Outfitting the Tercel 4WD for camping....

[takza]

I basically intend to use my Tercel for backroad cruising, hauling stuff, offroading, and camping.

I'd like this to be thread where various ideas and solutions could be posted as far as modifying the car for camping...with some offroading stuff thrown in.

<span style='color:green'>This might turn some of our more squeamish members green with envy or some other sickness, but here goes.</span>

<span style='color:blue'>Here is a list of mods and changes I've either made or probably intend to make that relate to camping and offroading:</span>

* Removed cargo cover & plastic parts in back.

* Removed rear seats and added a hinged shelf of 7/16" wafer board to replace them. Lost some weight and gained some storage room down low for heavy stuff.

* Added 14" wheels and sticky tires.

* Added screen to radiator/condensor area in front.

* Have collected a couple of hand winches and some cables & straps...an extra jack...a couple of plywood squares.

* Tried boosting springs, but haven't quite reached the astounding heights needed....yet.

* Working on increasing power & torque for those difficult situations & 12,000 foot mountain passes.

* Intend to add a rack to the top for carrying lighter stuff....good place to put a moose if I go moose hunting.

* Might add a trans skid plate.


Basically want to keep weight down as much as possible, but still have what I need.


<span style='font-family:Impact'><span style='font-size:11pt;line-height:100%'>FEEL FREE to add any NEW ideas or even criticize...if you just gotta.</span> </span> <_<

[Thereminator]

I looked at possible skid~plate atachment points.The frount could attach at the two back bolts of those little dia.~braces and the back could attach to the vertical exaust-mount bolt~holes.Im woundering weather protection for the CV~joints are necesary.There semi~housed by the sway~bar and steering~linkage,but if so inclined,we could atach a flange to them,or have one drop~down off the strut~bolts.Seems to me,your steering link would be damaged first? <_<

[takza]

For the skid plate, I was thinking that a couple of tabs could be welded on it to bolt onto the bolts at the trans xmember?

Just got my new exhaust on and the downpipe and converter are a lot lower than the trans...but losing them doesn't stop you cold...a hole in the trans case probably does. New exhaust does seem to allow the engine to breath & rev better.

I lost a CV boot when a brush stub just happened to line up right so that it got between the support arm and the steering link...I think. Joint was going out anyway.

Wondering if you camp with a tent or plan to use the car itself? I have a mattress for the car (twin or kids size?), but it's a little too big and is kind of heavy. Other than an air mattress, wonder what's out there to use that is light in weight?????

Also thinking about storage...mostly just going to use boxes as of now...not going for months at a time. Not really any room to build in storage...except possibly up above the windows for clothes...maybe netting????

[arbskynxnex]

I've camped out of my tercel a few times, I definitely recommend bringing a tent since there really isn't a lot of room to sleep in a tercel, especially if you are packed for several days or have people with you. Tents are pretty light only 4-7 lbs for one that can sleep 3 people. I use a self inflating sleeping pad, its really light and compacts nicely, unfortunately they run up to $80, but they are alot sturdier than air mattresses. Watch garage sales for some old Coleman two burner white gas stoves, I got one for $2 that works great for car camping, it beats backpacking stoves hands down (Cooking 2 things at once, oh joy). Pack rope and some bear proof containers since a tercel would be like opening sardines to a hungry bear.

If you use rubbermaid economy luggage like I do, you might want to glue or weld in some corner brackets to keep them from sliding all over the car. That cargo netting is a good idea, you could also mount some to keep your gear in place on the floor. Pack a spare alternator, it sucks having yours die when you're a long ways from an auto parts store.

I would upgrade to a 4A if you are going to haul a bunch of stuff around on top of the car. I've looked like a complete idiot with my canoe on top only being able to go 35mph on the freeway up hill and into the wind. Having gone through my fair share of rocks, brush, mud, water and dirt, I would protect my CV joints and steering components as much as I could. The only thing I haven't busted in the front end of my tercel, was the transaxle... granted I don't know how friendly your rocks are though.

[takza]

I've camped out of my tercel a few times, I definitely recommend bringing a tent since there really isn't a lot of room to sleep in a tercel, especially if you are packed for several days or have people with you.  Tents are pretty light only 4-7 lbs for one that can sleep 3 people.  I use a self inflating sleeping pad, its really light and compacts nicely, unfortunately they run up to $80, but they are alot sturdier than air mattresses.  Watch garage sales for some old Coleman two burner white gas stoves, I got one for $2 that works great for car camping, it beats backpacking stoves hands down (Cooking 2 things at once, oh joy).  Pack rope and some bear proof containers since a tercel would be like opening sardines to a hungry bear. 

If you use rubbermaid economy luggage like I do, you might want to glue or weld in some corner brackets to keep them from sliding all over the car.  That cargo netting is a good idea, you could also mount some to keep your gear in place on the floor.  Pack a spare alternator, it sucks having yours die when you're a long ways from an auto parts store.

