Motorhome | Do It Yourself RV

In the mountains of Fancy Gap, Virginia sits a vintage motorhome just waiting to be refurbished for its next round of adventures. It’s found a new home and the eBay auction has been taken down, but we wanted to share this great find to inspire those of you who love vintage!

A running ’68 Travco, just waiting for restoration.

A 1968 Dodge Travco with 47,000 miles, but who knows where it’s been? A partial restoration was begun in 2007 but the low selling price and relative good condition of the vehicle for its age make it a prime candidate for a complete overhaul.

According to the ad, the motor runs but needs some TLC.

The exterior currently features a bold, graphic black and white paint job, which may be the original judging by the fading, chipping and peeling. Everything from the raised marker lights to the large airhorn atop the cabin seems intact.

Cool vintage details like this airhorn are still there.

Having recently shared a refurb of a very similar Travco, I notice that the side door has what is apparently a common issue on these motorhomes. At some point the original locking handle has been joined by a second lock.

Someone has added the upper dead bolt for security or as a fix.

The spartan interior appears to be all original as well. The curtains, upholstery and once-white walls have faded into a monotone that begs to be redecorated in cool vintage styling. The dash is reminiscent of vintage Dodges of all models, with its simple AM radio and lack of modern gadgets.

Here’s the side view of this 27′ land yacht.

Behind the captain’s and navigator’s seats, the formica dinette features a white vinyl bench that appears to be intact. The kitchen counters are done in a laminate typical of the era and cabinet space is limited.

Cool curved rear end with raised marker lights.

The motor has been partially rebuilt, but runs, although the seller cautions a support vehicle should be sent alongside any adventures until a proper overhaul can be done. It’s currently tagged as an antique in Virginia, which would likely need to change.

Here’s a few shots of the cabin, love that simple dash!

If you, like me, are a lover of old things, the images have echoes of past vacations and road trips. It will be a labor of love for someone, but having seen much written about so many of these monsters being restored to usefulness, I bet we’ll be hearing more from the owner very soon.

Kitchen and dining still all original, check out the white vinyl!

The photos reveal no evidence of any serious water damage and the surface rust is minimal. It’s the kind of ad that makes me wish I had a place to work on one and the time, money and patience to see it through. I hope this particular Travco motorhome inspires you to keep looking. You never know what you may find lurking about in the corners of places like craigslist and eBay.

Finally one shot of the back bedroom, we wish the new owners good luck!

UPDATE: This Travco ended up selling for $2,025 to one lucky buyer!

Source: eBay

Adore Travco motorhomes? You’ll love these:

1968 Travco Needs Some Work, Is It Worth Saving? One Buyer Thought So appeared first on www.DoItYourselfRV.com

With just 65,000 original miles, this 1977 GMC Kingsley is looking for a new home with a family that can appreciate a 70s motif. While the motorhome has been refurbished where needed, all of the updates and repairs have been with the original look and feel in mind.

Exterior paint is in good condition and all original.

The original exterior paint was preserved through careful maintenance and the current owner chose to leave it as-is. The motorhome has a side bath layout, one that’s prized because of the extra interior space this design provides. Among the upgrades are a brand new 6,500 watt generator with less than 100 hours on it, and a new set of tires that have driven less than 1,000 miles – this one is good to go!

Check out the groovy swivel captain’s chairs.

Here is part of what the owner had to say about the upgrades and repairs.

In getting this unit ready for its new owners, and the start of its next 40 year journey, for peace of mind, we decided to have the water pump, fuel pump, timing chain (double roller), fan clutch, belts, plugs, wires, etc, etc replaced……Only the best parts were used (ACDelco, Airtex, and the like…no cheap parts in this coach are , or were ever allowed)….All systems have been maintained and/or upgraded over the years and are in perfect working order.

Cool “space age” bathroom.

What kid wouldn’t want to sleep in this “floating” bunk?

The photos tell the story well and this one has a few cool features. We especially like the “modern” split couch bunks that give a “floating” over/under effect to the front sleeping/sitting area. If you are a fan of gold carpet and orange crushed velvet, you are in luck, since this one has it throughout.

Where else can you find orange crushed velvet this nice?

With this color scheme and patterns, the motorhome would make a great purchase for a film producer doing period pieces in the late 70s or early 80s. One feature that has been added that I like is the raised design ceiling tiles. While not part of the original interior, they stay true to the theme while giving it a slightly updated look.

Copper colored raised ceiling tiles, like you’d find in an old building.

raised design ceiling tiles — minkster69

The bath has a “space age” look to it with the fiberglass sink nook. And it even has the original vacuum in its holder, stowed neatly in the closet ready to keep the carpeting just as fresh as it’s been for the past 40 years. Truly, this motorhome is as much of a time capsule as it is an RV.

The original vacuum still in its caddy.

Not sure if the appliances are original but they are spotless. The seller says the original owner rarely used the amenities, as they preferred to stay in resorts that provided those services, leaving this interior looking like it just rolled out of the showroom door.

Kitchen appliances look like new.

UPDATE: The auction for this motorhome ended unsold at $22,000. Looks like the seller was asking just a bit too much.

NOW WATCH: This Vintage GMC Motorhome Sales Video Will Leave You Wanting A Re-issue

RV Time Capsule: 1977 GMC Kingsley Motorhome In Near Mint Condition appeared first on www.DoItYourselfRV.com

Even since the company was formed in the late 1800s, Coca-Cola has been a staple of American culture. It’s been said that founder John S. Pemberton spent far more money in advertising than he made in sales, creating dozens of signs and other promotional items.

It turns out that he knew what he was doing, as the Coca-Cola company has proven to be a phenomenal master advertiser over the past century.

