Travelling Cruisers (3 Viewers)

[soenke]

that sounds like a very intensiv-work project !

I think the cabin and a flip-over-roof is the smallest part...

converting a HDJ80 (why not go with the Toyota set up) into a 4 door J4 would make a perfekt Cruiser!
But imagin all the work and money ýou might be able to spend and then at least double that, to imagine what you are asking for...

you know this thread?, a beautyfull 4 door:
https://forum.ih8mud.com/hardcore-corner/247854-4-door-fj40.html

and there a few threads about J4/J8 hybrids
https://forum.ih8mud.com/hardcore-corner/264922-fzj40.html

https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/254340-fj40-80-hybrid.html
there are some more...

 

[slickrock]

awnings are possible to fix in the rear and both sides. We use this system to fix it (don´t know the english word)

this is sewed to the canvas

this is glued to the rear and both sides

maybe I´ll find a picture of a camp to scan..

I know this is a bit old, but can we buy that type of awning attachment in the US? It seems easy enough to store the awning and then slide it in place to use.

Anyone know about this or a State side vender?

 

[ramdough]

I just found these sites after Soenke told me what to look for.

Try this site

This site

This site

This site

This site

or

do a search for keder rail, awning rail, or keder welt

Found a bunch from boat supply places. Good luck.

 

[slickrock]

Thanks. I will have to get some. Much better than something mounted to a perm. Rolling attachment so it does not get weathered and can be stored inside.

 

[ramdough]

Soenke,

The wheels are still spinning, but I can't think of a way to add a bench seat to your design without making the camper suffer. What you have is perfect for two. Compromising is hard.

What is your gas mileage/range with your rig?

Thanks,

 

[soenke]

I dont measure very often...going slowly (80 to 100km/h) on the autobahn we have been under 10 liter per 100km.
With normal going while travelling it should be around 12l up to 15l/100km depending on speed and terrain. With high speed (140 to 150km/h) or in the dunes probably more...

 

[soenke]

Soenke,

The wheels are still spinning, but I can't think of a way to add a bench seat to your design without making the camper suffer. What you have is perfect for two. Compromising is hard.


Thanks,

that is true. But the whole set up will be a compromise no matter how much money and time you spend...the best compromise for two persons cannot work for four...

travelling with 4 persons I would either leave the 80 body stock (maybe stretch it 25cm ->have a look at Marcus side, he did it!) with a pop up sleeping roof and a bed downstairs or

develop a 4 door J4 your self and put it on a HDJ 80, you can use the (adapted) original f/g roof with a frame to built the pop up roof or make a new roof wich flips over...the car will be great but you probabaly won´t have a wife and kids anymore by the time you are done ... and you could have build for two persons in the beginning ... sorry just teasing


I would go with a pick up double cab and a cabin with a sleeping roof and again a bed (build by the table / seats) downstairs....this would be the only way to have enaugh space for 4 to sit and eat inside.


alternatively use a off road trailer ...
Wohnanhänger

Der Lapp-Expeditionstrailer

 

[Matt K]

What an amazing rig! It looks so right in so many ways and you keep it so clean!

I can think of several magazines this cruiser should be featured in, I'm surprized they haven't called you. ( knock, knock Overland Journal!)

 

[Volcano cruiser]

that is true. But the whole set up will be a compromise no matter how much money and time you spend...the best compromise for two persons cannot work for four...

travelling with 4 persons I would either leave the 80 body stock (maybe stretch it 25cm ->have a look at Marcus side, he did it!) with a pop up sleeping roof and a bed downstairs or

develop a 4 door J4 your self and put it on a HDJ 80, you can use the (adapted) original f/g roof with a frame to built the pop up roof or make a new roof wich flips over...the car will be great but you probabaly won´t have a wife and kids anymore by the time you are done ... and you could have build for two persons in the beginning ... sorry just teasing


I would go with a pick up double cab and a cabin with a sleeping roof and again a bed (build by the table / seats) downstairs....this would be the only way to have enaugh space for 4 to sit and eat inside.


alternatively use a off road trailer ...
Wohnanhänger

Der Lapp-Expeditionstrailer

Just jumping in here on your brainstorm but if you want to keep this as simple as it would ever be, not, why not go with just a slight mod of soenkes design, use a 45 body, just make it a double cab, i.e., 4 door on the 80 series frame/drive train. Keep his same camper setup with obvious interior design mods to accomodate two more folks.
sleeping back there.