I would upgrade to a 4A if you are going to haul a bunch of stuff around on top of the car.  I've looked like a complete idiot with my canoe on top only being able to go 35mph on the freeway up hill and into the wind.  Having gone through my fair share of rocks, brush, mud, water and dirt, I would protect my CV joints and steering components as much as I could.  The only thing I haven't busted in the front end of my tercel, was the transaxle... granted I don't know how friendly your rocks are though. 

I've probably camped at least 6 years or so full time, but not in one stretch, just at various times. I like to move every 3 days or so or even every day. A continuing adventure?

There have been a few times that I was glad I wasn't in a tent.
Unknown "things" tend to walk up on you in the boonies...makes for some good sleep. <_< Usually bears, cattle, or humans. ...even mountain lions. Some of those big bulls in rut aren't something you want to stick around for either.

I'll probably be in bear country some and haven't had a whole lot of experience with them, but I'd rather deal with the issue starting inside the Tercel, than not. Will have a dog. Car horn. And I could jump up and down and yell a lot.

Or get serious.

More worried about deer flies.

Stuff in the front seats at night...in the back during the day. What the hey...it's camping....it's fun! :blink:

Have used the Coleman gas stoves and have now moved UP to propane. Can remember running out of the good fuel too many times and ended up using unleaded...ugh.

The netting might work to hold clothes up out of the way. Otherwise...it's a bananna box.

Have carried a canoe around, but not on a Tercel....be a biatch not to be able to see the road!

All I can say about the offroad travel and damage is that if you are a long ways from home and from a phone...you need to be careful. If it's iffy....best to back off and be able to Tercel another day. Any mistakes mean I get to fix the problem....drag it out of a hole or start wrenching. Parts are hard to find out in the woods or where ever.

I had an alternator go out with a van and ended up camping on hills and getting a rolling start for a few days till I got to a parts store.

I have a couple of plastic screen sections that I'll close in the rear door windows for ventilation.

As for the "rack" on top...this is supposedly just for emergencies...in case theres something I just have to bring back...not quite sure what that would be though. Maybe that moose I keep talking about...just drive under him and get him to sit down?

Main thing is that it won't create a lot of drag and ruin my gas mileage.

[GTSSportCoupe]

Great info! Good humor too . A good part of the reason I'm getting into tercel 4wds is because I'd like to do more camping. It's good to hear other's experiences. I like the idea of removing the back seats and building a raised bed in the back of the car. I could store luggage below and above it, and put the luggage in the front of the car when I need to sleep (as suggested above). It would be awesome to cover the raised bed with carpet too; would make it look nice and professional. Although I'm sure the border guards would insist on ripping it all apart if I ever took the car down into the US (to make sure I didn't have any good ol' BC Bud hidden in there ).

[arbskynxnex]

It would be awesome to cover the raised bed with carpet too; would make it look nice and professional. Although I'm sure the border guards would insist on ripping it all apart if I ever took the car down into the US (to make sure I didn't have any good ol' BC Bud hidden in there ).

<a href='http://www.totse.com/en/drugs/marijuana/161759.html' target='_blank'>http://www.totse.com/en/drugs/marijuana/161759.html</a>
Don't know how true this is, but apparently I'm in the wrong business. Next project, Tercel smuggler's express.

[takza]

Well, in this area, if you are driving the back roads or going offroad here and there....you sure attract the flies...light planes. This is especially a problem starting from planting season till harvest. A PITA.

I always know when it's THE SEASON.

If you notice a shadow suddenly appear on a sunny day.....guess what? :rolleyes:

I occasionally stop under trees and take a look around for spyplanes. B)

Not to mention the many "secret rats" driving around in plainwrapper cars watching for someone who MIGHT commit a crime. <_<

A kind of plague?


I just do my thing, which doesn't really involve a lot of criminal activity....though at the rate that they pass laws, it's pretty difficult to know what might have just become illegal.

As far as taking the seats out...it works for me. Don't use them and I need the space.

I am starting to consider anyone who suspects me of criminal activity to be a serious threat though.

Ironic isn't it? B)

[GTSSportCoupe]

<a href='http://www.totse.com/en/drugs/marijuana/161759.html' target='_blank'>http://www.totse.com/en/drugs/marijuana/161759.html</a>
Don't know how true this is, but apparently I'm in the wrong business. Next project, Tercel smuggler's express.

arbskynxnex: That is all true actually. Apparently it is the largest industry in BC right now. (even larger than high-tech, forestry, fishing, etc.) I think they estimate it brings in around $4-5 billion anually. Personally I think our government is no where near as hard on the industry as they could be; probably because they like the extra money comming into the province.

takza: Those are a few of the reasons I'm glad I don't live in the US. Not that I have anything to hide; I just don't like the idea of people 'watching' me and what I do. Luckily Canadian government doesn't have enough money to employ as many 'watching' tactics as the US government. It think we're less paranoid and more laid back here too. Just my thoughts...

