An expedition vehicle rarely stays at its original dimensions. A roof rack, an auxiliary tank, a front bar, a rear ladder and an equipment box are all additions that change three figures which used to be known.
Desert expedition vehicle finishing therefore starts by measuring the vehicle with its fit-out as it presents at the workshop, rather than from the manufacturer plate.
The gap between two figures
The manufacturer plate describes the vehicle as it left the factory. The workshop receives it as it became after conversion. That gap can reach half a metre in height alone once a loaded roof rack goes on.
And that gap is what stops the vehicle at the door after a design was approved on the first figure — a repeated error, because the first figure is available and the second needs measuring.
| Fit-out item | Dimension affected | What it drives |
|---|---|---|
| Roof rack and rooftop tent | Overall height | Chamber height and door height together |
| Front bar and winch | Overall length | Chamber length and approach path |
| Ladder and rear tire carrier | Overall length | Working space behind the vehicle |
| Flares and added width | Width at the widest point | Side working walkway |
The finish differs too
Many of these vehicles carry matt finishes or protective coatings that behave nothing like a standard automotive topcoat. The heat curve is set to the finishing material in use, not to the vehicle type.
So the material datasheet is sent along with the dimensions: the material sets the curve and the filtration required, and the dimensions set the size.
Frequently asked questions
Do these vehicles fit an automotive chamber?
Some do where the fit-out is light, and most do not. The decision comes from measuring the vehicle as fitted, not from its class.
Should the fit-out be removed before coating?
That is your operational call. Removing it reduces the size needed and adds strip-and-refit time to every vehicle; leaving it raises the size and saves the time. The comparison is built on vehicles per day.
Where do these vehicles sit in the delivered range?
Inside the trucks and RV range: internal length from 8,000 mm in the smaller class, and internal height within the 2,650 to 6,000 mm range.
Related reading
What to do next
Send the vehicle dimensions with its fit-out as it presents at your workshop plus the material datasheet, and we will return a size and configuration built on both. talk to a specialist. The published range is on the paint booth family page.