Expedition vehicle: which Pinz is best ?

[ScottishPinz]

You can see some of my mods here
http://www.bagstraining.co.uk/Pinzmods.html

[ka]

here's what i'd do if i need to keep it low.

[Badger]

That looks impressive ! I'd still be tempted to go for the 710K body - getting a longer vehicle through and around the narrow streets in some medinas would be quite a task ! Does anyone out there have any experience / recommendations for LPG conversions to Pinzgauers ? I use LPG on my Jeep Grand Cherokee and so am familiar with the general concept but would appreciate any thoughts people might have on its use in an air-cooled petrol engine.

[Profpinz]

A 712 isn't that much less manouverable than a 710... same height, same width and only a little bigger turning circle....12,28 metres compared to a 710's, 10.37 metre's.
In my opinion the benefits of the extra carrying capacity and increased off road abilty far outway the negatives. (and yes, I do own a 4X4 Pinny as well)

ka: I REALLY like that 718K, that can come and live at my place anytime!

[Badger]

To further cloud the already muddy waters, does anybody know if the ambulance backbody on the 710 (see http://www.710amb.ch/bilder.htm ) is the same as the back body on the 712 ? I'm guessing it must be a couple of feet shorter.

[ka]

badger - the diff between the box lengths is the diff between a 710 and a 712 length: 30.71in[780mm], according to the drawings in the repair manual.

that 710amb looks very top heavy. my 712amb was all the top heavy i ever wanted to go. it had an amazing turning circle, btw. they also have appreciably more vertical departure and center angles, which i love, and going up a super steep hill was way easier on my nerves. and they really are short, even tho they look long compared to the super short 710. even with that box on my 712amb, it cranked around corners way better than this 710m. and so many bumps just disappeared that i found myself aiming straight at them just to feel the thing disappear them.

[ka]

ka: I REALLY like that 718K, that can come and live at my place anytime!

if i knew the technique for wining and dining that pinz into my bed we would be in love happily ever after by now.

it was one of special-mobils' jobs. their site went dead last yr and so i've lost track of them now.

does anyone know what might have happened to them? i'm looking into poptops for my 710m roof design. might have to do it myself i reckon.

[pinzmeister-uk]

We have lots of experience converting pinnies to LPG, my own 710K has covered around 40,000 miles on LPG with no problems whatsoever, we can supply a wide range of tank sizes and locations to suit your requirements.

[Badger]

That sounds good ! Ideally I'd want to fit as large an LPG tank as possible. What would be the available sizes and locations for a 712 Ambulance - assuming the standard petrol was kept in place.

Does anyone have recommendations for good tyres for use on tarmac and dry tracks ? I'm thinking of something like 245 x 70 x R16 Falken Landair All Terrains.

[Profpinz]

BFG MT 255 X 85-16 tyres are a popular choice around the world (they fit on stock rims)
Good on-road and for mild off-roading.

[pinzmeister-uk]

Standard LPG tank for a 712 ambulance is 90 lts, this fits under the body on the drivers side by relocating the battery box to the rear of the petrol tank ( where the jerrycan holdre is now ) and removing the toolbox. A secnd tank can also be fitted either on a rack above the cab or inside the amb box.

[pinzmeister-uk]

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg23 ... res046.jpg http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg23 ... res053.jpg LPG tank installation 712

[Erik712m]

I think that the 712m with the Pinzmeister hard top would make a better expedition vehicle than the 712k. The rear forward facing seats on the K take up a lot of valuable room.

[pinzmeister-uk]

[Badger]

Pinzmeister, that looks a pretty neat LPG installation. I'm not keen on a second tank in the ambulance body as it would demounting it more difficult, and a tank on the cab roof would raise the c of g too much for my liking. Thus assuming only a single 90 litre tank, would I be right in assuming a range of around 300 miles on gas (15 mpg assumed) and 250 miles on the petrol, giving a total range on both of 55o miles before I'd need to resort to jerry cans ?

Are there any issues with running LPG on an air cooled engine ? My current car runs LPG - very effectively - but it has a heater running off the water circuit to assist in vapourising the gas. I'm beginning to think that an LPG conversion may be more useful than a diesel conversion - unless anyone out there knows differently...