Help me plan out an overlanding rig...

[Ned Kelly]

I say Burb. We have a 1982 and it is great. We have done 2 adults and 2 kids, or just 2 adults. Pull in anywhere and sleep in back. Great for mild 4x4 trails (and even moderate when I feel adventurous). We are usually the lone vehicle so I am careful what we do, so wifey doesn't get upset about wasting a day doing trail repairs or getting unstuck. We often did both, slept in the back or set up a tent.

Few years later we ended up getting a pop up. Set up base camp, and go explore. More room with the older kids now, and perfect. Don't have to carry all the gear in the Burb either when exploring, so lightens vehicle up for driving around.

Back at home the Burb is useful too as a bus/people hauler or getting stuff from Home Depot, etc. Nice thing is it is so spacious, and it can be locked up and things are secure (compared to pickup box). Very versatile vehicle.

Only thing I would change would be upgrading to simple overdrive like 700r4 and lower diff gears for 33' tires. Otherwise it is great.
I vote Burb.

 

[campfire]

I say Burb. We have a 1982 and it is great. We have done 2 adults and 2 kids, or just 2 adults. Pull in anywhere and sleep in back. Great for mild 4x4 trails (and even moderate when I feel adventurous). We are usually the lone vehicle so I am careful what we do, so wifey doesn't get upset about wasting a day doing trail repairs or getting unstuck. We often did both, slept in the back or set up a tent.

Few years later we ended up getting a pop up. Set up base camp, and go explore. More room with the older kids now, and perfect. Don't have to carry all the gear in the Burb either when exploring, so lightens vehicle up for driving around.

Back at home the Burb is useful too as a bus/people hauler or getting stuff from Home Depot, etc. Nice thing is it is so spacious, and it can be locked up and things are secure (compared to pickup box). Very versatile vehicle.

Only thing I would change would be upgrading to simple overdrive like 700r4 and lower diff gears for 33' tires. Otherwise it is great.
I vote Burb.

This is exactly the train of thought that we had. And sticking with plan A would be the easiest thing to do.

And it's already geared for 33s with O/D

 

[GWeakland620]

Well, get to tranny swappin!!!

 

[campfire]

I have found, after much thought and research, that I do want a pop-up slide in camper. I need to reduce overall height. I do require a toilet, and a shower. I also want heat and ac. There are plenty of campers here for sale, but none have fit my needs. I am waiting till the right one "pops up" .

I will go off road with this truck. Nothing too crazy, as I have a rig for that. But 4x4 would be needed, and some ok ground clearance.

Aside from your devotion to A.C., the other things like cooking, showering, and toileting are easily done outside the vehicle. I would have thought that the primary advantage of a camper is being able to poop while moving, but my observation is that few such small rigs are set up for that.

 

[campfire]

Well, get to tranny swappin!!!

Soon. I don't have a tranny yet, nor have I set up a very functional shop. And I'm not jumping into another project until camping season is done. This build is for next year's camping trips.

 

[Blue85]

Aside from your devotion to A.C.,

I would have thought that the primary advantage of a camper is being able to poop while moving

There are only 2 ways to do A/C - campgrounds and generators. (Every once in a while you catch some noobs talking about running A/C off batteries ). Neither one sounds like adventure travel. Just camp near Lake Superior and a quadrillion gallons of 35 degree water next to you solves the problem.

In a full-up RV with pump and holding tanks, you can get away with using the toilet while moving. Seatbelt laws are kind of non-specific for RVs. A canister "camp" toilet is not the same thing and using it while moving is a bad idea. Have you ever used one? Off road, it's a very bad idea, but on the bright side, all you have to do is stop moving for a few minutes. On road, privacy and seatbelt laws are issues even if the horror of "slosh" isn't enough of a show-stopper for you.

 

[82355]

Buy a shortbox, slide in, pop up camper, and graft it into the rear of the Suburban.

Martin

 

[GWeakland620]

^^^might be the best idea yet!!!

 

[GWeakland620]

Actually, now that I'm thinking more about martin's idea. I bet you could almost leave the short box out of the equation, and just cut the roof off the suburban in the rear. Then find a way to seal it up to prevent water damage.

 

[The Griff]

Buy a shortbox, slide in, pop up camper, and graft it into the rear of the Suburban.

Martin

Better yet, graft in the bed of a Blazer and cut the front out of the camper, Sublazer! or Crewcab Blazer. However you see it.

 

[GWeakland620]

Man, you could have all these ideas rolled into 1 super awesome overlander machine!!!

 

[82355]

Actually, now that I'm thinking more about martin's idea. I bet you could almost leave the short box out of the equation, and just cut the roof off the suburban in the rear. Then find a way to seal it up to prevent water damage.

How is that any different than what I said?

Martin

 

[GWeakland620]

Well, I totally read your post wrong. You said what I said before I said it.

 

[82355]

The reason I said shortbox, was so that it would only be the length of the rear of the Suburban behind the back seat. The "shortbox" bit was fairly important.

Martin

 

[blazinzuk]

There was a guy on here a while back who was going to shorten the frame of a crew cab so a chalet camper would fit.

Issam was his name in imiceman was his user name I think I tried searching but I could no find it

 

[82355]

He hasn't been on here for a long time.

Martin

 

[campfire]

Man, you could have all these ideas rolled into 1 super awesome overlander machine!!!

That's the purpose of this thread...

 

[campfire]

Martin, we've thought about that. And we may do something in that vein. Not this year, but the idea will keep rattling around in the back of my brain.

 

[campfire]

There was a guy on here a while back who was going to shorten the frame of a crew cab so a chalet camper would fit.

Issam was his name in imiceman was his user name I think I tried searching but I could no find it

I've been wondering about Issam. He hasn't been gone too long, we donated to his fundraiser last year. But I haven't heard from him for a while.

I've thought about doing a Chalet Burb. Our resident Chalet expert has reminded me several times that there is a gutted shell sitting in Iowa for sale.

Being up in the woods, camper shells are pretty cheap every fall. But I think I would cut up the '93 if I was gonna do a chop job. Same overall length, but more working space in the back.

 

[campfire]

There are only 2 ways to do A/C - campgrounds and generators. (Every once in a while you catch some noobs talking about running A/C off batteries ). Neither one sounds like adventure travel. Just camp near Lake Superior and a quadrillion gallons of 35 degree water next to you solves the problem.

In a full-up RV with pump and holding tanks, you can get away with using the toilet while moving. Seatbelt laws are kind of non-specific for RVs. A canister "camp" toilet is not the same thing and using it while moving is a bad idea. Have you ever used one? Off road, it's a very bad idea, but on the bright side, all you have to do is stop moving for a few minutes. On road, privacy and seatbelt laws are issues even if the horror of "slosh" isn't enough of a show-stopper for you.

My A.C. consists of a battery powered fan. Very reasonable off grid power draw.

I haven't used a portable toilet, but I have used an RV toilet. Probably not worth the hassle and lost space, but it sure is convenient on the go.