Another interesting interview and analysis Robert. However as someone who has owned an EarthCruiser (based on a SWB Canter 4WD) for 12.5 years and travelled extensively through all sorts of terrains in it (including 5 years overseas), I was surprised about a few things: The wide tyres are pointless and actually a serious liability. Not only are “fats” like this poorer in the bush than narrower tyres (as your recent testing showed), but that extra weight (80-90 kg per wheel) has a big negative impact on braking, acceleration, fuel economy and unsprung weight. I have 37x12.5” MT tyres on 17” steel rims (which are the same diameter as those fats) and these weigh “only” 62 kg. I can manage these easily by myself and they are both a far better tyre for off-road work and much easier to find if I need to source new tyres. If I could find even narrower 37” tyres I’d fit them (I originally had Michelin 255/100R16 XZL military tyres, which were only 10” wide, but these were just too difficult to source, too expensive to replace and had wear problems on sealed roads but were truly phenomenal in the bush!). The body lift is not only pointless but hazardous. The Canter has no problems with body clearance and (as you rightly noted) it is the clearance to the diffs and axle housings that is the limiting factor. The body lift does nothing to help these and just makes the vehicle taller and less stable on side slopes and provides much poorer handling in cornering. Prop angles also get less favourable and the vehicle is harder to climb into and out of. Body lifts on this vehicle are a rookie mistake (yes I went down this path with my Canter, very briefly, at one point!). For 2 persons, a SWB Canter is a better option than the LWB. My SWB turning circle is 11.4 m (kerb to kerb) versus 13.6 m for the LWB. My turning circle is actually better than most solid axle LandCruisers which makes the Canter extremely nimble and agile in the scrub! Also it means my front/rear axle weight distribution at 5.3 tonnes is almost 50/50 (actually about 48/52) I agree that most people who get behind the wheel of a Canter 4WD (or Isuzu) that has been converted to 37” super singles struggle to understand just how much more capable they are than even the most tricked-up conventional 4WD wagon or Ute. They appear to be behemoth-like and waddle like a duck over rough terrain, but their wheel travel (especially with a good after-market suspension) combined with their part-time 4WD system, low-low gears and a decent after-market front diff mean they are difficult to get stuck in most conditions (I’d say mud is the exception to this ie a Canter on 37” can generally get stuck in mud just as easily as a 79 series on 32”). And that elevated driving position due to the cab-over design is just fantastic on and off road for both the driver and the passenger! And of course the fact that they GVM at 6 tonnes (which for a 2.5 tonne cab-chassis means 3.5 tonnes payload to play with) is a fantastic opportunity. One small point is that not only do you need a LR licence but the vehicle then also needs an annual inspection, but in practice if this is combined with an annual mechanical service, is only a small additional cost. Road tolls are also more expensive once you go over 4.5 tonnes GVM. Which does bring me to a point of sorts. I’ve owned many part-time and full-time 4WD vehicles (and still own my EC (part-time), an Iveco 4WD truck (full-time) and a new Defender (full-time)) over my many years and I really do think a part-time 4WD system beats full-time in almost every off-road scenario. I would be interested to see your thoughts and analysis on this.
Fantastic comment, thank you, I might turn it into a blog too! Full-time vs part-time, good question. If the centre diff is lockable then there's no difference between the two. If the centre diff or clutch is not lockable then in theory there should be a slight performance advantage to the AWD, but my testing experience indicates it isn't noticeable. What I do notice is the centre not locking up when it should. More here th-cam.com/video/7hCgUxZoiF8/w-d-xo.html Onroad the AWD wins, eg around wet roundabouts, dirt. Overall, my preference is AWD with lockable centre diff. Toyota engineers agree which is why the LC300 retains a lockable centre, as does the INEOS Grenadier.
@@L2SFBC feel free to blog as you wish. I’ll send you some more detailed comments about my own thoughts re part-time 4WD (with LSDs in both diffs) versus full-time 4WD (with lockers in both diffs) in due course. Heading to Purnululu today…
04:33 Pintle allows greater articulation: * the tow rig can tilt left, the trailer can tilt right. * the tow rig can tilt up out of a gully while the trailer is tilting down. . A ball can pop off... and that can be discouraging.
