is this one of the ones that Ujoint converted to 4x4 or is this a Quigley unit?
I had a Bornfree 4x4 like this but it had the 460, the only reason I sold it and head room. I trying to building my 7.3 4x4 ambo in a similar manner.
You should make a video of it, people that haven't seen one in person don't understand what they are. These and the Bigfoots were probably the best things going in that time period.
Thanks
The former Trailwagons company of Yakima, WA, the manufacturers of the original Chinook motorhomes contracted with the former Salem Kroger company of Red Bluff, CA to perform the 4x4 conversions. Both those companies went out of business almost a decade ago. My understanding is that the company which bought the assets of the bankrupt Trailwinds company is currently building motorhomes under the Chinook name.
The former manager of Salem Kroger, Craig Jackson, opened his own 4x4 conversions business under the name of Whitefeather 4x4 Conversions, in Red Bluff after the bankruptcy of Salem Kroger. According to Craig, the best 2 wheel drive mainstream motorhome candidates for a 4x4 motorhome conversion are the old Chinooks and the Bigfoots.
At this website
https://www.runamokmama.com/4x4-motorhome-4-sale.html owned by some friends of mine, there is a link to a video of my Baja 4x4 that was taken by Youtubers: Wynot Wander, back in the spring while I was at America's Mailbox - mail forwarding service - in Box Elder, SD. I wasn't there at the time they made the video. Here's direct link to the video
From what I have learned over the last year and a half, the front axle and front & rear suspension, and steering, and brakes need to be 1 Ton Super Duty at a bare minimum. You need to have someone who is an established expert in real, real world, roadless terrain vehicles to at least advise, direct, and supervise the suspension, steering and braking system work if you want the project to be safe and sucessful.
Weather permitting I may take some new photos and do a short amateur video after New Years. Otherwise it will have to wait until spring. Everywhere I go it turns heads and people stop to walk around it and take photos. Because as you say, they've never seen anything like it before. Not many were made, and fewer have survived. It's a bit like having an old Mustang or Corvette.
The Chinook was designed and built to be a luxury weekend / holiday camper. And for its intended purpose it is exceptional. But I am living in it full time, and I need more space, more storage, more house batteries, more solar panels, more water, etc. And there just isn't enough chassis, roof, or camper space to upgrade it beyond what it was designed for. And because this is the first RV I've ever owned I didn't realize what my needs would be until I went through the experience.
Thanks to all for the kind comments.
Merry Christmas everyone!
