M916 for RV Build Project

[oldMan99]

Do you have any idea how cold Prudhoe Bay is in Feb - Mar?

2 yrs... better get that lottery ticket...

Although by the looks of thing i may not even be stateside then.

Well they do say that the Dalton is much better to drive in the winter than in the warmer times. I'll have a heater...lol... Maybe April?

Lets see it there is any interest in such an expedition and see what your schedule looks like and make a new post/thread and see what we can get going????

 

[Sirblissfull]

Convoy

http://www.steelsoldiers.com/upcoming-events/58410-mvpa-2012-alaska-highway-convoy.html

There you go guys.

Or you can Join Ferro on his trip

http://www.steelsoldiers.com/military-vehicle-road-trips/39914-road-trip-alaska.html

Looks like 2012 convoy for me.

 

[jesusgatos]

And I thought my M109 was going to be a big motorhome...

Seriously though, I thought about building on a 5-ton chassis, but the sheer size and weight of those trucks is really going to limit where you can take them. Like everything else, it's a compromise.

 

[Sirblissfull]

I only wanted a M109

My WIFE insisted we needed more space and we should buy GEs M820A2, seriously never knew how lucky I was.

 

[oldMan99]

http://www.steelsoldiers.com/upcoming-events/58410-mvpa-2012-alaska-highway-convoy.html

There you go guys.

Or you can Join Ferro on his trip

http://www.steelsoldiers.com/military-vehicle-road-trips/39914-road-trip-alaska.html

Looks like 2012 convoy for me.

Thanks for the links!

The 2012 MVPA think looks interesting although they are planning a pretty slow pace and they are only starting in Canada and only going to Anchorage and Fairbanks. If I leave Florida and drive to Alaska, I'm going ALL the way to the end of the Dalton to Prudhoe Bay. I suppose I/we could link up with them for that part of the journey but they are going in August. They say the best time to drive the Dalton is during the winter when it is all frozen, not during the summer when some of it is in very bad condition. Of course I'll be more than happy to listen to our Alaska members for verification / advise on that since the furthest north I have been is the Eastern part of Canada and that is when I was a kid.

Ferroequinologist's trip is likely much more my cup of tea but he is leaving this year and there is just no possible way for me to be ready in time.

 

[oldMan99]

And I thought my M109 was going to be a big motorhome...

Seriously though, I thought about building on a 5-ton chassis, but the sheer size and weight of those trucks is really going to limit where you can take them. Like everything else, it's a compromise.

Hey, good to hear form you, have not seen you on the board for awhile. Your 100% correct, it is all a compromise.

It seems people just can not understand MY MISSION for this vehicle. I am not designing something to go into the deep dark rain forests or up into the hills of Moab.

I keep hearing about how long it is going to be and how it will be hard to turn around on a 2 lane road. Well... yeah, "K" turns on anything short of a runway are out of the question, but I already know that. It is going to be almost exactly as large long and difficult to maneuver as my 34' class A motorhome was. The difference is that this vehicle will be able to take me the hundreds of more places than it could have ever even thought about going. I will no longer get stuck in some place like say... the pit area at a race track, or a campground that got some rain overnight.

I think if instead of looking at it like I'm building a "Off road RV" maybe if people looked at it like I am building a "RV that can go places that are not paved". Think of it as a 45' $million dollar Prevost bus that can ford a 2-3' deep stream and drive into areas that would otherwise be completely out of the question. Again, see the post a couple pages back in this thread where I linked to 3 different videos.

Jesus, this is obviously not aimed at you. I have read your posts and I from what you said in a few of them I believe you do get it, but obviously many others do not. I'll not be able to follow you on some of your trips but then again, thats is what the 4 wheeler is for...lol.

I guess all I am saying is that I completely understand the limitations that will be imposed by the size of the thing, instead of telling me about those limitations, help me find was to overcome them as beast as is possible. Help me find any critical issues I have missed that pertain to the mission assignment for this vehicle. Help me find ways to make the system work to the ultimate that it is able to reach.

I just re-read that and it makes sense to me.... did it come out so that it makes sense to you?

 

[Sirblissfull]

Makes perfect sense to me and I wish you luck.

As I have said before its your vehicle and you wont know if your happy with it until your driving it. So build it and go.

 

[The Gimlis]

As someone who has built an RV out of a deuce, it is truly an awesome thing and I would almost rather sell my house first before Army Bob would go away! We looked at the bigger trucks like the 5 tons, power company and fire dept brush trucks and they were just too big----for us---because we do so much mountain/forest travel. The deuce has it's limits too. Many a road has turned into a goat trail, meaning back it up! for 3/4 of mile because we are too big. No biggie. We take a hill at 35 mph instead of 65, so what?! It is what we accept because this is what we want to do.

Probably our biggest obstacle is the people that just have to see what it is. Be prepared anytime you are around civilization, there's gonna be someone wanting a tour.

Go for it, my friend, and know that for all those who p-- p-- your idea, there are 25 more who are cheering you on! Let us know if we can help with anything!

 

[CobraChris]

First of all, sorry for speaking in ignorance! I thought that RV's had no CDL requirements nationwide! Should have checked before I opened my mouth, something I usualy do, but didnt this time!

