Treasure or White Elephant?

[Morgan7600]

Hi guys,&nbsp; I've been wanting to get my teeth into some RV remodel and build for learning purposes for a while now and recently found an ad what would appear to be an Alaskan Camper.&nbsp; I spoke with the owner and he informed me that it is not.&nbsp; He's probably correct about that as I do not see that old iconic "Alaskan" metal work embossing in any of the pictures.<br>Still it looks like it may be a fun starter project for me to learn on.&nbsp; Sounds like I may be able to pick it up for about 100 bucks because he wants it out of there.<br>It looks really heavy and I'm thinking now how would you heft it up to slide it onto my truck for the ride home and a better question would be, how would I then get it off in my yard so I can tear into it?<br>I think I'll just go by and take a look at the old beast.&nbsp; I'll let you know how that turns out...<br><br>Comments anyone?

 

[Lostinspace]

Question is how much does he want for the GMC Motohome sitting beside the camper top? Those are kool to restore.

As for the topper it's on a trailer. Maybe you can talk him into letting you tow it to your house then wench it off. A couple of ropes around it and a good tree limb and wench it off.

 

[Morgan7600]

You know I noticed that too.&nbsp; If you like those, you'll love this...&nbsp;&nbsp; http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/rvs/3834348510.html

 

[user 423]

Wench that baby off...

 

[Morgan7600]

Well there<strong> is</strong> an interest in this old dog in our community isn't there!<br>It is on a trailer but look again.&nbsp; The boat trailer has 4 flat tires<br>and there is no way it would get up my driveway and around dead<br>man's curve!&nbsp; And if it did, he'd have to leave the trailer because I <br>don't have the equipment needed to haul it up to "slide in" elevation<br>where it is supposed to be.&nbsp; I guess a guy who really wanted this thing<br>would go out and find a set of used camper jacks and just install them as<br>it sits on the trailer.&nbsp; Crank it up, drive under and drive away.<br>This is definitely a white elephant but I still want it!

 

[Morgan7600]

This must be how Barney contacted Andy who was driving the 58 Dodge!

 

[Willy]

&nbsp;I love the design of those old campers; smooth curves 'n such. My '65 Alaskan camper looks similar, but yours isn't one (Alaskans telescope up). Figure on, at the very least, tearing out most of the interior wood paneling to get at rot, and replacing a number of studs. The insulation probably sux in it, so that would need replacing too. ..Willy.&nbsp;

 

[Morgan7600]

Hey Willy,&nbsp; Man I'd love to do all that &amp; that is exactly the way I had thought to approach the renovation.&nbsp; <br>As for what brand it is, I have seen that distinctive swooping red &amp; white paint job<br>before and can't place it.&nbsp; Google has their new "Google Images" so you can get a conglomerate of <br>pics of whatever you're looking for and I found one similar.&nbsp; It had the down pointing design on the <br>side though &amp; not on the end like this one.&nbsp; I followed the links and they led to not saying what type<br>of camper they were displaying so it's still a mystery.<br><br>I think it would be fun and I know I could make a bit of $$$ on it if I did it right...

 

[highdesertranger]

boy that wood interior looks really cool.&nbsp; to bad about the water damage.&nbsp; I liked the two way radio to talk to the people in the cab.&nbsp; highdesertranger

 

[Morgan7600]

highdes,&nbsp; Yes I was drawn to the interior with it's sweeping curves as well.&nbsp; You can trace product creativity back actually as technology increased in availability, creativity in most all products decreased by the same factor.&nbsp; What a shame.&nbsp; Good old American craftsmanship gone the way of the iPad!<br><br>I'll take a look at this camper tomorrow and let you know what happens.&nbsp; I think if I were selling that unit, I'd have removed those ptomaine looking mattresses a long time ago.&nbsp; Do you suppose it smells nice in there with the doors and windows shut when it's 98 in the shade here in San Diego?&nbsp; Oh boy!

 

[Morgan7600]

Well I never got over there to take a look at the other old dog because it's 200 degrees out there today!&nbsp; Yikes!<br><br>I did however find this on Craig's today.&nbsp; <br><br>This guy thinks he has a trailer...&nbsp; http://sandiego.craigslist.org/esd/rvs/3901816670.html

 

[highdesertranger]

morgan, wow&nbsp;that second one looks like it's in really good shape inside.&nbsp; good looking lab is he/she old enough to drive. &nbsp; highdesertranger

 

[Morgan7600]

Yeah it is sweet inside isn't it.&nbsp; I want a Lance or something newer when I'm ready to break out.<br>Those old wood campers are just so heavy.&nbsp; The newer units use aluminum.<br><br>Those old units are what I want to buy and sell.&nbsp; I'd love to have a shop and just bring in the classics and pump out works of art!

