Engineers / Fabricators for new Chassis to be put under 1972 Millard - Brisbane

[The Exterminator]

Hi all,
I am looking for any ideas on who or where to go for to discuss options to upgrade (make a complete new chassis and A frame) on an old 1972 Millard.
We have just moved to Shorncliffe in QLD (Brisbane North Side) so I don't know anyone up here yet.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with the old chassis and the A frame doesn't have any rust at all.

As it is currently it could be taken around Oz tomorrow. It has 12 months rego and just passed safety certificates when we bought it a couple of weeks ago.

However, I have a list of mods planned
- Converting 2 way fridge to Engel running gear
- 2 X 80L water tanks
- Longer A frame (ute has a longer tray and will hit gas bottles etc on tight turns and parking)
- 2 X gas bottles and toolbox with slide out Webber Q on A frame
- iSi style bike rack for 4 X bikes
- Spare wheel and 1 or 2 X jerry cans on rear rack
- Solar and full 12v setup (I'm thinking full Enerdrive lithium setup - more $, less weight and more usable power/longer life)
- Cruisemaster XT coil setup with 12" electric brakes and 265/75/16 wheels so they also match the 4wd

I am upgrading for safety and load carrying capacity and self sufficiency as we plan on hitting the road full time with 3 kids ASAP.

I'm not made of money and want to do it the best that can be done using quality work and equipment but being smart about where to save $$$.

The way I see it is if I spend $10-$15k on it in total, we will have our perfect setup.

I guess my starting point is design of chassis etc and calculating weights so I get the right Cruisemaster suspension setup.

I'd appreciate any helpful thoughts or recommendations for engineers / fabricators or someone to draw up the plans in CAD? for the chassis work - I'll be doing everything else and getting toolbox made etc.

Thanks in advance,
Nathan

 

[chartrock]

Wow that is some plan @The Exterminator, good luck with it and welcome to the Sunshine State. I am of no help to you with all that but I think @TTBRIDGE or @Holden_man have dealing with metal fabricators etc. I am sure that,if so, they will tune in to assist in any way they can.

Don't forget the pictures and story as the build progresses.

 

[The Exterminator]

Thanks @chartrock
I have read both of their threads on their respective vans and I know they know their stuff.

We sold our Expanda at the end of last year to fund our Reno up here, but we miss travel so much.
We done 3 months in the Expanda and really only used the interior for bedding so this time round we have decided to go a different way.
Fixed roof (not pop top) and a bit shorter but at the end of it I don't think it will be much lighter than the Expanda with all of these mods.

Anyway, this is the old girl that's ready for a lift and tuck and some plastic surgery

 

[chartrock]

You sure have a job ahead of you, maybe check with @expanda as he has stripped the inside of an older van and rebuilt it to suit themselves with their two kids and done a good job on it.

His thread is here.

 

[rags]

Hi Nathan, we too have recently moved up to Brisbane and are not too far from you at Shorncliffe. We are located over at Bridgeman Downs and head over to the bayside for a feed of fish n chips every so often. I don't know anyone who can help you but have found for every thing we have required for building to mowers to 4wd stuff to car services , we have found it in Brendale.the place is full of light industrial, I have notice that there are a few trailer places and also caravan workshops around the suburb.
Good luck in the build up, might have to catch up some time.
Russ

 

[The Exterminator]

Thanks @rags
Someone on another forum mentioned a company in Brendale. I have sent them an email, but being Easter I should hear from them next week sometime.

I got a Rhino Pioneer Platform fitted by TJM at Brendale. Very happy with their work.
I'm sure I'll be able to find somewhere close by. I did meet the owner of a local caravan repair shop at my daughters day care and he mentioned they are opening up an engineering division in April for their repair work so I may even pay him a visit early next week and have a chat.

At least if I get a few quotes I will have a good ball park figure and an idea of where to go.

How are you finding Brisbane compared to Sydney? Did you move up here for work or family or leisure?

 

[JohngQld]

Hi Nathan,
I see by your list you are leaning towards the Cruisemaster suspension. The company that manufactures it are Vehicle Components in Bilsen Rd Geebung, less than 15 minutes drive from Shorncliffe. They actually fit the suspensions there so I would think they would be in the best position to advise what you would need and having seen their capabilities, I'm sure they could also do it for you.
John

 

[Dobbie]

They were highly recommended to us as well.

Have a rellie who broke the chassis on his Bushtracker...difficult, I know....and they manufacture, design and fit the suspension for the fix. I think they also make the original suspension for Bushtracker etc but I may be wrong about that.

Anyway, he is full of praise....and he's fussy.

 

[The Exterminator]

Thanks @JohngQld and @Dobbie

I'll go for a drive on Tuesday to their workshop and have a chat to them and get their recommendations.

 

[rags]

Thanks @rags
Someone on another forum mentioned a company in Brendale. I have sent them an email, but being Easter I should hear from them next week sometime.

I got a Rhino Pioneer Platform fitted by TJM at Brendale. Very happy with their work.
I'm sure I'll be able to find somewhere close by. I did meet the owner of a local caravan repair shop at my daughters day care and he mentioned they are opening up an engineering division in April for their repair work so I may even pay him a visit early next week and have a chat.

At least if I get a few quotes I will have a good ball park figure and an idea of where to go.

How are you finding Brisbane compared to Sydney? Did you move up here for work or family or leisure?

Thanks, the move was about all of the above, the desire for wife to be near her family particularly her ageing mother, for me it was about a suitable job opportunity came up and after near on 30 years living in the Blue Mts we thought the time was right to live somewhere new. We will miss the mountains but enjoy the coast lifestyle. We will spend a lot of time on the sunny coast which is were we would live but work is in the brisbane so will spend time between both.
Brisbane life is good, loving having everything nearby , which we didn't have in the Blue Mts. The public transport is good , the peak hour traffic is better than Sydney but not great, everyone we have had dealings with have been great.
Seen 2 Bronco games and a Super rugby game at Suncorp which is a great Footy ground. And our new digs is good with a pleasant outlook onto the Sth Pine river and distant view to the ranges
So far so good