The ultimate in Coke-branded memorabilia.

The Coke logo has been plastered on everything from clocks to coolers to serving trays, and everything in between. Walk in to any antiques or collectibles store, and you’ll see the familiar red and white script at some point.

There’s really no piece of memorabilia that would surprise a seasoned collector. But plenty of people were shocked when perhaps the ultimate piece of Coke-branded memorabilia recently turned up on an episode of A&E’s Pawn Stars a while back. Even pawn shop owner and collectibles veteran Rick Harrison had never seen anything like this – a 26 foot long, 1977 GMC Gadabout motorhome.

An original advertisement for the giveaway.

It turns out the motorhome was actually part of a promotional sweepstakes Coca-Cola ran back in 1978. 25 second place winners won the use of a standard GMC RV for two weeks, plus $3,000 in cash. But that wasn’t the top prize.

Five brand new, custom branded GMC Gadabout motorhomes would be given away to lucky winners. Five more were produced to give to Coca-Cola bottlers. The Coke company had about 40 more standard GMC motorhomes produced with their branding, which means that less than 50 Coke RVs were ever made.

But only the five giveaways and the five for bottlers were the fully-loaded Gadabouts, meaning that less than a dozen of these vehicles were ever produced. But what else makes this vehicle so special?

Coke’s GMC Gadabout: An Exceptional Piece of Advertising

First, the RV didn’t hold back on the features,and was fully outfitted, featuring central air and heat, a microwave oven and gas range, a color television, a built in vacuum cleaner, hot and cold running water, an AM/FM stereo and tape player, a CB radio, and a 6,000-watt electric generator. It was estimated to have a retail value of $40,000, which is a little over $150,000 today.

But what made this RV so desirable and over the top was that Coca-Cola’s logo and colors are featured on just about every surface imaginable. The outside is painted in their traditional shades of red and white, while the inside has a Coca-Cola entry floor mat, clock, mirrored picture, rear table with a “Coke” checker board pattern, lamp, dishes, flatware, pillows and carpet, towels for the bathroom, various plaques and badges, and more.

The RV’s refrigerator door even had a graphic that made it look like a soda vending machine! The dash also features Coke colors, along with a pewter plaque with a Gadabout motorhome and the slogan,”Coke adds life to cruisin’ in a Gadabout,” and a custom exterior spare tire cover was designed to resemble a Coke bottle cap.

So what eventually happened to the five vehicles? One of them was wrecked. Another was purchased by a man in Texas and sits in storage. Legendary country singer Tammy Wynette actually bought another one from the original owner (and winner of the sweepstakes).

That one currently sits in a New York museum. As for the appearance on Pawn Stars, the owner wanted $50,000, but came down to $42,000. Harrison initially offered $20,000 and came up to $35,000, but the two couldn’t settle.

The vehicle was eventually bought by a man named Carl Harr who lives in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Right now, it sits beside a second Coke Gadabout that he purchased in Nevada.

Take a tour of the GMC Gadabout featured on Pawn Stars.

The Bufalino set up for travel.

The platform was invented by German industrial designer, Cornelius Cormann. Cormann chose the piaggio APE 50 as his concept vehicle for the Bufalino. With three wheels and handle bar steering, the APE 50 represents mobility with fuel efficiency.

Relaxing on the Bufalino’s roof.

driver relaxing up top — Cornelius Comanns

The design was created to provide maximum flexibility to travelers. Cormann had this to say,

My aim was to give people a better understanding of the country, the surrounding, and the range they have travelled. The travelling vehicle is always with you like some kind of a base camp, while also being used for moving on in an easygoing and spontaneous way.

Like most small RV projects, every square inch of the Bufalino has been designed for maximum usefulness. The interior features room for two seating units, which convert to sleeping space for one.

Interior space as seen from the cockpit.

interior view from front — Cornelius Comanns

To the driver’s left, a storage wall features open shelving with large plastic tubs in place of drawers. The drawers are held in place with an ingenious strap system, fastened to toggles on the shelf edges.

Sleeping in the Bufalino.

A small refrigerator, single burner stove top, removable basin sink and a large plastic water storage tank to provide running water make up an adequate kitchenette with enough space to prepare meals.

Interior space as seen from rear.

rear view of interior — Cornelius Commans

Since the interior space is short on headroom, standing is not possible – cooking is accomplished while sitting. The area to the right and behind the driver is left open, making the sleeping area easy to transform.

Rear door open to access interior space.

The rear of the vehicle features full height doors that fully open. There’s enough room inside to haul small to medium objects, such as furniture or packages. The lift up door also doubles as a clothes line.

The cockpit desk in action.

In the cockpit, a wraparound laptop desk gives you room to work, while the simple controls feature a dash mounted speedometer and hand brakes. Glass on three sides gives the driver good visibility.

Large doors for easy cockpit access.

Another removable desk section extends over the sleeping area to provide more work space and an upper storage shelf above the kitchenette is enclosed with a cargo net to keep belongings in place.

Head lamp and marker light details.

The vehicle is road worthy, featuring head lamps and LED marker lights and mirrors for safe operation on public roads. All in all, the Bufalino is a small, mobile home that is long on great design and only slightly short on space. But, we are sure you’d never have a problem finding a place to park it!

Here’s the Dodge with its original paintjob.

When Gostaverling from Imgur started digging into this beauty, it became obvious fairly quickly that he had his work cut out for him.

While other RVers might have left it well enough alone (having a perfectly serviceable motorhome already) he was determined to restore it to its full glory.

The rear, which is hiding some issues.

