Show me your Mobile Home/Camper!

[Onlybackroads]

Anyone build a mobile home/camper/shack using the chassis of a Model A/AA or any other old car/truck? I want to build one someday to take on long trips, to music festivals, far away swap meets, and be able to sleep and cook in it. I've seen some pretty cool old ones, mostly home made, while doing searches on google images, but it'd be great to see some of the Fordbarners creations for some inspiration! Please post photos of anything you've built, including inside pictures if possible. I'd like to build something with a boat-builders way of making the cabin compact and every nook and cranny efficiently used for storage. And definitely a wood-burning cook stove!

[pooch]

I am building one atm for my 28 CCPU.

Will post pics tomorrow.

Not a wood burning stove, but a chimney.

[ctlikon0712]

Here are a few that I have collected pics of over the years. Ford and other brands allike. It will give you an idea of the "look".

[Skeezixx]

A friend of mine bought a Scarab from the Harrah's collection. It was the craziest looking vehicle I ever saw. All streamlined, powered by a flathead Ford V 8 and in his, the entire interior furnishings were rattan.

http://blog.collectorcarads.com/stout-scarab/02/2009/

[Steve Plucker]

Originally Posted by ctlikon0712

Here are a few that I have collected pics of over the years. Ford and other brands allike. It will give you an idea of the "look".

Ahhhhhhhhh....The old "Ox Mobile" and Ezra Meeker!

I tried to find out what ever happened to it but the Oregon Trail Association dosen't know.

Pluck

[Onlybackroads]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Great start! I just read up a little bit on Ezra Meeker, what an interesting fella! He sure crossed the country quite a few times. I was tempted to do a canvas covered flatbed, but it may not be the best shelter for longtime use. Although it would be lighter and easier to drive than a fully wooden house.

[Onlybackroads]

Also, that old white truck next to the buggy looks like it's at the Cloud Museum im Arizona.

[WTSHNN]

Here's one from the Net...

-Tim

[Onlybackroads]

Hey that's great! I wonder if that's in Pulaski, I don't like too far away from there. Seems like its in some sort of museum.

[ctlikon0712]

Also, that old white truck next to the buggy looks like it's at the Cloud Museum im Arizona.

I have been to the Cloud Museum, what a neat place.
I don't think that is where I got that pic. Below is the link to my pics from there.
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showth...t=cloud+museum

[FL&WVMIKE]

Here's a real photo, old post card, showing a very early camper, built, probably, in the early teens.
They weren't too concerned over the weight, back then.
MIKE (mikeburch)
CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE - Twice

[Onlybackroads]

Wow, look at that tile floor! The sure weren't concerned! I wish I wasn't either, but I feel like I should only go so slow, with traffic these days. But at least I'll stay off the interstate, and maybe sport some big bright orange triangles on the back, especially if I end up building on a double A.

[pooch]

Backroads, here is my current project....custom sized to fit my 28 CCPU.

Will be woodgrained painted on outside with a fold down rear porch with awning over.

Has shower / toilet and have red velvet curtains and red trim .














Some guys here don't like cars that are not strictly stock in every way, so I will send you by PM how it sits on my CCPU .

[FL&WVMIKE]

Originally Posted by pooch

Backroads, here is my current project....custom sized to fit my 28 CCPU.

Will be woodgrained painted on outside with a fold down rear porch with awning over.

Has shower / toilet and have red velvet curtains and red trim .














Some guys here don't like cars that are not strictly stock in every way, so I will send you by PM how it sits on my CCPU .

pooch ......................
That looks like it is going to beautiful !!, but heavy.
MIKE (mikeburch)

[Neil Mylar LakewoodCA]

Did you see this Model A camper on ebay?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-Model-A...ks#ht_86wt_662

[pooch]

Thanks Mike, yeh, I have to judge everything I put into it.

The brass lamps I traveled 120 kms to lok at were too heavy, so I got lighter ones.

Half of the frame and all the cladding is aluminium.

The heaviest parts are the stove and the window glass .

Gunna be interesting when I do weigh it.

Backroads, here's some more for inspiration....

[FL&WVMIKE]

Originally Posted by pooch

Thanks Mike, yeh, I have to judge everything I put into it.

The brass lamps I traveled 120 kms to lok at were too heavy, so I got lighter ones.

Half of the frame and all the cladding is aluminium.

The heaviest parts are the stove and the window glass .

Gunna be interesting when I do weigh it.

