I bought an SV - BIG Build thread

[Projectblue51]

Hope this is in the right place. I couldn't see another location that fitted this tbh.

Hello All,

Project here with, well, my project. I know a lot of you like a build thread so I'm bringing you one with a slight difference. It's much bigger than you will be used to. And not because I'm trying to push a Merlin engine into a Lamborghini SV.

It's because it weighs 12 tons, has four wheel drive and locking diffs and will eventually go around the world (hopefully). Sadly it will only 56mph, but 15mpg to the gallon it won't feel far off the usual pistonhead fill up experience

The idea is to take a mildly used ex Army M.A.N truck, pull the rear body off. Build on a composite box body. Fit the body out with a sitting room, kitchen, bathroom and bedroom. Add a sun terrace. Finally make it so it will travel a thousand miles without refuelling and be able to park up anywhere, offgrid for a month without having to reconnect with humanity (assuming I'm stocked up on beer and food before disapearing).

This is the base vehicle. Bought from auction earlier in the year. Those of you that used to/ or wear cabbage will recognise it as the current issue SV (Support Vehicle 6ton).


And this is the desired outcome for the finished product (albeit thats a Mercedes in the photo).





Hope you found this of interest, and if you have questions (about this preferably rather than why your spouse left or your Renault Electrics are dodgy) I'd be happy to answer them.

[Projectblue51]

Kawasicki said:

Cool. What does the suspension design look like?

In terms of what? The truck chassis is leaf springs (same as MAN TGA) or are you referring to the box subframe?

rxe said:

I've seen these for auction and for some bizarre reason, I really really want one. Preferably with a crane and a flat bed. Don't they cost something like £1000 to fill up as standard? Or is that the 6x6 version?!

Probably the 8x8 version which has a 10 litre engine. The tanks are designed so the vehicles can manage 500 mile range, so if it gets poorer mpg it needs a bigger tank. These are £350 ish.

[Projectblue51]

Jag_NE said:

Nice work sir, following with interest.

What is the build budget in terms of base vehicle + refit?

I've got a budget of £50k ish. Which is peanuts for these. I'm building it myself (well, not strictly true. I'm the Project Manager, people with more skill than I will do the difficult stuff). The truck was a bargain at £12.5k inc buyers prem and vat.

hairy vx220 said:

Excellent! mind that hatch after a few beers though.

I will take face first back into the truck over face planting into a grands worth of PV panels!

[Projectblue51]

Scrump said:

Looking forward to reading about this.
Will you still need a HGV licence to drive it after it is converted and registered as camper van?

Yes. Would have done my test by now if not for Covid. Probably going to do C+E because if I ever want to tow a trailer I'd need that. Positive side is because PHGV (see below) I don't need CPC.
Cost of lessons + test is £1231 (plus £27 for the theory and hazard perception cos I'm old and never done them )

Plus, DVSA toughened up on campers and it's almost, if not actually impossible, to register as Campervan. Needs to register as PHGV.

[Projectblue51]

89forever said:

fantastic, i'd love to do something like this but as i'd need somewhere to park my bike and car i can't see a garage conversion being able to be fitted on this... (but i am now wanting to ask if there's a trailer option???)

This will have a 5.4m body. You can fit a motorcycle rack to the back. I’ve seen bigger trucks with a garage at the rear that will take an ATV or one that had a Suzuki Jimny in the back!

As for trailer, yep although the towing height is high, plus off road capability means a trailer would be tall so not an easy load for a normal car.

[Projectblue51]

civicduty said:

Nickbrapp said:

Was I the only one expecting a MG SV?

Are you planning for the appocolypse?

Nope I was too.

Enacting a plan because the apocalypse has happened more likely.

Civicduty -

[Projectblue51]

Apologies for the confusion, I couldn't link to the FB pages of the trucks with the videos in, so had to do it separately.

One the inspirational roads where I'm looking to drive: LINK TO VIDEO HERE Cab View Wakhan Corridor Road




Another view, of a different truck: LINK TO VIDEO HERE Wakhan Corridor from Drone

[Projectblue51]

Milkbuttons said:

Looks seriously impressive, I wish I could just pack up and leave everything behind like this, enjoy the adventure.

Me too. It's taking some doing let me tell you. But a divorce, a few close friends dying from Cancer or Covid and you soon say to yourself "What the f**k". Obviously if you are with someone, kids, parents and grandparents near by or a business etc etc. It gets harder. I just didn't want to be on my deathbed with regrets.