Here’s five tips I gathered from reading and studying the pictures:

Bondo is meant for filling small areas, not huge patches without any support, especially on fiberglass
Sandpaper is a painter’s best friend, and makes the final paint job look much more smooth
When you start stripping down any vehicle, you never know what you are going to deal with
Use the more expensive automotive paint tape. You’ll see why. Trust me, it is not that much more expensive and can save you money by not having to repaint – again
Almost anything can be fixed right. In fact, it is often easier and cheaper to do so (note: the door handle situation)

Two door handles?

Some time ago, the original door handle (the one on top) stopped working.

Instead of replacing it with a stock part, the previous owner cut a gigantic hole in the door and installed a completely different lock!

As you’ll see, it would have been much cheaper to install the proper replacement instead of hacking up a door in this way.

Improper Bondo Repairs Prove Costly

The body seemed in solid condition as well as most of its fiberglass. But as Gostaverling started sanding, issues cropped up.

The tail section has a lot of curves and several of them had hidden fiberglass damage that had been filled with way too much bondo.

Bondo is hard – and fiberglass flexes – eventually the bondo will break away and fall out.

Old bondo repairs had to be removed and patched with fiberglass.

It’s a common misconception that fiberglass repairs are impossibly complex and should be left to the pros. The truth is the resin is about as easy to mix as bondo and the procedure just takes some practice and a little common sense.

All of this empty area was originally repaired with bondo auto body filler, a no-no.

Once you get the foundation fiberglass fixed, bondo for fiberglass is used to fill in small voids and fix unevenness. Nothing larger than a pencil eraser, or thicker than than the body of a pencil should ever be filled with bondo if you want it to last.

Fender patched with mesh and resin, almost ready for the filler.

another fiberglass repair — Gostaverling

The sanding process provides a proper surface for paint to adhere to, and a lot of sanding is usually required for a good quality finish. This is especially true on automotive body work, where the surface is smooth and large and the paint is typically high gloss.

Here’s the motorhome, bondo-ed and sanded, ready for primer.

This Dodge Travco motorhome got the kid glove treatment with hand sanding down to 400 grit. The bigger the number, the finer the sand paper, and the smoother the finished surface.

Hand sanding sounds like a lot of work, but it doesn’t take as long as you would think. Unless you are a pro with power tools, a power sander will likely do a lot more damage than good.

The smooth, wet primer tells you this vehicle’s exterior was well sanded.

well sanded, smooth primer — Gostaverling

Start with a coarse paper and work your way up to the fine stuff in multiple passes for the best results. As you can see in the picture, the wet primer will reveal how well you’ve done. Gostaverling did a great job.

This Vintage ’67 Dodge Travco Repaint Is A Good Lesson In Proper Body Work appeared first on www.DoItYourselfRV.com

They say that “one person’s junk is another’s treasure”. Most of us have a special place in our heart for garage sales, probably because it’s a great feeling to get a deal and save cash. Where else can you find great deals? The junk yard.

Mike found this gem of an RV (OK, so it needs a little work) at a scrap yard. He got a chance to go inside to give you a tour of a vintage motorhome that’s in surprisingly good shape for its age.

Original video by Mike Utoober

Only 61,517 kilometers? That’s just a touch over 38,000 miles. This RV might be the find of the century!

One YouTube viewer mentioned that it’s a 1987 model because this was the only year Ford added a pinstripe on the door.

UP NEXT: 1977 GMC Birchaven Motorhome With Pergo Flooring And Cherry Wood Cabinets

Diamond In The Rough? 1987 Ford Corsair Supreme Motorhome Found At A Junk Yard appeared first on www.DoItYourselfRV.com

If Winnebago and BMW got together and had a love child, it would likely produce this motorhome that you’ve (probably) never heard of, the Vixen 21. Referred to as the DeLorean of RVs, the Vixen 21 had a top speed of nearly 100 mph!

The Vixen 21, the DeLorean of RVs!

Outfitted with a 2.6 liter turbo BMW diesel engine, not only would this RV outhaul anything in its weight class, but it would get on average 22-30 mpg while doing it.

An original image from the Vixen 21 manual.

Designed to be small and easy to drive, the Vixen featured a low center of gravity, with an automatic lift roof that took the inside ceiling to a comfortable 6’ 6” while parked.

Layout of the “TD” model.

Standard equipment included a 25 gallon fresh water tank, a full bed and additional sleeping space (depending on the model), a 4 cubic foot 110 or 12 volt refrigerator, and a built in bathroom with a 12 gallon black water tank.

The “XC” floor plan with luxury seating for ten.

The Vixen came in three floor plans, one traditional RV style (the Vixen 21 TD) with a four seater dinette. One (the 21 XC) with three luxury couches to seat up to 10 passengers, and one hybrid camper (the 21 SE) with luxury seating and some of the motorhome amenities of the TD version.

The “SE” floor plan, luxury and utility.

There were only 587 Vixen 21 motorhomes ever made, and Tao Ruspoli found #171. Tao located his Vixen in Nevada, and with his love of luxury yachts as inspiration, set out to remodel his rare treasure.

Tao’s Vixen 21 starts conversations wherever it goes.

He chose teak, sapele and wenge woods for his console and trim, with fabrics and carpeting reminiscent of the mid-eighties.

The beautifully veneered dash featuring sapele and wenge grains.

Although he doesn’t say, we think this is a TD, as evidenced from the flip top table on the passenger seat that Ruspoli had outfitted with a custom inlaid marquetry chess board.

Custom teak inlay on the built-in chess table.

Carpenters Steve Levinson and Richard Draut contributed the 200 hours of woodworking needed to finish the project, including the new front dash.

Working on what looks to be the dash.

