Camper Conversion

[madams557]

Okay, it is late at night and I'm running some software to get rid of some damn ADWARE that found its way onto my home computer.

Anyway, I just thought I would start a thread and see what kind of response would return.

There is a thread running on the 40 series forum about stretching a 40 onto a 80 series frame, and a lot of recent talk about expedition vehicles, I've thought about what it would take to turn my 80 into a camper.

I've seen this Chevy Astro van camper conversion with a pop up roof so that the camper can fit in ones garage. It is called a Tiger GT (web search would provide pictures). The 40 on 80 thread got me thinking so I did find Innovation Campers in Germany that has done Land Cruiser conversions. Only problem is they are in Germany.

The Tiger GT company has a facility in Colorado and one in South Carolina. I've seen a couple of these motorhomes on the road and have tried to do some eyeball measurements. It seems that if I sacrificed both rear passenger doors, I could squeeze a nice camper back there.

The Tiger GT sits on an Astro van cab & chassis, with some beefed up suspension. There website did not have any weights given to see how much weight is added. I know the current 80 series engine is a dog on the hills, and the added weight won't improve that. But that Astro van can't be much better when it comes to performance, especially the AWD version.

Now if the planets were to align in such a way that someone rear-ended my 80 in a way where only the body was damaged and sufficaintly enough so that the insurance check would cover the cost of the conversion, then I might consider doing it.

 

[Skim]

Pop-top 80 Camper on 35s and air lockers would be cool.

 

[Rich]

Down in Baja I saw a diesel pop top fj78 Land Crusier. The owner was touring north america. To the best of my recollection the truck & owners were from Swizterland and the truck was shipped to the US east coast from western eruope.

If I were convert my 80 to a camper I would cut the frame, stretch the body, and put on a Sportsmobile pop top.

 

[NorCalDoug]

I'm sure you've seen the roof-top tents that are available. Why not one of those instead of chopping the top? I know several people who sleep inside their 80s as an alternative to using a tent -- they seem happy enough with that. What advantage does the pop-up offer?

What type of conversion are you considering? Something like what used to be popular in vans back in the late 70s?

 

[ginericLC]

Pop ups allow you to cook inside. Pop ups allow you to set up in foul weather without getting wet. I met a man from Germany who had a 80 with a camper back. It was all fiberglass, he retained the use of the rear doors. It did add some to his departure angle and overall height. However, it was definitely a two person deal. I'll dig around for photos.

 

[MoJ]

First camping trip with local cruiser club one of the 80 guys had the roof top tent. It was super cool. Him, his wife, and infant son slept up there comfortably. It sets up quick, doesn't use cargo room in the back, and appeared to be very well built. AND - as doug said above, you don't have to cut a big arse hole in your roof. Of course, it ain't cheap. There's alot of cuiser goodies that I need to buy before getting one.

 

[bjowett]

I thought about snagging one of these and modding the 80 to accept it...........

It would place much wheeling, never mind hardcore stuff, waaaaay off limits.

 

[concretejungle]

Just put one of those roof-top tents that slee has on, drawer system and all the other goodies and you're there.

 

[buzzzyy]

I'm sure you've seen the roof-top tents that are available. Why not one of those instead of chopping the top? I know several people who sleep inside their 80s as an alternative to using a tent -- they seem happy enough with that. What advantage does the pop-up offer?

for those pepole that do sleep inside, how much room is there to sleep in? big enough for two adults?

 

[ParadiseCruiser]

Here's an 80 camper for ya...

R -

 

[concretejungle]

for those pepole that do sleep inside, how much room is there to sleep in? big enough for two adults?

I'm about 6', with the seats folded up and the tailgate open, there is ample room. With the tailgate closed, you have to sleep diagonal which sucks if there is more than just yourself in there. I have found that if i open the rear hatch and wrap my tent fly over the end, hooking the top to the roof rack and bungee the bottom to the bumper it snuggs over the end like a rubber. It's waterproof, keeps the bugs out, opens up tons of room in the back. THen i throw stuff under the truck to keep out of the rain. Works well.

 

[RavenTai]

I think you would be better of towing a small lightweight camper than cutting up your 80, it might be more of a problem off road than a heavy weight 80 but your 80 would be more flexible in what it can be used for, the trailer can be dropped for harder excursions,

Learn hw to crap in the woods everything else can be done from the back of an 80 no camper needed, tailgate makes a pretty good kitchen

 

[cruiserdan]

Here's an 80 camper for ya...