Soenke, now we have seen the 40 on 80 series touring rig, drool, and the 70 series Africa cruiser. Is there any chance of some pics of the BJ4x that you were cruising in Africa in? I'd love to see pics of where all of this design creativity started.
Thanks,
John

 

[soenke]

Hey John,
I didn´t do much to the BJ 45, bought it almost readily build. Just modified the camper a little inside, put a small pop up roof in the back, (very heavy) alu tanks in front of the rear axle and a belt driven compressor in the engine bay.

but you are right, this car was the reason to use a J4 cab...besides the possibility to adapt the width easily with the fenders and having straight walls, matching the cabin

 

[Volcano cruiser]

Soenke,
Great pictures. It looks like the 45 went through some transformation over time. It would be great if you could post up any close up pics of both the exterior and interior of the 45. It would give me ideas for ways to set up my rig. Also if you could point out design choices that you took in the 45 that worked and didn't work. I assume the things that the design changes from the 45 to the 70 series was just that a mix of keeping things that worked and fixing design choices that didn't. It would be great to see and hear about those choices.
Thanks,
John

 

[soenke]

Hey John, I don´t think we have any pics from the 45 inside.

If we had to build up a 45 again I would use the original roof as a pop up, hinged to the side. And leave as much stock as possible. Have look here:
https://forum.ih8mud.com/fj45-owners-club/245935-j45-german-buschtaxi-treffen-08-a.html

the small pop up roof on our 45 was stable in windy conditions but was a hassle loading the boats...puting them side ways as seen above did only work on good roads. Putting them in middle prohibited the use of the roof

the HZJ78 got a Innovation Camper roof for that reason wich worked fine with the boats. The inside we build with a modular aluminum system with different possibilities to combine. But it got heavy and was complicated to modify or take apart and so we never did it...

I have pics from the inside on a computer I gave to a friend ..maybe when I get it back I can show some..


so the HDJ got a fix furniture system and the hard shell pop up to bear bad weather...



over the years
the engines got stronger, the tires bigger and the suspension better...
all had long range fuel tanks, compressor ...

and for shure we can drive to places now I wouldn´t even have thought about before.
But of course the whole rig gets more and more complicated

 

[soenke]

after getting some convincing pics from Mud fellows and the Expeditions Portal and having collected all kinds of official data for quite some time, I got the raod approval from the german TÜV for our hitch system. It works with the VarioBlock, wich allows to change between a DixonBate pintle, a tow ball or a cover to allow the door to swing open...

pintle

tow ball

"Schutzkappe" to protect the mechanism

it´s just a piece of paper, though hard to get. And so driving home the small roads in the sun light was even more delightful

 

[Beowulf]

Sönke,
Do you park your truck in an old castle?



-B-

 

[soenke]

don´t you , do you disregard your Cruiser ??

that is the barn of an old farm in the area, where I can leave the car dry and safe.
In Mecklenburg many houses used to be build with bricks, even the curches. Called brick gothic...the baltic area and the towns of the Hanse are famous for that

 

[crushers]

Soenke,
BEAUTIFUL!!
very impressed.
congrates on having the money, time and patience to see it through. most of us can only dream of owning such a rig.
cheers M8

 

[lulo]

AMAZING!!!


Thanks Soenke


Prost!

 

[sandcruiser]

after Soenke's post, I feel a little sheepish sharing my little tidbit,
but I just realized that by flipping the child-lock on the back doors, you can defeat a crook smashing the small back window to open the back door.

Unfortunately I know this because someone did break my window and I was thinking of how to prevent it happening again. Oh, they'll still bust it. But at least they won't get in. Probably just bust another window. ... but you never know.

Soenke- your rig is wonderful.

 

[nicholas]

Amazing rig Soenke! I am always amazed at the fine engineering I see on this site.

 

[JohnnyBee]

Sweet!

WOW Soenke, i love your expedition rig!!!
It is by far the nicest rig i have ever seen!

I am going into college next year, and want to build a truck just like yours (if you dont mind). I will be able to work on it over the next few years and after I get out of college i want to go on a big expedition with my day and friends.

Do you have any advise or tips on making a rig like yours??