Ruspoli also ordered a custom side console for his captain’s chair to accommodate his camera, specialty lenses and coffee cups, keeping them all within easy reach for refreshment and roadside photography.

Custom captain’s console for coffee, camera and lenses.

Tao said,

The five-speed stick shift and powerful turbo allows for very sporty driving, but while the top speed supposedly is 100 mph, I’ve never taken it past 87 mph.

The Vixen at Salton Sea with some colorful neighbors.

the vixen with interesting neighbors — Tao Ruspoli

While its small by motorhome standards, the refurbished Vixen 21 can supply all of the modern comforts with two batteries, a built-in 110 V inverter and a generator for those out-of-the-way places.

Via: Outside

Rare Vintage 80s Motorhome With BMW Turbo Diesel That Goes 100 MPH And Gets Up To 30 MPG appeared first on www.DoItYourselfRV.com

We know that RV users are as individual as their machines. If you are looking to upgrade from tenting into the world of RVs there are choices for almost any budget – and chances are good one of them will be the right fit for your lifestyle.

Here is some basic information about the most common categories of RVs to help you decide on the best rig for you.

Tip: Consider renting one or two different types before deciding exactly which type you want.

Motorhome RVs

The motorhome category includes everything from gigantic motor coaches over 60 feet long to today’s smaller Class B RVs (with many of them based on vehicles such as the minivan and Sprinter). Motorhomes have an average cost of $122,000 according to axlegeeks, but price varies widely depending on size and amenities.

The benefits of the motorhome class include having your entire camping experience integrated into an enclosed space that drives under its own power. Motorhomes typically include full kitchens and baths and can be completely self-sufficient for short-term camping.

On the downside, these machines typically require a lot of space, so depending on size they may not fit into every campground. Fuel efficiency is lacking, so some of what you save in lodging will be spent getting there. They also require maintenance and must be stored in an RV port or outdoor storage facility when not in use.

Fifth Wheel Trailers

The largest of the non-motorized RVs is the fifth wheel trailer. They range in size from 25 to 45 feet in length. Fifth wheel trailers usually have all of the creature comforts common to motorhomes, but at a fraction of the cost. The typical price for one of these campers is between $15,000 to $120,000.

Fifth wheel campers commonly contain full kitchens, queen sized master suites, full baths and lots of storage. They range from luxury to bare bones in the interior design department, and will typically sleep up to six adults comfortably, depending on the setup.

The biggest downside is that fifth wheels require a specialized trailer hookup, meaning that you will need a truck with a fifth wheel towing package.

Bumper Pull Trailers

Bumper pull campers are usually somewhat smaller than fifth wheel trailers. They usually range from 12 feet long on the short side to 40 feet long on the top end. These are the campers for the ‘everyman’. Since they can be pulled with a standard bumper hitch and almost any vehicle, chances are good you won’t have to buy a special truck to haul a bumper pull trailer.

Since they’re smaller, they often don’t have fresh water tanks or septic units. This means that you’ll probably need hookups if you intend to stay in one location for long. Convenience may not be their strong suit, but affordability is. They start at about $8,000, and for $60,000 you can get one with all the amenities of a fifth wheel.

Teardrop Campers

If you only need sleeping space for one or two and don’t mind using outside services for cooking and bathing, a teardrop camper may be just what you need.

For fuel efficiency and affordability, the teardrop cannot be beat. They usually range in price from $3,000 to $10,000. At just 7 to 15 feet long, a teardrop camper is highly maneuverable, making them ideal for off-the-beaten-path camping. Able to be pulled by almost any vehicle, these campers are the closest thing to a simple, hard-sided tent on wheels.

Popup Campers

Photo by Bo Gordy-Stith — Bo Gordy-Stith

At $3,000 to $15,000, the popup camper is the perfect RV for a family on a budget. At 8 to 18 feet in length, popup campers fold out to sleep from 2 to 8. Many feature kitchens and baths and other amenities such as a rooftop A/C unit.

These campers are typically built into boxes about 4 feet high that can be towed behind most vehicles. The downsides are setup time, and the fact that the soft sides do not provide the same privacy and comfort as a hard sided RV.

What Type Of RV Is Right For Your Next Road Trip? appeared first on www.DoItYourselfRV.com

Ask someone to name a “luxury” vehicle, and they’re probably rattle off a few foreign car manufacturers, and maybe a generic yacht. But the world of untold luxury doesn’t stop with four wheels. If you love traveling and dream of doing it in style, you’ll be drooling over these motorhomes. These RVs have all the amenities of a Beverly Hills home with price tags to match. In fact, the motorhomes on this list should probably be called “motormansions” instead. Here’s a look at seven of the most outrageously luxurious RVs that are actually on the market today.

#7: Monaco Dynasty 45P

From the first step inside the Dynasty 45P, you’re surrounded by luxury. It’s so well designed that it’s been called “a carefully crafted work of art”. Comfort is key here, as well as convenience. Monaco is well known in the industry as one of the top names, and their most recent creation is their best yet. In fact, they asked customers what they wanted and set out to design just that. Customer input led to features like an LED-studded ceiling, a central command center, and porcelain tile floor.

#6: Newmar King Aire

The King Aire showcases incredible quality, luxury and innovation. It’s a powerful traveling companion that still gives you all the amenities of home and then more. Newmar’s “Full-Paint Masterpiece” finish protects the outside from the elements, and a 600 horsepower Cummins ISX turbo diesel engine keeps you rolling. A Safety Cruise Collision Avoidance system helps you navigate tricky weather, and an illuminated entertainment system, powered awnings, plus glossed hardwood and chrome finishings give you a glimpse of luxury at every turn.