R -

Ron,

I like yer new roof rack........................


Looks like yer noggin is gonna get burnt.....

 

[montocr]

sleeping in 80

I used to run with the middle row of seats out, and just use the rear seats. These were easily folded up. That way you can fully extend. Now I have custom roller drawer storage that is at the same level as my center seats when the backs are folded down. This allows me to fit a queen size air matress above the wheel wells and all. The only problem is this setup puts you closer to the roof, making it a little difficult to manuver inside. I am going to make foam pads that extend over everything so that they will be much thinner than the air matress.

 

[waldrtw]

I have also be thinking about having a popup put on the 80. I have seen the rooftop tents but it would be great to just pop the top and turn the back of the 80 into a kitchen and bathroom or something. Here is a link to some cool vans that would make great rigs.

http://www.sportsmobile.com/4_4x4sports.html

Tim

 

[alia176]

****Warning, thread hijack ****

For the life of me, I can't figure out the fascination with roof top tents. I can understand in the "bush" of OZ, you need to worry about Crocs and Dynosaurs coming up to you for a midnight snack. However in the wilds of CO, is this really an issue? The added 200 lbs of extra weight seems a bit much to me. Seems that we're all sensitive to off camber situations and certainly this amount of weight would be down right dangerous! Is setting up a tent on the ground really that big of a deal? Most tents can be set up in 10 min or less and have a plethora of size options. I don't see the attraction of climbing a ladder each time I wanna hang out in my nest or get my toothbrush from my duffle bag or have to eat a hot meal inside the tent. A properly set up tent on a tarp will stay dry and with the right anchoring, wind won't blow it over. The cost of a Hannibal rack + tent will easily exceed $1400. Are you folks camping every weekend and don't wanna set up a tent? What do you do when your kids wanna sleep in your tent? That midnight pee must be interesting! Not to mention, when the FJ is rocking, don't come knocking!!

Please, enlighten me. I'm obviously missing something here

 

[snowcruiser]

Montcar

Consider getting a bouldering pad. One company makes one that is the exact dimensions for the 80 with the center seats half folded and rear drawer storage. Can't remember the company but will post if I do...mught be Franklin climbing. The pads are spendy however and I ended up getting two exercise mats at sports authority. These mats fold up into quarters and are only about two inches thick and very dense. I tryed an air mattress but was not happy with it. These pads are extremely comfortable to sleep on...much better than a therma rest or such...just not as compressable. My girlfriend and I slept in my 80 on these pads for about six weeks summer before last while touring the Rockies. The bouldering pad would be the shizit though....good luck. Snow

 

[Hltoppr]

alia,

I kinda thought the same thing when I stumbled into a tent/awning combo used from a fellow member here who gave me a pretty smokin' deal. Still not cheap, but the wife and I calculated the amount of time we'd use it in the first trip, compared that to the hassle of a ground tent and the cost of a few nights in a hotel, and decided to take the plunge.

Chances are pretty good that if you don't like it, you can get most of your $$ back out of it. After using the Hannibal tent and awning for two weeks in baja, miscellaneous trips to out of the way places in Colorado and Arizona, and seeing just how convenient it is, I'm absolutely hooked! These things are truly worth the money if you camp a lot.

The Hannibal is very well made and has held up much better than a nylon ground tent in wind, sleet, sand, sun and heat, and is very comfortable. The awning (now with enclosed sides) provides a weather resistant area to change, cook or whatever.

All of mine mounts to four (4) 78" loadbars with Yakima "A" towers. No problems on hundreds of miles of rough dirt roads.

Hope that helps!

-H-

 

[Hltoppr]

O' and if you're looking for a pad, try a "Paco Pad". They're designed for the Grand Canyon river runners and are kindof a hardcore therm a rest. About 4" thick and covered with heavy duty poly treated canvas, they're perfect. Pricey for a pad, but comfortable.

-H-

 

[ParadiseCruiser]

>> Looks like yer noggin is gonna get burnt...

Noggin? Whose noggin? I thot that was you -D- That shot was clearly taken in the arid wasteland of the NM desert (forget that the truck is not U.S. spec... )

Since I do not care much for towing on a pleasure trip, nor do I have the budget for decent roof top tent (too many other ways to spend $$$), I just camp out of the back as others have suggested.

I generally run without 2nd or 3rd row seats on trips so there's plenty of room for sleeping, etc. It helps that there is no small crowd nor kennel to carry along on this end, and that I'm not a 6 footer...

R -