Archives for posts with tag: build

DIY Overland Truck Drawer Builds

January 6, 2022 //

If you’re looking for a winter project in order to get ready for camping season, these two excellent drawer projects might be the ticket. The Blake Weber video details “the ultimate overland truck bed kitchen drawers for camping” and to me that seems like a pretty good description. The project incorporates a grill, propane stove, sink, and pressurized water tank, among many other clever features.

The GVM Corner video, below, offers a clever take on a fold-out bed and basic kitchen set up. Hat tip to Nathan Donnelly from Northwest Resilience for passing this video along.

My only suggestion, if you build one these is to make sure the silverware and kitchen tools are stored in a way that will keep them from banging into each other. Otherwise the rattling on rough trails may drive you nuts.

Read the rest of this entry »

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Categories - Projects, - Videos, FEATURES, GEAR, MEDIA

Spotted: Unimog Enthusiast Build

January 28, 2020 //

I’ve been on a bit of a Unimog kick lately. Here’s a very nice, 60s-era Unimog, with some well-thought-out features, built by a guy named Mike Day.

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Categories - Spotted:, - Trucks, - Videos, FEATURES, MEDIA, VEHICLES

Spotted: Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero Build on Expo

August 11, 2013 //

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If you haven’t already seen it, there’s a great 1st generation Montero / Pajero build by Expedition Portal forum member, Cruisn. He delves into everything: turbo-diesel engine swap, new interior, custom storage solution, on-board air, rooftop tent, lift, and more.

He’s posted lots of off-road pictures to boot. It’s definitely worth a look.

Mk1 Tourer build-up – Expedition Portal.

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Categories - 4x4 / SUV, - Pictures, - Spotted:, FEATURES, MEDIA, VEHICLES

Land Cruiser 70-Series Build from Toyota Gibraltar

February 27, 2013 //

Toyota Gibraltar Stockholdings, according to their website, provides Land Cruisers to agencies working in relief, emergency and development projects around the world. They import stock 70-Series pick-ups and modify them for field use with the addition of extras including bumpers, winches, bedliners, tires, radios, and canvas enclosures.

Here’s how they do it.

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Categories - 4x4 / SUV, - Trucks, - Videos, MEDIA, VEHICLES

Spotted: Australian Dad’s Mini 70-Series Build

February 16, 2013 //

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This photo showed up on Facebook a few days ago, apparently. An Australian dad built his son a scaled-down 70-series Land Cruiser, complete with Lightforce spotlight and bull bar. I wonder if the antenna means it has a radio as well.

It occurred to me that a truck like this could totally go on the trail with an adult convoy since trail speeds average about 10 mph. How amazing would that be for a kid out in the wide open country with their own truck and their family there for backup?

In a related story, this was told to me the other day. A guy went out with his kids in his FJ80. They were in a big, dry river bed, so he put the truck in low range, got out and let his kids drive it around. They were nine and twelve. “They’ve been driving go-karts for years, so they know how to drive pretty well.” Then after a bit he saw his kids stop the truck. “What are they doing?” he thought. Two seconds later they were barreling across the wash.

They had shifted the truck back into four-wheel-high and were giving it the boot. “Hey get back here!” he yelled. “I gotta make sure they’re not watching me next time when I put it into kid-mode,” he told me.

Maybe it’s time to build your kids their own rig. 🙂

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Categories - ATV / Side-by-side, - Pictures, - Spotted:, FEATURES, MEDIA, VEHICLES

Spotted: ARB Jeep Wrangler Build on Expo

February 3, 2013 //
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Photo: Bruce Dorn

Expedition Portal does a nice job of covering ARB’s latest Jeep Wrangler build with a good write-up and a gorgeous set of photos by Bruce Dorn.

Check out the article here: VFOTW: ARB-built Jeep Wrangler

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Categories - 4x4 / SUV, - Pictures, - Spotted:, FEATURES, MEDIA, VEHICLES

How to Build a Canvas Canoe, Jon’s Bushcraft

January 20, 2013 //
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All photos: Jonathan Ridgeon

Read the whole post here.

Are you looking for a winter project, maybe something you can use come spring? Well, how about this canvas, skin-on-frame canoe build from Jon’s Bushcraft? It’s about 14.7 feet long, 3 feet wide, and big enough for two.

The canoe is made mainly from hand-sawn ash. The ribs are steam-bent hazel. A little bit of oak trim along the gunnels, and some cane for the seats, round out the project. A skin of 9.5 oz canvas, stretched and painted, keeps the water out. There aren’t any plans for this canoe. You just build it by eye.

When I followed up with Jon, he said the project required 3 or 4 months worth of weekends, and about £180 (~$285 at today’s rates) in of materials. Most of the cost is in the ash and the canvas. The hazel for the ribs, which he collected from a nearby woodland, was free.

He reports that the canoe feels light on the water, turns well, and that the canvas is pretty sturdy. Of the three canoes he’s built, he’s never had a puncture. Still, he recommends to only paddle on calm lakes and streams.

If you paddle solo, especially in a breeze, the bow can be tricky to control (as with any canoe). The solution I like is to fill a 3 or 4 gallon dry bag with water and place it in the bow. The extra weight, far forward, will keep canoe on a steady course no matter what the breeze.

Start now and by the time the warm weather hits, you’ll be taking your first test paddle. The results are beautiful.

More photos after the jump.

Link trail: Jon’s Bushcraft, 3rd SOF Canadian-style Canoe Read the rest of this entry »

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Categories - Pictures, - Ships / Boats, FEATURES, GEAR, MEDIA, SKILLS, VEHICLES

Andrew St. Pierre White Land Crusier 70-Series Build

January 16, 2013 //

In these two videos, South African 4×4 expert Andrew St. Pierre White puts 30 years of off-road experience into building a Land Cruiser 70-Series. He aims to create the most robust and simple-to-operate rig he can.

The first video shows the build, which includes a custom interior, roof-top tent, and suspension modifications.

In second video, he and his daughter take the new Land Cruiser out into the bush where Andrew goes into further detail about the trucks features, including the newly fitted turbo-charger.

Find the second video after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »

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Categories Uncategorized

Spotted: Barlowrs Expedition Tacoma Build

August 18, 2012 //


There’s a great build thread in the Forum at Expedition Portal. It’s Barlowrs’s Tacoma Build. He covers a lot of ground from hardware to electrical projects, even custom graphics. I found it really informative. Hope you do too.

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Categories - 4x4 / SUV, - Pictures, - Spotted:, FEATURES, GEAR, MEDIA, VEHICLES