Campers and 2 wheel drive

[CG]

Im not sure why but Im hung up on having another 4x4, burb preferably, but possibly truck. Maybe I just like the look, because I think Ive only used the 4 wheel option a couple of times to get through or unstuck, and Ive had several 4x4's.

Now Ive never been camping in a camper on a pick up. But in my head ... Must have a 4x4. Then I stumbled on this thread over in the 60-66 side of the board.

https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=534588

I think we have one on this side too, somewhere. The thing I noticed is almost none of the camping pics had trucks with 4 wheel drive, but there they go off in to the back roads anyway. I know stuff back in the 60's was a lot "bumpier" than it is these days. Didnt seem to bother them.

It just got me to thinking, maybe aesthetically I like the look of the 4x4 but now Im thinking maybe not a need.

My honey and I are retiring this year and I want to find somethings to do that are different, maybe rent or borrow a camper and see if its something we would like?

[68Gold/white]

That is a awesome thread!!!

[body bolt]

I carried a 10' Alaskan COB on my '71 C-10 2WD. It doesn't hang over the rear of the bed but it's damn heavy.

[dave6672]

Thanks CG for bring this thread up, I haven't checked it out before. I pulled this picture out - a pic like this just sparks the emotions of how awesome it would be to explore this beautiful country in an old truck and camper setup.

[PbFut]

My Parents and aunt and uncle had truck and campers back in the day. Large RVs were very rare and much smaller than todays house on wheels. Aunt and Uncle used theirs much more than we did. Their first camper was a smaller home built from a kit unit and then to the larger cab over around 1969. I got my driver’s license in Calif July 74. That Thanksgiving weekend, 2 school buddies and I loaded up the Camper and took off for the weekend. 15 and 16 years old, we thought we were of age. Unbeknown to my folks, we also hooked up my buddies trailer and loaded our motor cycles adding to the craziness of it all. So with a license all of 4 months old we drove about 150 miles out of the San Fernando Valley and had one hell of a 1974 Thanksgiving weekend. No parents, lots of beer. From memory, you knew you had a load. Awareness was critical to get things stopped in time. Dirt roads were fine but you would never take a chance and off road. Communication and tow services much different back then.
Being at the same point in life as the OP, I also fantasize about once again having a slide-in cabover but then reality sets in that we would probable not use it much and funds better spent on Hotels and Restaurants when cabin fever sets in.
Relative to off roading with a slide-in, just think about how the truck will manage with an extra 1500 to 2000 pounds in the back with a center of gravity higher than the bed rail.
Speaking of CG, I don’t see the struts that were so common from the cabover section of the camper to the cowl of the truck today. It was considered a requirement at the time. I recall Dad commenting how much it improved things. You also ran 16.5x10 or 12 wheel and tires in back. It think it was understood things were at their limit as I can’t recall seeing the larger campers not have both the wheel and struts. They were quite common in those years. The picture in post 4 has neither and it jumped out at me as lacking even after all these years.

[special-K]

When I got rid of my '71 camper rig it was because the family didn't seem to be using it, so I wanted to switch up to a low-profile (crank up top with canvas section) that ended at the back of the bed. Reason for that was to gain a camper my younger son and I could adventure in. The tall camper wasn't best for narrow wooded trails due to overhanging limbs, plus too high to be loading kayaks and canoes onto. I didn't want an over hang on the rear so I could safely tow whatever, motorcycle, boat, etc. That was back when I had three '72 3/4t 4wds and the white GMC I have now was to be the camper hauler, not lifted

[67RS/SSx2]

Man I love these camper threads. Now I have to read through the linked 60-66 camper thread. When I was a kid we had a 1968 C10 with a 9' overhead camper. Probably wasn't as good as I remember. I will have to dig to see if I can find some pics.

Would love to find an old overhead camper in decent shape. I need one about as much as I need another hole in my head. But I would love to have one.

[HO455]

Originally Posted by CG

Im not sure why but Im hung up on having another 4x4, burb preferably, but possibly truck. Maybe I just like the look, because I think Ive only used the 4 wheel option a couple of times to get through or unstuck, and Ive had several 4x4's.