#5: Country Coach Prevost

Porcelain tiled flooring and cedar lined cabinets are just the start with this vehicle. A sleek stainless steel shell ensures aerodynamic travel, and the master bedroom suite is lined with quartz and features a walk-in closet and separate bathroom. Prevost is a leading North American manufacturer of top-of-the-line touring coaches, and it’s not hard to see why they’re the favorite of so many celebrities. Country-Coach turns these Prevost buses into stunning mobile palaces.

#4: Foretravel IH-45 Luxury Motor Coach

2015-Foretravel-IH-45-Luxury-Motor-Coach — Paratic

Operating since 1967, the name Foretravel is synonymous with luxury motorhomes. The IH-45 is their flagship model, the result of 45 years of experience and two years of focused design work. The cabin actually imitates the construction of an airplane by distributing vibrations and noise throughout the floors and walls. You’ll also find a 20,000 kilowatt generator, several slide-out rooms, four roof air conditioner units, natural quartz throughout, passenger monitor with satellite and GPS viewing, and a steel constructed cockpit, walls, and floor.

#3: Prevost H3-45 VIP

Standing over 12 feet tall, this RV literally towers over anything else. The company calls the VIP line “sleek and modern” and the name fits. It’s got the industry’s highest cabin floor along with incredible panoramic views. Decor includes a sleek, glossy wooden floor, modern furnishings, and curved marble tables. There is a slide out compartment, but this one doesn’t take away from luggage space or structural integrity.

#2: Vantare Platinum Plus

Featherlite-Vantare-Platinum-Plus — Paratic

When an RV comes with its own sports car garage, you know you’re entering “ridiculous luxury” territory. Vantare claims that this is the “most expensive luxury coach ever built,” and with a price tag of $2.5 million, it’s certainly in that range.

Featherlite’s Vantare Platinum Plus doesn’t hold back on anything, and is one of the most beautiful motorcoaches to ever hit the road. You’ll find custom-built sculptures on the ceiling surrounded by Swarovski crystals, marble steps that lead up to the cabin, copper, pearlized Italian leather, suede, antique bronze and onyx, and many more opulent materials. There’s a built-in treadmill, a slide-out garage that fits a sports car, and a 235 gallon fuel tank.

#1: Marchi Mobile’s eleMMent

Marchi-Mobile-EleMMent-Palazzo — Paratic

There’s camping, glamping, and then this vehicle that looks like it’s out of a science fiction movie. With an eye-popping price tag of $3 million, the eleMMent from Marchi Mobile is one of the world’s most expensive recreational vehicles. This 40-foot-long motorhome almost doubles in size when additional slide outs are opened, creating a 430-square-foot living space.

There are two floors, a large master suite, a liftable lounge, a fireplace, a circular central window for panoramic vision, underfloor heating, self-cleaning technology, and to top it all, the outside of this record-setting RV is literally covered in gold. Think this is absolutely unrealistic and too over the top? Someone bought it in Dubai.

7 Outrageously Expensive Motorhomes People Actually Buy appeared first on www.DoItYourselfRV.com

For one reason or another, European campers – especially motorhomes – seem different than those commonly found in the United States. Usually, these European campers have a more modern feel to their interior, and brighter accent colors.

Eura Mobil, a German RV manufacturer, has produced a motorhome that’s made to look like the inside of a Swiss chalet. It’s a variation on their Integra line of motorhomes, and combines all the practicality of their bare-bones Integra Line 670 SB motorhome model with the luxurious appointments found in a custom home.

Modern Luxury Meets Natural Originality

The Chalet Mobile as the company calls it, features a partially wood-paneled exterior along with leather and exposed wood inside. Countertops made from slate and recycled cotton upholstery fabrics bring a rustic feel to this mobile home on wheels.

Eura Mobil’s Chalet Mobile blends right into this stunning mountain scenery.

Chalet motorhome

The side windows have lattice inserts that bring out the cottage charm.

Inside of Swiss chalet motorhome

Interior of Swiss chalet RV

There’s a cozy bunk above the cab, along with a larger bed in the rear.

Motorhome bunk area

Motorhome light fixture

Recycled fiber upholstery fabrics on the curtains and seats.

Curtain detail

And an open-concept bathroom with upscale amenities.

Motorhome bathroom

Camping enthusiast, Alan Heath, got to tour a Chalet Mobile at an RV show, and he made a video of his experience to share with you.

(Source: Alan Heath)

The exposed wood paneling gives the interior of this motorhome a much different feel than the dark stained varieties often found in US RV models. I can’t help but wonder if you could put a true wood burning fireplace in this camper?

Source: Eura Mobil

Swiss Chalet-Style Motorhome Makes You Think You’re Living In A Ski Lodge High In The Alps appeared first on www.DoItYourselfRV.com

Mason Basten has followed the popular tiny house movement for years. Recently, he joined the ranks of those owning a tiny home built to their own specifications.

In 2006, he bought a 1984 Toyota Motorhome. After “some serious renovations”, he and his wife went on a tour of the East Coast in the camper.

You can hardly recognize the former Toyota Motorhome.

With the addition of four children in the years that followed, the camper proved too small for the larger family.

So Mason bought another trailer for just $50, gutted it, and added individual bunk cots with custom portholes. For the kids, he added in dry erase boards and two secret storage compartments!

A wood burning stove keeps the interior warm and toasty.

Once he finished with the trailer for the kids, Mason set to work on renovating the Toyota Motorhome that pulls it. He spent a couple of months re-doing the interior and adding huge windows to the outdoors. Here’s what he had to say about the specifics,

Quick run down of the vehicle, all of it’s structural elements as well as the skin and roof are aluminum, all structural elements are welded, overall weight of finished vehicle, unknown, however we guess-timate that we are 1500 lbs lighter than the initial factory unit.

