Any cool haulers or campers out there?

OK so I was browsing the internet looking for a school bus to build a hauler and found this bookmobile. The first reaction of the wife was "WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH THAT?" Now that it's home it's grown on her and I'd guess a keeper. I am looking for ideas for powertrain, as I would like to pull a trailer and have plenty of whoa. It was converted to camper in the 70s and other than the mouse infested cushions and adding a\c I will leave it as is.

 

Here's a cool camper;
Click here: YouTube - Rednecks Motorhome / Camper Wheelies

 

thats Hilarious!!!

 

That's pretty funny.What a waste of time though.

 

My choice for power would be a 500 inch Caddy with a modern 5 speed automatic.
Second choice would be big diesel.

 

those guys should take that down a highway....can ya image what people would think.......... "Holy crap!! That camper just came loose"!

 

Some years back an antique toy dealer made an old 40s-50s big Mack moving van into a swap meet/ RV truck. Used a 500 CID Caddy I think and some disc brakes adapted to the original spindles using the original spoked wheels. It was a magnificent truck. Doubtful it is economical to operate as that Bookmobile will not be too, unless you go with adiesel and multi-shift automatic trans maybe.

 

I dont have any pictures but I like flxibles, futurliners, vintage school busses, there is a guy in arizona that has a kb international with a tanker turned into a motor home!

 

here ya go! my dream RV

 

That's a great looking truck!
A Chevy Duramax diesel and matching transmission would be nice,,, if you can come across one a a decent price.

 

cool find..

I've been looking..


i couldnt get over the UGLY of this converted gillig bus..


a few of my buddies have been suggesting that I down the leisure suit and grab this..



but the more I think about it.. I'll probably just stick with my 15' scotty

 

my '64 chevy

 

This was completely hand made by one guy in 1949! It originally had a flathead ford, now has a y-block in the rear. It's unbelievable the workmanship. Lippy

 

Fuzz, that things cool. I think for driveability, reliability, and economy, a Chevy Pickup 6.0L Vortec V8 and 4L80E trans would be a good combo and pretty easy to find and affordable. Of course a vintage motor would be bitchin, but I know I wouldn't want to turn wrenches on the side of the road while I'm on vacation, but that's just me

 

How about Rich Roberts car hauler? Crew cab.....damn....this one is sweet.

 

....and he pulls this one with the COE.

 

AND he is building this one.....

 

Few more with the racecar....






THESE PICS COURTESY OF RUSTYGEMs ALBUM (HE IS RICHs NEXTDOOR NEIGHBOR)

 

man thats one nice rig all around.

 

Be F***in awesome! Thats what!

As for drivetrain, I agree with other guys, late model truck motor with auto. It would be coolest with an origional motor but less reliable and slow as hell.

 

I could be blowin smoke out my ass here but from what I think I heard was its built off an old motorhome chassis. I know Rich does his own work...the other one he is building is gonna look like that little hot rod toy with the truck and trailer. I heard he is doing all the sheetmetal/aluminum work for the trailer right now.

 

Ours.The Drags will be the first trip out with the panel pulling the camper...we'll see!

 

Looks like it's got a Chevrolet medium truck chassis. You'll need a beefy truck powertrain. I'm guessing that "HAMB-friendlyness" is not the primary concern here, right?

How about a Big Block Chevy built for low end and midrange torque with a corresponding beefy truck transmission?

Or, if you really want to go "above and beyond," how about a diesel and transmission combo from some sort of late model "medium truck"?

Just a thought.

 

DAMN! That red bus is LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG.

 

I love this COE/Airstream motorhome and have been trying to find more pics of it, but this one is the only one that seems to be out there.

If anyone see's this truck again "PLEASE" get some more pics of it and post them. Ron...

 

I think it was a drawing i saw a few years back by Ed Newton. He drew an early (39?) cabover with a super swoopy artdeco hauler/camper added to the back. Ring a bell with anyone?
I know I find myself looking at old firetrucks (cheap, low miles) and imagine building something similar based on the cabs...

 

That "camper" portion looks like an Airstream but I don't think anyone would paint the beautiful stainless steel. I bet it was an Argosy made by Airstream. They were painted steel and can be still be had in the below $5k range.

 

Airstreams are aluminum.