The Resurection of 'The Beast'

[Southeast Overland]

Here is the skinny on my sleeping platform.

Gonna use horse stall mat from Tractor Supply for a bottom layer, then 5/8" plywood for the top layer held up by hardwood shelving or 5/8" plywood braced with some 2x2 and/or cut angled 5/8. Cubby holes cut out with hinges. Probably will recess my fridge behind the drivers seat to make more leg/head room in the back. It will all be tied in midway with 16ga sheetmetal brackets to the rear seatbelt attach points, in the rear with two bolts through the body, and probably with two bolts in the front also through the floor.

I couldn't find any similar builds in the Pig section but there were some good ones in the 60 forum.

 

[PabloCruise]

I have the stock rear floormat that I was going to put in there but I don't have the far rear cargo mat. I was shying away from carpet due to the rust monster.

Maybe instead of using plywood as a bottom cover for the cargo area I can use one of those truck bed mats... That wouldn't hold any water like the carpet would and would provide some additional sound insulation.

I was wondering about this after the last time I pulled my mats and found water under the mats.

At least carpet will dry out. Rubber mats won't breath, so if water gets underneath that could be a problem with rust...

 

[Southeast Overland]

I was wondering about this after the last time I pulled my mats and found water under the mats.

At least carpet will dry out. Rubber mats won't breath, so if water gets underneath that could be a problem with rust...

Neither will breathe to a point that will substantially help evaporation. Carpet to me is equivalent to spraying expandable insulation for backing material during body work, it = rust.

I have two areas where water leaks into my cab. One is the passenger side of the windshield which will be fixed soon, and the other is a gromet on teh driver's firewall which will also be fixed soon. After that I should be high and dry.

 

[LC_Hamma]

Do you not carry much gear on those expedition trips? So, I assume this platform will be raised on top of any gear in the cab? Me, I'd do a roof top tent on a rack which'll give way more space & you won't be all claustraphobic in the cab. Doesn't have to be one of those spendy "roof top tents", just a regular tent secured on the rack

 

[Southeast Overland]

Do you not carry much gear on those expedition trips? So, I assume this platform will be raised on top of any gear in the cab? Me, I'd do a roof top tent on a rack which'll give way more space & you won't be all claustraphobic in the cab. Doesn't have to be one of those spendy "roof top tents", just a regular tent secured on the rack

I tried that idea with the and she didn't say no, but HECK NO! She doesn't like the idea of being that high up. I was originally going to make the platform pretty low, only about 10" off the floor but now I have to recess my fridge into the front of the platform and make the platform high enough that the fridge does not stick more than a few inches above the platform b/c I'm stuck using it as a pillow while the gets the other side - which is fine as long as she still goes.

Based on the measurements I made last night to mount my fridge behind the driver's seat as low as possible and only have it stick up about 2" above the platform the platform will have to be below the rear quarter windows but just above the rear quarter panels. It will be a bit cramped, especially when I put a headliner in so I am still thinking on it. I had the in the back of the Pig last night and was explaining where the top of the platform will be - I'll have her take another look at it tonight. It will be fairly cramped but the main reason behind wanting to have it will be to have a space to sleep when it is pouring rain. I hate putting up a tent or taking down a tent in the rain.

 

[Southeast Overland]

Got a couple hours in last night...

Cleaned up and wrapped some wiring just behind the rear bumper and in the rear quarters.

Cleaned up the wiring to prep for install of a new stereo and rear speakers.

Installed floor mats and seat belts.

Finished measurements for rear storage/sleeping platform. Unfortunately it is going to be pretty tall. The top of the sleeping platform (where you will lay down) will be just above the interior rear quarter panels / about 2" below the rear windows. I don't see another way to do it while accomodating for two adults to stretch out in the back and a fridge. The up side is I will be able to store ALL of my gear under the platform which I really like for several security reasons. The down side is you won't have much headroom in the back when on the platform.

 

[FJ40Jim]

Just a thought:
Has anyone made a flip forward front pass. seat for an expigdition rig?

Flip the seat against the dashboard and slide the fridge forward for more rear sleeping room?

 

[yooper]

I take my fridge out of the truck at night if anyone is sleeping in there. It's kind of loud and puts out some heat and it will use less energy outside at night where it's cooler. It has a nice long power cord. It takes a couple minutes to move it.

 

[Southeast Overland]

Just a thought:
Has anyone made a flip forward front pass. seat for an expigdition rig?

Flip the seat against the dashboard and slide the fridge forward for more rear sleeping room?

I have aftermarket seats (ProCar I think) from Iron Pig. They fold forward a good ways...

I take my fridge out of the truck at night if anyone is sleeping in there. It's kind of loud and puts out some heat and it will use less energy outside at night where it's cooler. It has a nice long power cord. It takes a couple minutes to move it.

I'm liking this idea more... I had considered it but dismissed it b/c I didn't want to have to take the fridge in and out everyday...but if I did I could have a TON more headroom at night...

 

[PabloCruise]

I had the in the back of the Pig last night...

I hope that worked out well!!!

