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Opinions on a more capable motorhome/camper
Over the years I've owned a number of motorhomes, a couple of class C's , a Travco and now a Bluebird Wanderlodge FC 35. I like the Wanderlodge since it has lots of room and amenities but it's strictly an on-road vehicle given its size.
I've been reading about people who take more adventurous road trips such as the Paris-Peking club and would like to do some things like that, if time and life permits. So, I'm thinking about adding a Fuso FG 4wd camper to the stable. Carl Hunter drove his around the world a few years ago after building his own design. I'm curious as to people's opinion of the rig. Here's a thread from an expedition web site on the designs people have come up with: http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=16861 I'm not thinking of dropping big $$$. I'm thinking of a used truck and a used camper.
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1977 300d 70k--sold 08 1985 300TD 185k+ 1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03 1985 409d 65k--sold 06 1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car 1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11 1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper 1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4 1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13 |
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I'd do it in this order 1. 5th Wheel 2. Trailer 3. Tent 4. bivouac 5. Truck Camper |
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The only one with off roading ability would be the pickup with truck camper, but that would have stability challenges with the center of gravity. Perhaps a pop up truck camper would work.
Tom W
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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC] ..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis. |
#4
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Unimog with a radio cab!
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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver 1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver 1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine |
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Truck camper like some of the ones in that thread. Some have mounted a trailer on the truck frame. At the moment I'm toying with the idea of a Fuso FG with a utility body and a pickup camper, perhaps one that pops up. The utility body would give tons of storage.
I'd considered a Unimog but they are not a very good on-highway vehicle. I'm looking for something capable of very rough roads and on-highway, not necessarily something like a Unimog or Tatra or Man which really come into their own completely off road.
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1977 300d 70k--sold 08 1985 300TD 185k+ 1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03 1985 409d 65k--sold 06 1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car 1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11 1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper 1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4 1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13 |
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That has real possibilities, I think.
Tom W
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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC] ..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis. |
#7
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Think "tree limb's" then high pickup camper, regardless of terrain you will be stopped dead by the tree's you came to enjoy, been there done that you can take a lifted pop-up almost anywhere...and you don't need a pick up.
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#8
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Quote:
Tom W
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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC] ..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis. |
#9
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I think it'd be a great rig. Those Mitsu's are great little trucks, lots of golf courses and landscapers around here use them and I've always heard good things from the owners/employees about them (we're contemplating a change from diesel F-450's to the equivalent Mitsu for fuel mileage reasons).
If you're going "open" off-road, the utility body with slide in camper would probably be fine as long as it wasn't too tall to affect the center of gravity. A modified pop-up camper mounted to the truck would keep things real low and stable for when your driving, especially along tree lined trails. A cross-frame toolbox behind the cab would give you a lot of storage and a long, low profile underbed box on either side would give you handy storage for a Hi-Lo jack, winch anchor, straps, etc. without sacrificing too much ground clearance (and keep you on the lighter side, too). While I can't speak first hand for the Mitsu's, the guys rave about their fuel mileage and reliability. We had a IH500, which was just a rebadged Nissan 19.5K GVW diesel box truck, that got considerably better fuel mileage than our Ford F-450's even with a much taller and longer box (and 2.5 tons more carrying capacity). Those Japanese trucks just keep ticking along. If I could do it all over again I'd have bought a 48K GVW Mitsubishi instead of the 53K GVW IH we have right now. That Cummins is thirsty, we're lucky to get 5-6 laden MPG with it, 7-8 unladen. The Mitsubishi would be about double that. Now you've got me thinking about all of the possiblities...dang you!
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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15 '06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod) |
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Kerry, I think one consideration would be parts availability. Where do you plan to travel and what are the predominant vehicle makes sold there?
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#11
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Another side benefit of the light pop-up is a few guys can lift it out of ruts and its easier to unhook and turn around if you get in a jam.......not from experience of course
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#12
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Quote:
I think one of the reasons that pop up trailers are not popular amongst world expedition travelers is that they are less secure than fixed body on a truck.
__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08 1985 300TD 185k+ 1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03 1985 409d 65k--sold 06 1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car 1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11 1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper 1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4 1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13 |
#13
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Almost ready to pull the trigger on this one:
http://www.truckpaper.com/listings/detail.aspx?OHID=1741217&dlr=1&guid=A8B19B5E30A64B969D19FF1A851DD007
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1977 300d 70k--sold 08 1985 300TD 185k+ 1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03 1985 409d 65k--sold 06 1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car 1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11 1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper 1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4 1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13 |
#14
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Looks like properly shod with more "offroad" tires, would go lots of places.
How are you going to sleep in the camper - it's got a lot of strange doors and no windows |
#15
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Drop down one of those longitudinal doors, crawl inside and sleep like a baby.
__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08 1985 300TD 185k+ 1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03 1985 409d 65k--sold 06 1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car 1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11 1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper 1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4 1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13 |
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