Backroads, here's some more for inspiration....

pooch ....................
Those are great !
I bet that first one has real sod, for their yard.
MIKE (mikeburch)

[KenCoupe]

Google "Autocamps to Airstreams: The Early Road to Vacationland" This was an exhibit at the Peterson Automotive Museum in 2008. My daughter wrote and article for Motorhome Magazine about the exhibit. There was everything from a Model T converted to a motorhome to early Airstream trailers. The Peterson web site has some photos. If I can find some of the photos we took, I will post them.

[SeaSlugs]

with a platform AA its large enough to setup a decent sized tent on the back of it

[Steve Plucker]

Originally Posted by SeaSlugs

with a platform AA its large enough to setup a decent sized tent on the back of it

You should recreate the Oxmobile!

Pluck

[pooch]

Got some paint on it .

Green roof and woodgrain walls.

Would be further along 'cept I am building a car trailer in between .

[pooch]

Purists..... don't look.

http://s86.photobucket.com/user/pooc...camper%20build

[Hoogah]

Found these on Facebook yesterday.

Particularly interested in the camper trailer that unfolds to the sides, with the tattered canvas roof. Anyone built something like that, or have similar photos?

[jbond]

Not an A but a T camper, aka Telescoping Apartment.

[russcochiolo]

Thanks to all. I enjoyed seeing the photos. Being the caretaker of a roadster, a trailer just might be in my future. It's yours.......do it your way! Russ

[CHuDWah]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Check out this link:

http://hotrodsbyhg.com/current_proje...y%20Camper.htm

for restoration of a replica Traveler's Wagon. Ford made a few (10 or so) of them - think they were all 1931. The original had built-in camping equipment (fold-down bed, icebox, water tank, etc) in the back and screens instead of glass in the side panels. They were an offshoot of the Special Delivery (also rare) which was pretty much the same except for solid wood side panels and no camping equipment. Unlike the Station Wagon, those two bodies had roll-up windows and locking handles on the doors.

Also check out:

http://www.housetrucks.com/maindex.html

advertises the site owner's book but has lots of pix (click on them for even more).

[Synchro909]

Originally Posted by jbond

Not an A but a T camper, aka Telescoping Apartment.

Saw one of these heading across the Nullabor 2 years ago. Slept 2 and was the centre of attraction

[Tom Wesenberg]

At a local car show last summer I saw a neat camper that fits on the roof of a car. It folds out and has a ladder for the side of the car so you can climb up to the roof top tent.

[CarlG]

like this?

[Tom Wesenberg]

Yes, that looks real close as I remember it. It was on top of a Corvair.

I remember the owner telling that he got it for almost nothing.

[CarlG]

Close as I can get:

[29er]

Not Model A, but here's a 1940 Kozy Kamp Trailer for sale in Portland, Oregon:

http://www.memorylaneclassiccars.com...-kamp-trailer/

[JDupuis]

Pictures of mine, are in my profile photo album. Jeff

[TerryO]

There was a really neat Model A camping display at the Old Car Festival last Sept.

[Chuck Sea/Tac]

Originally Posted by Steve Plucker

Ahhhhhhhhh....The old "Ox Mobile" and Ezra Meeker!

I tried to find out what ever happened to it but the Oregon Trail Association dosen't know.

Pluck

I'll swing by Ezra's house next time I'm in puyallup, and see if it in the garage!

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by CarlG

Close as I can get:

This guy had it on top of a Corvair car, but I sure like the looks of that Greenbrier camper. I've never seen a Corvair Greenbrier set up like that before.

[H. L. Chauvin]

Remember seeing some well designed small, vintage "teardrop" type camper plans either in original copies of old Popular Mechanics or Mechanics Illustrated, maybe in issues during the late 1920's or 1930's which were wood framed with curved painted plywood front, top, & rear, with vertical flat sides and a side entrance/exit door.

Kitchen equipment was accessed at the rear through a curved and top hinged opening, similar to a car trunk.

Seems as though one may be able to obtain copies of these vintage magazine articles & plans which may be "indexed" on line.

Also, many "Do-It-Yourself", (DIY) plans, (including vintage teardrop plans), are available "today" on line. Not one of them will ever fit 100% of your needs; but, once one has a basic plan, alterations may be made to suit one's individual needs.

[Synchro909]

Our first camper with termite mound in the background. Just as well Model As have steel wheels!

[Brad in Germany]

Here is the one that is in the Den Hartogh Ford Museum in the Netherlands:




Brad in Maaryland

[JBill]

According to one inflation calculator, the $5000 pricetag on the 1932 Scarab mentioned in post #4 would be almost $90,000 today. Oddly, at auction it probably would bring even more than that!