The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Panels 'N Burbs Panel as Camper - Useful or Not?

Did anyone ever convert a half-ton panel to a camper? Does that actually work? Or is it too small? I have a 1951 half-ton panel. Making it into a camper would get my wife connected to my rusty hobby.

I've used a couple panels as campers, or maybe rolling tents you won't get all the 'luxuries' in it that folks expect in a camper, but sure beats pitching a tent every evening - keep it simple and it can be quite comfortable - like add a 'subfloor' with bed on top and long pull out drawer under for stashing supplies - use the original bucket style seats and make them easily removeable to put out for camp chairs and give more room inside ... lotsa possibilities, be creative, don't try to make a VW Kombi clone

Bill

Robert Howard From oldgmctrucks.com He did a nice job of photo journalling his trip on the ALCAN highway in his panel. You will have to login or sign on to the site. You will have to check out his album too.

I hope to take mine camping when it's finished. I won't be doing a lot of retrofitting, just use it to haul my gear and a place to sleep at night.

I've camped out in mine a few times, but without ventilation it's stuffy in there and there really is nowhere to put your gear once you've rolled out the bed, and there ain't no way to open the rear door from inside, you gotta climb over the front seats to get out, which ain't easy when you "gotta go" in the middle of the night. Of course, I did all my 'real' camping in a plush Dodge Van conversion with all the camping luxuries like sunroofs, screened windows, sink, frig, etc.

Boy Wonder and I have used my '62 Suburban for deer camp a few times, and we've also slept in the back of it for out-of-town car shows. As said earlier, it was basically a rolling tent.

We have an air mattress that just barely squashes in between the wheel wells. Don't latch the rear doors at night, and you've got your escape for when nature calls. Crack the side windows for ventilation.

One thing that'd make it a little nicer was if we had cots above the wheel wells, rather than an air mattress between them. That'd give us a little room to get dressed, and we could sit up, etc.

I know where there's a '64-'66 panel that was used as an ambulance at one time... it has a raised ceiling on it and rear barn doors. It'd be a great tow rig and cross-country hauler for me and the boy, but my wife would probably not enjoy it as much. If it's still there in a couple years, I think I'll try to get it. Too many projects, and not enough storage space right now.

-Brad

Red58 is right. Build a sub-floor with a bed on top and drawers under for supplies.

My wife and I do this all the time in my '64 truck (I will not mention the make and model here). The truck has a canopy in which I built a bed with storage under. Sure beats a tent. It's also nice for a quick weekend camping trip instead of hooking up the camp trailer and draging it around.