Tundra "Chinook"

[woytovich]

If the original Chinooks based on mini trucks can have the "bed" (camper) bonded to the cab with the interface open why would it be overly complicated to build/bond a camper body to the back of a Tundra (or Tacoma) cab? In the most simple implementation cut out the back of the cab, add a bed cap to the bed then cut out the front of that and the bed and fab up a permanent (not a window-only rubber grommet pass-thru) connection. I know the bed and cab in a pick up can move around relative to each other but really, what is the difference in, say, a Yukon and a Sierra pick up in that regard?

Thoughts?

mark

 

[woytovich]

@BudBuilt .... thought you might have an opinion on this.

 

[woytovich]

Anyone have thoughts on this?

 

[gnob]

only.....why?

 

[subzali]

Oleg from Irbis Off-road started a project like this years ago. I’ve always liked the idea. I think the original Chinooks were dually rear axles though.

https://risingsun4x4club.org/xf/threads/tundra-expedition-camper.14089/

 

[woytovich]

only.....why?

To stay Toyota and avoid buying a sprinter for camping/overlanding and towing.

 

[gnob]

To stay Toyota and avoid buying a sprinter for camping/overlanding and towing.

just seems like a piggyback would be much simpler.

 

[Tennessee Jed]

This couple is real cutsie-poo but they have a really swell Tundra.

Bound For Nowhere

Mary Ashley Krogh (MAK) and Owen Chikazawa (just Owen) met in 2008 at Savannah College of Art and Design. They’ve been inseparable ever since both as a couple and as creative collaborators. After deciding to take to the road to live closer to the outdoors that inspires them and their work...

www.youtube.com

 

[subzali]

This guy did it with an 80…

Builds - Lexus lx450 chinook expedition vehicle

I posted this in the expedition forum but thought it fits here also. Here is the link..... Expedition Builds Its on its way but will lay idle for 3-4 weeks until i get back to AZ again... In the 4-5 days I have had to work on it I tried to plow through as much as possible. I...

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[woytovich]

just seems like a piggyback would be much simpler.

Simpler, yes. But I like the idea of being able to include the cabin into the camping space. Not having to get outside to get into the camping space etc

 

[Jetboy]

At the end of the day - either the body has to flex, has to have more flex between body and chassis (body mounts), or have a more rigid chassis that doesn't flex as much. The 3rd gen Tundra has a lot less chassis flex than the earlier generations. Same is likely true for the Tacoma. So that would be a better option to start with. The 2nd gen Tundra is designed intentionally to have a lot of frame torsion movement. One of the reasons it has such great articulation, much like the Unimog design. I think it would take some extra thought toward structure of the combined cabin/camper body to make sure that the cabin can withstand the forces of the flexing chassis. It'll be carrying a lot of the load.

Or use a flexible boundary like the old truck toppers rubber grommet. Or - may be better to start with a more rigid chassis like a Sequoia. A gen2 Sequoia has essentially an extended LC200 chassis that is going to have a lot less flex than a gen2 tundra.

I can see a lot of value in avoiding all of the issues with the Sprinter powertrain.

 

[woytovich]

I was under the impression that the Sequoia was built on the tundra platform. Does that not mean they use the same frame? I agree that there would be some challenges in fusing the two parts together in a way that would allow them to remain rigid. I thought about the rubber grommet approach and that is still a possibility. It would require, for my plan, cutting a large hole in the back of the cab, nearly the entire cab rear.

 

[Jetboy]

It depends on generation. Gen2 tundra is a lot different from the gen2 Sequoia. The Tundra has a c-channel frame from basically the transfer case back. The gen2 Sequoia is a fully boxed frame all the way back and has IRS. New Sequoia and Tundra are both sharing the fully boxed GA-F platform, so they're much more similar to each other and would be more rigid.

Downside of the Gen3 Tundra is that the cabin kinda sucks - it's a lot shorter in height and the rear window is significantly smaller, so it wouldn't be my first choice of cabin to start with for a rv. The Gen2 Tundra is much better for that IMO. But the Gen3 chassis is going to be more rigid. And the Gen3 Tundra comes as a crewmax with a 6.5 bed and a crewcab with an 8 foot bed. Unfortunately you can't get the TRD OR package on the 8 foot bed option. That's dumb. That would probably be the platform I'd start with if I was going with a newer truck base - I'd get an SR or SR5 base model with the 8 foot bed and then you have some room to fit a decent size camper on the back.

 

[woytovich]

Great info, thanks!

 

[woytovich]

Found this thread (that I commented in back in 2018) that answers most on my questions.

Builds - 2013 Toyota Tacoma Access Cab Chinook build

Finished all of the below floor plumbing for water and fuel and got the last few floor panels laminated in.... the main gasoline fill has been mounted near the camper wall where the hole will cut for the 6"x6" powdercoated fuel fill door.... used a marine fill and vent for the auxiliary gas...

forum.ih8mud.com