Pros and Cons of a Camper Van???

...its not beer without a ...camper...van?

sweet Joel.. thanks...

Thanks for all the input guys! Nice setup Joel. All the comforts of home...On the road!

Joel,
thanks for the pics. I want my camper to be a daily driver. its a super so i have the extra length but i need a "hybrid" layout. trying to figure out how to get two forward facing benches with a camper layout....

best I can figure would be two sideways facing benches in the very back with a table between. Converts to bed, and that way nobody gets to ride backward.

I like the bed in the back but i am thinking of some sort of removable bench up front that can be removed and turned around. maybe with the new style floor cups that can be accomplished.. i dont know. maybe i am overthinking it.

Here is a link to our Corvair camper van thread on this forum:

https://vintage-vans.forumotion.com/t30748-corvair-van-camper-interior-photos-ben-s-bus

I went through five interior designs before we were really happy. Oftentimes I was making modifications the night before we left for two weeks camping on the road. The Corvair van's space/layout is limited by the rear engine. The bed "almost" has to be back there, although the early GM kit had a side sofa along the driver's side wall. Interesting concept.

There is nothing better than a camper van- for space, convenience, comfort. Nothing is better.

The only downside is having to break camp if you want to go anywhere. That is where a tow-behind trailer is better...but with a solid retractable top, we can be down the road in a few minutes with the van if we decide to (My top is a TEC flip top and we can drive with it up unlike those made of canvas).

Happy camping! Ben

my top is the same as yours.

n8-mac wrote:my top is the same as yours.

Yes! Same but different...mostly the window configuration. I also think yours has more steel on it than mine. Mine is all aluminum.

What is your serial number? Mine is #542.

there is a small plate attached to the pass side of the unit all the print is so faded that i can not make out words. the outline of a "car" can barely be seen. I can read 4 stamped numbers and have to assume that these are the serial numbers.
5480.

n8-mac wrote:I can read 4 stamped numbers and have to assume that these are the serial numbers.
5480.

That's it! I have owned four of these tops...most of them in the #4000-5000 serial number range. Mine is pretty early.

Here are some original ads for you...not Supervans, but still pretty cool!

Peace, Ben

have you used the "hammock" in yours. will it hold an adult?

n8-mac wrote:have you used the "hammock" in yours. will it hold an adult?

I have not. I would think it would be safe for maybe up to 100 lbs? I would not get up there! I think it would work well for a child.

Those metal top campers are cool.
bensbus, that camper you have is such a cool set-up!!
How much noise do they make when just driving them? (in the down position of course) Lots of rattles or not too bad?

Joel

Yeah, that camper top rattles! Especially if ya hit a bump.

Cool A-camper Larry! Yeah, I figured they'd make some noise, I didn't know if they had some sort of dampening device to help with that.
Hows the interior in your camper?

Joel

Yeah, that camper top rattles! Especially if ya hit a bump.[/quote]

Mine does not rattle- even when up. Mine was a complete rebuild. Every component was taken apart and relaced betterthan new (plastic lumber replaced the original wooden frame, stainless steel angle iron and hinges, solid sides instead of waferboard with thin aluminum, etc.).

Mine does not make any noise going down the road. The later tops had integrated aluminum frames (to replace the wooden ones!) and different hinging mechanisms...so they might be different.

Larry cool camper