Custom Camper vs Longhorn

[davepl]

I want to make sure I know what I'm talking about, because I'm not sure that I do :-)

What should a 133" GMC (Longhorn) be called? They were all Custom Campers, but the Custom Camper nameplate was available seperately on 127" trucks as well.

On Chevrolet it's easy, they called them a Longhorn.

What's the right way to look at a GMC "Longhorn"? How do you differentiate a 133" GMC Custom Camper from a 127" GMC w/ Custom Camper nameplate?

Or put another way, other than the wheelbase, what on the SPID makes a GMC a "Longhorn" (but not called that)?

[Spartan]

Well...
I'm not sure but the longhorn nameplate is wheelbase determined whilst the custom camper nameplate was based on a group of options not wheelbase. Theoretically with the correct options group one could have a short wheelbase custom camper but never a short wheelbase longhorn.

However I'm not really sure what I just said above is fact so hopefully somebody will either prove it right or wrong but I think I'm close. Cheers!
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[special-K]

You have a C3500 Wideside, but what would a C2500 133" Wideside be called? I now here was no trade name, but how did anyone involved differentiate between the standard C2500 and the 133"?

[davepl]

Originally Posted by special-K

You have a C3500 Wideside, but what would a C2500 133" Wideside be called? I now here was no trade name, but how did anyone involved differentiate between the standard C2500 and the 133"?

Actually mine's a C2500 wide-fleet 133", and it's a Custom Camper, but could you get one that wasn't? Sounds like you could, but I don't recall ever seeing one.

[jocko]

Yes, you can have a Longhorn that is not name-plated as a Custom Camper. That does not mean it could not haul or carry what a Custom Camper could - that's strictly a GVWR thing. 133" wheel base and Z81 can be on the same truck, 3/4 or 1 ton - but neither requires the other - and neither includes the other. The confusion centers around the fact that both are HD-related, and, as such, Z81 was often clicked off on the option list for whatever reason the original owner chose when he was also buying a longhorn - which, by the way, normally chosen to support carrying the long camper that required an 8.5 bed - so Z81 is common to see paired up with Longhorn - but, again, not required or included.

[jocko]

We've all seen plenty of 3/4 ton Custom Campers with 127" wheelbase. But here are some of many non-Z81 Longhorn examples:
EDIT - Dave, I realize now you're talking specifically to GMC - I BELIEVE that the same applies to both Chev and GMC, but I don't have any pics of GMCs (except for yours of course!)

[special-K]

Yes, the custom Camper option was by itself. You could have either WB C2500 and not a Custom Camper.

Longhorn Man had a blog on Longhorns and in that he said the GMC 133" WB P/us were called Custom Campers. But I don't think that was accurate. I think that is where the confusion comes from. i have never seen any literature to support that. It would make no sense to use an already in use name on something of a different definition. There would be C2500 Custom Camper Custom Campers, C2500 Custom Campers, and C2500 Custom Campers with no Custom Camper option. Just like all the other models, GMC just went with what it was, a C2500 Wideside with 133" WB

[bruceman1968]

Here is 3 that are 133'WB and not a custom camper.

[muley]

Mine just says Custom 20. There were no Longhorn emblems on the rear fenders, and no camper designation on the SPID.

[special-K]

Just so you guys know, this thread is about "GMC 133" wheelbase Wideside pickups". We know Chevy named all 133" WB Fleetsides "Longhorn" and the "Custom Camper" option was no different with those than with any other truck that option was available on. The question is, more or less, what were the GMC 133" WB Wideside pickups called? It has been suggested that those were called "Custom Campers" and I saw that can't be. Surely, if they had a name at all, it wouldn't be the same name given to a specific option.

[davepl]

Let's back up a step maybe - what's the actual difference on a Chevrolet between a 133" truck that IS a Longhorn and one that is not? Besides the badge on the side, what's the option code and what does "Longhorn" actually include?

Once we've got that locked away we can look at the more complicated GMC side...

[Sicklajoie]

Originally Posted by davepl

Let's back up a step maybe - what's the actual difference on a Chevrolet between a 133" truck that IS a Longhorn and one that is not? Besides the badge on the side, what's the option code and what does "Longhorn" actually include?

Once we've got that locked away we can look at the more complicated GMC side...

I'm pretty sure all 133" wheelbase trucks were called Longhorns. It wasn't an option thing, it was just the fact it had the extra 6" in the bed.

[1972RedNeck]

Originally Posted by Sicklajoie

I'm pretty sure all 133" wheelbase trucks were called Longhorns. It wasn't an option thing, it was just the fact it had the extra 6" in the bed.

Only Chevy's had "Longhorn" badges.

[davepl]

And not all trucks with the extra 6" in the bed were Longhorns. So what makes a Longhorn a Longhorn if NOT merely the bed, since you could get that without being a Longhorn?

