The "Taco Truck"

lockedup5

overcompensating underachiever
Joined
Jan 30, 2008
Location
Burke County (Hildebran)
As time has went on and the family and I have gotten more involved in rock crawling we decided we needed something better to tow the crawler with and be able to camp too. So we bought a project about a month ago. We call it our "Taco Truck" you'll understand by looking at the pics. It started life as a Snap-on tool truck. @snappy will be proud. Lol
It was a good solid truck and one heck of a platform to work off of. Plus it was priced riiiight!

It is a 1991 Oshkosh. 27' long w/ 18' of living space

Specs that it came with:

-5.9 12 valve turbo Cummins (runs great)
-Allison automatic tranny
-air ride suspension
-four wheel disc brakes(hydroboost)
-insulated walls and ceiling
-two roof top a/c units w/ heat
-LP furnace
-18' awning
-6000 watt Honda liquid cooled generator
-shore power hook up
-all factor switching and breaker panels
-Awesome scene lights to work on the jeep at night
-good reciever hitch
-wired w coax
-110v outlets everywhere Inc 30amp for welder
-automatic roof vent
-4 new rear tires
-4 new batteries

With most all the hard stuff already done I had a clean slate to work with on the inside.

Planned things to do and some are already done because I'm behind posting this thread ( already been working on it a week):

-install new radio(done)
-get titled as a RV(done)
-paint inside (done)
-refinish front cabinets (done)
-lay new laminate flooring(done)
-build bed frame utilizing existing E track(done)
-new 12v lighting(done)
-portable potty (done)
-install refrigerator in closet (done)
-clean roof and reseal around a/c and vents(done)
-just had a new service

Things to be done:
-fuel pin and governor spring for more power
-Buy couch
-buy queen mattress
-replace captains seats
-buy and install removable bench seat to match captains seats (for the kids while driving)
-finish base molding
-buy and install TV
-install cabinets, counter top, and small sink
-add a couple outlets where needed
-replace carpet around cockpit area
-rebuild driveshaft (have a vibration)
-paint/wrap exterior (springtime job)

This thing started out to just be a good cheap dependable project but anyone that knows me knows I over kill everything.
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All factory switches and breakers
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Staged to be inspected by DMV inspector to title it as an RV

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Existing closet
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I will not stand in the rain like I did at the Dixie run this year ever again
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Hope I never have to use them but the scene lights will come in handy when I have to work on the jeep at night
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Building the bed frame
 
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Mason helping sand the cockpit cabinets. We just freshened them up w a new coat of polyurethane
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Flooring being installed by my helper
I've always wondered if laminate flooring would hold up in a camper. Guess we will find out.
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That's awesome. Been waiting on this thread.
 
Is the bed going to stay that low to the ground or are you raising it up higher for more usable space under it?

Are bunks planned for the kids?

Do you have plans to add water, etc?


I'd love to find one of these trucks and do the same

The bottom of the lowest E track is the bottom of the bed so I will have plenty storage there.
I am adding just a bar sink. Just enough to brush teeth and wash hands.
No bunks. We sleep where we fall usually. Prob two kids on couch and me and wife in bed.

Does the bed fold up in the rear or just remove?

Going with a fold out couch for the kids?
Bed just removes. Decided on regular couch. Hida beds and futons are just uncomfortable.

I'm really digging this build and in 10 years it's still going to stay together unlike an RV that's nothing more than an overpriced mobile home on a chassis that will be falling apart well before then.

You dang right. It's a 1991 and I wasn't scared to jump on it. I figure it will last a long time. Even if the engine goes I can do an inframe for less than $1000 I've been told.
 
Dang that was fast work I need to borrow that cheap labor to finish the bus lol. Order that spring an fuel pin an drive it to the shop so we can "taco tune" it
 
If you wanted to do bunks, you could make them removable like the rear bed, and have the stack in front directly behind the front seats. Pull them down and stow in the rear while you're driving.

Makes it easy that you don't have to, but my wife would want a regular toilet and shower on that list also.
 
If you wanted to do bunks, you could make them removable like the rear bed, and have the stack in front directly behind the front seats. Pull them down and stow in the rear while you're driving.

Makes it easy that you don't have to, but my wife would want a regular toilet and shower on that list also.
I have a toilet its just a portable one. We are a close family. Lol
I have a place for four of us to sleep and that's all I need.
I will have running water but it will just be for brushing teeth and washing our face. If we want to shower I guess we will have to go to the bath house. We will be "roughing" it in this camper. If we really want to go "glamping" we will hook to our 35' camper with two slides, king bed, two tvs, and full bath with a double vanity.

Here is my porta toilet. Mainly for night time. We will go to the bath house or porta John for the main event.it will be stowed under the bed.
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I'm done its 3am! I got the cabinets 95% installed, top cut to size, and the sink installed.
Still need to glue the veneer on the ends of the cabinets, trim the top, and plumb the sink and stain/polyurethane the cabinets. Going to check out a damaged camper tomorrow hoping to get a few things like water heater and LP gas detector and maybe a few more things.
I guess I better work on the jeep tomorrow if I'm going to ride the flats Saturday.

The wife said she wanted storage. So she got storage!
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