The Camper
 

We've had threads on Pickups, Station Wagons, any random transportation pic and maybe other categories I've missed, but I thought this would be a fun new thread to have.

The ability to drive somewhere and then camp inside the vehicle is attractive to many, and so they have modified vehicles to do this. That continues, as does the manufactured camping vehicle, tho I'm not sure when the first manfs. started making purpose built campers.

Ideally, you would want to drive a fast, fun sports car; then have it morph into an off-road vehicle; then have it morph once again into a nice, comfy small home. (sounds like a job for Jack Olsen and his one car to do it all...) We have a range of vehicles that fit into various places on that spectrum, from the Supra hatchback I used to drive across country and then camp in with the back hatch up and mosquito netting attached, to a slow going full camper, such as this one:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1358978027.jpg

i would go in this direction. of course i would like the diesel version which host a myriad of nightmares..and i would need to pee diesel fuel. a sportsmobile 4x4.

my friend has one. it is amazing. we can be in the middle of nowhere..i crawl out of my dusty tent and he offers me microwave popcorn. i hate him. i find comfort that he is broke paying for it, tho :D

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1358978367.jpg

My 'home away from home'

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1358979772.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1358979787.jpg

4500 pounds of Tilten Hilton mobile Condo paradise.


10 foot Artic Fox and my 4x4 Viper with a 488 cu in V10 under the hood.


yeah life is rough.


PS tents suck, even if my Llama's pack them in for me.

Give me condo living anytime, and still be able to get out onto a logging road...........yes microwave popcorn is sinful when out camping and roughing it........


makes my long bed extended cab lifted 33" tire 3/4 ton truck look like a tiny toyota...........





http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1358980476.jpg

I had this for a bit when it was just the wife and I.

Chinook Baja, it was a beast so much fun.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1358980644.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1358980662.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1358980679.jpg

Now with kids, we do this. Fleetwood Utah, with the Axle rotated for about a 4 inch lift. It goes anywhere I want, and I can leave it to run to town ect.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1358980769.jpg

Also had a Provan Tiger on the Chevy Astro chassis, very nice rig.

Speaking of the Sportwagon - here is one (called "The White Whale") next to a Vanagon Westy.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1358982208.jpg

my wife and I bought a truck tent for camping

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1358984800.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1358984848.jpg

I used to have one like this, the wife and used to camp in the back. It was great for the short weekend camping trips.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1358985766.jpg

I rely on my old Westy.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1358985930.jpg

Here is my Brother's rig. He stays in it for a couple months at a time. We did a fun road trip last spring, all over the south east U S.http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1358994251.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1358994347.jpg
Its a 30' airstream, and a bear to get hooked up and tow around. But really nice once settled into a sweet spot.

Every since that trip I've been looking at Airstream motorhomes and doing some dreaming.
I like the early 90s diesel pushers

Fred's Airstream Archives @ ViewRVs.com - 1994 Airstream Classic 360 Diesel Motorhome 36' Motorhome (F)

Cheers Richard

(Wistfully daydreaming of falling asleep under the Southern Cross instead of the Big Dipper)

Snorkel intake and everything.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1359002536.jpg
I found this pic looking online for vintage stock cars. It's my Dads camper from around 1972 at Riverside.

I had a 28 1/2 class C with a 502 chevy in it miss it!

Too funny, I remember those pickup truck bumpers that telescoped out.......hi-tech for the times.

They work. I had one on my 72 GM 1 ton truck. Got rid of the camper (bought the truck from my parent's neighbor) and welded a small plate to it, had a vice mounted on there. Later I restored that thing, and beat it up again a few years later due to work. I wish I can find something like that in the front for my Dodge Diesel.

:):)

The snorkel helps the old girl get clean air when traveling in bull dust, as well as when she gets her feet wet.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1359027802.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1359028024.jpg

LOVE the 80 series with the roof top tent. Damn I miss mine.

This is great, something else to put expensive ideas in my head. Ever since we bought our boat last year, my wife has been hinting that some sort of camper might be fun so we could just spend a weekend at the lake. She's not a tent sort of girl, real camping isn't going to happen. I think a Syncro Westie would be just the ticket. Off to The Samba I go!:D

I've always wanted one of these.

There is a guy in in Florida that is restoring the old GMC's. He guts them out and rebuids them for resale.

Here is our old travel trailer. We have been to South Florida and Lake Michigan in it. And several spots in between. Its got a few marks here and there, but it doesn't leak and we have no trouble spotting it amongst the others.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1359037399.jpg

My dream camper:

Bigger but reliable motor, freeway flyer trans, a couple of deep cycle batteries, inverter, mabe some additional ventilation or heat. Raised just a bit too. Maybe some period sport seats and a 12V flat panel. I can dream, right?

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1359039229.jpg

Earthroamers are made here, this one was outside my office.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1359041005.jpg

Here is a twin to the Tiger I had, as much as I love the Westy, this was a better camper in every way.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1359041072.jpg

This monster was in Boulder this fall. I went inside for a tour, but drank no coolaid.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1359041130.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1359041150.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1359041170.jpg

My 91 3/4 ton suburban 4x4 is no beauty queen. Has the vinyl seats and floor mat. Goes anywhere. Sleep in back. Haul the family. Set me back $850. Sort of the Appalachian Earthroamer.

Larry

That is a classic beauty. Can you tell us a bit more about it? Is it a silver streak? What is the door just behind the entry door?
Do you notice similarities between enthusiasts of vintage trailers and air cooled Porsche?
Oh, how does your wife like the low seat bike?

Cheers Richard

Here is a pic from last week. This is how we camp.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/01/25/tegedyry.jpg

you know, there is a long history to this:


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1359060220.jpg

Mike, you posted the Earthroamer before I could. I drive by there twice a day and dream about winning the lottery so I can affod one of those.

This is my older set up.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1359060478.jpg

And what I use now, 2011 Keystone Raptor Toyhauler (on right)

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1359060525.jpg

[QUOTE=BSiple;7227946]Mike, you posted the Earthroamer before I could. I drive by there twice a day and dream about winning the lottery so I can affod one of those.

This is my older set up.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1359060478.jpg

Don't know why, but this picture reminds me of a Richard Scarry book (two towed trailers.):)

The double pulling wasn't too bad.... as long as I didn't have to back up! :)

Bill

Nice set up!

Yeah, they are spendy for sure. Air suspension was super cool, pic was after he dropped it about 8 inches :eek: to fit under the tree.

Another fave modified by GoWesty:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1359064902.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1359064964.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1359065222.jpg

that is bad ass. love the westy.

The trailer is a 1964 Streamline. The door was access to the propane refrigerator.

My wifes bike is an electra, she loves it. Its easier on her back, or so she say's.

Here is my 1968 Avion C11 truck camper I picked up to rebuild, she's on " kong " my 2001 GMC diesel 4x4 dually. Going to do a total refurb on the inside plus add solar panels on the exterior. This allows me to tow either the boat or the car trailer.http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1359074013.jpg

Slide out campers on a truck body are a good illustration of a middle ground between the trailer/hauler on the on the one hand and the "all-in-one" on the other. Like a trailer, you can drop it off at your camp site, but like an all-in-one you don't have to pull a long load behind you and can reach places no trailer combo can get to. But they are more effort to unload than just unhooking a trailer...

of course, if you really need to get somewhere...

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1359078466.jpg

I really want an old Greyhound Scenicruiser, and convert it to a motorhome.