Reckon one of these would work for a Blazer? Modern Chalet? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

cstanley · 10-18-2007, 01:02 PM

http://www.earthroamer.com/tab_xpedi..._overview.html

**lks dcvn** · 10-18-2007, 01:12 PM

Not that I do a bunch of camping - but that is actually really cool - good find.

bouncytruck · 10-18-2007, 01:13 PM

Kind of ugly IMO. You'd have to do a lot of modifications to get that one to fit on a Blazer, but it is an interesting concept. I believe you can get roof boxes that flip open into tents like that, but there wouldn't be any direct access to the inside of the truck from the roof box.

mister.freeze · 10-18-2007, 06:06 PM

there was a Blazer camper back in the day...

vtblazer · 10-19-2007, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bouncytruck

Kind of ugly IMO.

Ya beat me to it...

I'd rather buy a modern camper and modify it to work with the blazer.
The kind that fit in a truck bed with the top that expands up.

Burt has this style on his full size truck.
Buy the 6ft version, make the entry access and go.

jaros44sr · 10-19-2007, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vtblazer

Ya beat me to it...

I'd rather buy a modern camper and modify it to work with the blazer.
The kind that fit in a truck bed with the top that expands up.

Burt has this style on his full size truck.
Buy the 6ft version, make the entry access and go.

Sold me!!! I'm off to buy a camper, cut my Hardtop and have entry thru the front aswellas back

No more sleeping on rocks at Rausch

mister.freeze · 10-19-2007, 08:29 PM

A queen sized air matress fits in back just fine, and what's wrong with fresh air and stars?

bouncytruck · 10-20-2007, 12:12 AM

I did that several times with my first blazer. I'd unbolt the rear seat at the campsite and put it out as "furniture" then put a queen air mattress in the back.

old man jimmy · 10-21-2007, 09:04 PM

Just a few ideas on camping in jimmy blazers. I tried a few ways in the last 35 years. Starting with the tent trailer route. Ending with turning the back of it into a queen size bed. Other half of bed slides over and locks in place to give a flat bed frame. Storage under bed when folded. And box in rear of bed for toolbox etc. so can get at it when loaded. Cut up old cabin tent to make rear for warm weather. When cold use to open top gate, then close latches, and lower gate, so can crawl out from inside. Adding up all the week-ends, vacations, & hunting trips. And have probably lived in the back of that thing for about 3 years. How you make them depends on what kind of country you want to camp in. If you want to get into rough country, you kinda have to rough it when it comes to comfort.

**Yukon Jack** · 10-22-2007, 10:38 AM

Cool pics old man jimmy!

jaros44sr · 10-22-2007, 10:52 AM

Thanks for the pics, ol' man jimmy, 3rd one is my fav., lawn chairs and fishing rods. Even if the fish aren't biting, still best way to kill aday

I'll be there in 2 days!!!!! J.

crzngmychvy · 10-22-2007, 11:27 AM

Old Man - those are some great pictures!

vtblazer · 10-25-2007, 05:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crzngmychvy

Old Man - those are some great pictures!

The one at the lake looks like it's out of a magazine add or something.

BUDDY · 10-25-2007, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaros44sr

Sold me!!! I'm off to buy a camper, cut my Hardtop and have entry thru the front aswellas back

No more sleeping on rocks at Rausch

4WD pop-up campers used to make a sweet top for first gen blazers. I know 'cause I used to have one. Check the link in my sig for a few pictures of it. Believe me it was sweet when it was all set up & ready to go though.

I traded it to Hotrodmtodd earlier this summer. I feel like I got the better end of the deal

because of the condition of the top when we opened it up to swap. I hadn't opened it in a few years & it had gotten a little beat up by the weather up here, but it was all still there & dry inside. I haven't heard from him since he came up to make the swap. I think he's pissed that he got the short end of the stick as well. I hope he's not though.

Later,
Buddy

cstanley · 10-25-2007, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by old man jimmy

Just a few ideas on camping in jimmy blazers. I tried a few ways in the last 35 years.

That sounds like a cool topic for another thread alltogether!

77blazerchalet · 10-25-2007, 09:18 PM

At first this li'l Earthroamer looked really intriguing, I was thinking the latest Jeeps were still relatively small and I could gain something in the maneuverability department over my own '77 Chalet. However, the new Jeep Wranglers seems to be approaching the size of the old 2nd gen Blazers.... And, the more I think about the need to open this Earthroamer's roof just to go to bed, the more impractical it seems if you're stuck in an unrelenting rainstorm. No need for that in a Chalet, the folded down dinette is the main bed. It's tall enough inside with the roof down that a 5'10" guy like me can move around quite easily.

