Gold Stalker's Expedition Vehicle Build

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Gold Stalker's Expedition Vehicle Build

Postby Gold Stalker on Thu, 11 Apr 2013 10:32 +0000

Hi Guys, Just starting my build thread.

It's a new 2012 Diesel Manual Extra Cab Chassis Tray, fitted out with ARB Bull/Tow Bar, Under Vehicle Protection, 2" Old Man Emu lift and Front/Rear Diff Locks; Plus Cooper S/T Maxx tyres.

So far I've:
- put in some Narva combo lights (hardly do any night driving so hard to justify much there),
- installed my Uniden UHF radio (main set behind glove box with 'head' Velcroed below ashtray on driver's side),
- passenger side (full time) ciggy lighter socket,
- pulled out passenger seat and put in my RAM mounted OziExplorer laptop.

Picked up my camper (from Aussie Tool Boxes) for the tray today so here are some pics:

Standard looking white HiLux
Image
Image

Driver's view of closed laptop (less passenger seat), also UHF head in front of gear shift:
Image
Knob under laptop, used to tighten up RAM mount, makes pretty good mounting point for garbage bag :D
'Non-slip' on top of laptop is for coffee, etc, when on the black stuff.
Air bag warning light shows up on dash - will need to cover with some back tape.

Now with a camper and Narva lights:
Image
Two antenna mounts. Other one is for my scanner.

Camper opened up also shows slide out and drop down fridge tray:
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Extension poles (rather than tent poles and guy ropes) make for easy overnight stops.

Inside of camper looking out towards steps:
Image
Nice big mattress and room to change. Will also have a fold down 'dry potty'. :oops:

The other side. Blue 'thing' at back is RHS of a 100 lt water tank:
Image

Next (real soon), will be:
- 120w solar panel with CTEK D250S Dual charger,
- reversing cam; one below tray (for reversing), another above camper wheel mount (for rear view),
- various internal shelves and partitioning for poles, crowbar, long spade, recovery gear, more jerry cans, etc.
- diff breather
- lots of other 'little' things
Last edited by Gold Stalker on Fri, 12 Apr 2013 2:28 +0000, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Gold Stalker's Expedition Vehicle Build

Postby 06lux on Fri, 12 Apr 2013 3:54 +0000

Wow nice. Love the tent setup. If you don't mind me asking how much did that set you back?
FOR SALE
complete standard suspension
2x 265/70/15 general grabber at2 (not on rims)
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Re: Gold Stalker's Expedition Vehicle Build

Postby jakelux on Fri, 12 Apr 2013 4:56 +0000

very impressive... and welcome :D

How have they supported the tent base on the inside of the canopy ceiling? Is there a frame or its relying on the chequer plate walls etc
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Re: Gold Stalker's Expedition Vehicle Build

Postby bkstravel on Fri, 12 Apr 2013 5:23 +0000

[quote="jakelux"]very impressive... and welcome :D

what he said.
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Re: Gold Stalker's Expedition Vehicle Build

Postby PLN on Fri, 12 Apr 2013 5:41 +0000

Found ya Geoff :) cant wait to see you rig
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Re: Gold Stalker's Expedition Vehicle Build

Postby TDog on Fri, 12 Apr 2013 6:13 +0000

Sweet set up!! I take it you are a gold prospector or the like so many hours out bush on your own makes this set up absolutely perfect!
My Build Thread!

Beer O'Clock Hill!
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Janowen Hills Mud Run!

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Re: Gold Stalker's Expedition Vehicle Build

Postby white_hilux on Fri, 12 Apr 2013 6:17 +0000

Love your setup :D
Ben
2006 SR Extra Cab
2" lift, 32" Bighorns, F & R Diff Locked, Rock sliders, TJM Bullbar and Winch

Even if you are on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there
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Re: Gold Stalker's Expedition Vehicle Build

Postby Gold Stalker on Fri, 12 Apr 2013 6:24 +0000

06lux wrote:how much?


'Only' 16k.

I was not able to find much that matched what I was looking for.
Ease of setup, esp for overnight stops, was important.
(They customised the extension poles for me. Std setup is to use tent poles and guys ropes. I'll still need that for strong winds.)
Outback Campers had one that was close. Very nice moulded alum but about 32k.
Many were designed around camper trailers with large flip over canvas.
Others were 'caravan style'.
Could have gone with a tool box and roof-top tent but solar, thou possible, would be a problem.
Last edited by Gold Stalker on Fri, 12 Apr 2013 6:39 +0000, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Gold Stalker's Expedition Vehicle Build

Postby kyle300exc on Fri, 12 Apr 2013 6:30 +0000

Great set up and impressive nuggets as well.
Kyle


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Re: Gold Stalker's Expedition Vehicle Build

Postby Gold Stalker on Fri, 12 Apr 2013 6:32 +0000

jakelux wrote:How have they supported the tent base on the inside of the canopy ceiling?


Good question. I was really 'impressed' by that bit of their design.
They put in a gas strut pop-out frame that pushes out the top edge of the canvas.
It compresses back down and in when packing back. Swings off a pivot (near) along the top of the alum roof.
You can see part of that in the 'inside' picture.
You can get a better idea how that works off their video http://www.aussietoolboxes.com.au/slide-on-camper.php
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Re: Gold Stalker's Expedition Vehicle Build

Postby dute on Fri, 12 Apr 2013 7:50 +0000

A very nice set up well done. post up some photos in your shed build.

Pete. 8-)
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Re: Gold Stalker's Expedition Vehicle Build

Postby Loosey on Fri, 12 Apr 2013 11:32 +0000

Awesome setup mate.

