you are my hero. found your bellows and forge videos a few months ago, and here i am again. hope one day to have your skills, tools, and ingenuity! oh and storytelling.
2x4 steel rub rails 2x2 cross members all setting on 4" standard channel and wood timbers directly on the frame. The boxes were bought from Douglass Truck Bodies, where I once worked year ago.
Cool little video and story. Looks like a great job on the flatbed too! I have a 1978 Chinook that I use for camping so it makes me a little sad to hear about one being taken apart, but it looks like both halves have been put back to great use!
My neighbor is getting rid of a 1985 Toyota motorhome with a 22R engine. It was recalled in '95 so they could put dually's on it. The coach/camper part is in bad shape so it would be a great conversion especially being a dually. I don't know if the coach could be removed in one piece, or if that would make sense. It might be best just to tear it down. I think it is a 4 spd.. It would be better if it was 5 speed though. Any comments?
Just picked up a 1975 Toyota hilux that's great, but pulls super hard to the right on big bumps especially at higher speed. Anybody have an idea of what the issue could be?
+24revealer The engine was a stock 2.2Liter 20R. I pulled it from a Celica at the junk yard that showed 60,000 miles. The cylinders measured round with no taper and even had factory hone marks. So, we just honed them and dropped standard pistons and rings in it. As for mileage, it seems like it got about 25MPG highway and not much different around town. The little Weber DGV carb could probably have been tuned a little better, but, it worked for me. I can say that swapping that carb was the best thing I ever did on that motor. It literally went from totally gutless to having a little pep. Nearby Interstate 5 has a grade called the Grapevine, it's about a 6% grade. After getting the Weber carb it went from barely climbing that grade in 3rd gear to being able to slightly accelerate in 5th.
If you don't mind me asking, where did you find the back panel for the cab? I have a 1977 motorhome version and no intention to use the motorhome ever again (have a much nicer truck/trailer these days). If I could fine a panel, I'd love to convert it to use as a truck.
Jared McBeth I just used a piece of sheet metal. The window I found at the wrecking yard. I added 1x1 square tube to stiffen the rear panel. The way the cab had been cut, the rounded sections were all intact. My panel just fit up from the inside and got plug welded to the body. I hope that helps.
Awesome. Yeah it does. Yours looks great - I thought maybe you found a pre-made panel. I'll have to go look at mine carefully and see whether it will work out the same.
I am selling my 73' Chinook to a guy in Canada. He just needs the Shell, so I'll have just the truck. It belonged to my dad and he gave it to me after a massive brain stem stroke. I was just wondering if you would fix my dads truck after the shell is removed. Thanks!!
+Steven Zamora I built it myself, except the boxes. I don't remember what I paid for the boxes, maybe $400 -$500, plus 3 or $400 for the materials. Pretty sure it cost me less than $1000. To have one built, I'm guessing a custom body manufacturer would charge $5000 - $7000.
I sold it years ago. As I remember, it got 18 around town and close to 25 hwy. It wasn't great. But, my 1960 F100 Panel truck gets 12 on the highway. So, there's that.
![[ WILL IT RUN? ] Antique Motorhome to Flat Deck Conversion - [3]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/gdKtgYPKhKs/mqdefault.jpg)
![[ WILL IT RUN? ] Antique Motorhome to Flat Deck Conversion - [3]](/img/tr.png)
Awesome job!! Looks factory! I love these little trucks!
Looks real nice.......good job all around.Sweet!
you are my hero. found your bellows and forge videos a few months ago, and here i am again. hope one day to have your skills, tools, and ingenuity! oh and storytelling.
2x4 steel rub rails 2x2 cross members all setting on 4" standard channel and wood timbers directly on the frame. The boxes were bought from Douglass Truck Bodies, where I once worked year ago.
your little truck has quite a story. love those older Toyotas
I sold it to a friend. He sold it to someone. And, we still see it occasionally.
Cool little video and story. Looks like a great job on the flatbed too! I have a 1978 Chinook that I use for camping so it makes me a little sad to hear about one being taken apart, but it looks like both halves have been put back to great use!
Stewart Matthiesen
My neighbor is getting rid of a 1985 Toyota motorhome with a 22R engine. It was recalled in '95 so they could put dually's on it. The coach/camper part is in bad shape so it would be a great conversion especially being a dually. I don't know if the coach could be removed in one piece, or if that would make sense. It might be best just to tear it down. I think it is a 4 spd.. It would be better if it was 5 speed though. Any comments?