As for the idea of grafting this Earthroamer's camper part onto something else, it makes better economic sense to find an 'orphaned' Chalet shell and rebuild its interior to your own specs, at least you'd have the basics of the fabrication already worked out, assuming these shells fit on the newer Tahoes, Avalanches, etc. Camper-only Chalets tend not to sell much above $500 - and of course I don't recommend separating a complete unit just for the camper part since that wrecks the collector value of the whole vehicle. Unless the Blazer part is rusted out beyond all hope of repair.........

cstanley · 10-26-2007, 12:07 AM

well, I guess I never really intended the thought to be actually fitting the earthroamer to a blazer, but more the idea of a newer take on the Chalet concept...

sure wish i had one of those fiberglass ones...

77blazerchalet · 10-26-2007, 08:53 PM

Cstanley,

I see your angle now, it would be entertaining to see GM resurrect the idea since they have a few other retro vehicles going. They could make the thing lighter, stronger, more practical to remove. Since the Blazer allowed direct pass-through to the camper part, it beat the heck out of all the slide-in aftermarket campers in that respect. Therein lies the problem with nearly all of the current vehicles with their permanent tops that would have to be hacked off. And then there's the corporate paranoia about overloading (which might have been the thing to kill off the original Chalet), but we have clever enough computer modeled engineering that perhaps it could be solved.

Here's my own PhotoShop-altered idea of a Chalet shell on a newer Suburban, courtesy of Colorado Ron's original photo at this site, post #16 - he asked me once where to find an orphaned shell for such a project: http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8117

vtblazer · 10-27-2007, 06:37 AM

So 77, would one of those physically fit on a 1st gen?

cstanley · 10-27-2007, 01:07 PM

these are fun
http://www.autohomeus.com/

77blazerchalet · 10-27-2007, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vtblazer

....would one of those physically fit on a 1st gen?

Good question, I don't know since mine is not detached, no way for me to get measurements. I'll see if one of our Chalet owners' forum members can measure his, he bought an orphaned shell last year with plans to put it on a much better built early '80s diesel Blazer. Can't really guess how much clearance the Chinook people put in it to clear the 2nd gen Blazer's inner rear fenders......

10-18-2007, 01:12 PM	#2
lks dcvn Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 4,339	Re: Reckon one of these would work for a Blazer? Modern Chalet? Not that I do a bunch of camping - but that is actually really cool - good find.

10-18-2007, 01:13 PM	#3
bouncytruck SKINNY TIRES RULE! Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Bothell, WA Posts: 11,049	Re: Reckon one of these would work for a Blazer? Modern Chalet? Kind of ugly IMO. You'd have to do a lot of modifications to get that one to fit on a Blazer, but it is an interesting concept. I believe you can get roof boxes that flip open into tents like that, but there wouldn't be any direct access to the inside of the truck from the roof box. __________________ bouncytruck 1972 K5 The Hauler 1994 K1500 Suburban The Daily2010 Kia Soul Wife's Ride2014 Fiat 500L

10-18-2007, 06:06 PM	#4
mister.freeze Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 734	Re: Reckon one of these would work for a Blazer? Modern Chalet? there was a Blazer camper back in the day... __________________ '72 K5, known as 'the Fox.'

10-19-2007, 08:29 PM	#7
mister.freeze Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 734	Re: Reckon one of these would work for a Blazer? Modern Chalet? A queen sized air matress fits in back just fine, and what's wrong with fresh air and stars? __________________ '72 K5, known as 'the Fox.'

10-20-2007, 12:12 AM	#8
bouncytruck SKINNY TIRES RULE! Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Bothell, WA Posts: 11,049	Re: Reckon one of these would work for a Blazer? Modern Chalet? I did that several times with my first blazer. I'd unbolt the rear seat at the campsite and put it out as "furniture" then put a queen air mattress in the back. __________________ bouncytruck 1972 K5 The Hauler 1994 K1500 Suburban The Daily2010 Kia Soul Wife's Ride2014 Fiat 500L

10-18-2007, 01:02 PM	#1
cstanley Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,229	Reckon one of these would work for a Blazer? Modern Chalet? http://www.earthroamer.com/tab_xpedi..._overview.html Attached Images __________________ "Anybody who would paint his truck like this, would go to a minister's funeral dressed in feathers!" - Big Enis Burdett '72 Blazer Restoration Blog: http://sportchicken.blogspot.com/

10-21-2007, 09:04 PM	#9
old man jimmy Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: texas Posts: 329	Re: Reckon one of these would work for a Blazer? Modern Chalet? Just a few ideas on camping in jimmy blazers. I tried a few ways in the last 35 years. Starting with the tent trailer route. Ending with turning the back of it into a queen size bed. Other half of bed slides over and locks in place to give a flat bed frame. Storage under bed when folded. And box in rear of bed for toolbox etc. so can get at it when loaded. Cut up old cabin tent to make rear for warm weather. When cold use to open top gate, then close latches, and lower gate, so can crawl out from inside. Adding up all the week-ends, vacations, & hunting trips. And have probably lived in the back of that thing for about 3 years. How you make them depends on what kind of country you want to camp in. If you want to get into rough country, you kinda have to rough it when it comes to comfort. Attached Images

