M820 RV conversion

[GC45]

Hi
First post.
Considering converting M820 to RV use for rough going.

https://picasaweb.google.com/114376633279989638821/DropBox?authkey=Gv1sRgCJr6gNTV5Z3baA

Suggestions re where to post or experience with such a conversion?

 

[srodocker]

Welcome aboard! you should do it! only downside is the fuel consumption

 

[GC45]

Welcome aboard! you should do it! only downside is the fuel consumption

Yeah. I saw somewhere a seat of the pants guesstimate of 5-8 mpg. I think mechanical mods would be in order: Turbo, if possible, transmission & rear end swapped out. From what I can find so far, original specs allow for top speed of only about 55 mph, probably having more to do with transmission & rear axle than motor.
Might be worthwhile to carry 2 sets of tires & rims for different drive conditions.
Manuals for these guys seem to be available. Useful.

 

[Bad_Carp]

Just a bigger/expandable M109, I'd do it in a heartbeat. Use the expanability to your benefit in the design (bed should fold up while not expanded, etc).

 

[srodocker]

they are basically land yatchs as well. and with the expandable you have to figure out a way to do the rv setup where you do everything in the middle and walk around it when its open or you do it on slides or something.

you should check out the link in my signature for the mini rally. should be tons of fun

 

[GC45]

Just a bigger/expandable M109, I'd do it in a heartbeat. Use the expanability to your benefit in the design (bed should fold up while not expanded, etc).

I doubt that the bed folds up when contracted. Probably slides in above the truck bed. If you know differently I'd like to know.

 

[Bad_Carp]

I doubt that the bed folds up when contracted. Probably slides in above the truck bed. If you know differently I'd like to know.

There is no bed till you build it. I'm talking about how you outfit the inside of the truck as a camper. Use the expandable space to your advantage, remember how it all comes together and think about how you can maximize the expanded space rather than just have stuff in the middle and be able to walk around it.

 

[GC45]

they are basically land yatchs as well. and with the expandable you have to figure out a way to do the rv setup where you do everything in the middle and walk around it when its open or you do it on slides or something.

you should check out the link in my signature for the mini rally. should be tons of fun

Yeah, I haven't really started figuring out a layout. Just kind of rolling things around in my head & collecting information. It depends on how the expansion works. If it's accordion-style (see previous post), everything would have to be in the middle. Hope not. Much better if the slides close over the floor and pretty much everything can be installed in the slides. So far all I have is a few pictures. If anyone can clarify the mechanics of the slide, much appreciated. RV slides allow for expandable open space, with furniture & equipment around the perimeter.

 

[GC45]

There is no bed till you build it. I'm talking about how you outfit the inside of the truck as a camper. Use the expandable space to your advantage, remember how it all comes together and think about how you can maximize the expanded space rather than just have stuff in the middle and be able to walk around it.

As I envision it, the slides would add open space, with pretty much everything in the slides. Sounds as though you have some personal knowledge. If so, I'd love to hear it.
My concept didn't involve having everything in the middle & walking around it, but until I learn more about the vehicle, it's just a concept.
I'm not clear on what you mean by "there is no bed till you build it". The truck box has a bed. I see sleepers, insulation, raceways, sub-floor and so on added. Is that your meaning?

 

[Bad_Carp]

I'm not clear on what you mean by "there is no bed till you build it". The truck box has a bed. I see sleepers, insulation, raceways, sub-floor and so on added. Is that your meaning?

I was talking about the bed you will sleep on, not something that is currently part of the truck. Do you plan to install a shower/toilet, etc? Doing that with an expandable van will require some thinking, but could turn out awesome. Haven't built a camper out of one yet, just the M109A3 so far, but I'll get to it eventually.

 

[GC45]

I was talking about the bed you will sleep on, not something that is currently part of the truck. Do you plan to install a shower/toilet, etc? Doing that with an expandable van will require some thinking, but could turn out awesome. Haven't built a camper out of one yet, just the M109A3 so far, but I'll get to it eventually.

The most challenging part of the interior will be anything involving plumbing. Seems like the probable solution would involve tanks & pumps. I was thinking about cantilevering a deck on the rear to carry a MC. Waste tanks might go underneath.
Lots to think about to accommodate the expansion/contraction. But this thing should be able to climb a mountainside dirt track or ford a small river in Panama.

 

[jesusgatos]

The floors do fold-up on all the ones I looked at. That's on of the main reasons why I decided to build an M109. Well, that and the fact that you can take a deuce a lot more places than a 5-ton.

 

[tm america]

I had built a camper out of a expandible box.It was really cool. I put the bathroom at the front of the box .The dinette was just behind the bathroom on the driverside. kitchen was on pass.It make for two nice bedrooms in the expanded sections next to the bathroom. and still had room at the back for hauling two quads or some dirt bikes. .The heaters and ac unit was missing when i got it so i put my fresh water tank ,furnace,power inverter and batteries up in the area above the cab.That wat the toilet was gravity fed.LIke i said it all worked out very well

 

[quickfarms]

any photos of your conversion?

 

[GC45]

I had built a camper out of a expandible box.It was really cool. I put the bathroom at the front of the box .The dinette was just behind the bathroom on the driverside. kitchen was on pass.It make for two nice bedrooms in the expanded sections next to the bathroom. and still had room at the back for hauling two quads or some dirt bikes. .The heaters and ac unit was missing when i got it so i put my fresh water tank ,furnace,power inverter and batteries up in the area above the cab.That wat the toilet was gravity fed.LIke i said it all worked out very well

Like to see pictures. I'm hearing it takes several people to expand it?

 

[GC45]

I guess the M1087 is too new to be in private hands. Anybody know different?
How about the M934/35

 

[Charlie 6]

I lived in one in Germany for about 165 days out the year back in the early eighties. They were easy to expand. Winter time the fuel fired heater kept it warm, except for the steel floor which was cold and froze your feet, rubber mat help solve that problem. Other thing is make sure you ground the box, there is a grounding connector in the back by the steps, I believe to the left.
Pound a grounding rod in the ground and connect it to the trailer. If not you will feel it when you touch the stairs.

 

[Sirblissfull]

The floor and ceiling are attached to the box not the outside wall.

The end walls front and back are attached to the outside wall.

There is a pulley system that helps counter balance the floor and ceiling sections, the cable often jumps the pulleys and gets stuck behind them. If the cable is not tight you can end up with the swivel mounting pointing down when it needs to be up in order to complete the process.

I am in the beginning stages of an RV conversion now on my M820A2, if I wake up enough I plan on heading over and tearing out the insulation and plywood today. I will get detailed pictures of the process and mechanisms.

 

[Sirblissfull]

I remembered Goldneagle had already posted most of the pics of the very same truck I have.

I bought it from him last year.

http://www.steelsoldiers.com/5-ton-up/30647-m820a2-home-safe-now-its-time-check-her-out.html

This is the kind of damage that is behind the plywood and the mechanism.

 

[tm america]

Like to see pictures. I'm hearing it takes several people to expand it?

i have them on my other computer i will have to see if i can get it working again