All windows with the exception of the door and the dome window are double paned, thermal insulated. The large windows on the rear are tempered with a hurricane rating. It is insulated, with two layers of foam, one open cell and one closed cell with combined thickness of 2″ r value unknown.

Like in another Toyota Motorhome camper, Mason added a wood burning stove with plenty of fire insulation and steel heat reflectors.

Large windows let in lots of light.

Mason and his wife love to ski in West Virginia’s Canaan Valley, and plan to use their newly redesigned camper and trailer as a mobile ski chalet! With those large windows and cozy fire place, who needs a pricey hotel rental?

Photos via TinyHouseTalk

The map table is an original feature of this model.

Map table inside the Gipsy

Karmann Gipsy vintage motorhome

Rear of the camper

Kitchen area

Steering wheel

Cab area For its age, this is one good-looking motorhome. The inside looks pristine and that map table would look good in any camper. Unfortunately, many of the sites about Karmann Gipsy motorhomes aren’t written in English. The Karmann Coachbuilts Club is probably the best site to learn more about this unique and rare motorhome model.

Rare 1978 Volkswagen Transporter Karmann Gipsy Motorhome appeared first on www.DoItYourselfRV.com

Don Cohen is the Blogger-in-Chief of Winnebago’s blog, GoLife. Two years ago, he and his wife Terry bought a new Itasca Navion and put 40,000 miles on it traveling throughout the United States. The Navion had the Mercedes V-6 engine.

Don knew that Mercedes had made a big change to its 2014 Sprinter – the introduction of a 161-hp, 266-lb-ft 2.1-liter I-4 turbodiesel engine. This new engine has four cylinders in an inline layout, compared to the older V-6 model which has two rows of three cylinders in a V setup.

The two test subjects: a 2013 Itasca Navion (6 cylinder) and a 2014 Winnebago View (four cylinder).

New Mercedes I-4 engine in a motorhome — Winnebago

He wanted to test out the new I-4 engine compared to his older, V-6 model.

With the help of Winnebago and Transwest Truck Trailer RV (they loaned him the new motorhome), Don was able to test it through the Colorado Rockies, up and down 5% and 6% grades.

Watch Don Cohen test the new four cylinder Mercedes engine in a new Winnebago View.

httpv://youtu.be/CZbsrarewaI

It seems one of the most useful features of the new I-4 engine is that it has 7 gears compared to 5 in the V-6. Don was able to use engine breaking to maintain a smooth 60 mph during descents, taking the load off the brakes. Based on this test, which engine would you prefer if you had to choose between the two?

Itasca Navion Owner Tests The Four Cylinder Mercedes I-4 Turbodiesel Engine In A New Winnebago View appeared first on www.DoItYourselfRV.com

You might think that Marc and Julie Bennett were crazy for buying a large Tiffin Allegro motorhome with a bunkhouse since they have no kids.

This couple knew what they were doing though, and getting the bunkhouse model wasn’t an oversight.

While they planned to travel the United States and Canada at a leisurely pace, Marc still had to work 40 hours a week from their rig.

Before buying the RV, they planned on swapping out the bunkhouse for a customized office space that’s both private and peaceful.

Total cost? Less than $200.

httpv://youtu.be/nsEyS1e0wbE

Original video by RVLove

Well that turned out great.

It seems every week you read a news article about the benefits of location-independent employees. As more companies transition to a remote workforce, and younger people hit the road in RVs, it might be helpful if RV manufacturers recognized this growing trend and considered adding dedicated office space to their models.

How To Convert A Bunkhouse Into An Office For Under $200 [VIDEO] appeared first on www.DoItYourselfRV.com

If you’re an off-roading enthusiast, this Mitsubishi Rosa motorhome may get your creative juices flowing. It was for sale a few years ago by an owner in Kainga, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Mitsubishi first made the Rosa minibus back in 1960, and the model is now in its fourth generation. Most commonly used as a city transit shuttle, some older Rosa buses have found new life as off-grid campers.

The bus had 75,000 km (46,000 miles) on it when put up for sale a few years back. Asking price was $75,000.

Mitsubishi Rosa minibus motorhome — yeti

It’s got a 4.2L engine with 4WD. Yep, snow chains were included.

A 2.5 KW generator powers the electronics. The boat and four wheeler were part of the deal.

Side view of Mitsubishi motorhome — yeti

There’s twin bunk beds in the back, along with a shower and toilet.

And a small kitchen with a seating area up front.

Toward the front of the motorhome — yeti

Converted Mitsubishi Fuso Rosa bus — yeti

We’re not sure if this was a stock model, or if the owner customized the bus after purchase. You’d probably want to increase the 30 gallon freshwater tank to lengthen the time you could stay out in the field. The bus looks to be in fairly good condition, considering the owner designed it for off-road use.

Via OffRoadExpress

Mitsubishi Rosa 4WD Motorhome Owned By A New Zealander appeared first on www.DoItYourselfRV.com

While the basic design of the VW bug hasn’t changed in decades, many owners have used the model to make some outlandish custom builds.

One of the more strange-looking VW bug-inspired builds was featured on the cover of Popular Mechanics magazine some years back. Called the Boonie Bug, the strange motorhome looks like the ultimate camping mutt.

According to Riley, the Boonie Bug,

…combines the go-anywhere ruggedness of an ATV with the sleeping and camping facilities of a compact van. It gets its name from what it does best – roaming the “boondocks” – plus the fact that it’s built around a Volkswagen van chassis (the old style Transporter, Bus, or Kombie).

Photos of the Boonie Bug that was for sale.

