The RV/Camping/Trailer Thread!

[thesameguy]

That, my friend, is super cool.

[pl8ster]

So the only reason that short RV has dual axles is for a higher tow rating?

[thesameguy]

I don't think the relationship is that direct - the chassis that have high tow ratings happen to be diesel pushers, and many of the common DP platforms have dual axles. There is no particular reason that rig has dual axles other than that's the platform it's built on. It's a very weird configuration - such a heavy-duty chassis with a short wheelbase, no slides, and dual axles. I can't imagine what series of events unfolded to cause them to build it.

[Random]

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/rvs/5406283886.html
http://images.craigslist.org/00J0J_k81QoE48fnN_600x450.jpg

:up: 4-sp manual! Get your clutch leg trained up. :D
:up: They kept the stock slanty windows.

:erm: Again with the split bed in the back, though.

[Random]

http://yubasutter.craigslist.org/rvs/5356224815.html
http://images.craigslist.org/00Q0Q_6rXdNpi5j67_600x450.jpg

If you're looking for something to convert... ;)

I drove a similar bus for UC Davis for several years; great buses.

[Random]

https://sixtyfournz.files.wordpress.com/2016/08/cb734-13658740_835263373277943_695364537_n.jpg?w=800

Trying for a Bonneville record of 140mph. Haha!

[thesameguy]

That seems like exactly the right thing to do with one of those! It makes my heart sing! :)

Been working pretty hard lately on shoring up my rig... I really enjoy it, such a cool mix of car and house. I don't think I'd go for any land speed records, but I keep inching closer to boondocking optimization. :D

[KillerB]

My wife and I continue to go back and forth on whether a motorhome or a tow vehicle + trailer are the way to go. With the trailer, we'd likely have to wait until she buys a replacement for her 1999 Dodge Durango. While it can tow 5,000 lbs with the tow package (which I doubt it has, but there's nothing there that can't be retrofitted to it), it has 230,000 miles on it, with the original engine and transmission. An impressive showing, I think; she's owned it since new.

I'd lean more toward the motorhome so she could have more flexibility with what she daily drives, but she really prefers traditional SUVs to cars or crossovers, and would consider a pickup truck as well. While I'd love to see her get a full-size pickup, she finds them (and Suburbans) just a bit too big; I think she'd be most comfortable in a new Durango, JGC, Tahoe/Yukon, 4Runner, Tacoma, or Colorado/Canyon. The 2.8L Duramax Colorado/Canyon is really appealing - you can get it loaded but with fabric seats (she doesn't care for leather), gets 30 mpg on the freeway, is narrower and shorter in length than a full-size, and tows 7,600 lbs.

On the other hand, a motorhome means an extra set of old mechanicals, which can be expensive to work on and expensive to tow. New and newish trailers are cheap, too.

[thesameguy]

It's definitely a tough decision. I had some doubts I made the right one, however a good friend of mine dumped his Tacoma & nearly new 21' travel trailer for a '96 Bounder after spending some time with us so that's reassuring. They - like us - like having the massive cabin room while traveling, and saving 5-10' of length helps get around campgrounds and such. The added old mechanicals are somewhat of a concern, but even old motorhomes tend to have low mileage. Usually the house gives out before the engine or transmission. A motorhome will typically offer more storage, more plumbing capacity, and more sleeping room than a travel trailer. My aforementioned friend saved 5' (39' -> 34') and went from a packed truck & trailer to excess room. The trailer is nice because when you aren't using it it's 10' shorter than the motorhome you aren't using, and it'll be nicer inside at the same price point. If I had to do it over again, I'd do exactly the same thing - one twenty year old $7500 motorhome. :)

[thesameguy]

Just thought I would plop this here:

http://www.countryliving.com/life/travel/news/a39479/data-scientist-maps-ultimate-american-road-trip/

It's about $6,000 in gas in a motorhome, but quite possibly totally worth it. :D

[Kchrpm]

Takes you by the Corvette Museum, I'll meet you there.

[thesameguy]

If we had a really fuel efficient car it would be more like $1200 in fuel. Question is, can you get sixty nights in hotel rooms for $4800 and not get a disease... ?

[Kchrpm]

How many GTXFers can you crash with?

[thesameguy]

I like my space. :)

Could get one of these and tow it with, I dunno, the XJR or something...

http://www.bowlusroadchief.com/

:D

[Random]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSGedXi2riY

Neat offroad camping trailer. Only $41k (AUS) for the base model... :D

[thesameguy]

I just can't fathom spending that kind of cash for an outdoor experience. It's neat engineering, but seems nuts pragmatically.

[Random]

By the time all the extra tents are set up around the trailer, it kinda makes sense, I guess, particularly if all your friends have something similar, and you've got a wagon circle going in the Outback (or Mojave or Rubicon).

[thesameguy]

I suppose that's true - I'm just having a hard time making the leap from "outdoorsman" to "gentleman camper." :lol: I really can't envision why you need all that stuff. Although, if you had that cash why not take it?

[speedpimp]

Between the cost of the camper and the rig to pull it, wouldn't something along the line of an Earth Roamer be more feasible?

[Random]

Earth Roamers look pretty big. But, yeah, probably the same market.

