Little off-the-wall project for '78 C30

[lblampman]

Greetings all,

I've been reading the forums here for a while and trying to learn what I can to pursue an idea I have for a project. I'm hoping to gain some more insight from all you fine folk (maybe just before I step off the cliff, rather than just after )

I have a 1978 C30 based Beaver class C motorhome. The camper part is about done for after 32 years but the truck is acutally in pretty nice condition and I want to use it as the base for an expedition style camper.

I want to keep this truck if I can for the project because it's only got 33,000 original miles on it and because the extended frame is perfect for the size camper box I want to build. It has a 454 with an automatic, and has duals. The cab is really straight and quite frankly, I'd like to keep it on the road rather than it ending up in a junk yard somewhere.

So here's where I need the collective wisdom gathered here as I don't have a lot of background in these trucks like a lot of folks here.

The idea is to strip the Beaver motorhome body off competely and to build a 14' expedition style camper (basically a box, it won't have a cabover portion and will be much lower than the Beaver motorhome camper part is now).

The part I'm not so sure of is how best to get maximum ground clearance since this isn't a K30. I'd like to install an air locker and a winch on the front. This won't be a real "off road" vehicle and I don't intend for it to be but I do want to use it off pavement and well off the beaten path (Alaska, Baja, southern Utah, beaches, etc); eventually south through Mexico into Central America, and perhaps shipped to South America.

I think I'd also like to have single tires in the back rather than the duals; is this something that's relatively easy to change?

And if I did want it to be 4x4, what does it take to make that change (mostly parts acquisition and installation, or a lot of fab work)?

This is the best time for me to get input, so please don't be shy with your thoughts, ideas, and comments (hopefully constructively ).

Thanks!

Les
Whidbey Island, WA