- Thread starter
- #21
Hell yeah, inspiration! 
Building an "RV40" (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter FouadHafeez
- Start date
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Redgrrr
I have a problem with 40s
Here's my fav, seems like it would have the most room inside that I've seen on a 40 camper
JohnnyC
Long ago TLCA# 2231
maybe these can provide some inspiration as well?
Weird timing. I just posted this thread in chat a couple days ago:
https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/bj40-camper-grand-canyon-2012.845838/
https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/bj40-camper-grand-canyon-2012.845838/
- Thread starter
- #28
Hmmm. A double-door, with a camper...
I'm thinking; "de-Phantomising" the Phantom...undoing the SOA...fitting lower tyres...removing the pickup tub...and you ALREADY have the perfect platform for something awesomely, freakishly cool.
- Thread starter
- #29
Who'm I kidding, though? Getting the four door's underbelly mechanicals back to stock (ish) condition, would be more of a PITA than building a new 40 from scratch!
JohnnyC
Long ago TLCA# 2231
It sounds like your starting to reason here... Don't reason with yourself ... We are all here to help you thru this 
Build new
Yourself is telling you that you need a new toy... I can even hear it from here
Build new
Yourself is telling you that you need a new toy... I can even hear it from here
- Thread starter
- #31
You're right, mate. On all scores.It sounds like your starting to reason here... Don't reason with yourself ... We are all here to help you thru this
Build new
Yourself is telling you that you need a new toy... I can even hear it from here
I'm heading off to the yards to scour for a 40, in a short while. By the end of today, we will have at least decided what we're buying, and what we're building. The more I see the four-door, the more it appeals to me as the basis for a camper...especially for a medium sized family like mine. The longer passenger cabin would mean a longer overhang for sleeping and storage; possibly reducing the need to stretch it inordinately long. Whilst I already HAVE a four door, it's built quite differently from the 'norm', so 'deconstructing' it would be problematic, and may actually not serve the purpose, either.
So...I think the way forward is to build a stretched four-door (Bandeirante-styled, rather than Phantom-styled) after all, with the rear axle(s) well aft of the passenger cabin. On top of that, we'll go about building a "40 Series styled camper"...something that incorporates a lot of the styling cues, bits and bobs, and iconic design ideas from the FJ40. Let's keep our fingers crossed on this one.
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- Thread starter
- #32
So...it begins...finally.
The donor car - a 1984 FJ40 - was retired honourably from active military duty, after 31 years of meritorious service. Despite the years, the old gal seems to be in fabulous shape; as later pictures will reveal.
Having bought the car, though, the plan to build a camper seems to have morphed into something else, suddenly. We're not building one vehicle any longer...we'll be building TWO, instead.
The first is going to be a Bandeirante-styled four door pickup. The donor car is going to be stretched to allow us to do this. It'll be getting a 3UZ-FE VVTi, with a six-speed Tiptronic transmission after all. Power steering, A/C, power windows, 80 series axles (as MANY friends on here, have already mentioned), coil-sprung conversion, diff locks, and a great music system should complement this. The tub will be a fairly large one, of course. Enclosed, with a fiberglass "white capped" FJ40 styled tub-trunk roof...which should keep supplies and stored items safe and dry. This is what I hope for the truck to look like...
The second "vehicle" we'll be building will be a trailer, rather than a camper. While we'll cater for adequate brakes at the trailer wheels, they won't be live-driven axles. This trailer is going to be hitched to the truck by means of a pintle hook. All over, it will hopefully incorporate design elements from the iconic 40 series. Glasses, windows, bumpers, the roof(s) will all take their cue from the 40. The trailer will have an onboard generator set, and inverter-based electrical supply. With the unmistakeable round-cornered shape of the 40, it should look like a worthy "companion vehicle" to the four door truck that'll be towing it.
WHY? you might ask. Well, this allows you to enjoy the best of both worlds, quite frankly. The trailer gives you the space, living area, and 'live-ability"...while the truck at the front gives you power, performance, comfort, AND the ability to go anywhere, once the trailer is unhitched. It also enables you to use the truck separately; without it being hitched to a lumbering large-sized live-in area. At least that's how I visualise it. Since all of this is STILL at the planning stage, I'd really like some views and input, folks. Any suggestions and/or advice, would be really welcome.
Cheers.
The donor car - a 1984 FJ40 - was retired honourably from active military duty, after 31 years of meritorious service. Despite the years, the old gal seems to be in fabulous shape; as later pictures will reveal.
Having bought the car, though, the plan to build a camper seems to have morphed into something else, suddenly. We're not building one vehicle any longer...we'll be building TWO, instead.
The first is going to be a Bandeirante-styled four door pickup. The donor car is going to be stretched to allow us to do this. It'll be getting a 3UZ-FE VVTi, with a six-speed Tiptronic transmission after all. Power steering, A/C, power windows, 80 series axles (as MANY friends on here, have already mentioned), coil-sprung conversion, diff locks, and a great music system should complement this. The tub will be a fairly large one, of course. Enclosed, with a fiberglass "white capped" FJ40 styled tub-trunk roof...which should keep supplies and stored items safe and dry. This is what I hope for the truck to look like...
The second "vehicle" we'll be building will be a trailer, rather than a camper. While we'll cater for adequate brakes at the trailer wheels, they won't be live-driven axles. This trailer is going to be hitched to the truck by means of a pintle hook. All over, it will hopefully incorporate design elements from the iconic 40 series. Glasses, windows, bumpers, the roof(s) will all take their cue from the 40. The trailer will have an onboard generator set, and inverter-based electrical supply. With the unmistakeable round-cornered shape of the 40, it should look like a worthy "companion vehicle" to the four door truck that'll be towing it.
WHY? you might ask. Well, this allows you to enjoy the best of both worlds, quite frankly. The trailer gives you the space, living area, and 'live-ability"...while the truck at the front gives you power, performance, comfort, AND the ability to go anywhere, once the trailer is unhitched. It also enables you to use the truck separately; without it being hitched to a lumbering large-sized live-in area. At least that's how I visualise it. Since all of this is STILL at the planning stage, I'd really like some views and input, folks. Any suggestions and/or advice, would be really welcome.
Cheers.
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- Thread starter
- #33
- Thread starter
- #36
What a beauty...and what a fabulous idea!
I really like the way that you think. That is a great idea. I cant wait to see this come together.
Very cool, can't wait to see this come together.
- Thread starter
- #39
Personally speaking, I am absolutely smitten by the king-cab ute in the last picture I posted. Since I've seen the photo, I've been rhapsodising over it; picturing it with four doors, and a 40 Series styled trailer hitched to it. With both truck AND trailer done up in "white-capped" John Deere green and white.
I am SO building this.
I am SO building this.
ginmtb
'74 FJ40 - my first!
Great starter! Under the graffiti it looks pretty darn good! Excited to see how this beast turns out.
