From: James M. Atkinson (jmatk@tscm.com)
Date: Thu May 15 2003 - 05:44:27 PDT
At 10:47 AM +0100 5/15/03, Michael Goodden wrote:
>Hiya All
>
>After much deliberation I've decided to go with an M109 body to mount on
>my M35 for the around the world trip. I'll be getting it on Wednesday
>and mounting it straight away.
>
>I just had a couple of questions that I thought other M109 owners would
>easily be able to answer....
>
>Firstly what is the insulation like in the body? ... considering I'll be
>using this in extremes from Siberia to the Sahara desert in anyone's
>experience how good is the insulation at keeping the body warm in the
>cold and cool in the heat? ... or would I be better to rip out the
>insulation and put in some modern stuff?!?!?
I would suggest pulling out all of the insulation, and replacing it
with a combination of Astrofoil, and 1" and 2" thick sheets of
extruded polystyrene foam (I have done this myself).
Use "Aerosol Foam" to hold the big sheets of foam in place, and wait
24 hours before adding more foam. Then trim the foam to make it
level, and line the inside of the truck with Astrofoil.
Six inches of new poly, and one layer of Astrofoil should make the
M109 body very comfortable; albeit rather low on head room.
Seriously insulate the cab with fiberglass and Astrofoil.
But a one piece windshield, and buy several
>I also wondered if there was a spacer in the chassis mounting. If you
>look at the mount onto the chassis is there a 6" steel girder that is
>part of the body structure with an nice empty space running all the way
>down it? (this is for me to mount some tanks into!!)
Slide the van body back about two feet back from the cab (to the next
L-Brackets) to get some extra space for storage for extra fuel,
water, tires, tools, etc. Between the cab and van Also, extend the
chassis rails back to support the overhang (winch extensions work
well).
Add a PTO winch to both ends of the truck, and add at least one 10+
ton Warn winch (24 volts) to the front of the truck so you can use an
A-Frame (which you carry under the body, or on the side). All some
box L-Brackets to the side of the van so you can carry poles, to bar,
etc to the side of the van.
Add roll bars to the engine compartment, passenger cabin, and the van body.
Reinforce the van roof, and add a roof deck with side rails you can
fold down (so you can carry lightweight cargo on the roof).
Modify the cab, and van body so you can move from the cab to the body
without exiting the truck.
Buy, and install a Pony-Pack for the truck (with a 24 volt alternator).
Install a 5,000 BTU air conditioner in the van body (that does not
use the engine) so you can keep cool in the desert, and a second AC
in the cab that does use the engine. Also, add a two way fan so you
can swap air between the cab, and van.
Buy a M105 trailer, and install a duct-heater, two 3kW gensets, a 100
gallon fuel bladder, a 25 gallon insulated water bladder (per person
in the truck), a really nice large tent (you can entertain with), and
a self supporting canopy. Add a recovery winch, and extra batteries
to the bed of the trailer (for self recovery)
You should bring 3-5 extra tires already mounted on rims, and 10 more
new unmounted tires. Plus, 90-100 extra tire lugs, 20 inner-tubes, 10
flaps, run flat inserts, two extra lug wrenches, two 12 ton jacks,
etc.
Install a half dozen or so low light, auto iris, video camera's plus
a multi-channel, motion sensing DVR. Add monitors into both the cab,
and van body.
Install a CB, marine VHF radio, primo marine HF radio, TWO GSM phones
(with external antenna's), TWO Inmarsat phones, TWO Iridium phones,
and a really good external hailer system.
Add a really, really powerful strobe to the roof of the truck (for
emergency recovery).
>Also does anyone have a scrap M109 body that I could purchase the Doors
>and a couple of windows with shutters from as I'd like to add in a side
>door and also some extra windows? (anywhere in Europe or the US, can
>you let me know cost, and approx size and weight so I can check
>shipping).
>
>Many thanks for any help
>Mike
>___________________
>Michael Goodden
>The Global Tipi Adventure
>http://TheTipi.com
Of course, your mileage may vary ;-)
-jma
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