Sort of a follow-up to the post about using a van for campimg/hunting
We tried many setups for camping off and on road.
Finally built my own and it's worked best for us.
Compact, diesel, 4WD, great ground clearnance, tows well, plows snow, sleeps three adults, ond kid and a dog. Makes 30 amps at 120 VAC and has enough battery storage to run a decent sized refrigerator for three days without starting the engine (to recharge).
Got a rare camper with pop-up roof made for Chevy K5 Blazers in 1979. Stuck it on a 86 diesel Blazer. Later addded a turbo, 3/4 ton running gear and overdrive. Will go just about anywhere and have gotten 17 MPG going 75 MPH on highway trips.
This is before the body-work began . .
<a href="http://s104.photobucket.com/albums/m162/jdemaris/?action=view&current=chains_plow_ritefrint.jpg" target="_blank">
</a>
<a href="http://s104.photobucket.com/albums/m162/jdemaris/?action=view&current=chains_plow.jpg" target="_blank">
</a>
Then started fixing sheet-metal . .
<a href="http://s104.photobucket.com/albums/m162/jdemaris/?action=view&current=rt_side_bodywork1.jpg" target="_blank">
</a>
<a href="http://s104.photobucket.com/albums/m162/jdemaris/?action=view&current=rear_bodywork2.jpg" target="_blank">
</a>
Then got it all done . .
<a href="http://s104.photobucket.com/albums/m162/jdemaris/?action=view&current=rt_side_topup.jpg" target="_blank">
</a>
<a href="http://s104.photobucket.com/albums/m162/jdemaris/?action=view&current=rear_lft.jpg" target="_blank">
</a>
<a href="http://s104.photobucket.com/albums/m162/jdemaris/?action=view&current=rear_topup.jpg" target="_blank">
</a>
<a href="http://s104.photobucket.com/albums/m162/jdemaris/?action=view&current=front_rt.jpg" target="_blank">
</a>
Then camping . .
<a href="http://s104.photobucket.com/albums/m162/jdemaris/?action=view&current=in_the_woods.jpg" target="_blank">
</a>
<a href="http://s104.photobucket.com/albums/m162/jdemaris/?action=view&current=in_the_woods2.jpg" target="_blank">
</a>
Glimpse of the inside . . .
<a href="http://s104.photobucket.com/albums/m162/jdemaris/?action=view&current=inside_1.jpg" target="_blank">
</a>
We tried many setups for camping off and on road.
Finally built my own and it's worked best for us.
Compact, diesel, 4WD, great ground clearnance, tows well, plows snow, sleeps three adults, ond kid and a dog. Makes 30 amps at 120 VAC and has enough battery storage to run a decent sized refrigerator for three days without starting the engine (to recharge).
Got a rare camper with pop-up roof made for Chevy K5 Blazers in 1979. Stuck it on a 86 diesel Blazer. Later addded a turbo, 3/4 ton running gear and overdrive. Will go just about anywhere and have gotten 17 MPG going 75 MPH on highway trips.
This is before the body-work began . .
<a href="http://s104.photobucket.com/albums/m162/jdemaris/?action=view&current=chains_plow_ritefrint.jpg" target="_blank">
<a href="http://s104.photobucket.com/albums/m162/jdemaris/?action=view&current=chains_plow.jpg" target="_blank">
Then started fixing sheet-metal . .
<a href="http://s104.photobucket.com/albums/m162/jdemaris/?action=view&current=rt_side_bodywork1.jpg" target="_blank">
<a href="http://s104.photobucket.com/albums/m162/jdemaris/?action=view&current=rear_bodywork2.jpg" target="_blank">
Then got it all done . .
<a href="http://s104.photobucket.com/albums/m162/jdemaris/?action=view&current=rt_side_topup.jpg" target="_blank">
<a href="http://s104.photobucket.com/albums/m162/jdemaris/?action=view&current=rear_lft.jpg" target="_blank">
<a href="http://s104.photobucket.com/albums/m162/jdemaris/?action=view&current=rear_topup.jpg" target="_blank">
<a href="http://s104.photobucket.com/albums/m162/jdemaris/?action=view&current=front_rt.jpg" target="_blank">
Then camping . .
<a href="http://s104.photobucket.com/albums/m162/jdemaris/?action=view&current=in_the_woods.jpg" target="_blank">
<a href="http://s104.photobucket.com/albums/m162/jdemaris/?action=view&current=in_the_woods2.jpg" target="_blank">
Glimpse of the inside . . .
<a href="http://s104.photobucket.com/albums/m162/jdemaris/?action=view&current=inside_1.jpg" target="_blank">