10-22-2007, 10:38 AM	#10
Yukon Jack Post Whore Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Rose Hill, KS, USA Posts: 12,683	Re: Reckon one of these would work for a Blazer? Modern Chalet? Cool pics old man jimmy! __________________ 1970 Blazer with a 400 sbc and 4" lift 1980 Pontiac Trans Am, 455 Oldsmobile 2012 Kawasaki Concours 14

10-22-2007, 10:52 AM	#11
jaros44sr Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: Philadelphia, Pa. 19454 Posts: 9,453	Re: Reckon one of these would work for a Blazer? Modern Chalet? Thanks for the pics, ol' man jimmy, 3rd one is my fav., lawn chairs and fishing rods. Even if the fish aren't biting, still best way to kill aday I'll be there in 2 days!!!!! J. __________________ Semper Fi...Uncle Sam, you da man All parts offered to help are free, unless otherwise noted Dont try this stuff in my build thread, unless you have 55 years of mechanical OTJ training SAFETY FIRST AS usual, off topic They say your mind goes second, can't remember the first Jim

10-22-2007, 11:27 AM	#12
crzngmychvy "1972 C5" Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: SoCal Posts: 729	Re: Reckon one of these would work for a Blazer? Modern Chalet? Old Man - those are some great pictures! __________________ - 72 2wd Blazer ...sold... 2wd Blazer Page

10-25-2007, 09:18 PM	#16
77blazerchalet former Chalet owner Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Phoenix Posts: 337	Re: Reckon one of these would work for a Blazer? Modern Chalet? At first this li'l Earthroamer looked really intriguing, I was thinking the latest Jeeps were still relatively small and I could gain something in the maneuverability department over my own '77 Chalet. However, the new Jeep Wranglers seems to be approaching the size of the old 2nd gen Blazers.... And, the more I think about the need to open this Earthroamer's roof just to go to bed, the more impractical it seems if you're stuck in an unrelenting rainstorm. No need for that in a Chalet, the folded down dinette is the main bed. It's tall enough inside with the roof down that a 5'10" guy like me can move around quite easily. As for the idea of grafting this Earthroamer's camper part onto something else, it makes better economic sense to find an 'orphaned' Chalet shell and rebuild its interior to your own specs, at least you'd have the basics of the fabrication already worked out, assuming these shells fit on the newer Tahoes, Avalanches, etc. Camper-only Chalets tend not to sell much above $500 - and of course I don't recommend separating a complete unit just for the camper part since that wrecks the collector value of the whole vehicle. Unless the Blazer part is rusted out beyond all hope of repair......... Attached Images __________________ Former owner of Chalet #1747. Current caretaker of the very old BlazerChalet.com website.

10-26-2007, 12:07 AM	#17
cstanley Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,229	Re: Reckon one of these would work for a Blazer? Modern Chalet? well, I guess I never really intended the thought to be actually fitting the earthroamer to a blazer, but more the idea of a newer take on the Chalet concept... sure wish i had one of those fiberglass ones... __________________ "Anybody who would paint his truck like this, would go to a minister's funeral dressed in feathers!" - Big Enis Burdett '72 Blazer Restoration Blog: http://sportchicken.blogspot.com/

10-26-2007, 08:53 PM	#18
77blazerchalet former Chalet owner Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Phoenix Posts: 337	Re: Reckon one of these would work for a Blazer? Modern Chalet? Cstanley, I see your angle now, it would be entertaining to see GM resurrect the idea since they have a few other retro vehicles going. They could make the thing lighter, stronger, more practical to remove. Since the Blazer allowed direct pass-through to the camper part, it beat the heck out of all the slide-in aftermarket campers in that respect. Therein lies the problem with nearly all of the current vehicles with their permanent tops that would have to be hacked off. And then there's the corporate paranoia about overloading (which might have been the thing to kill off the original Chalet), but we have clever enough computer modeled engineering that perhaps it could be solved. Here's my own PhotoShop-altered idea of a Chalet shell on a newer Suburban, courtesy of Colorado Ron's original photo at this site, post #16 - he asked me once where to find an orphaned shell for such a project: http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8117 Attached Images __________________ Former owner of Chalet #1747. Current caretaker of the very old BlazerChalet.com website.

10-27-2007, 06:37 AM	#19
vtblazer Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Central Vermont Posts: 8,538	Re: Reckon one of these would work for a Blazer? Modern Chalet? So 77, would one of those physically fit on a 1st gen?

10-27-2007, 01:07 PM	#20
cstanley Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,229	Re: Reckon one of these would work for a Blazer? Modern Chalet? these are fun http://www.autohomeus.com/ __________________ "Anybody who would paint his truck like this, would go to a minister's funeral dressed in feathers!" - Big Enis Burdett '72 Blazer Restoration Blog: http://sportchicken.blogspot.com/



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