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Equipping the Overland Vehicle Vehicle accessories - Making your home away from home comfortable, safe and reliable.
Photo by Marc Gibaud, Clouds on Tres Cerros and Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia

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  #1  
Old 26 Jan 2010
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Trucks under 6m
Hello, I've just started looking at this site as I'm becoming very interested in building a camping truck.

I've been reading most of the truck threads and most of the trucks seem to come out at around 7m, I'd preferably like to keep the total length under 6m if possible. Is this going to be possible and what sort of trucks would I be looking at and what would the maximum length of my camper box be?

I was going to go to Withams and have a look sometime this week just to get a feel for things. I'm a bit of VW nut so like the look of the Man 8.136s but the only ones I've seen for sale are on mobile.de and they seem to be a bit pricey. Is there anywhere else I can look?

Also can anyone point me in the direction of any good sites which offer advice in building the camper box or possibly designs? I was thinking of using steel box section frame and ali sheet to keep things simple. I'm not sure what thickness of box section I should be looking at?

Last question, if I bought a flat bed truck and mounted the camper box onto that would I still need a torsion free mounting or does it depend on the truck?

Thanks in advance.
Clive
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  #2  
Old 27 Jan 2010
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Man
Hi Clive - I presume you have seen Chris Scott's update plus the new owners conversion:

Chris Scott - Man truck
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  #3  
Old 27 Jan 2010
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Location: Leicestershire,UK, or in my Iveco Daily 4x4
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How many people are you building for, an Iveco daily 4x4 makes a good base truck at reasonable prices (not that i'm biased or anything)

the 8.136 is probabily the smallest of the 7.5 tonne trucks, but like you say , they are expensive

Have you asked jacksons
MAN 8.136 4x4 Drop side cargo truck - Cargo Trucks - L.Jackson & Co. Ex MOD and NATO Vehicles Plant and Equipment

I'd stay away from the reynolds boughton RB44 (5 tonnes i think)

Talk to stan about the construction of his , detailed here blog

My friend who built his 101 body did that with mild steel and glued the aluminium on (as per aircraft), its a while since i've seen the truck but the steel wasn't as big as the stuff on stans (which may have not been steel - looked a bit bright)

you need to look at the man - is it designed to twist and by how much. It is a very short truck so may twist less , but I guess some sort of frame is needed - have a look at a solid bodied one if you can find one, i can't find the photos I had of an ambulanced bodied one - or ring man , they may have a guide on body construction like the mercedes one

good luck
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Iveco Turbo Daily 4x4 40-10
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  #4  
Old 27 Jan 2010
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Limiting length to 6m will make for a very small camper, under 4.0m.
I can speak from experience that a 7.5m vehicle with 3.9m wheelbase is quite maneuverable:
UNICAT® - TERRACROSS
Look at the vehicles at
UNICAT® - going there is half the fun
For some perspective.

Charlie
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  #5  
Old 28 Jan 2010
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Originally Posted by rclafton View Post
How many people are you building for, an Iveco daily 4x4 makes a good base truck at reasonable prices (not that i'm biased or anything)
I've been pointed at an 4x4 Iveco Panel for sale for maybe about 3k. Vehicles for Sale It looks like a MWB but I'm not sure of the dimensions, any idea?

Yep, 14k with no MOT or UK reg. I read Simon only paid 7.5 ish for his from Leaveslys which is just 10 minutes up the A38 from me. Unfortunately they don't appear to have any more and it was probably before the other people started selling them for silly money. I could get one from Denmark but would only save about a grand. I don't think I'll bother unless I can get one for about 10k.

Quote:
Originally Posted by rclafton View Post
I'd stay away from the reynolds boughton RB44 (5 tonnes i think)
I plan to.

Quote:
Originally Posted by rclafton View Post
Talk to stan about the construction of his , detailed here blog
I have contacted Stan and he kindly sent me some photos and answered some questions. At the moment though I don't have that sort of money sitting in my bank until my house sale completes. So it just depends how quick he sells it and what I decide to do.

Quote:
Originally Posted by rclafton View Post
My friend who built his 101 body did that with mild steel and glued the aluminium on (as per aircraft), its a while since i've seen the truck but the steel wasn't as big as the stuff on stans (which may have not been steel - looked a bit bright)
Stan's is stainless but I'd also use mild steel for my frame to save cash.

Quote:
Originally Posted by rclafton View Post
you need to look at the man - is it designed to twist and by how much. It is a very short truck so may twist less , but I guess some sort of frame is needed - have a look at a solid bodied one if you can find one, i can't find the photos I had of an ambulanced bodied one - or ring man , they may have a guide on body construction like the mercedes one
Stan reckons that the flatbed is mounted independantly but I'll have to look into it.

cheers
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  #6  
Old 28 Jan 2010
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the iveco is a swb 2.8 metre

so they are small , think of a 110 landrover but with more useable space

Mark did cut the back off a short wheelbase and mount an ex bt box on the back

if you search here you'll find his posts and link to his blog
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  #7  
Old 19 Feb 2010
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Stan reckons that the flatbed is mounted independantly but I'll have to look into it.

It is and even then the short MAN twisted around a whole lot off road - maybe because it's designed to. Something like MAN arrangement - or 3-pt as on Mogs - is essential when building a cabin unless you use concrete. Some don't realise this until its nearly too late (see half built fabr' pic).

What a shame the 8.1s are now going for Mog 1300 money.... A much simpler machine that does nearly as much IME.

Chris
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