Mitsubishi Delica L400 4x4 Campervan/Overlander
Discussion
I've spent the past year slowly getting my truck ready for festivals, camping, and greenlaning this summer. My Delica is my everyday drive which I've had for nearly a year now, it started out as a stock Mitsubishi Delica L400 Exceed...
As you can see she was desperate for new wellies, I wanted to fit a set of KL71 tyres (30 9.5 R15) these are the biggest you can fit on a Delica without cutting/hammering the arches, however they were out of stock for six weeks.
While I was waiting for the tyres to be in-stock I started my camper conversion.
I built a cupoard unit with a 2 ring hob, grill and sink, as you can tell most parts were re-cycled or re-used like the slide off computer sides which made up the cooker hood. The rear heat shield is an old metal flip chard board from work which was to be thrown out. The wood for the unit itself was end of line and was cheap as chips. The cooker and sink from ebay which needed replumbing slightly and a new regulator. I fitted the tap to a pump up pressure bottle like the ones gardeners spray their weeds with, which is ideal it gives up to 6 litres of water, and once pumped up stays pressurised till it's either used up or de-pressurised, I also have a 25ltr container for storing more water, but tend to just keep a few 2ltr bottles of cheap tescos bottled water handy which stays fresh for longer if unopened.
I also built a basic fold out table which folds up between the 2 of the rear seats.
The bed was easy as the seats fold to form a bed, it has flourescent light, night light and best part the crystalite glass roof sections which are great when it's a nice clear sky at night.
It's now registered as a motor-caravan, and insured as such, bonus being the insurance is half the price of what it would be if it was insured as a car.
I then fitted her new wellies,
Within a couple of months we get loads of snow, great timing!!! They were fantastic in the snow and I had great fun pulling people out of it...
Here's a little video of me pulling a BMW up a hill as everyone was stuck behind him:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvCvrx3eKVM
My next job was a snorkel which I followed instructions from a kind member on mdocuk (Mitsubishi Delica Owners Club), he had modified a Land Rover Defender snorkel, and posted a fantastic set of instructions on how he did it, which I followed for my truck.
I bought a safari roof rack and spot lights off a local Delica owner and ended up fitting a snorkel to his Delica for him a couple of days later.
I've now fitted curtains. They make a great difference. They are man made silk so block out loads of the light, and look rather posh too!!!
I have re-conditioned the wheels as they were looking rather rough...
I've also added a parking pole, I'm going to put one on the other side aswell...
As you can see she was desperate for new wellies, I wanted to fit a set of KL71 tyres (30 9.5 R15) these are the biggest you can fit on a Delica without cutting/hammering the arches, however they were out of stock for six weeks.
While I was waiting for the tyres to be in-stock I started my camper conversion.
I built a cupoard unit with a 2 ring hob, grill and sink, as you can tell most parts were re-cycled or re-used like the slide off computer sides which made up the cooker hood. The rear heat shield is an old metal flip chard board from work which was to be thrown out. The wood for the unit itself was end of line and was cheap as chips. The cooker and sink from ebay which needed replumbing slightly and a new regulator. I fitted the tap to a pump up pressure bottle like the ones gardeners spray their weeds with, which is ideal it gives up to 6 litres of water, and once pumped up stays pressurised till it's either used up or de-pressurised, I also have a 25ltr container for storing more water, but tend to just keep a few 2ltr bottles of cheap tescos bottled water handy which stays fresh for longer if unopened.
I also built a basic fold out table which folds up between the 2 of the rear seats.
The bed was easy as the seats fold to form a bed, it has flourescent light, night light and best part the crystalite glass roof sections which are great when it's a nice clear sky at night.
It's now registered as a motor-caravan, and insured as such, bonus being the insurance is half the price of what it would be if it was insured as a car.
I then fitted her new wellies,
Within a couple of months we get loads of snow, great timing!!! They were fantastic in the snow and I had great fun pulling people out of it...
Here's a little video of me pulling a BMW up a hill as everyone was stuck behind him:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvCvrx3eKVM
My next job was a snorkel which I followed instructions from a kind member on mdocuk (Mitsubishi Delica Owners Club), he had modified a Land Rover Defender snorkel, and posted a fantastic set of instructions on how he did it, which I followed for my truck.
I bought a safari roof rack and spot lights off a local Delica owner and ended up fitting a snorkel to his Delica for him a couple of days later.
I've now fitted curtains. They make a great difference. They are man made silk so block out loads of the light, and look rather posh too!!!
I have re-conditioned the wheels as they were looking rather rough...
I've also added a parking pole, I'm going to put one on the other side aswell...
BelperJim said:
I like it! How much did it cost if you don't mind me asking.
