Custom "Troopy" build ideas

Winter 2020/21 Covid lockdown thought experiment!

(maybe this has been done, and if so I want DETAILS!)

Some of you might be familiar with the Land Cruiser Troopy. It is a long wheelbase truck in the style of an SUV - all open inside. The 4Runner is the closest thing made by Toyota & sold here in the US other than the Land Cruiser or Sequoia.

I have been toying (pun intended) with the idea of taking a Tacoma and converting it (old Trekker style) into an SUV:
Add a color-matched cap, cut through from the rear/bed area to the passenger compartment and build it out as an expoverland rig. Many options are available once the back is open to the front.

A DBSB would be my choice since I like they way they look BUT a SCLB, or really any combo of cab and bed, could be made to work. With a DB I'd ditch the 2nd row seats and still have easy side access to the rear with the second row doors. Get a cap with barn doors to make the rear access serviceable.

Personally I'd keep it looking like a Tacoma with a cap from the outside. The pass through would need to be reinforced some and a "grommet" might be the best way to seal the gap. These exist in the big rig world for sleeper cabs.

I thought it might be fun to thrash around some ideas.

Trekker




Land Cruiser Troopy 70 series



Troopy interior




DCSB w/matched cap




Barn (contractor) rear doors


ready, set go...

Mark

 

Curious about the length of various configurations/model/years from inside tailgate to back of front row seats...

 

Interesting thread.

The Land Cruiser 70-series (and especially the Troop Carrier) are uniquely capable vehicles, even in the world of Toyota. The idea to mimic some of its superb functionality and its utilitarian looks (without getting too corny) is worth thinking about.



(The earlier round-headlamp version looks better, personally, as in this pop-top-modified 1988 HJ75 in Greg Miller's Land Cruiser Heritage Museum in SLC.)

 

Imagine this open all the way up on the inside! (truck is Box Rocket's)

 

Nobody thinking about chopping up their Tacoma?

 

Toyota could build a PT Crusier like vehicle out of a RAV-4

 

They could easily build what I'm thinking about with very little work.

 

Having a hard time wrapping my head around this. Are you proposing cutting the rear wall and front of the bed and welding them into a single piece, or just deleting the rear window?

The latter will always look like a pickup. Because the bed and cab flex independently of each other you need a gap between the two. Most people solve that with a rubber gasket.

The former has some structural challenges. The bed panels will need a set of tube rails to reinforce the structure and make it act like a one piece suv. Certainly not impossible, but it will take work. Honestly I'd love to see someone attempt this route. It would look bitchin.

 

This is the issues I foresaw when I read this.

 

It's not going to be as flat on the inside as a troopy or 4runner since the bed floor is higher than the floor of the cab on the pickups... But could always build a false floor to make it level. And as stated above you would want to keep cab and box independent of each other for sure. I honestly think keeping the rooftop gasket between the bed and cab from leaking would be the biggest challenge. Unless it was covered from the outside with some type of cover or fairing for added protection. I do like where you are going with this though.

 

My back hurts just thinking about having to lean over that far to access anything.

 

https://www.terratrotter.eu/build-an-expedition-truck-the-pass-through/


https://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/topic/795-camper-to-truck-boot/

 

Are you talking about a full pass through or a cubby hole style pass through which would be easier to seal but you would lose some space...

 

I think one COULD join the bed & cap to the cab in a solid way if you wanted... it would take some reinforcing of the combined "body" and probably rethinking the body to frame mounts/bushings. There a plenty of long solid bodied vehicles out there.

My thought was to use gaskets as shown above. The opening would be as large as possible.

Rock Lobster: yes, chop it open!

 

yes

 

I would pull the back window out and trace it to an aluminum sheet and cut out what you need same on the camper side then reinstall. This would even give you a less corrosive surface to seal to as well. You could even add a bit of an arch so water would run down and not collect on a flat spot on top vs the stock window opening...

 

I'm not alone!
https://www.pinterest.co.kr/crazysaint8437/making-pass-through-cab-to-cabin/

https://www.phoca-mobil.be/vehicle/

Here is the "boot" material for purchase!
https://www.accordionboot.com/#wideaccordion

 

Strap a 2x4 to the top of your canopy so it overhangs the cab. Mark a line in chalk or masking tape on the top of your cab where the 2x4 sits. Then go a drive your truck into the most flexy spot you can find (halfway through a ditch on an angle etc), and check where the 2x4 is now. I think you will be surprised just how much displacement there is between the bed and the cab on a Tacoma. I agree with others that say the two body sections will have to be joined together by something rigid for this to work. I don’t think the rubber gasket idea will.

 

That accordion seal seems like a no brainer.. Honestly this and one of the campers with the pass through wedge style tents on top would be the shit! Poor man's alu cab icarus!