80 Series High Roof (or High Top) Idea

[chibo]

http://www.unicat.net/en/index2-Individual.html

Those are seriously cool.

I like this

Any more pictures or details on this setup?

 

[ygplayer]

Here's a JDM version with raised roof.
http://www.outbackimports.ca/sale/06-46-1-ToyotaLandcruiser4x4Diesel.html

 

[fjfar80]

Does no one like to set-up a tent on the ground anymore? I guess I just think, that would be a PITA if you woke up and forgot you were 8 feet off of the ground.

 

[cpg]

Any more pictures or details on this setup?

It is a columbus medium from Autohome USA. www.autohomeus.com

 

[hks3sgte]

Anyone have any information on the wheels in that pic?

Factory Toyota 16x6 wheels...

 

[Lugboot]

Does no one like to set-up a tent on the ground anymore? I guess I just think, that would be a PITA if you woke up and forgot you were 8 feet off of the ground.

You have to protect yourself from all the tigers and gazelles and water buffalo and lemurs we have roaming around the Great American Outback.

But the other half of the original idea was to also have a lot more cargo room without the sleeping stuff, which would be cool, I think.

 

[SOCALFJ]

Oh man i want those wheels.

Great thread Shahram.

 

[hoser]

Same set-up...

 

[Kona Joe]

Any interior pics? Not something I'd do, but I like it.

 

[IronYuppy]

I think something like this is a lot better... keeps the roof low when driving and opens up when needed...

The image is very small on my laptop. So, is that a side-pipe I see there?

 

[hoser]

Kona, I have no interior pics.

IronYuppy, the white pop-top camper I posted also looks like it has the side exhaust. I am guessing the original muffler location is now occupied with a water tank or something.

 

[NorCalDoug]

Does no one like to set-up a tent on the ground anymore? I guess I just think, that would be a PITA if you woke up and forgot you were 8 feet off of the ground.

forget that you're up on top of your rig?


I'd say that you deserve to fall






IMO, rooftop tents are the way to go. Sleeping on the ground means finding a large enough, clean, dry spot. With the RTT, just level your rig and pop it open...

 

[SOCALFJ]

I couldn't agree more with Doug. I think if you forget that easy about where you're at then maybe you shouldn't be out camping lol

 

[lx450landcruiser]

I couldn't agree more with Doug. I think if you forget that easy about where you're at then maybe you shouldn't be out camping lol

or stop boozing a little sooner before bed

 

[KliersLC]

The one that Hoser posted would be sweet if you added a solar panel to that flat surface up top......

 

[Grolar]

I think something like this is a lot better... keeps the roof low when driving and opens up when needed...

This is exactly what I'm looking forward to doing in the future to accomodate two adults and two kids in a 81, a 75 or a 105 once I'm back in Yurp. The kiddos would sleep on the drawers platform behind and the adults upstairs. Sawing a double-sunroof sized hole to communicate between the top and the bottom might be nerve-wracking, but it's doable (my father did it 15 years ago in a medium-sized van). As far as rigidity is concerned, I wouldn't be too concerned as those rigs have a bolted truck-like chassis, much less prone to warping than regular cars. This would need some serious engineering and work, but fiberglass-reinforced plywood and loads of sealant would do the trick for quite cheap. And for the weight and theoretical heightening of the tipping point, SW LCs weight is already at least 6,000 lbs, quite low on the truck, and I doubt this kind of setup would be used for serious crawling. It's more like a long hauler for overland trips IMHO.

 

[Brian894X4]

Or you could just go all out and cut out the whole back of the 80 and start over....

 

[Brian894X4]

Inovation Campers is the site to visit. But they are in Germany and so is the website, so its hard to read and navigate:

http://www.innovation-campers.com/d_home.html

I couldn't find any 80 specific interiors, but these are some 100 series interiors and I'm sure the 80 interior would be pretty simliar:

 

[Corbet]

I spent 10 days and 3000+ KM in a 70 series camper this spring in Australia. It was just the wife and me. It was a bubble top design. My observations:

1. Sleeping. This vehicle used a plywood platform with a thin mattress. We tried to sleep the both of us up top. Not enough room to really be comfortable. No head room and forget about fooling around. But we are both tall. I'm 6'1" / 200lbs the wife 5'9". I ended up on the lower bunk.

2. Center of gravity. I did not wheel the rig hard as we were alone with almost no recovery gear. Tires on the truck were crap at best. Skinny HWY treads. But I did not feel top heavy at all. I drove it as fast as 85 MPH on pavement and 70 MPH on dirt. Crosswinds were noticeable but my 60 with bikes and a Thule box on the roof is worse.

3. Kitchen. Did not use it much but nothing special. It had an Engle and propane stove. Sink with 50 liter fresh water tank. Not a lot of room inside the vehicle to do much. The rear door had a fold down table to set the stove on.

Overall I'd much rather have a trailer than everything in the truck. If you think you'll have equivalent space to a VW camper you are mistaken. A VW is huge compared to the 70 we rented as far as interior. The standard storage drawers and frig on top would be my ideal setup, with a roof top tent on the truck or on a trailer.

 

[SOCALFJ]

With all that weight, i wonder what springs they use in the rear.