 

[Ballenxj]

WOW! That second one is pretty nice. That's the one I would go with if you can swing it. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img"> <br>-Bruce

 

[Morgan7600]

Hi Bruce,&nbsp; Unfortunately these are just research for me at this point.&nbsp; I'm still in my house and poor as dirt!&nbsp; That's one of the main attractions for me to go full timing next year.&nbsp; As much as I love my home, I'm never going to get the $$$ to complete the endless remodels and such.&nbsp; I'm thinking a light weight Lance to start out with when I'm ready but I am also quite drawn to these classics.&nbsp; One of the things I want to do is learn to build and remodel/restore campers and motor homes.&nbsp; M

 

[Ballenxj]

Hi Morgan, You mention you want a Lance camper, but have you seen any that are affordable? <br>IMO, Lance campers sell for big bucks. They are nice though. <br>-Bruce

 

[Morgan7600]

Hey Ballenxj,&nbsp; yes I did notice that but if I can do this, I'll have a few grand to begin with and will have to choose how I want to begin the adventure.&nbsp; In my mind, I love my truck and it's paid for so camper comes up.&nbsp; A C-Class would work but then I'd have to sell my truck and begin to trust a new &amp; unknown vehicle mechanically which may not be much fun for something so important as this!&nbsp; Also, how much quality can you buy in a C-Class for the same amount of $$$ for a camper if you know what I mean?<br><br>So what I thought was just spend as much as I have on the lightest camper I can find and that's where Lance comes in.&nbsp; I certainly don't know all the brands but I guess there are a few other similar manufacturers but hey, I'll just see what I can find when the time arrives.<br><br>Yesterday, while driving around here in SD I did have a thought to consider pulling a travel trailer too so I would have my overhead camper on the truck and my condo on wheels in tow.&nbsp; A vision of this produces a real "Luci &amp; Desi" moment doesn't it?<br>The thing is that while everyone says well you can disconnect and still have your "tow" vehicle to drive around in, I suck at backing up trailers and having something that big and heavy following me around like that is a bit unnerving!

 

[Morgan7600]

rwj146,&nbsp; Yes, I have indeed given that much thought.&nbsp; I do not have a dually so would have to add air bag suspension assist or the old air shocks.&nbsp; Do they still use those?&nbsp; There is much research to be done.<br>I am quite sure what I feel is a very large emotional connection with my truck.&nbsp; After that, the logic sets it!

 

[Morgan7600]

Hey rwj146,&nbsp; Well oddly enough, I'm not so sure I want to go too very far off the beaten trail because I live in a secluded home and one of the things I need right now is people.&nbsp; So I'm pretty sure I want to go to places like the Colorado River play time beaches or happy little "by the lake" camp sites and the like.&nbsp; I do not however wish to pay for parking so I guess I fall somewhere in the middle ground.&nbsp; I've also been looking at the Casino "free over-nighting" thing and there are many out there by that big river you know!<br><br>The idea of "stealth" parking scares the hell out of me coming from my cozy little secluded house but the whole idea is to save money so that may be a part of the equation if I get going next year as planned.<br><br>As for actually boondocking, I think I could enjoy it with a group but that remains to be seen.&nbsp; At this point, I envision the plan as an adventure so who knows where it could lead and isn't that the idea anyways?!!<br><br>There is also another way of looking at what everyone on this site is either doing or thinking of doing.<br><strong>The whole world has gone crazy!&nbsp;</strong> There can no longer be any doubt of that.&nbsp; I figure we should go out and find some fun and a bit of adventure with the time we have left and I'm not saying that as a 64 year old, just that those idiots who like to view themselves as "leaders" seem dead set on destroying this small blue planet with their ridiculous bombs and <strong>their</strong> political wars!

 

[Morgan7600]

This is a candidate for what I would be looking for when I'm ready.&nbsp; Under 4K and real clean.&nbsp; Still a Lance but not 18 grand like the other one on the same page today!&nbsp;&nbsp;<br><br> <span style="color: #333399;"><strong>http://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/rvs/3902793478.html</strong></span><br><br>He's got it on an F2 much older than mine but still the same basic truck config as mine.