FG buildup

[dhackney]

We're starting the buildup of our FG based rig.

You can follow along at:
http://www.hackneys.com/mitsu/

I'll add ongoing photos and comments to the site on the fabrication & assembly process as the project progresses.

We plan to take delivery in late October and depart for 2-3 years in early January.

Doug

[ZooJunkie]

Wow! Most excellent! Your rig is amazing, can't wait to see the completed rig and all your photos from your expedition!

[Scott Brady]

Thanks so much for posting this up Doug.

Have you had the opportunity to drive the FG on a trail yet? I have never heard a first hand account of its performance.

[mountainpete]

Amazing Doug

[haven]

A fellow posted a note at www.expeditioncampers.com about driving 100 miles of the White Rim Trail at Moab in a Fuso FG 4x4 flatbed (without expedition cabin). He had no difficulty.

Chip Haven

[dhackney]

Thanks so much for posting this up Doug.

Have you had the opportunity to drive the FG on a trail yet? I have never heard a first hand account of its performance.

Scott,

I have not personally driven one on a trail, we've only test driven an FE on pavement.

We spent a few hours in AZ with Don and Kim Green who have an FG rig in South America and they instilled in us a very high level of confidence in the FG's off-road abilities. They've got a pretty extensive off-road pedigree (at least from a 4x4 virgin, dirt-biker perspective) and sang the praises of the FG in the terrain they've encountered so far on that continent. They've got the same kind of "hey, that wash looks interesting, let's see what's up there" mindset that we do, so we felt they've blazed a relevent trail for us in this regard.

I don't know enough to have an opinion on the dual rear wheels, and can only go on the experiences of the Greens and others who have taken this chassis on global expeditions with great success.

Our concept is "base camp," so when things start to look dicey for the rig, we'll park it and get on the dirt bikes. Which is a great theory until you need to get everything over a remote pass...

If we stay on schedule we'll be in Baja for the middle of November running a pit for a friend who is soloing the Baja 1000 and then field testing the rig. Interested in coming down and seeing what it will do?

Doug

[Colorado Ron]

Are you looking for suggestions? If so, I would seriously look at the departure angle. IMO you would have way too much hanging off the rear!

If your not looking for suggestions: Great Project and ignore the above!

[dhackney]

I would seriously look at the departure angle.

We're always open to suggestions! That's one upside to being a novice in a new area of expertise, just about everyone knows more than we do about this area, so we're open to learning from everyone.

I agree that the departure angle with the stock wheelbase (as illustrated) would be a real challenge unless we stayed on main roads.

One thing I didn't make clear on the web site is that we are planning to move the rear axle back 12-18" by lengthening the frame. We will determine the exact rear axle location once the camper arrives and we've determined the location of the house bank batteries, LP tank, adl. fuel tank, etc.

It will be a balancing act between weight distribution, turning radius and departure angle.

[BajaTaco]

AHA! I was just asking Scott not too long ago if he knew what you ended up doing/deciding on. This is pretty wild! It sounds/looks very fun.

"One thing I didn't make clear on the web site is that we are planning to move the rear axle back 12-18" by lengthening the frame. "

I was wondering about that departure angle too. One downside to moving the axle back is that you will decrease the breakover angle. The BOA is probably the lesser of the two evils though. Looking at the driveline photos on your website, it looks like this will be a consideration, no? My tendency is to think about the cab-over part of the camper actually being over the cab. BUT, I know you want a place for the moto garage, and I also see the height is over 11' as it is. This may sound crazy, but have you considered mounting the camper body backwards? You could fab a pass-thru from the cab into the camper (yea, I know you'd have to crouch-down to get through), and somehow make another main entry from the side or rear? This would allow you to move the moto garage more over the rear axle, and create a sloping rear profile that would tie the "cab-over" part of the camper into the frame. In that angled portion of the garage, you could fit the sliding gear stow, etc. Maybe this would allow a much better depature angle without lengthening the wheelbase? LOL, I know... this is brainstorming... it might look bizarre...

[Colorado Ron]

Im glad to hear your open to suggestions. Ill try to be to the point and be honest, as Id hate to meet you on the road somewhere saying," why didnt you just tell me it was wrong!"

Anyway, Bajataco--he cant make it go over the cab because the cab has to tilt foward for one thing.

Hackney, if it were mine.......

I wouldnt stretch the wheelbase. You sacrifice too much turning radius and break over angle. You gonna have to come up with a different type camper if you wanna keep it off the cab and reduce your departure angle. I personally wouldnt extend anymore than 12-15 inches past the back wheels unless it was at an angle, then maybe up to 3ft max. Another delima I see is weight. With all those boxes and gear, that is going to be one heavy sucker. I would seriously consider going to a single track setup like this:



Id also get Nospin setup so you got true 4wheel:
http://www.ferret.com.au/articles/2d/0c012f2d.asp

Another thought--have you considered a custom canopy with walls as your garage and just mount the bikes on the back. With all the boxes youll have plenty of room for your tools and such. By doing this and having a canvas type garage would save a ton of room and really help its offroad abilities. Kinda like this:


Cant find a decent pic of my canvas with walls idea at the moment but Ill post it as soon as I find one!