About a year ago we bought a 23' Chevrolet C-class RV. The last year has been spent chasing small gremlins on the RV getting it reliable and using it. The Workhorse E4500 chassis is fine for a small RV but has a compromise of a relatively low towing capacity of 3500lbs. We were wanting a tow behind car ideally with 4wd for adventures once we got to our campsites. I looked a Jeeps but all of them weigh to much (Except early CJ-5's and CJ-2s) for our weight limit. I was always interested in Samurai/Geo Trackers but the prices on them are getting a bit out of hand. A coworker had one that he used basically as a SXS on his farm and to tow a sprayer for field work. About 2 seasons ago they upgraded the sprayer from a tow behind tank to one of those 100' wide things on hydraulic stilts (Apparently they got a "good deal" at the auction). This rendered the Samurai superfluous to their farming operation. They let it sit in the barn collecting dust (and all the mouse droppings) for 2 years and finally this spring decided to get it out of the barn. Knowing I was interested in returning it to use they offered it to me for $500.
So enter Samurai Toad.
The Good:
Relatively low rust.
Someone Rhino lined it about 10 years ago which at least stopped most of the rust. There is rust in the fender corners, drivers floor, and some at the fronts of the rear wheel wells. The chassis is in really good shape rust wise.
It actually runs.
Came with 2 sets of wheels.
Has a 2 barrel Webber downdraft on it.
Despite mouse infestation it doesn't seem liek they chewed on the wireing. Electronics seem to all work.
4WD H/L works
All glass is in good shape.
Had been used as a Toad before, wireing is already installed for brake lights as is a towbar bracket.
The bad:
Used as mouse restroom for the last few years and used to spray nitrogen before that. Everything upholstered is gone or going to be thrown away due to smells (Which for a Samurai isn't much).
The dash/HVAC need removed and cleaned, hopefully they are salvageable.
Needs seats and belts
No top (But does have the top bow)
Has a ~4" Shackle only lift
Has driveline clunk.
These pictures are after I sprayed the whole car down with bleach and cleaner and hosed out all the mouse debris.
The Plan:
Put in weather proof seats and 4 universal seat belts. Do mechanical maintenance to get it roadworthy. Repair drivers floor board. Go through suspension to ensure it's quality. Install top. Put on appropriate size AT tires for lift. My wife is "concerned" by the rollover protection of the Samurai chassis, so It will likely get a mild 1.5" DOM tubing exocage. Otherwise tow it behind the RV with rest of body as is this summer.
Next year take it apart and address the body tub rust and rhino/raptor coat the whole thing. Build tubular bumpers and install winch finishing the "adventure rig" build. The goal is to have a decent reliable Toad that doubles as an adventure rig for ~$3K.
This thread will document those efforts and the adventures this machine goes on. Most of the adventures will be fire roads and "soft roading" but we would love to go to Moab sometime and I will likely take it on a shakedown to Badlands ORV park in Indiana this spring (It's about 1 hr from my house). We know the Samurai is a compromise for space vs weight. It will never be a "long distance" vehicle as we will only do short adventures away from the RV.