00:52 For comparison, our 1996 Ford CF8000 ExpeditionVehicle had low-profile 22.5, the standard for heavy trucks. For additional ground clearance, we swapped to 24.5 wheels with high-profile logger-lug tires. We gained about three inches -- about a fist -- for sixteen inches under the diffs.
Our 1996 Ford CF8000 ExpeditionVehicle has a standard 50-gallon fuel tank. We immediately added a 140-gallon 'saddle-tank', for a total of 190-gallons on the rig. . On our toy-hauler I fabricated on a similar commercial chassis, I added an additional 120-gallon diesel tank. In theory, our range without re-fuelling is Anchorage-to-Acapulco. . We prefer fueling in low-tax regions. The difference in prices can make a menu choice of beans and rice compared to steak and lobster.
06:49 Straps to retain the drive-shafts in case of U-joint failure. . On modern American military cab-over trucks, the failure of a front U-joint drops the front drive-shaft into the pavement, and can cart-wheel the entire vehicle. A simple strap addition saves lives.
11:46 Our ExpeditionVehicle: * GVWR -- 29,000#. * Weight across the scale -- 14,000#. * Cargo capacity -- about seven ton. . Two decades full-time live-aboard. We boondock exclusively. We carry food and water for several weeks of isolation.
I'm seriously considering buying a 1998 Dual Cab 4x4 Canter that is an ex rural fire truck over here in NZ. Thanks for making this video, super helpful!
Nice detail in this second part and that truck looks the ducks guts. A small detail that should be mentioned a bit more, is the speed limit of any vehicle over 4.500kg is 100 km/h regardless of any higher posted limit. This is the case in Victoria and in NSW after checking their respective heavy vehicles handbooks. I believe the speed limit is the same across the continent, drivers do need to do their own checking. The single cab chassis Fuso 4x4 Canter is available in two wheelbase lengths, the medium one depicted here 3415mm and a shorter one which is brilliant in super tight places 2815mm. The crew cab version as presented in this video, is only available in the medium wheelbase of 3415mm. The Fuso Canter runs 12V electrics, whereas all other Japanese light rigid trucks run 24V electrics. This aspect was the deciding factor in a friend purchasing the Fuso over the other two Japanese options.
Very good point about the duals and getting stuff stuck in them. I used to drive a canter crew cab for my company on large civil (offroad) sites. As a RWD the duals were surprisingly easy to bog in wet/soft conditions, strangely though I usually only got fully bogged when I was off site on muddy country roads. They also can get fairly large rocks jammed between them which can be real hard to get out and pose a bit of a danger to other drivers, not to mention causing a lot of wear to the tyres. The Crew cab is roomy as, you can fit 8 without worry, although they fit a bar through the middle to stiffen - If you owned 1 you could definitely customize the cab to do a lot more with the room. The standard 5 speed is godawful, I used to max it out redlining at 119km/h, I assume it was 1/1 in 5th with no overdrive. Parking isn't as big of an issue as you might think; most car spots will fit without much overhang (with a standard length flatbed 6m) and the steering/suspension set up allows for a good turning circle pretty much the same or better than a RWD ute.
Great review but there are some mistakes -Canter GVM is 6500kg (10000kg GCM BTW) not 6000kg as mentioned -those front springs are Multi Leaf NOT Parabolic -the 50mm lift you point out is just the factory Fuso spring packers -my SWB Single Cab Canter eats Rangers for breakfast 🤣
Ok so that particular rig the owner chose to derate the GVM due to tyre selection, not sure why you would because if you run a 135 rated tyre the GVM remains the same as factory with duals which is 6500kg. His choice but still misleading as the truck should be rated to 6500kg As for the suspension get AAV4X4 to check the video again. The front springs are definitely not parabolic as they would be 4 leaf. These are 10 leaf Multileaf. Depending who you talk to Parabolics are more comfortable. Maybe you need to test one that has modified suspension for a more accurate comparison to the ride and handling of the modified Ranger?
