Fuso FG for Michel Szulc Krzyzanowski

[haven]

Here's a link to a blog that chronicles the construction of an overland camper on a Fuso FG chassis.

http://michelszulckrzyzanowski.blogspot.com/

The owner, Michel, is a nomadic photographer (and observer of the human condition, as you'll see if you read his blog). The camper was constructed in 10 weeks by Santek Trailers, a custom builder in Riverside CA. No info yet about the total cost as built.

http://bp2.blogger.com/_-iSeesP7yEw/Rg3U0p6NXUI/AAAAAAAABEg/Dvz-XkS1Kdg/s400/Final+1.jpg

This camper is narrower and shorter than Doug Hackney's design. Michel travels solo most of the time, so a smaller camper works for him.

Chip Haven

[haven]

I heard from the folks at Santek Trailers. They estimate that it would cost about $85,000 to replicate the camper they built for Michel. Cost of the Fuso FG chassis is extra. That means the out-the-door cost is about $115,000.

That's a lot, but it sounds reasonable for an effort that took your ideas from sketch to finished product in 10 weeks. The result is a vehicle you can drive to any destination reachable by unimproved roads, and then live there comfortably for a couple of weeks before re-provisioning would become necessary.

Remember that Michel isn't taking a week away from home, this vehicle IS his home. That's why a comfortable work area, an indoor shower, and satellite Internet access are all included.

All we need to do now is find a bank that'll write a 30 year loan on an expedition camper!

Chip Haven

[haven]

Michel was in a remote part of Baja California when tropical storm Julio passed through on August 24th. In his blog, Michel writes:

"An escape was made from Rancho Punta Boca del Salado back to the town of San Jose del Cabo...One must see what devastation to roads a tropical storm and its rainfall is doing. Many parts of the roads are simply washed away or blocked by swollen rivers.

Fortunately the Fuso Szulc is heavy and has an excellent 4x4 system. Where other cars couldn’t cross, to the total amazement of those desperate people unable to come through, the Fuso Szulc crossed deep and seriously swollen rivers as if it was the most fun thing to do."

Michel's blog is here:
http://michelszulckrzyzanowski.blogspot.com/

Chip Haven

[haven]

Small world, example #382:

Michel wanted to replace his stock shocks with Bilsteins, but couldn't find out which model to use. Bilstein couldn't help. The service manager at the Fuso dealership emailed Doug Hackney in Bolivia. Doug emailed back the part numbers of the Bilstein shocks he uses. Problem solved.

(Quoted text removed at Michel's request. See Michel's blog for the complete story.)

[ThomD]

How can that story NOT put a smile on your face? Small world indeed.

[kerry]

How about them part numbers?

[DontPanic42]

Ditto

[Michel Szulc Krzyzanowski]

To learn more about installing Bilsteins shock absorbers on a Fuso FG 4x4, contact expert Ron Lucero of Kearny Mesa Truck Centre in San Diego.
kmtc4@sbcglobal.net

[dhackney]

Here's the info for the Bilstein shocks:

Front: 5100 Series F4-BE5-6243-H5 (photo located in buildup album 16, www.hackneys.com/mitsu )

Rear: 5100 Series F4-BE5-6244-H5 (photo located in buildup album 17, www.hackneys.com/mitsu )


Be sure to carefully specify the end connector type when ordering. We had to return and reorder the rears because of that error.

These shocks are pretty small considering the mass of the truck. I don't know how much larger diameter than stock they are, but not a whole lot. If I had it to do over again, I probably would have had our fabricator build mounts for dual shocks.

In the end, I wanted to keep our chassis and driveline as stock as possible so I left the stock shock mounting points, etc.

The combination of custom springs (Deaver), the Bilstein shocks, a custom rear sway bar and putting 50/50 shocks on our 3 point pivot frame completely transformed the ride and handling of our Fuso.

Michel will be a good control test for the effects of changing only the shocks as he is running stock springs.

Ron Lucero (service manager) and Kearny Mesa Truck Center are highly recommended. Ron has provided invaluable support for us out here.

PM me for Ron's email address.

Kearny Mesa Truck Center (http://www.kmtc1.com)
(858) 571-5495
(858) 571-5495 fax

5463 Kearny Village Road
San Diego, CA 92123

Sales: Ron McRoberts

[KMTC]

Just a quick note. The shocks for the rear on Michel's truck are a different part number than those on Doug's. Although Doug supplied the part number we soon found out that the mounting on Doug's truck was modified, so a stock mounting would not work. I Had to use a different part number for the rears on Michel's, but they are readily available, and I would be happy to pass those part numbers on. Send my a pm and I will get them for you.