon I'll be driving :smiley_drive:

Mike

[Harald Hansen]

Interesting. Good luck on the build!

[Allroader]

Ok, took a little time to post some more pics for you guys & gals.


The new Box is mounted and looks good.
http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/9534/dscn5468w.jpg
By swedensyncro (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/swedensyncro), shot with COOLPIX S10 (http://profile.imageshack.us/camerabuy.php?model=COOLPIX+S10&make=NIKON) at 2010-03-19

Now we have to reduce the size to under 24'
http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/5691/dscn5519.jpg
By swedensyncro (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/swedensyncro), shot with COOLPIX S10 (http://profile.imageshack.us/camerabuy.php?model=COOLPIX+S10&make=NIKON) at 2010-03-19

Ok, now the final size and cuts are made.
http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/319/dscn5553.jpg
By swedensyncro (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/swedensyncro) at 2010-03-19

Nexted we have to buildt the new rear wall.
So step by step we are getting closer to our Expeditiontruck. :wings:

[Pedro]

Great build!

[Allroader]

Ok, the weather seemed to be against us. Snow, snow and much more snow. :Wow1: Nope, it is not a April 1st joke.
But after freezing my Fingers off, the strucure is build.

http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/199/dscn5580.jpg (http://img708.imageshack.us/i/dscn5580.jpg/)

Now we have to wait for a little warmer weather to close him up.

[XterraVT]

Keep it coming

Great build and taking notes

[Ford Prefect]

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/3822/12english.jpg (http://img175.imageshack.us/i/12english.jpg/)
The Messurements are in cm.



I am loving your build. I have a few questions.
First, would you mind posting photos of the interior of the truck? I am just curious to see how well your family will fit in there, or do you plan to have them ride in the back of the camper?

With your bunks on the front, I like the idea of the bottom bed folding up for cabin access, I was planning to put the dinette/ bed up there so the pass through would be easy, but your idea sounds good too. Looking forward to seeing how you do that part.

Just wondering about the bathroom sink...Is this (above) the final plan then? The reason I ask is I am wondering if you really want to have to get over the toilet to get to the sink. Also it seems like you have a HUGE bathroom for an overland vehicle. Any thoughts on bringing the far right wall (the rear of the bathroom or front of the camper) in a half meter or so, to give you some storage back there? I was not planing on more than a meter for my bathroom. Then again yours is pretty narrow, so, perhaps you need the length to make up for that? (I am of course assuming that you plan to use the entire entry way for the shower/bathroom, yes?)
Will there be any way to close the bathroom but still allow for passage from the interior of the camper to the outside?

Thanks a lot, again, really liking what you have going on here! Great looking set up!

Cheers
Brian

[Allroader]

Hello Brain,
Pics will follow in the following days. General speaking, we have 2 Normal seats (Driver & Passenger), behind each seat we will have a normal Seat, turned that they face each other. This will be the seats for our Kids, of course with full seat belts. The we will have the acces to the living quarters in the middle.

The Bathroom is not Final yet. So the sink will be on either side, but will be in the back. Don't believe that the bathroom is huge for this size Truck. Through the narrow part is still one thing that is bugging me. Would love to get the bathroom to 80cm in width. well nothing is final till we have it installed.
Moving the wall is a nice way to add storage, then I would flip the plan and have the Bathroom in the back, Since there we already have the storage set up.
The walk way would be closed when someone is in the bathroom. The walkway will be included in the Bathroom. Shower might be added later. We will have a outside Shower, which will be our main shower. If we want to put in a shower down the road, that is where it will go. So we will install all water lines so adding it later will be very easy if we want it.

The Bunks: The bottom one will be divided into a 70 & 100cm piece and hinged together. The matress will also be divided. The smaller Piece will fold up 90 degrees and also act as a wall to keep the bottom bed Matresses, Bedding & Toys into place. So pretty simple setup.

Mike

[Ford Prefect]

Very cool Mike, thanks a lot for the input. Excited to see this one come about!

Loads of photos please! I want to use a box very similar to yours someday, so, anything I can learn would be of great help!

Cheers

Brian