Pretty sure I would have noted the 6500-6000 change in the video as I have done in the past, but anyway I've added a new note to the description and pinned a comment. I'll ask AAV.
You described the leaf springs of the Canter as Parabolic. I might be mistaken but I would describe what was on video as conventional Eliptical Leaf Springs. That is a pack of spring steel of the same cross section for the entire length of the individual leaf. Parabolic springs, as I remember, are made quite differently in that the cross sectional dimension is much greater in the centre part attached to the axle, and they are progressively squished down into a smaller/ thinner configuration towards the wrapped eyes. In the main, they will only consist of 1 or two leaf's
I think you are right Kevin. I went back through the video and checked both rear and front and yes, they do look like multi-leaf, elliptical. I didn't see any taper on any of the leaves either, so its not some hybrid design.
I am Sorry to inform you, that the springs you spoke of are not parabolic but are infarct semi elliptic leaf springs, parabolic only have three pints of contact. center and at both ends, These are infarct individual spring of them self's ,where semi elliptic rely on spring packs that have friction against each other to support the load.
License: In fUSA, any sedan operator license is adequate for any size RecreateVehicle. A 16yo operator -- or an 80yo operator -- with a basic operator license can drive a 45' BillionBuxBus conversion licensed as a RecreateVehicle. No proof of experience, no medical exam required. . As I understand it, some foreign bureaucrats demand additional taxes if the vehicle gains an ounce over an arbitrary limit... a limit those bureaucrats establish for taxation purposes... The Bureau Of Justifying Our Existence.
Do you think learning to drive in a small front-drive hatchback gives a driver the necessary skills to operate a vehicle many times larger and heavier?
Rollover angle would be interesting to compare. Also, doesn't a truck do a lot of damage to trails and so on? Can you park on a grass area without leaving big ugly wheel tracks? I have watched some videos from people driving around the world in big trucks. It is intriguing and looks very comfortable on a highway or campsite, but very impractical when wild camping or driving in cities or on smaller roads/trails.
@Lars, We are two decades full-time live-aboard in our ExpeditionVehicle. Summers are up rough logger tracks to remote mountain lakes. Winters on isolated Baja beaches. We -- and our caravan chums -- follow established trails. . An aside: After a blizzard, we are often the first vehicles on a road. We carry chain-saws and chains to remove downed timbers blocking access. This can mean a life-or-death difference to stranded residents. . Choices, decisions.
LOVE MY 2010 ISUZU 300/75 CREW CAB THANK YOU FOR SHARING THE VIDEO DIFF BETWEEN FUSO AND FORD LONG DISTANCES HOW FAR TRAVEL THE FULL TANK OF DIESEL IF BOTH LOAD WITH THE SAME WEIGHT OR TOW WEIGHT?
So beating in mind the chassis flex. Is the Canter not suitable for a living accommodation box on the back. Especially thinking of a Luton over cab as the sleeping area?
@Guy, 2003, we engineered our ExpeditionVehicle with a three-point mount for the box (quarters). This allows significant truck flex without stressing the box.
Clarification - the Canter's GVM is 6500kg but with those tyres it is limited to 6000kg.
Another interesting interview and analysis Robert. However as someone who has owned an EarthCruiser (based on a SWB Canter 4WD) for 12.5 years and travelled extensively through all sorts of terrains in it (including 5 years overseas), I was surprised about a few things:
The wide tyres are pointless and actually a serious liability. Not only are “fats” like this poorer in the bush than narrower tyres (as your recent testing showed), but that extra weight (80-90 kg per wheel) has a big negative impact on braking, acceleration, fuel economy and unsprung weight. I have 37x12.5” MT tyres on 17” steel rims (which are the same diameter as those fats) and these weigh “only” 62 kg. I can manage these easily by myself and they are both a far better tyre for off-road work and much easier to find if I need to source new tyres. If I could find even narrower 37” tyres I’d fit them (I originally had Michelin 255/100R16 XZL military tyres, which were only 10” wide, but these were just too difficult to source, too expensive to replace and had wear problems on sealed roads but were truly phenomenal in the bush!).
