L300 4wd Off-road expedition camper project

[doo0Tdoo0T]

Hey,
Just recently bought a 94 L300 Exceed 4x4 and have begun building an expedition camper.
Will be used for light 4x4 work, basically just getting us to out of the way places.

So far I've built the roof racks, fitted a safari tent & built a ladder to access the forward rack where I'll put a tray.

Plans for it are:

- Raise it up a bit, 2" raise with hanger extensions in the rear.
- Snorkel (DIY style) (the factory airbox and intake is underneath and dangerously low.
- Get some bigger rubber, (probably just 31's)
- Either vinyl or plasti-coat protection along the sides, it gets pinstriped to hell being so flat.
- Modify the steel bull bar to take a winch
- Manual hub conversion
- Some sort of locker solution for the front diff.
- Intercooler. (prob a water-air system from a subaru as there's not a lot of room up front)

Here's some pics of the work so far, will add more pics as I make progress over time.

As it was when I got it


Rack and tent setup




Building the ladder.
The ladder started life as an old painters ladder I found in the barn, it was quicker to cut it up and modify it than to start from scratch.
It's all painted up and padded now but I dont have a pic yet since I cant mount it properly until I sort a strap out for the bottom to secure it.






Next mod on the list is a Ghetto-fab snorkel using 100x50 rectangular downpipe

[juz]

Ive actually seen some with factory snorkels, you may be able to pick one up from a wrecker..probably rare though.

[J_Dub]

cool
I realy want another 1, used t have a 2.4 inj petrol,
miss it, and theres none others around, rare as now aye, i rekon they are a cool versitile vehicle

[doo0Tdoo0T]

Did a bit more on my ghetto snorkel. Still got a bit to do before it can get fitted.
It's made of rectangular downpipe. I had to plastic weld up a junction at the end as Marley don't make a rectangle into round right angle.






Took the van on a 600km round trip over the weekend from Auck to Taranaki down the west coast then back up highway 3.

[hachi_roku]

now paint it with that black wrinkle paint it will look the business.. that what i did with my old bighorn..

[doo0Tdoo0T]

Did a bit more to the snorkel but stil not finished. had one of those shit weekends where everything seems to get in the way and nothing gets achieved.

No going back now....


Tried using a ting tong from ping pong holesaw, lasted less than 30 seconds before it was all burred over so ended up making the hole old skool style...


Fits nice, just gotta sand Marley off the fixture , or maybe leave it there for a laugh


Heated the pipe gently with a propane torch while bending it to the shape of the side of the van, nerve wracking but got there in the end. The towel is wet and stops the paint getting scorched.


Now just gotta lower the height of the collector at the top because it's scooping clouds at the moment and paint it. Couldn't find a can of wrinkle so just going mattyB Will also make up a gauze insert to keep the bugs out.


Still have to weld the flange into the side of the airfilter can and connect it up but got the tube ready and shouldn't take long.

[Dr_PC]

Coming along nicely

[CLUMZ1]

Ive actually seen some with factory snorkels, you may be able to pick one up from a wrecker..probably rare though.

like this??

[niblik]

More this ish? Have seen a rare few of these about.



I wanted something like this a fair few years back, when the family was much smaller, for camping outings.

Snorkels lookin good man. Look better trimmed down a touch like you mentioned.

Next?

[doo0Tdoo0T]

More this ish? Have seen a rare few of these about.

I wanted something like this a fair few years back, when the family was much smaller, for camping outings.

Snorkels lookin good man. Look better trimmed down a touch like you mentioned.

Next?

Yeah I've seen them on a few sites for sale but have you seen the price?? Yikes. The pohms want £250+

I'm sure Bitza Mitzi's would have one stashed away in the loft somewhere though.

Next?

Take off the front bull bar and chop all the tags off that held the plastic trim and plasti-coat it black.
Re-mount my dippable spot lamps and mount 4 more rectangular ones on the front of the roof rack.
A mate is giving me a set if I do the cam belt on his surf.

I have to also look at making some 185mm spring hangars for the rear which will raise it 2 inches

If love to get two opposing swing out spare wheel holders and mount the spare on one and a jerry can on the other.