I miss mine.
I really think it would b done after removal
Very cool. Great job on the flat deck deck! and the repairs.
Cool truck. I've got a 78 Toyota Chinook and am trying to decide whether or not I can save the camper.
Do you have any info on the guy that bought the camper shell? I'd like to see how well that fit on his 92.
Just picked up a 1975 Toyota hilux that's great, but pulls super hard to the right on big bumps especially at higher speed.
Anybody have an idea of what the issue could be?
Still have the info of the guy that bought the camper shell? I would love to see what he's done to it.
Thanks for sharing
Thanks for sharing, can you tell us more about the engine and fuel mileage?
+24revealer The engine was a stock 2.2Liter 20R. I pulled it from a Celica at the junk yard that showed 60,000 miles. The cylinders measured round with no taper and even had factory hone marks. So, we just honed them and dropped standard pistons and rings in it. As for mileage, it seems like it got about 25MPG highway and not much different around town. The little Weber DGV carb could probably have been tuned a little better, but, it worked for me. I can say that swapping that carb was the best thing I ever did on that motor. It literally went from totally gutless to having a little pep. Nearby Interstate 5 has a grade called the Grapevine, it's about a 6% grade. After getting the Weber carb it went from barely climbing that grade in 3rd gear to being able to slightly accelerate in 5th.
I'm doing the same for an '88. Thanks for showing me your build! This is one of the better looking conversions I've seen. Do you still own this truck?
I sold it to a friend years ago. He sold it to a teacher, i think. I would see it around from time to time. But, I have not seen it in a long time.
what did you have to do to title it?
Thanks
I didn't do anything other than pay the registration. When it sold, I think the title still showed it as a motor home. They didn't seem to care.
Fantastic Idea for an old home. :)
I threw this idea around in my mind a few times for my t100. Never materialized though. It looks great and super functional.
great story thanks for sharing.
Who manufactured that beautiful bed of the truck, may I ask?
I did.
cool truck. I like the cargo boxes underneath. how did you build it?
If you don't mind me asking, where did you find the back panel for the cab? I have a 1977 motorhome version and no intention to use the motorhome ever again (have a much nicer truck/trailer these days). If I could fine a panel, I'd love to convert it to use as a truck.
Jared McBeth I just used a piece of sheet metal. The window I found at the wrecking yard. I added 1x1 square tube to stiffen the rear panel. The way the cab had been cut, the rounded sections were all intact. My panel just fit up from the inside and got plug welded to the body. I hope that helps.
Awesome. Yeah it does. Yours looks great - I thought maybe you found a pre-made panel. I'll have to go look at mine carefully and see whether it will work out the same.
I am selling my 73' Chinook to a guy in Canada. He just needs the Shell, so I'll have just the truck. It belonged to my dad and he gave it to me after a massive brain stem stroke. I was just wondering if you would fix my dads truck after the shell is removed. Thanks!!
Always need a flatbed
sweet little truck nice job im about to do the same thing but to my 78 gmc k1500 4x4
awesome truck
Thank you. I kind of miss him after selling him.
Nice can you post more videos of it sometime.
thanks for the info now I can build my own
Didn't you sell this?
I did sell it to a friend of mine. He sold it sometime later.
how much was the flat bed with the tool boxes?
+Steven Zamora I built it myself, except the boxes. I don't remember what I paid for the boxes, maybe $400 -$500, plus 3 or $400 for the materials. Pretty sure it cost me less than $1000. To have one built, I'm guessing a custom body manufacturer would charge $5000 - $7000.
hey my brother has that same Booster seat but the arm pads came off
+Wu Lang Small world! :-)
it's a beauty
nice truck
Thank you. I do miss it.
cool like it very much
Classy!
it's like Christine!
What mpg does it get
I sold it years ago. As I remember, it got 18 around town and close to 25 hwy. It wasn't great. But, my 1960 F100 Panel truck gets 12 on the highway. So, there's that.
nice'
Save the camper. You can always find a regular hilux for cheap.
Unlucky lil truck
I miss it.
They are the ones with problem not you
Him.i never heard that before.i thought they are always s female cause they are always needing something