[Dynosoar]

Kevin, I all I have to say is WOW! that is the baddest 60 around. It truly is an inspiration to us all. Keep up the good work. Next time you are out west let me know, I want to buy you a beer or two.


Dynosoar

[boots4]

You are a storage guru and a professional pack-rat! Great ideas for the rear storage. You must have been a boy scout and taken the motto to heart since you'll be prepared for anything. It's nice to get an overview of the things you've done cause I didn't even know you had a diesel in your rig.

[kevinmrowland]

Originally Posted by chet

I see your dog keeps his mass low as well!

And you should see the places he can go!

Originally Posted by Ducks

I noticed your shackle angle. Is that just from the OME heavy springs? People seem to make a big deal about shackle angle. Do you think it really makes a difference?

Love those OMEs, but they are just too damn short. One of these days I might get around to moving the shackle hanger, but I hate welding upside down, so maybe it will be the next time I have the body off. So, yes, I think it makes big difference, the springs are basically fighting the shackles in that position.

Originally Posted by shmukster

Where'd ya get those cool lockers???? Gary S

Aaah, some "shmuk" down in PA robbed me of all my pocket change for those pieces of crap.

Originally Posted by Dynosoar

Next time you are out west let me know, I want to buy you a beer or two.

We like it out west, but I don't know about "SoCal" How about a Cerveza in Baja when we finally get there?

[NVFJ60]

Very nice rig. It seems like you spent a lot of hours pre planning every little detail. It really shows. I was wondering how much it weighs fully loaded for a trip. Also do you have special springs under her or the stock set up. Thanks, and again, awesome rig.

[AKcruiserfreak]

Very nice rig! How was your trip to Alaska? Did you make it up to my neck of the woods (North Pole)? What type of MPG are you getting with the diesel conversion?

TK

[woytovich]

You have WAAYYYYY too much free time... Great work - I'm jealous...

[kevinmrowland]

Originally Posted by NVFJ60

I was wondering how much it weighs fully loaded for a trip. Also do you have special springs under her or the stock set up. Thanks, and again, awesome rig.

5850, ready for a trip, sans one passenger.
Springs are the OME heavies.

Originally Posted by AKcruiserfreak

Very nice rig! How was your trip to Alaska? Did you make it up to my neck of the woods (North Pole)? What type of MPG are you getting with the diesel conversion?

AK is great, I used to work in SE AK during the summers in college. I have been all over the state (the few places you can drive anyway, and a bunch of the ones you can hike) Been through North Pole, I think I swam in the lake at your state park (and didn't even get the skin disease).
The last few pages of the swap thread have a bunch of mileage info. I still need to have the injectors rebuilt, but uphill, into a headwind, 75mph, the lowest I can get is 16mpg. Easy driving, slower speeds, the best I can get is juuuust under 22. But I like the skinny pedal, especially now that it feels like it does something.

Originally Posted by woytovich

You have WAAYYYYY too much free time...

Yeah, no kids, no house, wife works in the evenings, way too many tools at work to play with..........

[euclid]

Kevin, thanks for all the time and energy you put into writing up your truck. It is friggen amazing, and the coolest part is that you use it. Good job.

[VTCruiser]

Awesome rig, and great storage ideas!

Glad to see you got the 1HZ dialed in! It appears a breed of "HZJ60's" are spawning from VT... I'll be in touch when I'm ready to turbo...

Great work!

[BlueHZT60]

Originally Posted by kevinmrowland

Naw, I come in at 5850 loaded for a trip, I really try and keep the weight down, and oddly enough I actually lost weight with the diesel conversion and subsequent mods.

Hmmm, I'm wondering why I'm dropping in at 7,125 lbs fully loaded? About the only differences are my Aux. fuel tank, Auzie drawers rather than custom & the Maggiolina (150lbs). Those dang QP's must weigh a lot Bob

[CDN_Cruzer]

I love your rig she is a beauty! I look forward to stealing lots of your ideas. Your underseat storage makes me want to cut up my perfectly good rust free floor!

Originally Posted by BlueHZT60

Hmmm, I'm wondering why I'm dropping in at 7,125 lbs fully loaded? About the only differences are my Aux. fuel tank, Auzie drawers rather than custom & the Maggiolina (150lbs). Those dang QP's must weigh a lot Bob

I was wondering about this too I steped on the scales the other day and weighted in @ 5600lbs with just me in the truck almost no gear?? I must be fat

[Butt Ugly Chuck]

I'm not worthy!!!! (Bowing in reverence)
Butt

[woytovich]

Originally Posted by CDN_Cruzer

I was wondering about this too I steped on the scales the other day and weighted in @ 5600lbs with just me in the truck almost no gear?? I must be fat

No... Kevin failed to mention the helium filled boxed frame rails... ;-)

[kevinmrowland]

Thanks again everyone.

Originally Posted by BlueHZT60

Hmmm, I'm wondering why I'm dropping in at 7,125 lbs fully loaded? About the only differences are my Aux. fuel tank, Auzie drawers rather than custom & the Maggiolina (150lbs). Those dang QP's must weigh a lot Bob

I remember having asked you how you got to that weight in another thread. Have you only been on one scale? I hover right around 6k and have been on a few different scales.
If your aux tank was full that would be an easy 200lbs
I thought you were running 35s? If not, they are at least 12.5s, probably another 100lbs.
Roof tent and load bars, 150
My drawer system weighs in at 50lbs, the auzie is considerably more, I think near 150.
So that right there gets us about 650lbs. Do you have a steel winch cable or synthetic? Metal fuel cans or plastic? There could be a bunch of other stuff as well, 10lbs here and 10lbs there make a big difference.

