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Anon
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Wotcha...just bought a CF autosleeper

Hi my names greg from kent...
Have just bought a project CF auto sleeper top turn into our "value" camper...

I am heavily involved with offroading, and the frontera owners scene, and my plan is to use the CF to build the camper I really need.

The thinking is that most of its undercarraige is going (engine is missing anyway as the previous owner was going to convert to a isuzu diesel and then gave up)...and then mount the whole body on a 2.8 lwb frontera chassis and running gear. Frontera wheelbase is 3" longer, but a hefty suspension lift will be needed at the back anyway, which will shorten the wheel base by an inch or so, and the rest can be lost by extending the front wheel arches forwards so the axle position will make for better approach angle and give more tyre clearance on the rear of the wings.
My logic is this will give me a 2.8 turbo diesel camper, that is 4wd and because it would be a rebodied frontera, I can hopefully still make use of the increased towing weight and drag my offroader behind it.
It gonna get a real makeover, and will be big, paint will be LR star silver and gunmetal grey, with black winch bumpers at the front, 33x12.50x15 tyres on 10j rims, large bullbars, barrage of lighting, tubular roofrack...really make a 4x4 of it, kinda like a tombraider version landrover.
The interior will get a makeover to, as its functional but tired, so modernising will be the way with this, but sticking with the OE layout.

Well I am bound to need loads of advice and help along the way, but thats the plan and hopefully in a few months I should have a GM "unimog"...

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Sun 07 Jul 2013 @ 21:44 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Gethin
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looking forward to the photos ......
Mon 08 Jul 2013 @ 09:18 View Gethin   Email Gethin   Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
bluebedouin
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Hi Greg,welcome to the club.That sounds a really interesting conversion.
As Gethin's said we'll look forward to the pics.

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Mon 08 Jul 2013 @ 17:11 View bluebedouin   Email bluebedouin   Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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Spoke at length with Vosa regarding the IVA which it looks like this is gonna need, but its all systems go.
It will retain the towing weight of its chassis, and will get an age related plate for the chassis so will be a 95 Nreg.
Just pressure washed it off and its in pretty good shape I think, was either that or mow it, it was a bit green.




Mon 08 Jul 2013 @ 17:39 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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welcome old son looks like youve got your work cut out lol good luck
guy

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Mon 08 Jul 2013 @ 21:49 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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It doesnt look in bad shape, was on the road and being used until the previous owner decided to take it off the road to do an engine transplant...but this never got finished hence I have ended up buying it.

The local Vosa inspection centre were really helpful, and basically so long as I attach the body to the frontera chassis in a sensible manner, the majority of the IVA will be based on something which is unaltered from Vauxhalls spec so should be fine.
When I strip the frontera I am planning to renew all the brake and fuel lines, fit a new clutch, and change anything that is worn and then repaint the chassis so it will look like new underneath. Headlight height might prove an issue so it might have to be IVA'ed on 29" tyres sooner than 33"s...Bull bar would have to be added at a later date to, although the winch bumper will be fine,
I am planning to use the frontera whole dash, which will not only make the cab a bit younger inside, but it will make connecting everything up much easier as all the instrumentation will work straight out the box with the frontera loom. The whole frontera loom is going to be used to do all the vehicle systems and lighting, the CF's existing wiring only be used for the camper functions in the back which will be fed from a separate fusebox. Am also going to cut a section out the frontera bulkhead, which contains the pedal box, and brake and clutch master cylinders, with a view to maybe grafting this section into the CF bulkhead which will mean all the mechanical functions should work straight off as it was as VX intended.
Engine will have its viscous fan removed and replaced with an electric unit to give more space at the front. The engine will be mounted further forwards than the stock CF lump, as cylinder 2 is kinda inline with the front axle. Intercooler will be stock frontera, unless there is insuffient space in which case a trooper top mounted one will be used and the bonnet ducted accordingly.

Couple of questions for you CF experts though...

How much does one of these vans weigh?

What is the best and safest way to lift and support the body while I remove all the drivetrain underneath? I have a 3.2 tonne lift forklift with tine extentions, I am just concious that lifting this by sliding the tines underneath is not going to be as simple as a car or 4x4...

Mon 08 Jul 2013 @ 23:23 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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Gregster wrote:


Couple of questions for you CF experts though...

How much does one of these vans weigh?

What is the best and safest way to lift and support the body while I remove all the drivetrain underneath? I have a 3.2 tonne lift forklift with tine extentions, I am just concious that lifting this by sliding the tines underneath is not going to be as simple as a car or 4x4...



Can anyone help with this info please???
Thu 11 Jul 2013 @ 23:03 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Gethin
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If you have a look at your vin plate on the Beddy it will give you the max G.V.W.
also both front and rear axle weights.

as most Beddy converted camper vans will have different weights though depending on what body if fitted and the amount of furniture has been fitted.


the only way to determine the correct weight is to have it done at a weigh bridge
Sat 13 Jul 2013 @ 19:38 View Gethin   Email Gethin   Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
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