[special-K]

Actually, alll Chevy 133" Fleetsides are what a Longhorn was. There had always been Stepside/Fenderside pickups in C/30 and C3500 series, but in '68 the wide bed was introduced as the Chevrolet Longhorn and GMC made one, too. We just don't know a name for those. The true uniqueness is in the C/20 and C2500s as well. Those were 3/4t trucks but on the 133" chassis which was a 1t chassis. The 133 chassis is the cab & chassis chassis, but there were always 1t pickups. Not until '68 was there ever a 1t wide bed pickup

[bruceman1968]

Dave, ALL Chevrolet trucks with 133' WB and the extra 6" Fleetside bed were Longhorns.
The GMC equivalent did NOT have a sales name. They were just called by what ever they were badged as Custom, Sierra, Sierra Grande, Custom Camper etc..

EDIT, Tim, We don't know the name because there isn't one. GMC just didn't give them a special name.

[SS Tim]

Its really simple,
69 GMC 8-1/2 bed trucks are model coded C_260OD or C-360OD and the 70-72s are model coded C_26034 or C_36034.

Chevrolet Longhorns, 68-72, model numbers are C_21034 or C_31034.

By definition all of these are an 8-1/2 foot bed Fleetside or Wideside with a wood floor bed. The wood floor normally RPO E81, to generalize, will not be listed on the SPID since it was included in the base build of these models.

All of the above model numbers sat on the longer 1-ton C30/C3500 frames giving it a 133" wheelbase. However that was really the only upgrade beyond a leaf spring suspension that was normally optional on the C20/C2500 8' bed trucks. In any event they are not sprung heavier and any HD spring options were just that optional and again should be listed on the SPID.

If you don't have one of those six basic model numbers (fill in the engine letter) then it is not a factory 8-1/2 foot bed.
If its a GMC it was not called nor identified as a "Longhorn" by any GM reference I can find but simply designated by the model number.

GM didn't build 4x4 versions so there are no known K series versions of either brand so all the applicable model numbers will start with a "C".

The Z81 Custom Camper option in no way "included" the longer 8-1/2 foot bed. It was a stand alone option. If your truck has Custom Camper emblems they should be on the SPID.

[special-K]

The thing is, I have never in all these years ever heard a person refer to their truck by model number. So it's not that simple. In the books, at the factory, and at a dealership are the only places model number was used...oh, and a truck forum 40+ years down the road. We're talkin' street language here, not factory talk. I knew there wasn't a name for the GMCs, but that is what Dave was asking about. The C2500 is the only hard one because a 1t you can just call a C3500 Wideside. It's that simple. With a C2500 you have to include the WB, 133" C2500 Wideside.

[davepl]

OK, so if I understand correctly:

Chevy 133" -> Implies Longhorn -> Optional Custom Camper available
GMC 133" -> "No Name Given" -> Optional Custom Camper available

So you can have a Chevy or a GMC 133 without the Custom Camper option. In the Chevy case it's a Longhorn, the GMC version has no name.

But I'm still convinced there are two meanings of Custom Camper on the GMC - the 133" camper bed and the Camper Equipment group option. I just don't remember why I think that...

[jocko]

Originally Posted by davepl

But I'm still convinced there are two meanings of Custom Camper on the GMC - the 133" camper bed and the Camper Equipment group option.

Nope. 133" is just a longer frame and 6" sheetmetal extension for the bed. While it's no coincidence there are lots of 133" wb trucks (Model # on GMC side and "Longhorn" name on the Chev side) with the Z81 Custom Camper nameplate RPO added on by the original owner (after all, if you were buying a 6" longer truck that was purpose built to accommodate the larger campers, the odds are that you were gonna put a camper on it - so Z81 is a likely RPO to choose), they are indeed entirely separate. Can have a 133" wb truck with or without Z81 option, as shown above.

[special-K]

Dave, when you first got the truck you probably went to Longhorn Man's website to learn about your truck and that's where you red that. No one ever contested that on the site. I have a pair of GMC fender badges that say Custom Camper 3500. I asked Andy what he thought those would have come on and he couldn't say. I'm still not sure what would have run those. Has anyone else seen these? I believe mine are N.O.S.

[rs74]

I know this is an old thread but it was a good read. I do have a question though. My father in law has a 67 GMC C30 cab & chassis. The vin breaks down to a 133" with. Even though it was built as a c&c does that still mean it could fit a longhorn bed on it? He bought this truck new and it always had a flatbed on it. This has me curious.

[davischevy]

Originally Posted by rs74

I know this is an old thread but it was a good read. I do have a question though. My father in law has a 67 GMC C30 cab & chassis. The vin breaks down to a 133" with. Even though it was built as a c&c does that still mean it could fit a longhorn bed on it? He bought this truck new and it always had a flatbed on it. This has me curious.

Is it a single rear wheel truck?

[rs74]

Originally Posted by davischevy

Is it a single rear wheel truck?

Dual

[davischevy]

I'm sure the Longhorn bed would work, but I would expect a few hiccups. The bed mounts may or may not be there but shouldn't be hard to find. The dual wheels would stick out so fender extensions like a dually would be needed.