Kerry's Fuso FG
- Thread starter mog
- Start date
Here are a few more pictures of modifications. They include the front bike rack, the roof rack for canoes, kayaks and raft frames. The deck over the front cargo compartment so I have a secure cargo area and space on top to load boating gear. Also there are pictures of the Stratos suspension seat and the PVC tube on the step bumper in which resides my folding step ladder which will allow me access to the roof racks to load boats. I'll be putting a house AC unit into the front camper window just above the deck on the cargo space and operating it with a Honda 2k generator which will fit in on the compartments in the service body. I also have a picture of the spare tire rack I built to fit between the cab and the body. Also notice I cable tied the cab tilt mechanism to remind myself that I will break the windshield if I tilt the cab without first tilting the bike rack!
whatcharterboat
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Domestic AC
Wow Kerry, You have been busy. Maybe a tip with regards to the household AC unit. We fit quite a few domestic split systems of different brands and go for the stainless steel cabinets when we can get them, but with the compreessor/condensor unit we always pull them aprt and do our best to beef up all of the bracketry and throw in a lot more zip ties on the cables and pipework in an attemp to make them ready for corrugated roads ,etc.
Just a thought.
At least the this advice doesn't depend on which side of the road you drive on. LOL.
Take care, mate. The truck is really starting to take shape.
Wow Kerry, You have been busy. Maybe a tip with regards to the household AC unit. We fit quite a few domestic split systems of different brands and go for the stainless steel cabinets when we can get them, but with the compreessor/condensor unit we always pull them aprt and do our best to beef up all of the bracketry and throw in a lot more zip ties on the cables and pipework in an attemp to make them ready for corrugated roads ,etc.
Just a thought.
At least the this advice doesn't depend on which side of the road you drive on. LOL.
Take care, mate. The truck is really starting to take shape.
Thanks for the advice on the AC. I knew I would have to fabricate my own bracket to secure it in place, but I'll also take apart the housing and see what I can do to strengthen it. Although at $75 it's almost a throwaway device compared to the cost of typical RV AC's. The part I like about it the most is that it will run off a 2k Honda generator.
Finally had a chance to get the FG out today. I was a little concerned about how difficult it might be to load a canoe on the canoe racks I installed. Turns out it was quite easy, in fact probably easier than loading on a car. I load from the back, pick up one end of the canoe, rest it on the back load bar, then pick up the bottom of the boat and push it on top. I was able to load my solo whitewater canoe easily.
I took it to the South Platte river to test out a number of things. I was concerned about my turnbuckle mounting system and how secure it would be. Turns out it seems to be holding well. I drove it over about 15 miles of badly washboarded dirt road and everything stayed in place. The trip included a 15% grade, up and down and it did both in fine form. I climbed over a pretty steep blacktop road (CO 67 from Sedalia to the river) and it pulled the grade very well. I wasn't completely loaded but the water tank was full. At one point where I typically drop my Mercedes 300TD into 1st gear, the Fuso was pulling easily in 3rd.
My exhaust brake is cutting out intermittently. I must have a poor wire connection somewhere or something like that. When it's operating, it's great on the steep downhills.
The best part was using the outside shower on the camper when I got off the river. (which was only after a few minutes because the river was up and pushy today and the students I was instructing were intimidated).
There was some very uneven ground at the put-in and I watched the service body twist. I don't think it is moving as much as what I've seen in the Aussie pictures. If I'd have had someone else with me, I'd have video'd it.
All in all, a good little shakedown ride.
I took it to the South Platte river to test out a number of things. I was concerned about my turnbuckle mounting system and how secure it would be. Turns out it seems to be holding well. I drove it over about 15 miles of badly washboarded dirt road and everything stayed in place. The trip included a 15% grade, up and down and it did both in fine form. I climbed over a pretty steep blacktop road (CO 67 from Sedalia to the river) and it pulled the grade very well. I wasn't completely loaded but the water tank was full. At one point where I typically drop my Mercedes 300TD into 1st gear, the Fuso was pulling easily in 3rd.
My exhaust brake is cutting out intermittently. I must have a poor wire connection somewhere or something like that. When it's operating, it's great on the steep downhills.
The best part was using the outside shower on the camper when I got off the river. (which was only after a few minutes because the river was up and pushy today and the students I was instructing were intimidated).
There was some very uneven ground at the put-in and I watched the service body twist. I don't think it is moving as much as what I've seen in the Aussie pictures. If I'd have had someone else with me, I'd have video'd it.
All in all, a good little shakedown ride.
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Finally got a picture of the roof racks with boats on them. Racks are 1 1/2" steel tubing coated in Plasti-Dip with Quickn'nEasy feet and Yakima (?) artificial gutters through bolted to the sides of the pop top. Had to put on 4 racks to fit different length boats and raft frames.
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Weighed the truck today. Weights include camper, full water and fuel, generator, camper jacks, tools, one canoe and gear for a weekend trip, plus me.
Total= 11340
Front axle= 4760
Rear axle= 6780
I was surprised I am that heavy. I weighed the truck with the service body with oil tanks and pumps with oil in the tanks and it was 6920. Camper info says it weighs 1840 (I think). So I wasn't expecting the miscellaneous extras to weight that much. I'm still under the 12k GVW. Add a couple more people, another canoe, and some more camping gear and I'll be right around 12k.
Total= 11340
Front axle= 4760
Rear axle= 6780
I was surprised I am that heavy. I weighed the truck with the service body with oil tanks and pumps with oil in the tanks and it was 6920. Camper info says it weighs 1840 (I think). So I wasn't expecting the miscellaneous extras to weight that much. I'm still under the 12k GVW. Add a couple more people, another canoe, and some more camping gear and I'll be right around 12k.