LOL.... you WILL see me there once the rig is done... This is EXACTLY one of the many places I had in mind in designing this thing.... That grass sure LOOKS innocent enough doesn't it??

I'm tellin' ya! I actualy got stuck on the left side of the track, I was running true street, and even though some buddies (and well known racers) had a spot saved for me on the far side, the dingleberries insisted I park there. Facing down hill. In sand. In a 38" RV. Of course, they underestimated the size of my rig, and after unloading my car off the trailer, moving it out of the way, and pulling me out, they let my go to the other side.

Good luck with your build! I lurk here alot, and love seeing these builds. On day, after my retirement plan pays off, and I win the lotto, I would love to build a 5 ton RV. Oh, all from a fellow firefighter/EMT.

 

[OPCOM]

By the time you are done with the project, you will spend more than the $35K the 4x6 was asking. Take my word for it when you start customizing machinery of that size nd using high quality parts doing high quality work, nothing is inexpensive.

 

[Flyingvan911]

It is amazing how stuff can nickel and dime you into the thousands.

 

[jesusgatos]

Sure, there are a lot of places where there's no getting around spending money - but you sure can save a lot if you are able to do most of the work yourself. Notice, I didn't say ALL the work. There are some guys that take that to a point where they compromise the quality of a project, just to be able to say they 'did it all by themselves'. I don't know if I've ever built anything all by myself. This forum is a great example of that. I've received a ton of help from SS members, and that's a big part of what's made it possible for my to build Mah Deuce.

 

[Bighurt]

It is amazing how stuff can nickel and dime you into the thousands.

While I agree, there is nothing that I like better than saving a buck.In the end stepping back looking at a project and saying, I built instills far more pride.

 

[armytruckdriverddsso]

There is a reason i have a M915 for a avatar. They are my most loved MV. The M915 and the M916 are good trucks. The 915a3 is the best for over the road and can reach speeds of 72-78 mph, they are frateliners and can be air-baged cheap. The M916a3 is able to handle off road travel and can reach 70- 72 mph, and army or MC they are the same. If this is something you want to do do it. I have already done one project everyone thought I was crazy for. I still have my M900 series manuals and there is know way I will give them up. For the final note is the A3 models are computerize so you can re-chip the computer to re-set the governor, and the lockers are not constant lock they are air lockable from the cab, like all semi-trucks.

 

[Avalanche]

I have been a member here for a while, primarily to research ideas for new projects but I have some experience in this arena that may be of use. My background is automotive engineering and fabrication and most of my time has been spent in the high mobility segment. I have designed and built recreational and competition machine as well as prototypes for Uncle Sam. Back in the day I used to complete with Soni in the early rock crawling championships.

More recently, i have designed and built 2 toter homes and my current project is more expedition oriented but still based on a Class 8 truck chassis. I went through much of the same issues that have been mentioned here and in the end I decided to go with a commercial truck as a base for my build. In my case I chose an extremely clean '89 Kenworth T-800. It is a 6x4 truck and will likely stay that way. It will have driver controlled locking rear ends to provide traction. I will also carry a set of chains as a last resort. My reasons for going this route are better turning radius, better aerodynamics, better mileage, better ride quality, better parts availability, factory A/C and more comfortable across the board but particularly on the road. It is still very capable in off highway situations and is intended to provide a base camp for off-road activities not be an off-roader itself.

I have owned several MVs over the years and currently have a Cummins powered M1008 and a depot overhauled M915 (For Sale). I would have loved to have been able to justify an M920 for this project but in the end practicality and sensibility overruled my desire to have another big green or my case desert tan truck in the yard.

The M920 may be the best choice for your situation but in my case I have no regrets in my decision on buying the Kenworth and, as of yet, I have not been stuck nor had to resort to using the chains. I'm not sure this answers any questions but at least offers a different perspective.

 

[eldgenb]

I have been a member here for a while, primarily to research ideas for new projects but I have some experience in this arena that may be of use. My background is automotive engineering and fabrication and most of my time has been spent in the high mobility segment. I have designed and built recreational and competition machine as well as prototypes for Uncle Sam. Back in the day I used to complete with Soni in the early rock crawling championships.

More recently, i have designed and built 2 toter homes and my current project is more expedition oriented but still based on a Class 8 truck chassis. I went through much of the same issues that have been mentioned here and in the end I decided to go with a commercial truck as a base for my build. In my case I chose an extremely clean '89 Kenworth T-800. It is a 6x4 truck and will likely stay that way. It will have driver controlled locking rear ends to provide traction. I will also carry a set of chains as a last resort. My reasons for going this route are better turning radius, better aerodynamics, better mileage, better ride quality, better parts availability, factory A/C and more comfortable across the board but particularly on the road. It is still very capable in off highway situations and is intended to provide a base camp for off-road activities not be an off-roader itself.

I have owned several MVs over the years and currently have a Cummins powered M1008 and a depot overhauled M915 (For Sale). I would have loved to have been able to justify an M920 for this project but in the end practicality and sensibility overruled my desire to have another big green or my case desert tan truck in the yard.

The M920 may be the best choice for your situation but in my case I have no regrets in my decision on buying the Kenworth and, as of yet, I have not been stuck nor had to resort to using the chains. I'm not sure this answers any questions but at least offers a different perspective.

all very good points, thank you for sharing. You should participate more often.. Slacker..