back to the box truck idea

[IGBT]

I have changed my mind so many times on what the right vehicle is it is getting ridiculous.<br /><br />I am now edging back to the box truck, probably a Mitsubishi Fuso diesel(ideally 4x4, but they don't sell those in USA).&nbsp; I think a 16 foot to 20 foot box would do.<br /><br />We (me and the wife) would still live in a tent when we were on BLM land in the west, but we would probably rent a room or 1bd house in certain areas (like the Fl. keys and Alaska).&nbsp; The box truck would have tons of shelves to hold our gear and would also carry our two dual sport motorcycles.&nbsp; It would be able to pull our sailboat and still get 11 to 12mpg because of the efficient diesel.<br /><br />When we are out sailing, all of our stuff would be a bit more protected inside the box truck, out of sight...a little more secure than having it just spread out on the ground in a pile at the boat ramp by our regular truck (we were thinking of using the sailboat as storage on our trip, but that means having to empty it each time we want to sail).<br /><br />I think I can get a low mileage Fuso for around $25,000, which is somewhat cheaper than a newish low mileage toyhauler class C (a funmover is around $35,000 to $50,000 used).&nbsp; I should rent one sometime soon and see how they drive.

 

[offroad]

A very intellgent alternative. Thinking you are well planned to do this. For myself, am thinking something similar, but trying to reduce the foorprint of the toys. Can use an inflatable kayak, folding bicycles, small motorcycles. think you have to be below 8 feet high, and shorter than 25 feet for most parking spaces. can get an alarm and a strong cable for locking motorcycles up to some external stationary tree.

How about renting a small sailboat? is that easier?

Thinking a Disel would be interesting, but just get it checked thorough, both pre and post purchase.

 

[IGBT]

We already have the sailboat, and it is our pride and joy...would not be happy renting even if you could (a lot of areas are only seasonal rentals).<br /><br />I did just find out that the new 2012/2013 Fuso comes in a 4x4 diesel.&nbsp; It gets about 17mpg and is around $43,000 new with a 175K mile 5 year powertrain warranty.&nbsp; That is sure tempting...buy it new and have zero troubles for 5 years.&nbsp; The service interval is long too, 18K miles.<br /><br />The only thing I don't like about these new diesels is the bluetec toilet water stuff you have to add because of the new emissions regulatioins.&nbsp; If you buy a model before 2008 it doesn't have this mess.

 

[offroad]

what is Bluetec toilet water? A chem toilet mechanism? well I am on a five years before I retire plan, so this might work out in a few years.

Diesels have great pulling power. But is the price right? the fuel now costs about the same diesel vs gasolene if you factor in higher MPG, and higher cost per gallon. thats my impression now given the low sulfer diesel mixes.

 

[offroad]

was just thinking you should consider getting a 4x4 truck, with a camper on the back in the cargo area. Did you consider that already?

 

[IGBT]

lol no the bluetec is the stuff you have to add to the exhaust system in the new diesels because of environmental concerns.&nbsp; It is about $10 a gallon and you use a gallon every 50 gallons or so of fuel.&nbsp; Just a pain mostly.<br /><br /><br />Yeah we thought about a 4x4 truck with camper, but there would be no place for the two dirt bikes, and also a box van would have vastly more amounts of storage for our summer and winter gear, cooking stuff, camping stuff, hiking stuff, kayaking stuff, hobby stuff, etc.

 

[stude53]

<strong>Here's some more info on the "toilet water"<img src="/images/boards/smilies/eek.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" /><img src="/images/boards/smilies/rofl.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" /><img src="/images/boards/smilies/rofl.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" /><img src="/images/boards/smilies/rofl.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" />:<br /><br />BlueTec - Diesel Exhaust Fluid</strong> (DEF) is an aqueous <a title="Urea" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urea">urea</a> solution blended with <em>32.5%</em> high purity urea and <em>67.5%</em> deionized water. DEF solution is used in <a class="mw-redirect" title="Selective Catalytic Reduction" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_Catalytic_Reduction">Selective Catalytic Reduction</a> (SCR) to lower <a title="NOx" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NOx">NO_{<span style="font-size: small;">x</span>}</a> concentration in the <a title="Vehicle emissions control" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_emissions_control">exhaust emissions</a> from <a title="Diesel engine" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diesel_engine">diesel engines</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-CumminsFiltration_0-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diesel_exhaust_fluid#cite_note-CumminsFiltration-0"><span><span style="font-size: small;">[</span></span></a></sup>

