XV on a budget

[olly hondro]

Good morning all,

I'd like to share my project with you : an expedition vehicle based on a military 6x6 2 1/2 ton. Its not novel, its been done before as seen on military truck websites. I'll go through the trade offs as the build progresses. The goal is to have a dependable, road ready, off road capable XV for under $30 K. If I go over, oh well. I will honestly try to do this build professionally and not "red neck " it.

Pros :
cost
spare parts availability
6 x 6 (default configuration is 4x4, rear two axles pushing, in-cab air selectable front axle engagement)
Caterpillar 3116 turbo diesel
Allison automatic transmission
Central Air Inflation System : all tires can be aired up / down from inside the cab. Leaky tires will have pressure maintained during travel.
No commercial driver license required (CDL). I don't have anything against obtaining a CDL, I just don't want it to be a requirement. This is why I did not choose the 5 ton instead.
Field capable proven.

Cons :
Its not a cabover configuration so the size of the living quarters is limited. In this case a 23 foot long truck will have a 12 foot long box = not the most efficient design.
No air conditioning in stock configuration.
Electrical system is 24 volts, so wiill need to add 12 V circuits separately.
No pass thru from cab to box.

Attached is a pic of the "starting material", a blank canvas. First task is to replace all 7 tires. Then the cargo bed will come off and an appropriate XV box installed. I could simply put a very big camper onto the cargo bed, but it would not withstand the rigors of off-road and it would violate the no red-neck engineering rule 8<)

[DoMiNiC1]

Wow! that this is awesome!!!

[warwgn]

sweet rig cant wait to watch this one!!!

[cody93225]

Check this out! Boyce Equipment makes all you need for that vehicle.

http://boyceequipment.com

[MicroBird]

I know you are in AZ but in CA, 3 axles with a GVWR over 6000# requires a class B license. The only way I know of to get around that is to permanently make it a motorhome.

[chilliwak]

Olly, can I start by saying welcome to the forum. I will be following your project closly as I have been thinking about a project just like yours for some time. Unfortunatly there is just not as many army surplus vehicles, and the ability to make them into private vehicles in Canada, as there is in the USA. Please keep us updated with LOTS OF PICS on your project. Cheers, Chilli...

[olly hondro]

Thanks for the welcome guys, and for the helpful links. In AZ we don't need a CDL until GVW = 26,001 lbs. The vehicle will still require commercial registration and insurance, however. I have the new tires installed, they are Michelin XZLs. The 46 inch diameter is as big as I could go without the tires touching together at the rear axles. The spare does not fit its stock location. Measured to see if I could modify the step on the driver's side to make it fit, but there would be interference with the transfer case. I don't want it on the front as it would block air flow. I could have it fork lifted onto the roof, but then how do I get it down? I decided to go with a rear lift gate with the spare mounted there : in the stowed position it will look like a "continental kit" rear mounted spare, in the deployed position the gate would be lowered until the tire nearly touches the ground and will serve as a boarding step / porch . Entry to the box will be from the rear. Pix to come , I promise 8<)

[MicroBird]

Oh, I forgot, cool rig.

[chilliwak]

I am waiting intensly to see more pics of this cool rig Olly!

[olly hondro]

Yes, I need to get the pics out of the camera and onto here. I have made lots of progress : The Michelin XZL 395/85/R20 tires are mounted up and the CTIS system is functioning correctly. The cargo bed is off and the "109" box is installed. You guys may be familiar with the M35A3 shop van variant called the M109A4. The shop van body is all steel construction, insulated, wired with lights & power strips, has 6 double pane windows w/ screens that open from inside, one fixed glass window at the front of the box, barn doors at the rear. Since it is a variant configuration of the base vehicle ,the mounting pads/bolts are identical to the cargo bed. It looks abit odd right now as the truck is painted woodland camo and the 109 box is desert tan....oh well, it will work until I paint it. I know I know : pics !!! <insert embarassed red faced icon here >