1988 Trakka

[Kiwi Trakka]

Hi all,

I've had this vehicle now since 2017, imported it from AUS to New Zealand, and it's now time to fit out the back properly.

A bit about it:

• Factory front and rear lockers & A/C
• Stratos seats
• Original paint
• 410km
• 2H
• All around very clean and original

The build:
The plan is to keep it nice and functional on the inside. In NZ we don't need to carry a whole lot of equipment etc like in Aus, so internally the plan is to keep the seating in the back nice and low so you can still see out the rear windows when sitting in the back just like the factory seating, with storage underneath and storage in the cabinetry. All the work is being done professionally by https://www.instagram.com/judgeandcompany_/?hl=en

The plan is as follows:

• Duoetto hot water system - retractable shower out the back
• Lithium battery set up 200ah
• Use existing Engel MT45 fridge
• Diesel heater - to be able to use the vehicle all year round
• Custom fresh and grey water tank under vehicle in place of 2nd diesel tank (don't need the long range in NZ, and grey water tank is a requirement in NZ)
• Convert current Trakka bed to fold away on gas struts
• Use LP portable gas cooker instead of built in cooker. This is as most of cooking is done outside and want the versatility
• Swing mounted bike rack
• Roof racks for surfboards
• Rear seat to convert to bed for guest or windy nights

The plan is not set in stone, it'll be adapted and fine tuned when the builder is able to get his hands on the van.

Any ideas/feedback is most appreciated as I want to get this build right!

Thanks - Drew

 

[roscoFJ73]

One of the best 75 series colour options.
Do you really need a kitchen sink and tap? I had one in a slide on camper with pumps and onboard tanks. I found it easier to use a plastic jerry can with a tap on it . I took a wok with me on camping trips and when the meal was done it became the sink for washing dishes with water heated over a gas or wood fire.
My favourite piece of kit was a good plastic fold up table, 2-3 people could eat at it without having to put all the cooking gear away

 

[Kiwi Trakka]

One of the best 75 series colour options.
Do you really need a kitchen sink and tap? I had one in a slide on camper with pumps and onboard tanks. I found it easier to use a plastic jerry can with a tap on it . I took a wok with me on camping trips and when the meal was done it became the sink for washing dishes with water heated over a gas or wood fire.
My favourite piece of kit was a good plastic fold up table, 2-3 people could eat at it without having to put all the cooking gear away

In New Zealand you need to be self contained they call it to camp in most of the free spots. So this means the camper needs to have a sink, tap, fresh water and a portable toilet onboard for certification. If I don't get it set up like this I would pretty much have to stick to camp grounds. And I've also had sinks and taps in previous vans and I do miss it in this one. The fold up table is a good call.

 

[svsisu]

Really nice looking Trakka Troopy, and my favorite colour too! Where are you base on the North Island? I lived a number of years near Opua and mostly surfed shippies, Taupo, and few really good spots between. Keep the photos coming.

 

[Felde]

View attachment 2688594

Nice rig, and a nice area to use it.
NZ is in my bucket list, still.

I have the same sticker of Arakawa Auto Body on my 1985 BJ73.
Anyone an idea what it is about?

Have fun!
Ralf

 

[SNLC]

In New Zealand you need to be self contained they call it to camp in most of the free spots. So this means the camper needs to have a sink, tap, fresh water and a portable toilet onboard for certification. If I don't get it set up like this I would pretty much have to stick to camp grounds. And I've also had sinks and taps in previous vans and I do miss it in this one. The fold up table is a good call.

That is crazy they actually have requirements for a camping setup. Is this like government regulated and certified? Like you can’t register it otherwise?

Really bizarre to me that you have to have a toilet and such on board to camp outside pay camping areas.

Cheers

 

[svsisu]

That is crazy they actually have requirements for a camping setup. Is this like government regulated and certified? Like you can’t register it otherwise?

Really bizarre to me that you have to have a toilet and such on board to camp outside pay camping areas.

Cheers

I can't speak to how it's regulated or enforced, but if you had seen what was going on in NZ with backpackers buying vans, and "Freedom Camping" anywhere and everywhere, and leaving places completely trashed with human waste you would understand why they have had to resort to these kind of measures. It used to be the most un-regulated, laid back place, but too many people (mainly foreign travelers) took advantage of and abused the system, and refused to take responsibility for their actions. Not too dissimilar from what is happening with all the "Boondockers" not respecting National Forests and BLM Land, and not knowing how to actually camp remotely. Pack it in, pack it out! When people act like idiots it opens up the door for government imposed regulation. It's not crazy, just a function of people not doing what they should, and the rest of us having to pay the price.