[KillerB]

We decided to have a fun experience at an upcoming weekend festival by renting this (http://www.vwsurfari.com/rellsunn/).

The wife is pretty excited about it, to the point where she's saying that she would rather a Westfalia than a larger RV, since it's always just the two of us camping. We will see how it goes.

[thesameguy]

That is super cool, and super terrifying! How/where/how much?

[KillerB]

Vintage Surfari Wagons (http://www.vwsurfari.com/) is based in Costa Mesa. They do offer an option to pick up in San Francisco. California Campers (http://californiacampers.com/) rents Vanagons up in Redwood City.

$169 a night, or $1100 weekly. More during the busier seasons.

The Vanagons are a much better deal, $129 a night, $830 weekly, but none were available, which was fine with me because I wanted to experience the bay window on this trip, since it'll be mostly back roads and about 120 miles each way.

I suspect we'd end up buying a Vanagon, so I'll definitely rent one of those first.

[thesameguy]

That seems like a completely reasonable number for a specialty vehicle like that. Cool business model, too. But, drive extra safely!

[KillerB]

Oh for sure. Here's the planned route, skipping freeways almost entirely, except for a bit on CA-73, a toll road that skips a lot of the 405/5 through and south of Irvine.
2275

[thesameguy]

Should be a nice drive - by the time you start getting irritable about Really Slow you'll be there! :assclown: (I've always really enjoyed trips in the Falcon, even though it's damn slow too :) )

[KillerB]

Yeah, we've made this trip before, and even with a normal car, there's no really fast way to get there. I think this will only add about 45 minutes.

[JoshInKC]

Last summer my work wife and I spent a lot of time admiring a Vanagon Westfalia which was camping near one of our digs. It'd be a great archaeology vehicle.

[Cam]

work wife
:lol:

[KillerB]

Okay, renting a bay window Westfalia was WAY too much fun. Not only did I have a ball driving it (even if it was a little terrifying going only 60 mph on the 15 with the Santa Ana winds kicking in), but the wife loved the view and the ride and the quirkiness of the whole travel experience.

Even better, sleeping in it was perfect - it was small enough to park in a spot we'd normally put a tent in, but we were up off the ground on a cozy but comfortable bed, it stayed warmer inside at night and cooler inside in the morning, and it took us about 40 minutes to pack up and leave.

The pop-top left plenty of space for storage up top, and if it was our van, we could use storage more effectively and be totally devoid of clutter.

We're going to rent a Vanagon to see if the extra space and better drivability make a difference to us, but she really loved the atmosphere in the older style van, and I do too.

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/56ba76c64d088e34b3e11c67/56e9f9014c2f85a15d432c89/573b7f26b09f95025f82a030/1463517071820/DSC00613.JPG?format=2500w
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/56ba76c64d088e34b3e11c67/56e9f9014c2f85a15d432c89/56e9fc292b8dde3a994e9486/1458175191864/IMG_0669.jpg?format=2500w
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/56ba76c64d088e34b3e11c67/56e9f9014c2f85a15d432c89/56e9fc3c7c65e4b070dc0d5f/1458175212301/IMG_0675.jpg?format=2500w

[thesameguy]

FWIW there are companies selling some cool, California legal engine swaps for the Vanagons. Subaru EJs and VW Axx 1.8Ts come to mind.

Personally, I couldn't imagine owning an old bus with any intention of using it seriously. They're a blast in SoCal but a rough experience in bad weather or serious topography. My aunt & uncle had one when we lived in Irvine and I will never forget a harrowing ride up to Mammoth in that thing. They later replaced it with a Vanagon which was still painfully slow but never scary. :D

Seeing pictures of your rental really brings back memories. Theirs looked the same inside but was orange outside.

[novicius]

Choice!! :D :up: ♡

[speedpimp]

Sweet.

[thesameguy]

Ugh. Friend of mine is living out one of my nightmares... F53 motorhome died on the road, probably has a dead fuel pump. No idea how to help him as he just fueled up - dropping a tank with 100 gallons of gas in it sounds impossible. Shops are saying "maybe three days."

This is why I don't rely on people. They're never around when you need them.

[Godson]

that blows

[thesameguy]

After calling everyone in the greater Reno area we found a transmission shop with an RV lift that was willing to look at it. They found this thing:

http://sacsaabs.org/sacsaabs.org/misc/f53gizmo.jpg

to be the cause of the problem. It's in the fuel pump circuit, 12v in and intermittent 10v out. I have no idea what that thing is... the shop says it's "a capacitor or voltage regulator" for the fuel pump, but that doesn't make much sense to me. It really doesn't matter if the pump has slightly low or slightly high voltage, it's a DC motor. I think it's an inertia switch, because that would make sense. :lol: Can't find any picture or reference to either anywhere... it's a mystery!

[Random]

http://www.farber-sv.com/pre_owned_detail.asp?veh=4927166

Way cool custom coach...

http://cdn-8.psndealer.com/e2/dealersite/images/farber-sv/vp4927166_11_large.jpg

...with upholstery by grandma. :lol:

[thesameguy]

Certainly for her, if not by her!

[speedpimp]

Those chairs look so comfy.