The body lift is not only pointless but hazardous. The Canter has no problems with body clearance and (as you rightly noted) it is the clearance to the diffs and axle housings that is the limiting factor. The body lift does nothing to help these and just makes the vehicle taller and less stable on side slopes and provides much poorer handling in cornering. Prop angles also get less favourable and the vehicle is harder to climb into and out of. Body lifts on this vehicle are a rookie mistake (yes I went down this path with my Canter, very briefly, at one point!).
For 2 persons, a SWB Canter is a better option than the LWB. My SWB turning circle is 11.4 m (kerb to kerb) versus 13.6 m for the LWB. My turning circle is actually better than most solid axle LandCruisers which makes the Canter extremely nimble and agile in the scrub! Also it means my front/rear axle weight distribution at 5.3 tonnes is almost 50/50 (actually about 48/52)
I agree that most people who get behind the wheel of a Canter 4WD (or Isuzu) that has been converted to 37” super singles struggle to understand just how much more capable they are than even the most tricked-up conventional 4WD wagon or Ute. They appear to be behemoth-like and waddle like a duck over rough terrain, but their wheel travel (especially with a good after-market suspension) combined with their part-time 4WD system, low-low gears and a decent after-market front diff mean they are difficult to get stuck in most conditions (I’d say mud is the exception to this ie a Canter on 37” can generally get stuck in mud just as easily as a 79 series on 32”). And that elevated driving position due to the cab-over design is just fantastic on and off road for both the driver and the passenger! And of course the fact that they GVM at 6 tonnes (which for a 2.5 tonne cab-chassis means 3.5 tonnes payload to play with) is a fantastic opportunity. One small point is that not only do you need a LR licence but the vehicle then also needs an annual inspection, but in practice if this is combined with an annual mechanical service, is only a small additional cost. Road tolls are also more expensive once you go over 4.5 tonnes GVM.
Which does bring me to a point of sorts. I’ve owned many part-time and full-time 4WD vehicles (and still own my EC (part-time), an Iveco 4WD truck (full-time) and a new Defender (full-time)) over my many years and I really do think a part-time 4WD system beats full-time in almost every off-road scenario. I would be interested to see your thoughts and analysis on this.
Fantastic comment, thank you, I might turn it into a blog too! Full-time vs part-time, good question. If the centre diff is lockable then there's no difference between the two. If the centre diff or clutch is not lockable then in theory there should be a slight performance advantage to the AWD, but my testing experience indicates it isn't noticeable. What I do notice is the centre not locking up when it should. More here th-cam.com/video/7hCgUxZoiF8/w-d-xo.html
Onroad the AWD wins, eg around wet roundabouts, dirt. Overall, my preference is AWD with lockable centre diff. Toyota engineers agree which is why the LC300 retains a lockable centre, as does the INEOS Grenadier.
@@L2SFBC feel free to blog as you wish. I’ll send you some more detailed comments about my own thoughts re part-time 4WD (with LSDs in both diffs) versus full-time 4WD (with lockers in both diffs) in due course. Heading to Purnululu today…
@@BushBandicoot much appreciated!
Very interesting comment to read. Thank you.
04:33
Pintle allows greater articulation:
* the tow rig can tilt left, the trailer can tilt right.
* the tow rig can tilt up out of a gully while the trailer is tilting down.
.
A ball can pop off... and that can be discouraging.
00:52
For comparison, our 1996 Ford CF8000 ExpeditionVehicle had low-profile 22.5, the standard for heavy trucks.
For additional ground clearance, we swapped to 24.5 wheels with high-profile logger-lug tires.
We gained about three inches -- about a fist -- for sixteen inches under the diffs.
Our 1996 Ford CF8000 ExpeditionVehicle has a standard 50-gallon fuel tank.