 

[SNLC]

I can't speak to how it's regulated or enforced, but if you had seen what was going on in NZ with backpackers buying vans, and "Freedom Camping" anywhere and everywhere, and leaving places completely trashed with human waste you would understand why they have had to resort to these kind of measures. It used to be the most un-regulated, laid back place, but too many people (mainly foreign travelers) took advantage of and abused the system, and refused to take responsibility for their actions. Not too dissimilar from what is happening with all the "Boondockers" not respecting National Forests and BLM Land, and not knowing how to actually camp remotely. Pack it in, pack it out! When people act like idiots it opens up the door for government imposed regulation. It's not crazy, just a function of people not doing what they should, and the rest of us having to pay the price.

Oh I have seen it. Many places in Oregon are trashed, it’s disgusting. Seen it in Baja too.

Luckily here in Idaho we don’t have that problem.

Cheers

 

[roscoFJ73]

I can't speak to how it's regulated or enforced, but if you had seen what was going on in NZ with backpackers buying vans, and "Freedom Camping" anywhere and everywhere, and leaving places completely trashed with human waste you would understand why they have had to resort to these kind of measures

I see the same in Australia. Some people are pigs in camping areas.

 

[Kiwi Trakka]

Really nice looking Trakka Troopy, and my favorite colour too! Where are you base on the North Island? I lived a number of years near Opua and mostly surfed shippies, Taupo, and few really good spots between. Keep the photos coming.

Based in Hawke's Bay. It's really nice up North, looking forward to getting up there!

I can't speak to how it's regulated or enforced, but if you had seen what was going on in NZ with backpackers buying vans, and "Freedom Camping" anywhere and everywhere, and leaving places completely trashed with human waste you would understand why they have had to resort to these kind of measures. It used to be the most un-regulated, laid back place, but too many people (mainly foreign travelers) took advantage of and abused the system, and refused to take responsibility for their actions. Not too dissimilar from what is happening with all the "Boondockers" not respecting National Forests and BLM Land, and not knowing how to actually camp remotely. Pack it in, pack it out! When people act like idiots it opens up the door for government imposed regulation. It's not crazy, just a function of people not doing what they should, and the rest of us having to pay the price.

Yeah pretty much. Backpackers get a pretty bad wrap for the littering and leaving human waste in NZ, and there's a stigma attached to backpacker vans that aren't proper motorhomes. So to be able to "freedom camp" you need to be self contained. It's not a big deal to plumb in fresh and waste water tanks and carry a portable toilet anyway.

Nice rig, and a nice area to use it.
NZ is in my bucket list, still.

I have the same sticker of Arakawa Auto Body on my 1985 BJ73.
Anyone an idea what it is about?

Have fun!
Ralf

Thanks! I think it's the factory in Japan where the body was built.

 

[Earwigg]

Cool truck colour is great.
Never made it to the hawke's bay one day my grandfather worked down the a while when he first emigrated.

Sadly there's plenty of locals trashing everything to dumping bags of rubbish everywhere chucking fish frames in the rivers piles of kina shells half buryed all over the beach etc.
Even with the stickers the wardens will come around at 3am to check that you are actually self contained.

 

[Kiwi Trakka]

Hi all,

A bit of an update, I'm getting to the tail end of the fit out. Just a bit of plumbing and wiring etc to do now.

The concept of the fit out has gone as plan, just the odd tweak here and there.

I'm now trying to convert the slide out bed in the pop top to a bed that lifts up and down on struts - the same as the one in the third picture. Has anyone done this mod? The guy doing the fit out is just having a few problems with doing it, and he doesn't want to do any damage to the fiberglass in the process.

Thanks

 

[bj70_guy]

Man that is awesome!

 

[coldtaco]

Attach the struts to the remaining structure above the drip rails (I think that’s what they are called)

 

[Kiwi Trakka]

Hi all, managed to get the mod done, looks pretty good I reckon! Will be so much more usable.

 

[RobertoL]

What a great setup!