VW Boonie Bug

Gull wing doors on Boonie Bug

BangShift found a homemade Boonie Bug for sale by a seller in San Diego, California. The original text of the ad read,

Ok dont lie to yourself you always wanted one of these. You will be the only one on your block with one, How often do you find a running complete car? Very rare and unique. Built from plans in Popular Mechanics. This was bought from the builders estate. I have his build notebook as well as pictures during build. I have current pink and tags, registered as a SPCNS, so no smog needed. I just installed a fresh 1835 ( less than 50 miles ) with a single weber and compufire ign. It is built on an early bus chassis, so it has a RGB trans, it shifts well. New rear brake shoes and wheel cylinders. Email with questions or if you need other pictures. Check short video on youtube at M4H03746 – YouTube. Car is in the San Diego area, pick up only. $7500, possible trade for a VW Thing, thanks.

Sadly, the craigslist ad for this mobile work of art has expired. But never fear – you can purchase plans to make your own Boonie Bug from R.Q. Riley. Riley also has plans for other interesting DIY projects.

Boonie Bug engine

Driver compartment

I can’t imagine what the gas mileage would be like with something like this. It has to be less than a stock VW bus? With oversized tires and an improved suspension system, you’d be hard-pressed to come up with a better beach camper though.

Photos via BangShift

Make Your Own 1970s Boonie Bug With Plans From R.Q. Riley appeared first on www.DoItYourselfRV.com

What if your life could be totally energy independent, from heating your water to powering your computers to going places in your car? Less ambitious people would think it’s a pipe dream, but one solar power RV inventor shows DIY RVers what’s possible.

This solar powered RV is energy independent (almost!)

Solar power RV inventions — Rene Agredano

Energy Independent RVer Demonstrates How to Live Off-Grid

Thomas “Tim” Lemieux is one such off-grid enthusiast who can show you how energy independence is done. Based in San Diego, California, this 70-years young retired electronics engineer and solar power advocate lives and works from his solar powered 1997 Winnebago motorhome.

His solar power RV is covered with enough photovoltaic panels to charge everything from his water heater to his evaporative “swamp cooler” – and even his electric smart car!

About the only thing in this RV that isn’t powered by the sun is the kitchen stove. Read on to find out how he’s going to fix that problem.

His RV charges his electric smart car!

Solar RV charges electric car — Rene Agredano

Go Places with RV Solar Energy

Since his first solar-powered bicycle invention in the 1980s, Lemieux has been preaching the gospel of off-grid living long before most environmentalists made it fashionable. Now that solar electric power is becoming more common in ordinary people’s lives, Lemieux’s rolling solar living demo RV is making it easy to find all-new mainstream audiences. He loves showing them how to harness the sun’s energy for even more unconventional uses – like powering an automobile.

You’re likely to find him parked around San Diego, offering free electric car charges from his RV or just entertaining passing strangers with his spirited guitar playing and drumming. Lemieux invites everyone who stops to ask questions about his RV solar power system. He’s always happy to extend an invitation to climb his RV’s ladder and tour the rooftop array that powers his lifestyle.

For extra kicks, he’ll flick a switch that raises and tilts his panels for maximum solar exposure, which is especially helpful during winter.

These roof-mounted solar panels harness energy from the sun.

RV solar array roof panels — Rene Agredano

His existing configuration features 10 RV batteries. When fully charged the batteries hold enough juice to allow his smart car to travel a distance of about 15 to 20 miles. He’s currently outfitting his toad trailer with an additional solar power system that will enable his smart car to charge its batteries up to three hours longer, and after it gets dark.

Beyond Solar Power: The Poop Stove

Another solar power RV living project of his that’s slowly taking shape is a methane-powered kitchen “poop stove.” Lemieux gets animated and happy when describing the stove invention, which will capture methane gas from his toilet’s black tank and convert it to cooking fuel for his conventional RV stove. This methane powered gadget will enable him to stop using propane entirely. It might also reach far beyond the RV marketplace to help people with limited fuel resources survive off the grid.

Look for this rolling solar powered RV in San Diego, California.

RV solar power inventor Tim Lemieux — Rene Agredano

As an energy expert and inventor with a non-stop entrepreneurial passion for cleaning up the environment, Lemieux has been living as a nomad for the last 35 years, and has no plans to stop now. He balances his zest for solar power RV inventions with teaching water aerobics to seniors, giving motivational weight loss seminars to veterans and repairing antique church organs. Solar power is one way he enjoys changing lives, he says.

Energy Independence Is Real

If you’re like many RV’ers, you probably have the ingenuity and determination to make solar power part of your RVing lifestyle. Lemieux and his solar powered RV are all the proof anyone needs to understand the fascinating realities of energy independent living.

Resources:

This Solar Powered RV Shows The Eye-Opening Possibilities Of Energy Independent RVing appeared first on www.DoItYourselfRV.com

Most do it yourself truck campers come together on a shoestring budget. Cheaply sourced (or free) materials and recycled lumber can dramatically reduce the amount of money required to make your own homemade truck camper.

Sometimes though, we come across a design that goes to the extreme in the opposite direction – in this case pure extravagance.

What’s Special About the House of Seven Rivers Motorhome?

An architect reviewed seventeen camper floor plans to try to come up with the ideal layout for a truck camper. He wanted to keep the design compact so that the vehicle would still maneuver easily on city streets or narrow mountain roads.

After much deliberation, he came up with the ideal floor plan: a 14 ft x 18 ft main living space with a 4 ft 7 in cab-over sleeping area.

