The plan is to build an overlander using the 4x4 Mercedes chassis and the ex Australian mine specification coach body. Buying this body worked out cheaper than starting from scratch.
| Manufacturer and model | Mercedes 1222A |
|---|---|
| Name | To be decided.. Rafiki or Asha. (Swahili) |
| Country | Australia |
| Year of manufacture | 1996 |
| For sale? | no |
| Engine type | OM441 |
|---|---|
| Number of cylinders | V6 |
| Horsepower | 220 |
| Other | |
| Turbo, fuel pump and injectors of donor truck to be fitted giving approx 300hp. | |
| 4x2, 4x4, 6x6, 8x8 | 4x4 |
|---|---|
| Wheel base | 4.2m |
| Number of seats | 2 |
| Tyre size | 315/80 R22.5 |
| Rim size | 22.5 |
| Type of tyre | Goodyear Omnitrac |
| Tank capacity | 350lt |
| Diesel filter | yes |
| Diff locks | front and rear |
| Manufacturer of the cabin | Able Bus and Coach, Perth, WA. |
|---|---|
| Inner dimensions (LxWxH) | 5880L x 2360W x 2022H |
| Outer dimensions (LxWxH) | 6010L x 2490W x 2200H |
| Cabin material | Steel with alli outside and timber inside |
| Kind and thickness of insulation | none as of yet. 50mm in walls and roof, 100mm in floor. |
| Number of beds | none as of yet. 2 x single mattress's with linked foam mattress. Ref plans. |
| Windows | 5 each side |
| Subframe | rigid.. manufacturing 4 point |
| Other | |
| Inbuilt engine driven air conditioning (came with body), full length tinted windows (blacked out and insulated where not required. Separate shower and toilet/sink planned. Cab tunnel also planned. | |
| Explanation of floor plan | |
|---|---|
| Here's a sketch of what we plan will happen... The second pic is a sketch is based on our 6 m long body. I saw the single bed idea in another truck (first attached picture. Whoever owns this truck, I love your plan and hope you don't mind me basing ours around yours!), and we both like the idea of single beds which lessens partner disturbance when getting in and out. It also allows for a Queen size bed when sleeping across if required. The bed area is raised with outdoor lockers underneath and a space for the genset in the middle. The composting toilet and basin will be in a room of their own, as will be the shower. The doors to these rooms also allow for closing the bedroom and privacy. The seating area will be raised by approx 400mm allowing for batteries and water tanks etc. All yet to be planned. There will be a central floor hatch and between the chassis rails we will house the heating etc. The third pic is of haw the cutout will look. Any ideas or suggestions welcome. |
| Cooking stove | Standard LPG oven with 4 burners. |
|---|---|
| Gas installation | By ticketed engineer. |
| Other | |
| I will be using two x 18kg aluminum forklift gas cylinders, fitted with vapor outlets. This allows them to be refilled when required, adapted when in remote areas, and removed for shipping if required.. | |
| Voltage in the chassis | 24v |
|---|---|
| Voltage in the cabin | 12v/24v/240v |
| 110V / 230V in the cabin? | no |
| Fuel cell | no |
|---|---|
| Power generator | Honda EU70is (doubles as house backup) |
| Explanation of gas system | |
|---|---|
| Plan to use 2 x 18kg aluminum forklift gas cylinders, mounted outside the cabin. One for heating and one for cooking. |
| Manufacturer and type of toilet | Natures Head composting toilet |
|---|---|
| Capacity of black water tank | n/a |
| Other | |
| A secondary sealed bucket will be stowed on the chassis under the living body for compost toilet emptying, so as to allow composting to continue before contents are then emptied at home into a dedicated compost area. | |
| Rear carrier | Twin spare wheels mounted at rear of body which utilise hydraulic lowering. |
|---|---|
| Roof rack | Cab mounted to match height of body. 4 spot lights and a K5LA horn! |
| Storage boxes | Under chassis lockers behind rear wheels for Jerry Cans (3 diesel, 3 petrol). |
| Outside cooking facilities | Vehicle left locker below bed at rear dedicated 'cooking and outdoor' locker. |
| Awning | Mounted just below window line on vehicle left (recessed into body). |
| Other | |
| K5LA train horn... to keep other road users awake! | |