1972 K/5 Ronco Camper
 

This is my 1972 K/5 Blazer with Ronco Camper. The Chevrolet & GMC Dealerships would take the blazer & sierra grande to Ronco Coaches Inc. in Osseo , Minnesota and build it on the chassis. They do not come off. My Father ordered this brand new from Griesbach Chevrolet in Hortonville, Wisconsin.
Firebolt Orange V8-350 4x4 Standard with full size hub caps. I will be adding them back on this spring. The built very few of these and i bought it from my father. Family owned since new with protect-o-plate. If anyone has one of theses rigs please contact me. the cost new was $ 5500. The blazer is 5500 lbs.
When i go to car shows it draws a crowd. I will answer any questions that anyone has. Wanted to show it off to the Blazer fan base.
Paul H. Bellile
Fremont, Wisconsin

Re: 1972 K/5 Ronco Camper
 

Greetings from Eau Claire and thanks for posting. Great story - would love to see more photos when possible.

Re: 1972 K/5 Ronco Camper
 

Very nice, yea more pictures.

Re: 1972 K/5 Ronco Camper
 

I think we have two other very nice member examples of this style Blazer on the board. A blue one and a dark (olive?) green one. Great story with yours!

Re: 1972 K/5 Ronco Camper
 

Very nice thanks for sharing your Blazer and your story.

Re: 1972 K/5 Ronco Camper
 

As of right now, that is one of my favorite Blazers !

Re: 1972 K/5 Ronco Camper
 

That is so cool!!!

Re: 1972 K/5 Ronco Camper
 

That's a very, very nice truck, but...

...no removable top? :eek:

Re: 1972 K/5 Ronco Camper
 

There are plenty of those. This is unique. I have a 77 Blazer Chalet. The idea was obviously good enough that GM decided to offer it as a factory build for a short time.

Re: 1972 K/5 Ronco Camper
 

That is really nice would like to see more pictures of the inside. I have a four-wheel camper on a 1972 jimmy.

Re: 1972 K/5 Ronco Camper
 

More pics :mm:

Re: 1972 K/5 Ronco Camper
 

Bellile, That is a really cool looking rig there. Never seen such that was afixed to the body and not removable. And to that point, never have seen a real Blazer Chalet, have heard of them but never actually seen one. Love to see some interior pics if you would post them.

ngnaz, I have a couple original '77 dealership brochures that mention the Blazer Chalet and show some info on them but again, have never seen one live and up close, :lol: Would have loved to have had one back when I was younger and doing a lot of pheasant and duck hunting. Would have been very handy to have had one at the time. If you might have an interest in either of the brochures shoot me a PM, I could probably let them go as I'm pretty sure I will never own a Blazer Chalet, LOL

Re: 1972 K/5 Ronco Camper
 

Hello From Wisconsin. This unit is not a blazer chalet. Chinook Mobilelodge built apprx. 1500 of the blazer chalet in 1976-1977. These blazers and sierra grande jimmys were taken from the dealerships in 1972 only and sent to Ronco Coaches Inc. in Osseo, Minnesota. Mine was the only one sent from Griesbach Chevrolet. It is unknown how many of these were built. If you have any information fron Ronco Coaches., please let me know. I have pictures of the interior and will post soon. We kept the the same as 1972. Thanks for enjoying my Blazer.

Re: 1972 K/5 Ronco Camper
 

That rig must have spent most of its life in a garage. It's as clean as any I've seen.

Re: 1972 K/5 Ronco Camper
 

It has been garaged since new. I recently got it out of storage last year. I had it parked for 14 years after i bought it from him. I am thankful that he didnt sell it long ago. It is amazing how people react when i bring it to car shows. its a conversation piece to say the least. I showed it off at the IOLA Car Show this year, The largest car show in the midwest. It will stay in the family. Glad you like it.

Paul

Re: 1972 K/5 Ronco Camper
 

Just wondering if you can verify the "1972 only" that these were done? My 70 jimmy is "supposedly" the first jimmy sold in MN according to the previuos owner, but not sure when the camper was added.
I must have missed yours at iola, but i wasn't in the car show much...

Re: 1972 K/5 Ronco Camper
 

After conferring with my dad who ordered it new. Jerry Griesbach, Owner Of Griesbach Chevrolet Of Hortonville, Wisconsin told my dad the K/5 Blazer Or the GMC Jimmy could be sent to Ronco Coaches Inc., and they would build the camper on the chassis. There was another green 1972 GMC Jimmy sold in The appleton-neenah area . My dad talked to him once. I am trying to confirm that 1972 is the only year Ronco Built this unit. Of the 3 vehicles that i know of ,
1 K/5 Blazer and 2 Green GMC Jimmys are the only ones that i know. I have a Brochure from Ronco that I will post soon. I did some checking and what i found out is Ronco was only in business from 1965 to 1972-75. It has been extremely difficult to find information on Ronco, but im working on it. according to the people that i have talked to they have never seen this camper on a 1969 to 1971 Blazer Or Jimmy. Not sure if they built this camper on a full size truck either. I will share any information that i have. Would like to talk to another owner of one. Thanks for asking about it. Any information that i find out i will share on this forum. Paul

Re: 1972 K/5 Ronco Camper
 

I will be at The IOLA car show 2023 with my Blazer. Please look my up in the modified section by the north building. I will be there Thursday & Friday. I will also be showing it at some local shows also.

Re: 1972 K/5 Ronco Camper Old cars Magazine Feature Article September,15 2015 Volume
 

Picture Of My 1972 Chevrolet K/5 Blazer with Ronco Camper
Feature Story of Old cars Magazine September 15,2025
Volume 54,No#18

Re: 1972 K/5 Ronco Camper
 

I always wondered how they could legally do this.
The GVWR on Blazers is extremely low. My 1970 only has a GVW rating of 5000 lbs, and this was increased to 5500 lbs for the 1972 model( not sure about 1971).
If this rig already weighs 5500lbs, putting a driver and gear in the truck will surely cause it to be legally overweight.
If anyone has a 1971, please post the weight rating listed on the info tag located on the driver's door opening.

Re: 1972 K/5 Ronco Camper Old cars Magazine Feature Article September,15 2015 Volume
 

Definitely a good read!