Anyway, that's partly what my blog/vlog is about. Doing what appears to be the tough thing.


Thanks for the support and the interest. I will be back soon as I have an update. The next one is going to be in a few weeks, after I have been to see the box builder.

[Projectblue51]

No pun intended right?

[Projectblue51]

This is as far as we got before Covid kicked in. Rear body off (5m x 2.5m steel bed, plus sides/drop tailgate, hoops and canvas) which I managed to find a buyer for.

[Projectblue51]

And this is the current interior design. Needs a slight redesign as the battery box is under where the door is, meaning the steps and landing can't store so the door has to move along. No matter as I'm not fitting a full height fridge anyway, so that tall cupboard can go. Probably put a small wardrobe in by the door.

.

Edited by Projectblue51 on Sunday 19th July 23:36

[Projectblue51]

shouldbworking said:

Dai1983 can probably tell you more, but the crash protection of these was brought into doubt after front seat passengers lost legs when they rear ended an apc.

Riding in the back was a bloody awful experience too - lots of holes in the floor / walls meant any dust kicked up from the road / track went straight in the back

Thanks, the cab is pretty exposed place to be for your legs. But then if you drive into a stationary APC with anything, it will f**k you up - unless you are in another APC I guess. Also, and I'm not saying this was the case, don't ride with your feet on the dash hand grip.

On the plus side, stands up well to old beige Astras (n.b. No one's Grandparents were hurt in the incident)

[Projectblue51]

Thanks, that's one of the people I've made friends with since this started. His interior is my inspiration.

[Projectblue51]

It will have a winch for self recovery and pulling the spares mount into place. The two spares weight 120kg EACH. Plus a moped get about thing.
I’ve removed the existing spare wheel frame as you need two anyway, plus, useful storage space.

The 25000lb Winch arrived special order from Australia. Sadly arrived damaged thanks to TNT. But they have been good as gold shipping new parts.
I’m going to do a vlog special on the winch because I think it’s the first one possibly in the UK?

[Projectblue51]

Megaflow said:

Looks good, that is a lot of space for a camper. Will you be putting a boat type sink/shower in?

They do say these trucks have more boat about them than caravan. That said, I expect to run with a domestic style wet room. Unlike a boat, the vehicle will be stable and level when shower/washing so shouldn't need boat type.

I'm more concerned about the type of toilet I'm going to fit

[Projectblue51]

Mercury00 said:

I work for a commercial vehicle body builder if you need any info on body construction or mounting.

That’s really kind offer, thanks. I’ve gone for a pro fit for the subframe and box. All the other stuff is going to be DIY. Well DBSE (done by someone else).

[Projectblue51]

naturals said:

Do you have a YT channel? Keen to follow this.

Thanks for the support, appreciated.

I do, but the PH rules say I’m not allowed to promote so not sure what I can do there.
If you search under ProjectOverland.info I have YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and website.

[Projectblue51]

irocfan said:

you mad bd you!

I know right? I can’t even drive the f**king thing yet
Then again, I looked at the thread where that lad bought a 308gtb for £30k and that made me look positively sensible

But to everyone who is saying they are in, and they want to do the same, thanks. I sometimes feel a bit overwhelmed by it all, but its knowing other people want to do it and can’t that makes me say to myself ‘f**k it - you can do this’.

Also, thanks to Army drivers giving me tips. They are all useful. There is an FB group called MAN HX Group that I started because when I got mine, no one had any info anywhere and there are a couple of instructors on there who are super helpful. We really couldn’t do it without you guys. Much appreciated. Ps is waving a really bad thing to do?

[Projectblue51]

Cool, first hit on YouTube you say ?? Cool :Sm thumb up:

Yeah, the £50k includes the truck. BUT, I’m not saying it will end up there!

Selected the fridge and it’s £1,400 Mind you, it’s a thing of beauty.
Vitrifrigo

But yeah, there are areas where you can save, and areas where you need to spend. I’m hoping to save a bit on the interior by being shrewd.

Edited by Projectblue51 on Thursday 25th June 16:59

[Projectblue51]

Harvep said:

Brightwells over in Hereford had 5 of these plus some LR 90's up for auction over the last week or so, awesome trucks, would love one myself but wife won't let me have one.

Harv, that's where mine came from. They have been selling them through the year. Started about January. If anyone is interested in buying one, you can find the online bidding here: Under Govt & Military Disposals