We immediately added a 140-gallon 'saddle-tank', for a total of 190-gallons on the rig.
.
On our toy-hauler I fabricated on a similar commercial chassis, I added an additional 120-gallon diesel tank.
In theory, our range without re-fuelling is Anchorage-to-Acapulco.
.
We prefer fueling in low-tax regions.
The difference in prices can make a menu choice of beans and rice compared to steak and lobster.
06:49
Straps to retain the drive-shafts in case of U-joint failure.
.
On modern American military cab-over trucks, the failure of a front U-joint drops the front drive-shaft into the pavement, and can cart-wheel the entire vehicle.
A simple strap addition saves lives.
11:46
Our ExpeditionVehicle:
* GVWR -- 29,000#.
* Weight across the scale -- 14,000#.
* Cargo capacity -- about seven ton.
.
Two decades full-time live-aboard.
We boondock exclusively.
We carry food and water for several weeks of isolation.
Fantastic!
I call our Canter Earth Cruiser a “magic carpet ride”. Doubters can say what they want, but our truck is an unbelievable off road machine.
hmm I've never found the ride in these things smooth...
I'm seriously considering buying a 1998 Dual Cab 4x4 Canter that is an ex rural fire truck over here in NZ. Thanks for making this video, super helpful!
thanks please share :-)
Nice detail in this second part and that truck looks the ducks guts.
A small detail that should be mentioned a bit more, is the speed limit of any vehicle over 4.500kg is 100 km/h regardless of any higher posted limit. This is the case in Victoria and in NSW after checking their respective heavy vehicles handbooks. I believe the speed limit is the same across the continent, drivers do need to do their own checking.
The single cab chassis Fuso 4x4 Canter is available in two wheelbase lengths, the medium one depicted here 3415mm and a shorter one which is brilliant in super tight places 2815mm. The crew cab version as presented in this video, is only available in the medium wheelbase of 3415mm.
The Fuso Canter runs 12V electrics, whereas all other Japanese light rigid trucks run 24V electrics. This aspect was the deciding factor in a friend purchasing the Fuso over the other two Japanese options.
Excellent additional points, thank you Allan! I wish I'd added them :-)
Very good point about the duals and getting stuff stuck in them.
I used to drive a canter crew cab for my company on large civil (offroad) sites. As a RWD the duals were surprisingly easy to bog in wet/soft conditions, strangely though I usually only got fully bogged when I was off site on muddy country roads.
They also can get fairly large rocks jammed between them which can be real hard to get out and pose a bit of a danger to other drivers, not to mention causing a lot of wear to the tyres.
The Crew cab is roomy as, you can fit 8 without worry, although they fit a bar through the middle to stiffen - If you owned 1 you could definitely customize the cab to do a lot more with the room.
The standard 5 speed is godawful, I used to max it out redlining at 119km/h, I assume it was 1/1 in 5th with no overdrive.
Parking isn't as big of an issue as you might think; most car spots will fit without much overhang (with a standard length flatbed 6m) and the steering/suspension set up allows for a good turning circle pretty much the same or better than a RWD ute.
That's great, useful comment. Found the same when parking it, main issue is turning circle. Amazing trucks, but the tradeoff isn't for everyone.
Great review but there are some mistakes
-Canter GVM is 6500kg (10000kg GCM BTW) not 6000kg as mentioned
-those front springs are Multi Leaf NOT Parabolic
-the 50mm lift you point out is just the factory Fuso spring packers
-my SWB Single Cab Canter eats Rangers for breakfast 🤣
It's 6000kg with those tyres not 6500kg. As for the rest it was checked by AAV4X4.
Ok so that particular rig the owner chose to derate the GVM due to tyre selection, not sure why you would because if you run a 135 rated tyre the GVM remains the same as factory with duals which is 6500kg. His choice but still misleading as the truck should be rated to 6500kg
As for the suspension get AAV4X4 to check the video again. The front springs are definitely not parabolic as they would be 4 leaf. These are 10 leaf Multileaf. Depending who you talk to Parabolics are more comfortable. Maybe you need to test one that has modified suspension for a more accurate comparison to the ride and handling of the modified Ranger?