Besides the unique open floor plan, he also incorporated a bunch of features you’d rarely see in any other camper like:

a teak-lined shower stall
interior walls made from incense-cedar
exposed sleeping surfaces (no need to fold out or convert tables or sofas into sleeping quarters)
stained glass windows in the sleeping loft and entrance door
built-in bookcases
a steel channel on the back to haul a motorcycle or bicycles
and a copper roof to top it all off!

A magnificent, hand-crafted rolling home on wheels. It sort of looks like a Gypsy Caravan or vardo, doesn’t it?

House of Seven Rivers

Leveled at the campsite. I hope he’s got chocks on the other side…

Rear of rolling land yacht

You’re greeted with a front door complete with handcrafted stained glass window.

Wood stove in small motorhome

The wood stove shown in the picture above is made of solid cast iron, and burns either wood or coal. Terry Thompson, the founder of Thompson & Thelin Stove Works, modified the stock design by adding three oval windows in the front.

The camper owner said that the window you see in the entry door took six days to make. There’s 45 individual stained glass elements, each cut and filed from a piece of 3/32″ sheet steel.

This sheet stock was electro-plated with a non-rustable metal. Then using the Tiffany copper-foil technique, the various colors of stained glass were soldered in place. The whole window was then treated with selenous acid to take the ‘newness’ off and washed.

Have you ever heard of an ‘open floor plan’ truck camper before?

Inside looking to rear

Entrance to the teak-lined shower area.

Vintage light fixtures in motorhome

A 67 gallon water tank and 6.2 gallon Atwood water heater make for luxurious showers.

Looking toward the front of the truck camper you can see the over-cab bed and kitchen area.

Motorhome living area

This motorhome is so cool, it’s bewildering why he would want to sell it in the first place. Maybe he’s just sick and tired of having to give anyone and everyone a tour!

UP NEXT: Ever Wondered What A $171,000 DIY Motorhome Looks Like? I Am Speechless.

If you know someone who would be interested in this $165,000 motorhome (that’s the price for just the camper portion, the truck is being sold separately!), have them get in touch with the folks at Hinterland Campers. You could use this thing as a full-time home, luxury weekend camper, or even a posh bug out vehicle.

And if you find the next buyer, you’ll earn a fat $5,000 commission!

For more details on this one-of-a-kind camper, visit this link…

Hinterland Campers: The House of Seven Rivers

This Handmade Truck Camper Will Make You Feel Like You’re Living In A Yacht appeared first on www.DoItYourselfRV.com

Winnebago markets their new Grand Tour 42HL as, “…the final stop in luxurious living”.

Built on the Exclusive Freightliner Maxum Chassis

The Grand Tour is powered by a 450 HP Cummins engine and built on the Freightliner Maxum Chassis.

Winnebago worked with Freightliner to design this exclusive chassis for the Grand Tour. It features a lowered-rail midsection and is far stronger than a raised-rail chassis.

The Maxum chassis can deliver a smooth ride because chassis flex is minimized and the center of gravity is low.

Freightliner Maxum chassis

Another benefit of the Maxum chassis is that it provides up to 220 cubic feet of storage, which is more than 20% greater than previous chassis models.

Other Features

The Grand Tour has a Paramount awning by Carefree. This awning has three positions that can cover a slideout, a slideout and a window, or the full side of your rig.

Inside you’ll find Ultrafabrics’ Ultraleather seats, porcelain floor tiles (on the 42QL model), and a large skylight with a powered shade.

If you like entertaining or cooking outside, you have the option of selecting the Tailgate Package, which includes:

an exterior HDTV with sound system
single-burner induction range top
steel counter
lockable refrigerator and freezer
and cold water access

Let Ryan Roske, Winnebago’s product manager, show you more details of the Grand Tour 42HL model.

httpv://youtu.be/422Wkt51I8w

Ryan did a great job explaining all the neat features of this coach. Right off the bat I was struck by that huge windshield, but that’s nothing compared with the ten foot long window in the living room!

This Winnebago Grand Tour 42HL Has A Huge Windshield And Many Other Luxury Features appeared first on www.DoItYourselfRV.com

The popularity of vintage RVs has taken off like a rocket in the past several years. Maybe it’s the baby boomers, maybe it’s just that vintage RVs have a style that can’t be reproduced. RV manufacturer Shasta even went so far as to re-release a modern version of a camper they first sold in 1941!

Finally, someone has taken a vintage RV and added a bit of pop culture nostalgia. Retro Kustom RVs used a 1971 Winnebago Brave motorhome as their canvas for a design based on the National Lampoon’s Vacation movie series.

The 1971 Winnebago Brave before the restoration.

And with some hard work (and a lot of Christmas decorations)…

Adding the Christmas decorations to the top of the motorhome — Winnebago Family Truckster

Here’s what she looks like now.

Outside of the Winnebago Family Truckster — Winnebago Family Truckster

Other side of the Christmas Vacation motorhome — Winnebago Family Truckster

Rear of the Christmas Vacation motorhome — Winnebago Family Truckster

Hey, it’s Cousin Eddie!

And the infamous squirrel.

Retro Kustom RVs says that,

The Winnebago Family Truckster is an idea we came up with to make something fun, creative and unique. Having the love of the National Lampoon Vacation movie series we thought it would be fun to take are regular old 1971 Winnebago Brave RV and be creative!

Word is that they’re working on a few more themed RVs, including one based on the Ghostbusters, Animal House (the Double Secret Probation Edition!), and A Christmas Story movies.

You can get in touch with Retro Kustom RVs through their Facebook page here. See photos of the inside of the motorhome here.

(H/T: RVillage)

Other vintage RV makeovers:

1971 Winnebago Brave Motorhome Turned Into A National Lampoon’s Masterpiece appeared first on www.DoItYourselfRV.com