Anyone ever chop the back end off a SWB gen 1 and convert it to a small trailer?

The Dukar, while noble and proud on the exterior, sports a rusted-through body, nearly gutted interior, and no running gear. It's destined for the shredder (or any local willing to throw me $100 and haul it off) in the next 90 days. Before it goes, I had this crazy idea. What if we loaded it on the trailer, raised the rear end on stands, and cut out the rear axle including mounting points (meaning frame rails), leaving that rolling section behind in my garage?

In my mind, I'm seeing a small camping trailer - maybe tent platform, maybe enclosed - with a serviceable spare axle, springs, and shocks, not to mention two additional wheels/tires. Keep it simple, light. Of course, I don't know how "light" that would be as a foundation for a trailer, but I'm leaning more and more towards a fuel injected 4G64T under the hood with real, actual tunability, maybe 180-200(250)hp on tap, which I would think should be able to handle such a thing.

The (Delica) dream was to be able to comfortably drive the family into the woods, pull an awning out over the side door, slide the fridge, stove, and sink out under the rear hatch, and be camping (sleeping inside the van). It's still the dream, but it's about a $20,000 (CASH) dream, and it's gonna be awhile. Right now, while I've got a parts truck in the driveway (my wife just loves that), I'm toying with the idea of loading up the camp trailer, rolling into camp, putting down feet, and taking the family crawling in the SWB Rocinante.

Any reason why I should bleach my mind of this idea right now? Better (read: easier, cheaper, lighter) options for pulling behind a 150-250hp 4-banger Pajero?

Thanks.

For sure it's been done with a long wheelbase, however still going to be heavy. Benefit would be an extra fuel tank and related spare parts. Other than that, a dedicated trailer would weigh less and maybe more friendly.

1 minute on google image search.

I can't find the Gen3 pulling a Gen1 4dr trailer. I do remember it was for sale a while back though.

Didn't someone, somewhere do a camper trailer out of one?

Thanks, guys, but those are all much more than I would be keeping. No body shell, no doors, no fuel tank (although...). Just the axle, suspension, and frame.

I kinda thought that reading what you said earlier. It would be plenty strong. I think it would be a good base. The reason manufacturers use just a straight axle is for clearance, so you would have to raise the platform a bit to clear the pumpkin. That is the only issue I know of. I had that issue when I built a long bed S-10 using the stock frame and axle. So I raised it with a 4X4, giving me more tire clearance to fit 33's. Bonus!

I dont 'think' in AZ you can reg and trailer with a "truck" axle under it ... As of a few years back... Yes I do know that theres truck axle truck box cut frame trailers all over in white trash AZ ... But there prelaw of a few years back (I think)... Now this is rumor and not hands on info from me ...Do some digging before you dive in ..

Now why a 4g64t...??? You know its a lot of work and cash ... Been there done that ... I'm the 4g63/4 guy here and all ... But 'I' would not do another 4g63/4T in a Monty again .. HP is HP .. Why is 300hp out of one motor is more then 300hp out of a differant motor ...??? There is a reason you dont see 4g63/4T's in Monty ... Bang in the 2.6t steamshovel motor and take the Loving Wife and kids to the park..Call it a day a 250hp...And take the time and money you save to get the Van ...

Sorry to be not for a 4g63/4T swap... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

No worries, Dave. My interest in the Sirius lump is that it's a known quantity. I love the big 2.6. I love that it's non-interference. I love that it runs a chain. And I love the "steamshovel" nickname. But I hate the fueling options. This carb is all the nightmares of a California-spec 4G63T packed into less than a cubic foot. I've considered TBI, but that's still a decent amount of work for a less than desirable solution. And though I could fairly easily source one of them fancy 4G54 MPI intakes from down under, I suspect I'd also have to have the head machines to do it right.

I bolt up a wideblock 4G64, with a DSM wire harness I've already got piled up in the corner, maybe a set of Evo VIII cams collecting dust on my shelf, tuned with an Evo VIII ECU just taking up space on my bench, and I've got - before turbocharging - a 25mpg, 160hp truck. That's 70% better fuel economy and 60% more horsepower, for about what it would cost me to keep yanking and rebuilding the Astron lumps every year. BONUS: Passing emissions doesn't require a witch doctor (or Witch Hazel).

Right now, I'm thinking I like this truck too much to let it go - even for a Delica. It's tougher than the Delica. It's safer than the Delica. It's faster than the Delica. It's more capable than the Delica. But it's hopelessly underpowered and inefficient, outclassed by other powertrains. I need more power. I need better fuel economy. And I need something that doesn't utterly confound me with chronic failure on a quarterly basis.

It's strange. I haven't genuinely loved a machine this much since Daisy. I cut my teeth building and driving that all motor DSM. I'll always be that strange, quasi-outsider who wants to do something different. Rocinante deserves as much. Call me crazy, but he deserves a racing heart to match his racing stripes. It's not going to happen this year. And it might not happen until late next year, but right now, I'm thinking 4G64T (and a transmission rebuild).

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/evil.gif" alt="" />

Go pay a visit to JBFP and see how you like his 8V 4G64 swapped Monty, it's got good torque and non interference that's a cheap easy engine to swap. There is also the 4G64 from the Montero Sport that has a lot more power but it's interference.