4x4 Turbo Diesel Overlander

[ebike toter]

Hi all.. wanted to start a thread on my E350 turbo diesel. My goal is a high mpg go anywhere rig.. the build is being done 200 miles south of me
Progress to date:
- 8" lift
- 4×4 '07 F350 front / rear axles 3.73 diff
- auto to manual trans swap - ZF-5 / manual transfer case with Gear Venders overdrive
- 37" tires..
first test drive yesterday.. whoopee!!!!
Upcoming:
Extensive engine mods
Full interior conversion
Custom designed hard sided 9ft x 5.5ft pop up with inside access, top mounted 400w solar
12v 400ah house system with alternator / solar / 110 charging
Custom rear bumper dual swing out 1 side for spare, other side for 9.9 hp outboard & trolling motor
Side mount folding 14ft Porta-Bote ( just bought it Friday) 14ft x 6 inches profile folded!!!
Tow rig:
1987 Suzuki Samuari 4x4 115hp 1.6 vw turbo diesel , coil spring conversion with landcruiser front & rear axles, 35" tires

[deserteagle56]

"Hi-mpg"?? Good luck with that, especially after it is built and towing the Samurai!

[ebike toter]

I guess it's relative.. with the gear vendors overdrive final drive ratio will be 0.56.. on the flat at 65mph it should be around 1500rpm.. yeah I know it's a brick but I'd consider it a success if I see 13-15 mpg with downwind at 17-18 mpg.. I'll probably switch out to vision 19.5" rims with load range J tires.. put a set on my duramax & the swap alone was good for +3mpg on the highway..

[kbeefy]

I like the color.


What year? I have a gear vendors on my 2000 7.3 F350 with 3.73 and 285/75r16 tires.

I believe I'm at 1800 rpm at 80 mph. The additional speed negates any MPG benefit. I get about 13 mpg at those speeds. You'll have a bit more control with the manual conversion.


I have an 86 tintop Sami all stock including the 1.3 and have always wanted to do a VW TDI conversion. My daily driver is a 2002 VW Golf TDI and it would be awesome in a Sami. My last Sami had a coil conversion on it as well, fun little rig but pretty slow as it was only a 1.6 8v.


I happen to be in the beginning stages of building a 2004 E350 w/6.0 Diesel and am working on installing a hardside poptop right now. Are you building a poptop or did you find a used one?

[ebike toter]

I'm using a modified oru designs "bruin" truck camper..just the upper Structural frame & the hard sided pop up... check them out..
.if I remember they were around 5k$$ I do 3d modeling for my job..on my computer I have a 3d model of an e350 van which im using to get all dimensions & mounting derails.. any questions I'll be glad to share any replies.. or pm me..
Cheers

http://www.orudesignsusa.com/?gad_so...GQaAj9KEALw_wc

[kbeefy]

The Bruin looks very similar in design to my almost 50 year old Chefs top, except for the bifold sides.

[ebike toter]

Very nice.. did you build it as well, what is max head room..

[kbeefy]

No, I bought it used.


https://www.sportsmobileforum.com/fo...-wa-31997.html


I didn't measure head room, but it's at least 6' 6".

[WillTheThri11]

why a gear vendors OD and a 5 speed instead of a 6 speed or even a 6 speed and a gear vendors OD?

[Timerider]

ebike toter,

Just for reference: our 2002 Quigley 4X4 SMB with a totally stock 7.3L Powerstroke diesel linked to the 265/75R15 tires (BFG K02's) on sketchy Eagle rims by a stock-but-rebuilt 4R100 transmission gets 15-16 MPG when driving mostly highway miles (YMMV).

Admittedly, this is being done without the additional drag of strapping a folding boat to its side or towing a vehicle behind it, but I thought you might find this info useful as a basis for comparison. Given the brick-like aerodynamics of an E-series van, cruising speed is critical, and we rarely go over 65 MPH, even when/where it's legal.

Good luck in your high-mileage endeavors!

Please keep us posted on what MPG you achieve, and how you did it.

Timerider