[Thereminator]

:blink: Unfortunatly most of the Sheeple in this country think that a sence of privacy is abnormal behavior. Those "Watching-Tactics" are an all~to~comon Individual Rights violation,sanctioned by paranoid Right~wingers protecting us from the evils of non~offencive free choice.If you live in this country your eaither a slave to sentimental Socialism or Religious Fascism.Being an actual Free and Responsible "Individualist" put you on an indangered and "Unusable" Species List! Anyway,Ill divert this topic to a diferent disscusion group before I go MAAAAAD!!!!HE~HE!...HA~HA! :blink: :blink:

[3A-C Power]

I sleep in the back of my 4WD when I travel, kind of like urban camping. Of course real camping is always better. I use a futon mattress with the rear seats just folded down and the front seats forward and it works very well. There is plenty of headroom. Because the shock towers interfere with the mattress, it may be better to raise it to clear those, and have the full width of the car to roll around. If there was a flat board, you could use a thinner mattress so you wouldn't lose as much headroom by raising it. I like the comfort of my 10" mattress and don't mind how the shock towers tend to form it into a V shape. For people that aren't married or that intimate, or more than two people, it would be awkward though. I crossed the border a couple times and there wasn't alot of trouble about the mattress. One guy just hassled me alot about it but didn't search or anything.

[Fingers]

I remember the first time I really looked at one of these cars.

Back in 93, I went to a Toyota dealer looking for a sporty used Toy to replace my totaled 81 Tercel. I found a nice 86 Corolla SR5, low miles, clean and fairly cheap. Put $100 dollars in the salesmans hand to hold it for 2 days. Came back, he sold it (illegal). He tried to sell me another 86 for the same price they had just recieved. This thing was a mess! Someone punched the dash and seats full of holes with a screwdriver ('We will replace some pieces, but not all of em'-Salesman), covered in chipping paint and rust ('It'll look a lot better after we wash it'), and ran like crap ('Well, a tune up and it will run much better'). This schmuck told me things to look for when buying a used car, then tried to sell me one with many of the problems he told me to avoid. Sorry for rambling....Anyway, he tried to put me in a 86 Tercel 4wd (standard), white, automatic....I wonder if it could have been the same car I am driving now?....hmm....and told me that it would be great for camping and that by folding the rear seats down, you had a place to get nasty with all the chicks I would pick up. First of all, as a 19 year old, the Terc Wagon was not what you'd think of as a 'chick magnet', and second of all, how dare that lying, cheating, p.o.s. try to sell me a car based on getting laid in it? Man, all men are pigs (hehehe)....

[tercel4wdrules]

I remember the first time I really looked at one of these cars.

Back in 93, I went to a Toyota dealer looking for a sporty used Toy to replace my totaled 81 Tercel. I found a nice 86 Corolla SR5, low miles, clean and fairly cheap. Put $100 dollars in the salesmans hand to hold it for 2 days. Came back, he sold it (illegal). He tried to sell me another 86 for the same price they had just recieved. This thing was a mess! Someone punched the dash and seats full of holes with a screwdriver ('We will replace some pieces, but not all of em'-Salesman), covered in chipping paint and rust ('It'll look a lot better after we wash it'), and ran like crap ('Well, a tune up and it will run much better'). This schmuck told me things to look for when buying a used car, then tried to sell me one with many of the problems he told me to avoid. Sorry for rambling....Anyway, he tried to put me in a 86 Tercel 4wd (standard), white, automatic....I wonder if it could have been the same car I am driving now?....hmm....and told me that it would be great for camping and that by folding the rear seats down, you had a place to get nasty with all the chicks I would pick up. First of all, as a 19 year old, the Terc Wagon was not what you'd think of as a 'chick magnet', and second of all, how dare that lying, cheating, p.o.s. try to sell me a car based on getting laid in it? Man, all men are pigs (hehehe)....

I wonder what I would of done if I were you? That salesman probably would of gone home without his front teeth that's for sure. Maybe not. One thing I can't stand is someone making stupid remarks about the Tercel. You just can't compare the car against the bigger ones, its not fair. "Always pick on someone your own size." That's a very good saying for this kind of situation. When people make fun of it I wished it had a 4A-GE and a lot of HP and if it could do 0-60 M.P.H. in 6 seconds or less so they can shut their wrinkled mouths up and have a little more respect for it. What has the Tercel done to them? It's just a car and it's designed to take you places, it doesn't matter how it looks. That's my point of view, and sorry for my madness.

*Not to be taken personally, its just that some kids here think that a Go-Kart can beat my Tercel. They've gone to far. Time to teach them some manners!*

[Gasoline Fumes]

*Not to be taken personally, its just that some kids here think that a Go-Kart can beat my Tercel. They've gone to far. Time to teach them some manners!*

Just don't pick on the wrong go-kart, like a 125cc shifter kart.

[tercel4wdrules]

*Not to be taken personally, its just that some kids here think that a Go-Kart can beat my Tercel. They've gone to far. Time to teach them some manners!*

Just don't pick on the wrong go-kart, like a 125cc shifter kart.

You're probably right. I do know their go-kart "supposedly" has a 50 H.P. engine. I've never seen that go-kart that they have, but I'm pretty sure that with a turbo and a high rpm crankshaft and a performance clutch I can probably make it. I wouldn't like that 125cc shifter kart- sounds like danger.