Long wheelbase 4x4 chassis

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Long wheelbase 4x4 chassis

Tbirdnz

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#206120 10-Dec-2016 13:32

I'm need recommendations for 4wds with heavy duty chassis with a 330 cm wheelbase or very close to it. They need to be very common so I can pick one up for relatively cheap. Does anyone have any recommendations?.

Cheers

chevrolux

4962 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2638
Inactive user

#1685702 10-Dec-2016 13:49

Maybe a good idea to cruise on over to www.offroadexpress.kiwi and ask the fellas over there.

330 is getting pretty wide though! Thinking of all the commons trucks we have (Cruiser, Hilux, Prado, Safari) they all around 300.

Sidestep

1019 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 567

Lifetime subscriber

#1685717 10-Dec-2016 15:13

You'll need to be clearer on what you require it for?

The cheapest 3.3m wheelbase HD 4x4 chassis you'll find is the NZ RHD Jeep J20. Pick them up for $500-800 with diffs. They're fairly common.

335cm wb, Dana 44 HD front diff, Dana 60 rear diff. Typical American pickup style stamped steel C section, 5mm wall with riveted/welded crossmembers.

Designed for a 3.8 tonne GVWR, engine weight up to 300kg with stock leaf springs front/rear.

Tbirdnz

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1685858 10-Dec-2016 19:12

I want build one of these

http://www.tremormuv.com

Sidestep

1019 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 567

Lifetime subscriber

#1685945 11-Dec-2016 08:13

Tbirdnz: I want build one of these

http://www.tremormuv.com

Yep those're designed to be built on an 80's -00's US standard cab, standard box pickup frame, 130 -131" wheelbase.
Dirt cheap to find in Edmonton - where Rocky Mountain Coachworks are based - and most of North America. Bit harder to find here.

Have you done a project like this before? Thought through the parts sourcing, fabrication and compliance issues in NZ?
Lots of really difficult hoops to jump through if you want to comply it for the road in NZ.

If you've seriously looked at all the angles I might be able to sort out an 80's J20 or GMC frame.
Or if you want to go full on I have a couple of later model US pickups with very H.D. drivetrains sitting around as potential donors.
A 2010 Dodge Ram 2500 4x4 (with the 383hp 5.7 Hemi, 5 spd auto) and a 2012 Ford F250 4x4 (385hp 6.2, 6spd auto)
They're good low mile trucks but can't be complied for road use in NZ. So for parts or off road only. Likely more expensive than the donor you're looking for.

PM me if interested.

Tbirdnz

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1685956 11-Dec-2016 09:19

I've never done anything this big. Was told there was a lot of safety items needed to get it road legal and it was suggested that I use a modern production chassis to meet some of the requirements like collapsible steering columns and frontal impact standards etc. But the closest donor I can find is a hilux but would have to shift the wheelbase back by 30cm or a transit van chassis. A j20 would be the best bet but A lot of aftermarket parts will be required to meet the standards.

That's why I looking for as much advice as I can get before making a decision. Would love to buy in a surplus humvee but the us gov won't let them out of the USA as far as I can tell

Sidestep

1019 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 567

Lifetime subscriber

#1686005 11-Dec-2016 13:45

Tbirdnz: Would love to buy in a surplus humvee but the us gov won't let them out of the USA as far as I can tell

Don't know who told you that. I was a registered US Military surplus buyer, and exported M998's (Humvee's) out of the US to Canada.
I'm sure NZ would be no different - maybe requiring completion of an End User Certificate.

The big issue with them is AM General - the manufacturer - does not, and will not, certify that they meet FVSS (Federal Vehicle Safety Standards) or any other civilian road safety standards.
They just come with a standard military Data Plate riveted to the firewall, so you cannot road register them. At all.

The civilianised version of the M998 was the Hummer H1.
'General Motors' Hummer branch took over licensed final production of those, and they do meet FVSS so can be imported and registered (but require a very expensive RHD conversion and compliance rebuild)

GM also produced a couple of Hummer lookalikes - the H2 which was built on a custom pickup style frame & drivetrain, and the H3, an even less special thing - basically a SUV with hummer like body paneling.
You can also import those as far as I know.

HP

Shop now for HP laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

Tbirdnz

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1686043 11-Dec-2016 14:31

Yes was talking to a seller on govplanet they said that they are only allowed to sell to us citizens who can sell them to Canadians who can drive across the border with correct paperwork but the seller also said that it is rare and expensive to get the state department to release a humvee to be shipped overseas. If you know a easy way please
Let me know.

Sidestep

1019 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 567

Lifetime subscriber

#1686050 11-Dec-2016 15:03

Tbirdnz: Yes was talking to a seller on govplanet they said that they are only allowed to sell to us citizens who can sell them to Canadians who can drive across the border with correct paperwork but the seller also said that it is rare and expensive to get the state department to release a humvee to be shipped overseas. If you know a easy way please
Let me know.

Not quite right. Canadian citizens can also register as US surplus buyers after a background check. Yes they can be exported to Canada like all vehicles - with the correct paperwork.

You should be able to find a good running M998 for $15-20K 'as is' and unregistered in Canada. Eg oil company surplus auctions.
Canadian registered and Insured (which means someone's gone through a bunch of red tape stuff) $30-40K like this or this or the dozens of others for sale over there.

Either way without a FMVSS or CMVSS you won't get it road legal in NZ.
Why do you want one? I've had a couple, they're not comfortable, they're not that capable offroad, they're ugly and terrible on fuel.. there are much better options.

Tbirdnz

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1686087 11-Dec-2016 15:31

I've always wanted one was browsing govplanet saw that they had a lot of surplus auctions decided would look into it, I had decided to build a replica before jumping on this forum that way I can build it for New Zealand conditions.My old man has a Cummins 6bt in the back of a shed that I will use if I can get it set up to comply with the emission rules.

Just looking for a chassis before I get started

Sidestep

1019 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 567

Lifetime subscriber

#1686095 11-Dec-2016 15:55

Talk to a Low Volume Vehicle Certifier before you start.

Explain exactly what you plan to do, listen carefully to what he has to say.

replicadb4

1 post

Wannabe Geek

#1722535 19-Feb-2017 09:28

You still thinking about it? I was too but I think the parts would be too hard to come by (tremormuv needs you to find a hood, doors & tail gate yourself). If you can find a way to get a humvee into NZ you might be able to get it on the road by certifying it as if it was a scratch built vehicle (lvvta) - would be better to have a real one instead of a replica with a stupid looking live axle hanging down at the back