 

[akrvbob]

It looks to me that you almost have no choice but get the box truck. Since you want to carry lots of toys and stuff and tow a boat the only other choice would be a Class C or Class A. They would work but they are not really built for the kind of heavy duty use you are talking about. They would cry under the workload you want to put on them, while the Fuso would laugh at it. To my mind you are always better off in the long run getting an over-designed, over-built vehicle than one meant for light use and then using it for heavy duty use. <br /><br />Since you can get the Fuso in 4x4, and you intend to spend time in the desert, that would seal the deal for me. It should be able to handle most desert back-roads. Ihave a friend who lives in a box van and spent a huge amount of time in the Arizona desert. His 2x4 box van did really well there.<br /><br />The one thing I would add to your plan is that my experience with the desert southwest is that it is tremendously windy. It is very difficult to find a tent that can withstand the kind of winds you will be seeing. The mountaineering tents are designed for it, but most of them are very expensive and not that large. I would strongly encourage you to build the box truck in such a way that you can live comfortably in it during times of extended bad weather. <br /><br />Sounds like a really interesting project. Keep&nbsp; us informed of your progress! Bob

 

[IGBT]

Thanks Bob!&nbsp; It is somewhat a relief to see that at least one person agrees that a box van might be best for us.&nbsp; Obviously a lot more thought will go into things before we make a decision.&nbsp; We do have 3 years to go after all.<br /><br />We have a Cabelas&nbsp;Alaskan guide tent we just purchased last year and have used a few times.&nbsp; It has a billion tie downs, and when you use them all it can withstand 70mph winds.&nbsp; It is 10x10.<br /><br />I like the idea though of having the back of the box van convertable to a living area when you remove the dirt bikes.&nbsp; We could get one of those pull down screens to keep bugs out, or some sort of tent like covering (I don't like the idea of sealing myself up in a closed door box van).&nbsp; I would be ok with that if the van had a 2nd door on the side or something.<br /><br />4x4, 17mpg, 175,000 mile warranty....I think we could do a lot worse.<br /><br />Edit: here is a review of the 2012 Fuso 4x4.&nbsp; Pretty decent.&nbsp; 7 foot shorter turning radius than a Ford 4x4 F450.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.truckinginfo.com/equipment/news-detail.asp?news_id=76073&amp;news_category_id=68">http://www.truckinginfo.com/equipment/news-detail.asp?news_id=76073&amp;news_category_id=68</a>

 

[akrvbob]

I've had friends live in tents in the desert, the question isn't can the tent withstand the wind, it's how miserable do you want to be? The desert can be remarkably cold in the winter, and every time a storm blows through that brings the big winds it also brings cold. <br /><br />Try to imagine being inside that tent when it is 32 degrees (or less) and the wind is blowing 50 mph. Imagine trying to sleep in there with the constant shaking and noise. Now imagine that it does that for 2-5 days straight. Now try to imagine it does that 2-3 times every month. And even when there aren't big storms, there are minor storms that bring 20-30 mph winds. They happen more often. I've spent winters in the Mojave desert that were just like that. It was bad inside my trailer, I can't even conceive of being in a tent.&nbsp; <br /><br />I love the desert and love going back every winter, but you just have to accept the bad winds. <br /><br />I live in a converted cargo trailer and I put windows in it. All you have to do is find windows that will fit in-between the ribs. My ribs are every 24 inches so I have 16x36 windows I bought from Ebay. They are very dark tinted and open vertically giving me lots of ventilation. I also put 2 roof vents in the roof. <br /><br />I think the Fuso is perfect for your purposes!! Bob

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

I saw a guy who converted a sprinter on yt, he made a little garage for his bikes in the back on one side from outside, with the bath in the space on the other (from inside).&nbsp; He made his bunk over the garage.&nbsp; Of course you would have more room than he did, but i liked this method cause it was like his toys and equipment were separated from living space but all self contained.<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&amp;v=2m867RAgBLQ#t=316s<br /><br />If you are clever with space, and handy with tools (or know a carpenter) you can have a whole house on wheels with the dirtbikes too in a box truck