Now Ive never been camping in a camper on a pick up. But in my head ... Must have a 4x4. Then I stumbled on this thread over in the 60-66 side of the board.

https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=534588

I think we have one on this side too, somewhere. The thing I noticed is almost none of the camping pics had trucks with 4 wheel drive, but there they go off in to the back roads anyway. I know stuff back in the 60's was a lot "bumpier" than it is these days. Didnt seem to bother them.

It just got me to thinking, maybe aesthetically I like the look of the 4x4 but now Im thinking maybe not a need.

My honey and I are retiring this year and I want to find somethings to do that are different, maybe rent or borrow a camper and see if its something we would like?

I do remember going camping as a kid all over Nevada in our family's 55 2wd Ford half ton. We would travel with another couple who drove an early 60s 2wd Dodge pickup. I don't remember ever getting stuck or breaking down. Looking back I'm pretty sure the adults were well aware of the limitations of their vehicles.

Later on in the early 70s we did have 4x4's but I don't remember my dad engaging the front axle unless he got stuck. He was a logger and had to drive into the woods everyday. We also had moved to Northern Idaho and he had much more snow in the winter to drive in which I'm sure played a part in the decision to spend the extra money on four wheel drive.

Anyway my point is with good equipment and common sense there are lots of places to explore with a 2 wheel drive truck.

And a good posi would be a worthwhile addtion too.

[CG]

I went to the State Patrol office the other day and the run around I was getting from them and the license place was a misunderstanding on both of their part. So If I can get that all nicely dialed in maybe I can sneak up on my wife and maybe get her to thinking along this line, maybe a two or three year goal? Gonna be a super hard sell haha.

https://www.boatdesigns.com/Camper-Plans/products/697/

[HO455]

Oh man! That's the last thing I needed to see.

[FirstOwner69]

Originally Posted by CG

I went to the State Patrol office the other day and the run around I was getting from them and the license place was a misunderstanding on both of their part. So If I can get that all nicely dialed in maybe I can sneak up on my wife and maybe get her to thinking along this line, maybe a two or three year goal? Gonna be a super hard sell haha.

https://www.boatdesigns.com/Camper-Plans/products/697/

The Grandview floorplan is very similar to my retired '69 Four Winds 11 footer.

[FirstOwner69]

Now, to return to the question posed by the OP.

I don't have any hard data to support this, but I always assumed that when our trucks were built 2-wheel drive sales overwhelmed 4-wheel drive sales. I don't have any data to back that up, but I'd bet maybe 80% vs. 20 %. Also, the 4X4s weren't available with auto transmissions until the middle of the '67 to '72 model run, usually were ordered with the lower trim levels and had a higher center of gravity/roll center which translated into poorer handling when loaded to near the GVWR.

Today almost everyone wants 4-wheel drive for all purpose usage resulting in many more 4X4s hauling campers.

EDIT: An added thought... A truck loaded with a large cabover camper and camping gear IS NOT fun to take off road. Ask me how I know.

[special-K]

Yep, 2wd was the norm, 4wds the exception. I doubt K-model pickups were even 20%. I remember being one of the only guys with a 4wd in the late-70s/early-80s. Then they came on with the 4 wheeler guys and eventually into the mainstream. I never wanted a camper on a 4wd. Obviously too high to be practical or safe. That's why they started making the low-profile/crank-up slide-ins. Those are nice on a 2wd but certainly came about to be run on 4wds. It's even in their name.

Off road in a full height camper is no fun for sure. Other than the high clearance in wooded areas, the structure would be stressed from all the rocking. And think of everything in the cabinets banging around, doors swinging open, and things falling out. They just weren't intended for that use. You were supposed to hike into the back country and leave the camper parked. I was always a wilderness camper/backpacker. Didn't consider sitting at a campground actually camping. It's another kind of camping for sure. I worked my way into campers by using mine as a base camp. It's nice to come back from the wilderness and elements to a home away from home. Especially in fowl weather.