Build Journal
The decisions, the mistakes, the fabrication and the extreme engineering — written up in full. The imperfect journey of this unique build is part of the story.
47 Years of Minimal Use
This vintage camper's original interior survived nearly five decades virtually untouched. Here's what I found when I stripped it out — and why it had to go.
Planning a 200-Litre Fuel System
Sizing range for desert crossings, and building a tank that survives corrugations.
Choosing the L98 6.0-Litre V8
Why an alloy GM V8 makes sense for an extreme camper that has to move across a continent.
Understanding Australia's 60% Rear Overhang Rule
A plain-English look at the rear overhang rule and how it shaped the Chinook's wheelbase.
Extending the Wheelbase Without a Chassis Table
Cutting a LandCruiser frame in a home workshop, sleeving it, and keeping everything dead straight.
Why I Chose an 80 Series LandCruiser Chassis
Coil suspension, full-floating axles and a bulletproof reputation. The case for building an extremely engineered vintage 4x4 camper on a modern LandCruiser platform.
Designing the Chinook's Digital Dashboard
A hybrid Raspberry Pi + microcontroller architecture that runs the whole camper — and keeps working if the screen doesn't.
Why I'm Rebuilding a 1978 Toyota Chinook
It started as a forgotten vintage camper in a shed. Here's why a rare Toyota Chinook is worth an extreme rebuild — and what this unique build will become.