I have been learning that while weight is a big issue, weight distribution is the real issue. Getting weight low and in front of the rear axle makes the biggest difference in handling. Now that I have gotten everything heavy in the truck below the horizontal line that the driver sits on, it feels like I am ridding around on a steel sled. The difference in stability is amazing.

[kevinmrowland]

Originally Posted by phono13

...I'd love to see some more trip/out-in-the-field pics. Thanks for all the ideas!

Ok, only 3 pages late, but I finaly have more trip photos up on my new website.


wagongear

[Ducks]

Originally Posted by kevinmrowland

Love those OMEs, but they are just too damn short. One of these days I might get around to moving the shackle hanger, but I hate welding upside down, so maybe it will be the next time I have the body off. So, yes, I think it makes big difference, the springs are basically fighting the shackles in that position.

So you can just move the shackle hanger closer and that wouldn't screw anything else up? I don't quite understand all things suspension yet. Would you need to also do that to the front?

[ringpinion.biz]

Nice Work!

[Creeker]

Beautiful work and write-up. Could be a book!

[debushau]

Very impressive, on all fronts.

[boots4]

Thanks for sharing your wagongear site. You've got some amazing pics!!

[woytovich]

Originally Posted by kevinmrowland

After a bunch of head scratching I came up with this super low-tech new version.

Kevin,
In your "fold the seatback to make the front part of the sleeping platform" arrangement are those a second set of the top latches holding the top (rearward) end of the flopped seatback in place?

Are they in the way when using the rear seat in it's normal configuration?

How to you handle the lower seatback hinge? Is it quick to release? Is it secure enough when in "seat" mode?

Thanks,
mark

[kevinmrowland]

Originally Posted by Ducks

So you can just move the shackle hanger closer and that wouldn't screw anything else up? I don't quite understand all things suspension yet. Would you need to also do that to the front?

Basically, yup. You would need to make sure both sides are done the same and things stay square. If nothing else is changed this will lower the amount of lift the springs give. But you would not need to match the front unless you wanted to. Leaf spring suspensions are pretty forgiving.

Originally Posted by boots4

Thanks for sharing your wagongear site. You've got some amazing pics!!

Glad you like it!

[Gappy]

My rig is so "belly button". Kevin, great story, rig and enthusiasim!!
I really dig the 2 shop pics, one of you as proud as a peacock and then the shot of parts spread around the shop. Thanks for sharing!!!

[kevinmrowland]

Originally Posted by woytovich

Kevin,
In your "fold the seatback to make the front part of the sleeping platform" arrangement are those a second set of the top latches holding the top (rearward) end of the flopped seatback in place?

Are they in the way when using the rear seat in it's normal configuration?

How to you handle the lower seatback hinge? Is it quick to release? Is it secure enough when in "seat" mode?

Thanks,
mark

Yup, I bent L brackets and welded spare latches to them.
They have not seemed to be in the way of anything yet.
And I simply removed the tab retainers from the lower seat pins (I said this was low tech). When the seat is up it is effectively wedged into place as long as the top two latches are engaged. It is not super slick, but it seems to work great, it is surprisingly easy and smooth to flip the seat around and lock it in place.

[woytovich]

I think I'd want to find a way to secure the rear setback more than that... but that should be fairly easy, even if it was just replacing the bolts that hold the hinge pin thing to the floor with thumb screws...

[flybynight]

Originally Posted by woytovich

I think I'd want to find a way to secure the rear setback more than that... but that should be fairly easy, even if it was just replacing the bolts that hold the hinge pin thing to the floor with thumb screws...

You could use or fabricate loose pin hinges. A mainstay in theatrical scenery.

[woytovich]

Originally Posted by flybynight

You could use or fabricate loose pin hinges. A mainstay in theatrical scenery.

Good idea... do you do scenery?

[kevinmrowland]

The simple geometry of the seat dictates that it can not move backward, and in the forward direction it is wedged in place by the seat base. Access to the pins is very limited, the seat base would have to be tipped forward to gain access, which defeats the whole purpose of the mod since anything in the foot well would have to move, not only that, but you would not be able to flip the seat down from only one side of the truck since you would have to walk around the vehicle to get to the other pin. The only easy access is actually through the fender well, spring pins could be put through and released by reaching in behind the tire, but once I determined that it was unnecessary, I didn't bother.

[flybynight]

Originally Posted by woytovich

Good idea... do you do scenery?

Yep. Used to work in theatre,(miss it too) but the income doesn't cover the needs of a family. Now in commercial work. TV, Print ads, Film if I get lucky.


kevinmrowland

The simple geometry of the seat dictates that it can not move backward, and in the forward direction it is wedged in place by the seat base. Access to the pins is very limited, the seat base would have to be tipped forward to gain access, which defeats the whole purpose of the mod since anything in the foot well would have to move, not only that, but you would not be able to flip the seat down from only one side of the truck since you would have to walk around the vehicle to get to the other pin. The only easy access is actually through the fender well, spring pins could be put through and released by reaching in behind the tire, but once I determined that it was unnecessary, I didn't bother.

I figured you would have sussed it out, my suggestion is for anyone who wanted the extra "security" or challenge. As usual your mods are well thought out.
Your trips pics on your site are very cool, thanks for sharing.

[flybynight]

I was curious if you had done any thing special in the way of audio?
I may have missed it, if so let me know.
Thanks