Thanks, I paid just under three grand for the Delica a year ago, which is quite expensive for a Delica L400 Series 1, but I wanted lowish mileage (mine had 70,000 miles) and with certain jobs done (timing chain, fuel pump seals, egr valve blanked.)You can pick them up for a lot less at the minute due to high fuel prices. I looked at loads local to me but wasn't happy with them, I ended up driving from Newcastle Upon Tyne down to Bristol for this one.I've probably spent another £600 on tyres, camper conversion, roof rack etc.
MonkeyBusiness said:
Love it! always wondered what the poles were attached to the front.
They just make it easier to get into parking spaces if you are paralelle parking and out of them again when leaving, I wasn't going to bother with one but after bumping the back of my parents car the other day I thought I'd give it a try. The front end is like a transit van, very hard to judge the front nearside corner.Thanks for the comments!!!
No the auto hubs are working fine, but will be replaced with manual hubs, first sign of any problems.
Solfest, Willowman, Beat-Herder for definate and a good few forest/beach parties. I've been doing a fair bit of that, my mate runs a huge sound system and is always getting his lorry stuck, I'm sure that's that reason he invites me along now!!!
Solfest, Willowman, Beat-Herder for definate and a good few forest/beach parties. I've been doing a fair bit of that, my mate runs a huge sound system and is always getting his lorry stuck, I'm sure that's that reason he invites me along now!!!
Countdown said:
Very nice 
OP - would a cheapo set of parking sensors all round not be better than the yellow pole ?
at some stage I'll be fitting front and rear facing cameras once I have fitted my carputer. But the parking pole will be staying although, it may be changing slightly as I've lost the other piece of pole I had for the other side and can't find one to match. I've got two identical silver poles for it but have been concentrating on little jobs getting her ready for her MOT and haven't had time to replace it yet. It's crazy there are purpose built parking poles on ebay which I'd love but for £60??? I think I'll stick to broken old council mop handles or similar.OP - would a cheapo set of parking sensors all round not be better than the yellow pole ?
Lefty said:
Thumbs up for the KL71's, I had them on a Shogun a few years back and they're superb tyres.
Yep I'm very pleased with them!!! They have been great so far on snow, mud, rock, tarmac I can't fault them!!! I've got another 2 brand new as spares, as I had to wait months for them to come in stock for this size.
Some footage of a little light off-roading at a local pay and play last year...
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Kz-Ix5fvpH8
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Kz-Ix5fvpH8
Over the past year and a bit I've not made any changes to my truck, just enjoyed her. She flew through her last MOT with no advisories. Only real cost has been new discs pads and a caliper after one siezed up. Been used regularly for weekends away with my son,
Just hoping for all this snow that's been talked about.
A shot from last year....
Hoping for more this year!!!!
Just hoping for all this snow that's been talked about.
A shot from last year....
Hoping for more this year!!!!
I replaced the alternator in my truck last week, and treated her to a wash. Then today I had an opportunity today to take a few shots of her parked under A Vulcan Bomber....
Still soldiering on although needs the fuel pump seal replacing soon.
Still gives me the same buzz every time I drive her!!!
Still soldiering on although needs the fuel pump seal replacing soon.
Still gives me the same buzz every time I drive her!!!
noell35 said:
Hi. Loving the Delica. What are these like on a motorway? We go camping a lot but also regularly drive 300 miles to Cumbria.
They drive great on the motorway, very relaxing drive. You can sometimes manage 26-30mpg on the motorway although put your foot down and you can literally see the fuel needle dropping. But they will happily sit at 70mph+.
Paz565 said:
I love these! I was looking for ages for a nice L300 Delica but ended up getting an imported Hiace instead, I always look longingly at the L300 and L400 when I see one! I love the resto'mod approach you've taken, keep it coming!
Have you noticed any improvements in running from the snorkel? I heard someone say it has a sort of forced induction effect on air going in?! I might have dreamt that though Lol!
Thanks! I see that look from a lot of people, mainly Toyota Previa/Emina drivers but many others in mundane people carriers. It's more amusing when you get a look like that from someone in an expensive Range Rover, X5, etc... They look at the tyres first then follow the snorkel up, then end up looking up at the window to the roof rack and spots then they'll make eye contact and guarantee they will look away and not even acknowledge you, with a very put out look on their face, whereas anyone else just gives a smile or points it out to their kids/passengers.Have you noticed any improvements in running from the snorkel? I heard someone say it has a sort of forced induction effect on air going in?! I might have dreamt that though Lol!
The snorkel gives it a lovely sound, you can really hear the air being sucked in but I didn't really any performance gain from it as such, other than being able to go through bigger puddles. I can imagine it would help very slightly but not enough to notice.
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