 

[Southeast Overland]

I hope that worked out well!!!

Well....

 

[yooper]

If you put the fridge in the customary location, way in back, all the way to one side, it is at your feet and maybe not too much in the way.

kevinmrowland, of WagonGear, has thousands of miles and months of sleeping time with his wife and small dog in the back of an FJ60 on a platform. I'm sure he would be happy to give you advice.

Kevin doesn't take his fridge out at night.

WagonGear

He might come on the UP run.

It's looking like I might be able to as well, maybe, my summer plans are in flux..

 

[Southeast Overland]

If you put the fridge in the customary location, way in back, all the way to one side, it is at your feet and maybe not too much in the way.

kevinmrowland, of WagonGear, has thousands of miles and months of sleeping time with his wife and small dog in the back of an FJ60 on a platform. I'm sure he would be happy to give you advice.

Kevin doesn't take his fridge out at night.

WagonGear

He might come on the UP run.

It's looking like I might be able to as well, maybe, my summer plans are in flux..

Awesome - I hope y'all can make it.

I'm planning on mounting the fridge behind the driver's seat. That way we can access it without having to open up both of the rear swing outs, put down the back window, and drop the tailgate.

The Piggie is loaded up on a friend's trailer and will be at the exhaust store in the morning early. There was zero chance of rain today and of course we had a hail storm as we finished up loading the Pig.

I've got a bunch of pics but I'm swamped with work and don't have much spare time. I'll try to get them up soon.

 

[Trollhole]

Steve I know this is a crazy idea but have you thought of building a metal box and sinking the fridge down further in the pig? Similar to what I did with my batteries. If you only need a few inches that might possible. I cannot remember how much room is under the pig up behind the front seats.

 

[Southeast Overland]

Steve I know this is a crazy idea but have you thought of building a metal box and sinking the fridge down further in the pig? Similar to what I did with my batteries. If you only need a few inches that might possible. I cannot remember how much room is under the pig up behind the front seats.

I have a good bit of room there but I've got to keep my prep list for the Michigan trip as short as possible. I think for the time being I'm going to build a very low platform and strap the fridge down - moving it outside at night if I need more room and after Michigan I might rig something better when I have more time.

 

[yooper]

I have a good bit of room there but I've got to keep my prep list for the Michigan trip as short as possible. I think for the time being I'm going to build a very low platform and strap the fridge down - moving it outside at night if I need more room and after Michigan I might rig something better when I have more time.

After every long trip I end up adjusting my setup a bit. You'll be fine tuning yours with experience...

 

[Southeast Overland]

Dropped the Pig off at the exhaust store - was pretty impressed by them.

Laughed a bit though - a guy walked out when I pulled the Pig off the trailer and said "What in the heck is that?!?"

They also thought I had a v8...nope, just a 2F I6 with straight headers...

 

[Southeast Overland]

Exhaust install went OK - not super impressed but good enough work for cheap.

I took two, two-hour shakedown runs and the Pig did great. The QuietCrap did quiet down the interior. My ears don't ring anymore after a long trip but I still want it a bit quieter. I added some heat proofing material I picked up at Lowes that will hopefully make the tranny hump area a little quieter. I also hope installing a headliner with some foam insulation will help too with noise and heat.

I do need to adjust my valves but I think the timing is OK. I got around 13 mpg on a SOA Pig on 35's crusing 60-65 on the interstate. She was happy to do 70. 60 = ~ 2500 rpm and 70 = ~ 3000 rpm. The 2F was happy at either but I was happier around 2500 b/c it wasn't as loud and I'm not as worried about driving a big, tall, top heavy vehicle at that speed. The steering is great - not twitchy, tracks straight, which is a big reason I am shying away from doing a cut and turn. I'm going to drive her some more, and wheel her some more before I decide if I want to cut into the front axle and toy around with mucking up my awesome steering.

I do think my throw out bearing needs adjusted. When I come to a stop and cut the motor with the Pig not in gear and my foot off the clutch I can hear the throw out bearing spinning down...I think that is a new noise but I'm not totally sure. Push in the clutch and the spinning noise stops. Its coming from directly under the tranny hump so I'm guessing throw out bearing without doing any searches on MUD (I know I know...). My clutch fork has very little play in it so I'm thinking about adjusting a bit of free play in the clutch fork before I try anything else. I'm also going to do a search on MUD and check the FSM...any additional thoughts?

Oh, for anyone on Facebook search for 'Southeast Overland.' That's me. I'm mapping overland routes in the Southeast, more so SC, NC and TN since they are closest. We don't have nearly the amount of routes/trails that y'all do out west but we have some neat little places...

 

[yooper]

That steering geometry turned out pretty nice. It's a very low SOA and that helps quite a bit.

You might be hearing normal clutch noise, not sure...

 

[Southeast Overland]

That steering geometry turned out pretty nice. It's a very low SOA and that helps quite a bit.

You might be hearing normal clutch noise, not sure...

Yup - the front drive shaft angle does not make me happy - BUT - it drives so nicely I don't wanna screw with it.