Does anybody know what options there are for crew cab / 4+ seater trucks. I would really like a newer unimog but you get a huge crew cab area at the expense of a fairly small area for the cabin. Wondering if there are any other options which have a better balance between cab space and space for the cabin. Remember seeing a MAN in Africa which had 4 seats / 2 doors although didn't get to see inside the cab to see the exact configuration.

Not looking for a £500k truck but at the same time, looking for something fairly modern / not that old. Don't want to be cruising at 40mph down the motorways and constantly repairing it.

Any ideas?

hi Toby,

Long time...!

Both our Unimogs are single cabin (as you say, the crew cab just takes up too much rear load area.

We do have 3 Iveco Daily 4x4. Big cab (v.comfortable seating for 7 pax) and then a 3.5m long box on the back. One also has a bed area above the cab - a squeeze for two. Might be worth a look...? The off-road ability is impressive for what they are, but nothing on LR110 or shorter (and nowhere near Unimog). Otherwise, I'm guessing that a LR130 is too small.

The Ivecos are REALLY hard to find!

I can send you some photos of what we have if you want.

Sam.

The Japanese truck makers seem to have cornered the 2 to 4 tonne payload 4x4 crewcab - Isuzu, Mitsubishi and Hino all offer 6/7 seaters.

Nice and basic designs, leaf springs, manual locking hubs, dual rears or super singles all round. Unlikely to get diff locks unless you fit them as aftermarket.
All have PTO capable gearboxes for winches, tipping gear, cranes, etc.

They are capable dirt, sand, mud road vehicles but are not off road in the sense that a Unimog is - no step axles, 5/6 speed gearboxes + transfer case.

The rural fire brigades in Australia use all three makes with the cabs fire proofed with insulation and blinds, the bodies carry about 2000 to 3000 litres of water and pumps, reels, etc. My local council runs a few Mitsu crew cabs with tippers and has a fair bit of beach and dirt road driving, they run super singles all round. The tipping bodies look to be about the same length as the crew cab.

Cab to body length will depend on weight distribution calculations - (Unimogs have such steep approach angles putting too much rear overhang is asking for body damage).

To give a bit more info:

Select 2/4wd
High/Low range
Manual FW hubs on front.
Rear diff lock is standard
Two of ours have electric front diff lock (a semi-standard option apparently)
Will sit at 95kph happily

They were designed for an Italian Army spec (hence the 37 reverse gears - sorry, couldn't resist). They are solid as they come, and very, very nearly as competent as a LR130.

Sam.

I recently bought a Nissan Frontier (US) 4x4 Nismo version. It has hi/low capabolity, limited slip front and rear, and locking rear diffrental. On the NISMO version the rear axel is a dana 44 as well. I actually use my truck for off roading unlike many americans and it does very well so far. The dealer front grill guard is exellant quality and very strong. I have the extended cab version, but they make a 2 door front and rear seating version.

__________________
John

http://www.mobile.de/SIDSYmd8Antf7wF...1111237416955&

I'm with Sam on the quality of the Dailys, the LWB is 3.2m which is 110 inches.

They don't have as much axle articulation as a LR, and the chassis does some of the articulation (like on most HGVs).

It depends what comfort you're looking for really. I was very happy with my Daily, but it's a 2 berth and with the expanding family I'm looking for a forward cab and as much width as is legally possible (greenlaning's not my thing so a 2.5m body is no problem)

L

hi, it may be too big for you but on my extensive hunt for a 10 -16t truck to take me and my wife away from expensive rent and crap weather for a few years I found the magirus 170D11. There are a lot of german fire trucks for sale with decent size crew cabs and enough spcae for a 3m+ box on the back.

www.mobile.de has a few at the moment

http://www.mobile.de/SIDYHNiIaICRWPd1fADR3pxQA-t-vaNexlCsAsCsK%F3P%F3R~BmSB11VtruckProfiSearchPubli cJ1167827518A2VtruckProfiSearchPublicD1220ETruckX-t-vctpLtt~BmPA1A1B20B46%81I-t-vCaMkQuSeUnVb_X_Y_x_ysO~BSRA6D1220E16150BGNCLKWA1H inPublicA2A0C200A0A0/cgi-bin/da.pl?bereich=lkw&sprache=2&sr_qual=GN&top=11&id=1 1111111237952327&


the maggie deutz website has a few nice conversion photos:
http://www.maggie-deutz.com


Alternatively there's the mercedes 911 and 1113 trucks, also common as german fire trucks, ofte permitting smaller boxes though.



these also come up for sle on mobile.de fairly often

__________________
http://jimthetruck.blogspot.co.uk/

Hi Nick, I'm brewing in the same situation. Got to get out soon.

