The error of my ways / good mpg 4x4 Motorhome-in-a-phonebooth concept
- Thread starter 77blazerchalet
- Start date
77blazerchalet
Former Chalet owner
Sold the Blazer Chalet
I'm a cautious fella, I don't like going below a certain pure cash reserve amount to pay for emergencies like my crazy high insurance deductible, or an exploded engine in my daily driver car, etc. And since restricted weekend access to the mangy old camper really was putting the skids on doing serious work to it, combined with skidding income from my mutual funds, an offer of $8500 for it was too good to pass up.
By no means have I lost interest in these, I'll keep searching on a near-daily basis for Chalets & Casa Grandes on the internet, and still welcome all sightings of them. Mine is going to an especially appreciative home in Indiana, to be kept indoors out of the rain, and road salt. Most likely I'll be able to announce something on behalf of the new owner that could be a a really nice surprise to you lovers of more than just one type of classic 4x4, but he's not ready for that yet. Recycling old iron rather than crushing good stuff is probably the most I can hint at.
A more practical 4door SUV, 2000-01 Nissan Xterra most likely, is in the works, and maybe later I'll get a more rare Casa Grande just to own for sheer collectibleness. But, I'll drive off that bridge when I get to it.
So if you see this motoring toward Lebanon Indiana in the next couple of days, that be my ex...........
I'm a cautious fella, I don't like going below a certain pure cash reserve amount to pay for emergencies like my crazy high insurance deductible, or an exploded engine in my daily driver car, etc. And since restricted weekend access to the mangy old camper really was putting the skids on doing serious work to it, combined with skidding income from my mutual funds, an offer of $8500 for it was too good to pass up.
By no means have I lost interest in these, I'll keep searching on a near-daily basis for Chalets & Casa Grandes on the internet, and still welcome all sightings of them. Mine is going to an especially appreciative home in Indiana, to be kept indoors out of the rain, and road salt. Most likely I'll be able to announce something on behalf of the new owner that could be a a really nice surprise to you lovers of more than just one type of classic 4x4, but he's not ready for that yet. Recycling old iron rather than crushing good stuff is probably the most I can hint at.
A more practical 4door SUV, 2000-01 Nissan Xterra most likely, is in the works, and maybe later I'll get a more rare Casa Grande just to own for sheer collectibleness. But, I'll drive off that bridge when I get to it.
So if you see this motoring toward Lebanon Indiana in the next couple of days, that be my ex...........
AeroNautiCal
Explorer
Consider this...
The Camping Car concept is very popular in Europe, and as vehicles here are invariably smaller, this makes for greater innovation when it comes to economic self build. There are several types of proven designs, some of which retain the full vehicle seating capacity and do not screw/bolt mount into the base vehicle, or otherwise modify it.
To get the most out of your vehicle, but to not permanently modify it, and/or to retain full seating capacity (if these things matter to you) yet still have a functional camping car are well within the self builder's scope, as are the fixed conversions which also retain full seating and don't compromise on the 'everyday utility/family' role of the vehicle.
So here's some idea's on how it's done in Europe...
Enjoy... This!
The Camping Car concept is very popular in Europe, and as vehicles here are invariably smaller, this makes for greater innovation when it comes to economic self build. There are several types of proven designs, some of which retain the full vehicle seating capacity and do not screw/bolt mount into the base vehicle, or otherwise modify it.
To get the most out of your vehicle, but to not permanently modify it, and/or to retain full seating capacity (if these things matter to you) yet still have a functional camping car are well within the self builder's scope, as are the fixed conversions which also retain full seating and don't compromise on the 'everyday utility/family' role of the vehicle.
So here's some idea's on how it's done in Europe...
Enjoy... This!
bugnout
Adventurer
As for Liberty's, the 2002 brochure photo below shows I could sleep in there but only after the front seat is removed - the length of the yellow area is equal to the nearly 72 inch width of a Liberty, using this photo as a guide and guestimating a bit on where the outside panels would be. And, I happen to need 72 inches to stretch out comfortably.
I'm 71 inches tall and find sleeping in my liberty pretty easy/ comfortable. I have power seats, and just move the drivers seat all the way forward and lean the seat forward. It tucks up pretty tight to the steering wheel. Currently I have a small cooler that fits perfectly in the space between the back seat and the back of the drivers seat. The rear seats don't fold flat, so I sleep head to the front slightly elevated, which I find comfortable. I use two old sleeping pads.
I figured out how to get the seats to lay flat, I've yet to find time to make the mods. Also plan to mount a hinged plywood platform to the back of the rear seat to bridge the gap the cooler fills now. For interior space, I have a steel interior rack across the back that lets me get a significant amount of stuff off the floor.
Also installed window vents so I can crack the windows and not worry about rain getting in.
The "Opportunity Cost" is the value of the alternative not selected, and it's not limited to the dollar amount of the running maintenance and expenses. I had a Pathfinder and took it off raod and camped in it. Nothing technical, but off the fire roads. It is bullet proof. I also had a Safari AWD, Never camped in it like we talk about here, but spent many nights in it and 18+ hours at a stretch. Never took the Safari really off road, but out in pastures, some woods and along creeks, if you call that "off road".
The Safari was hands down the more comfortable of the two alternatives. I could duck walk around and move about bent over. In the Pathfinder (or any SUV of its size) you'll be crawling or slithering in and out. The van has more usuable space. MPG is about the same, the GMC maybe a little better. In my area, the Pathy will cost more than any Astro in comprable years and condition. Either will tow about the same. High winds on the highway you'll be fighting more in the GMC than a Pathy, but it's not that bad (if it gets that bad you should probably get off the road anyway!) I would say that bigger is better in this comparison.
While the opportunity costs can be measured in dollars to some extent, the cost of seeing the doctor about my back is another issue. IMO, the costs of comfort lost in any SUV compared to a van are much higher....and the same thing goes again if we compared a van to a motorhome. If you're a hard core offroader, I'd suggest the Pathfinder or like others a good SUV, if you lean more toward the camping and livability ov the vehicle, with some offroad abilities, seems the GMC/Astro would be a better choice, even without a top.
The Safari was hands down the more comfortable of the two alternatives. I could duck walk around and move about bent over. In the Pathfinder (or any SUV of its size) you'll be crawling or slithering in and out. The van has more usuable space. MPG is about the same, the GMC maybe a little better. In my area, the Pathy will cost more than any Astro in comprable years and condition. Either will tow about the same. High winds on the highway you'll be fighting more in the GMC than a Pathy, but it's not that bad (if it gets that bad you should probably get off the road anyway!) I would say that bigger is better in this comparison.
While the opportunity costs can be measured in dollars to some extent, the cost of seeing the doctor about my back is another issue. IMO, the costs of comfort lost in any SUV compared to a van are much higher....and the same thing goes again if we compared a van to a motorhome. If you're a hard core offroader, I'd suggest the Pathfinder or like others a good SUV, if you lean more toward the camping and livability ov the vehicle, with some offroad abilities, seems the GMC/Astro would be a better choice, even without a top.
Frankspinz
Adventurer
Sounds like my 2003 Nissan Xterra ! I removed the rear seat backs and cussions, built a raised platform (about 8 inches) - lots of storage room under the platform, room to sleep on top... More storage on the roof rack ...