Pretty sure I would have noted the 6500-6000 change in the video as I have done in the past, but anyway I've added a new note to the description and pinned a comment. I'll ask AAV.
You described the leaf springs of the Canter as Parabolic. I might be mistaken but I would describe what was on video as conventional Eliptical Leaf Springs. That is a pack of spring steel of the same cross section for the entire length of the individual leaf.
Parabolic springs, as I remember, are made quite differently in that the cross sectional dimension is much greater in the centre part attached to the axle, and they are progressively squished down into a smaller/ thinner configuration towards the wrapped eyes. In the main, they will only consist of 1 or two leaf's
I think you are right Kevin. I went back through the video and checked both rear and front and yes, they do look like multi-leaf, elliptical. I didn't see any taper on any of the leaves either, so its not some hybrid design.
Well, they're described by the maker as parabolic...I'll get them to comment!
@@L2SFBC Let the learning begin! This is great stuff Robert, we may learn something about leaf springs...all fascinating stuff!!
I am Sorry to inform you, that the springs you spoke of are not parabolic but are infarct semi elliptic leaf springs, parabolic only have three pints of contact. center and at both ends, These are infarct individual spring of them self's ,where semi elliptic rely on spring packs that have friction against each other to support the load.
License:
In fUSA, any sedan operator license is adequate for any size RecreateVehicle.
A 16yo operator -- or an 80yo operator -- with a basic operator license can drive a 45' BillionBuxBus conversion licensed as a RecreateVehicle.
No proof of experience, no medical exam required.
.
As I understand it, some foreign bureaucrats demand additional taxes if the vehicle gains an ounce over an arbitrary limit... a limit those bureaucrats establish for taxation purposes... The Bureau Of Justifying Our Existence.
Do you think learning to drive in a small front-drive hatchback gives a driver the necessary skills to operate a vehicle many times larger and heavier?
Rollover angle would be interesting to compare. Also, doesn't a truck do a lot of damage to trails and so on? Can you park on a grass area without leaving big ugly wheel tracks?
I have watched some videos from people driving around the world in big trucks. It is intriguing and looks very comfortable on a highway or campsite, but very impractical when wild camping or driving in cities or on smaller roads/trails.
I have an interview - Overlanding the World - which covers some of this. You make interesting points.
@Lars,
We are two decades full-time live-aboard in our ExpeditionVehicle.
Summers are up rough logger tracks to remote mountain lakes.
Winters on isolated Baja beaches.
We -- and our caravan chums -- follow established trails.
.
An aside:
After a blizzard, we are often the first vehicles on a road.
We carry chain-saws and chains to remove downed timbers blocking access.
This can mean a life-or-death difference to stranded residents.
.
Choices, decisions.
LOVE MY 2010 ISUZU 300/75 CREW CAB
THANK YOU FOR SHARING THE VIDEO
DIFF BETWEEN FUSO AND FORD LONG DISTANCES HOW FAR TRAVEL THE FULL TANK OF DIESEL IF BOTH LOAD WITH THE SAME WEIGHT OR TOW WEIGHT?
Unsure, sorry
Rob are you going to do a comparison between the canter and Isuzu ?
If I can yes!
When portals ? 😋😜♥️
So beating in mind the chassis flex. Is the Canter not suitable for a living accommodation box on the back. Especially thinking of a Luton over cab as the sleeping area?
It's fine, take a look at the part 1 and 2 videos and you'll see a camper conversion.
@Guy,
2003, we engineered our ExpeditionVehicle with a three-point mount for the box (quarters).
This allows significant truck flex without stressing the box.
Good video, but you spelt Licence wrong. If you’re adopted by the USA, then the spelling you used would be correct. 😁😁
My bad I have a blind spoct for that :-(
👍
Fuel consumption comparison?
Canter uses more...can't say how much more though. We do cover it in another video on these trucks somewhere.