Those Maggies come with marvellously low mileage too. A Belgian family using one around S.America (aquandes.be) report around 26 litres/100km on the original 8x20 tyres which I find quite reasonable.
The black one has a suspension lift and looks the D's Bs with the 14x20 tyres. They'll give it longer legs too.
I'm very curious to know more about cab noise/comfort as aircooled is usually pretty noisy. However you can put in a lot of soundproofing/heating/aircon before it's cost as much as a new truck (or one with only 30kkm on the clock)

Very tempting

Then there's the T813, in 4x4, 6x6 or 8x8. Most commonly seen on the 8wd version, you can fit everyone in and have a garage (my designs include space for a Haflinger under the rear bed and 2t of diesel!)
Swap the engine for one out of a 40T HGV and you're under 30l/100km.

these guys http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TATRA-813-8x8-...QQcmdZViewItem can also get hold of the twincab version, and they're available for half that in the Czech republic if you're prepared to put up with the transport, service, and registration hassle that they've already done.

Here's what they can get up to, albeit slowly: http://www.davidkralik.cz/trial/2006/vranov/index.htm

You have to add the price of a set of 20 or 22.5 inch wheels into the budget, as they run on 21 inch wheels (you can get tyres cheap in the former east block but elsewhere, I don't think so)

For the moment I'll just dream on...
This summer the Iveco goes and its replacement will be...?

Luke

Come on Luke we all know you're going to get a Tatra............ and a very nice present for Mrs Luke.

Happy New Year
Q

Space is a connundrum for us too, I live in London at the moment and with anything bigger than an MJ or a Maggie 160/10 you start getting serious parking problems, not to mention the restriction on the number of residential roads that you'll actually fit down. I'll post a solidworks rendering of the planned interior on our conversion when I get some time. I've designed a sliding double bed at the rear so that the of head height above the bed - to - under bed storage ratio can be changed. I've managed to fit a nice size kitchen, dining bench and table for 3, bathroom with toilet, sink and shower, double bed, 600l water tank, and a small garage area in a box that's only 5m long. Me and my wife will plan a trip to germany (hopefully accidentaly allowing it to coincide with oktoberfest) when we get some cash together to look at some potential vehicles so I'll post up some details when our hunt for the right vehicle leaves the internet and becomes physical.

__________________
http://jimthetruck.blogspot.co.uk/

Thanks for all the posts. Nice to see your collection is growing Sam. What do you do with all the vehicles - does each member of the family drive their own including the kids? By my reckoning that's two Defenders, two mogs, three ivecos, the bobcat (or similar) and the 6x6 that was on order? Anyway have considered the Ivecos but potentially want something slightly larger. Was thinking more truck like without going to big. Want to buy something that will be good for the next ten years. Unlikely to replace with newer as most options these days have electronics. Don't want to get a huge truck as pretty prohibitive in terms of weight on african bridges, height on norweigen tunnels, height on African / Asian electricity lines in towns etc. Thinking about the size of a mog / 4x4 Man, possibly 6x6. Just looking for options which have a better ratio of crew cab space to available body space.

Also looking for something slightly newer than the options listed so far. Mainly want the reliability of something that has less mileage. I would consider buying something with only 50k on the clock, maybe 5 - 10 years old.

Any ideas?

Hi I have a 4X4 Ford County Transit crew cab pick up, comes with 4 under body lockers which are very secure, presently with just 3 front seat all full belts could fit 3 or maybe 4 in crew cab, It comes with 2.5 turbo diesel engine, 5 speed gearbox with low and high range gears, free wheeling hubs (manual), great ground clearance and is very good on and off road, also fitted 120L heavy steel fuel tank. The shell is 1996, running gear is 1988, all is in good condition, has been of road for couple of years. Have been getting it ready for new MOT. freeing of brakes ect, some new bits, also have quite a selection of spares if required, let me know if your interested. If not best of luck finding what you want. Regards Iain Tel 07778555310 P.S. can e-mail you more recent pics if required.
http://www.earborist.com/Vehicles_4X...ck-up_1787.php