I would get the airbag light checked as it might be the clock spring.
Aaron

Introductory Thread | My Shed | My Build
2007 Silver SR5 D/C D4D Upgrade
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Re: Gold Stalker's Expedition Vehicle Build

Postby Gold Stalker on Fri, 12 Apr 2013 11:40 +0000

Loosey wrote:I would get the airbag light checked as it might be the clock spring.


Clock spring? I believe it's because the passenger seat (with airbag) has been removed.
Anyway, going in for 1,000k check on Monday.
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Re: Gold Stalker's Expedition Vehicle Build

Postby amitch888 on Fri, 12 Apr 2013 11:47 +0000

Great work mate, very neat 8-)
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Re: Gold Stalker's Expedition Vehicle Build

Postby jakelux on Fri, 12 Apr 2013 6:15 +0000

Just had a look at there website mate.. very impressive work, Will they do custom work if i give them a design or is it just off the shelf stuff?
Any idea what it weighs?
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Re: Gold Stalker's Expedition Vehicle Build

Postby Gold Stalker on Fri, 12 Apr 2013 6:47 +0000

jakelux wrote:Will they do custom work?


They only do custom mods off a std design.
For me they swapped their 55lt water tank for my old 100lt tank and did the awning extension poles.
The jerry cans holders and extra wheel carrier were 'std' opts.
As long as the basic design remains std, they will pretty much do whatever.

Weight is advertised as 260kg including lifting jacks.
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Re: Gold Stalker's Expedition Vehicle Build

Postby Gold Stalker on Wed, 22 May 2013 12:53 +0000

Just an update with my mods before I head off to WA :D

Top view (click image to see right hand side): 120w solar panel with a black airfoil. Stuck them down with Sikaflex 227 then also put a bolt through each solar panel leg to be sure, to be sure. (Camper roof has a rib running through the middle that can be seen sticking out in front of the airfoil. Little box to the left of the airfoil is where panel cables go through the roof.)
Image

Rear of truck. Mounted (hard-wired) top and bottom rear view cams (bottom one is hard to see). Got the lot off ebay for a great price. Quality is okay but could be better (vendor's 170 degree view is more like 120, etc.)
Truck is close to fully loaded and sitting pretty level.
Image

Kitchen-side view. Got all my gear organized so I don't bounce between sides setting up camp. Everything I need to set up is on the kitchen side. Tools, stores, etc, on the other side. I installed a water column (on left of fridge, running up behind Thermos flask, with graduations) so I could keep a close eye on my water consumption. Hope to average about 5 ltr per day - the 100 ltr tank should last 2 weeks plus a good safety margin.
Image

Tools-side of camper. Keep all my tools and stores on this side. I'll be carrying 4 jerry cans of diesel. Generator is for use with my little jack hammer (not for camping) for reaching hard to get at gold :D. In the top-right is my CTEK D250S Dual charger. Really impressed with the CTEK - charges my aux battery from solar and/or alternator, then when truck is stopped and aux is fully, it charges up my starter battery. Just what the doctor ordered! Only thing I can't do is help start the truck if the starter battery is dead. For that, I carry a set of 5m jumper cables - also off ebay.
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This is my connection from the aux battery to the truck. In the alum project box (from Jaycar) is an Anderson plug.
Image

On the other side of the truck is another alum project box. This is where I've terminated the rear diff and fuel tank breathers. It's not as high as it could be but I figure if water ever gets that high then internal air pressure will keep it out.
Image

This is my diversion of the fuel tank breather. I got a brass coupler for the hose from Enzed and reused the original breather up the other end. The hose extension heads up to the alum project as per the prev pic.
Image

This is where the front passenger seat used to be. Got most of my recovery gear here (blue bag on left is my ARB snatch straps, chain, etc; hand winch is in the red/black bag). Also carrying an emergency 10 ltr of diesel in the little black jerry can. This is also where I'll carry all my detecting gear so in the normal course of the day, I'll only open up the camper for meals and camping.
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Driver's view. My old trusty laptop sitting on a RAM Mount. I use an alum strip and Velcro to keep the lid open on bumpy roads. I've also added springs under the laptop to help stabilise it. You can see my UHF radio through the bottom of the steering wheel. On the dash is the monitor for my reversing cameras. Through the top-left of the steering wheel you can see my mobile phone mount. It looks a bit strange because I've put 'shades' around the top of it (to help block heat from the sun). Behind/below the handbrake you can see my Uniden scanner. Useful for keeping track of the cops, CFA and monitoring other channels.
Image

Here is my fully populated 'switch board'. Top-right is the selector for my video camera. Bottom row is what ARB put in for my front/rear diff lockers, plus the round insert where I put in my driving lights toggle switch.
Image

Not really planning any other mods, although a winch might be handy except for the extra weight.
See you out there!
Last edited by Gold Stalker on Wed, 22 May 2013 1:10 +0000, edited 3 times in total.
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Re: Gold Stalker's Expedition Vehicle Build

Postby white_hilux on Wed, 22 May 2013 12:57 +0000

you are definately ready to go and have all the gear :D have a good trip
Ben
2006 SR Extra Cab
2" lift, 32" Bighorns, F & R Diff Locked, Rock sliders, TJM Bullbar and Winch

Even if you are on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there
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Re: Gold Stalker's Expedition Vehicle Build

Postby 2007Lux on Wed, 22 May 2013 1:35 +0000

very nice solo set up. My only 2c is that if sh@t hits the fan and you roll you could possibly be wearing that hand winch and recovery in the head.
"of all the things I've lost I miss my mind the most"
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Re: Gold Stalker's Expedition Vehicle Build

Postby Gold Stalker on Wed, 22 May 2013 1:44 +0000

2007Lux wrote:... if sh@t hits the fan and you roll you could possibly be wearing that hand winch and recovery in the head.

Too true. I'll look at tieing most of that stuff down to where the passenger seat used to bolt onto.
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