Am I the longest original owner of a playpac?

[Ralph Lyons]

My name is Ralph Lyons. I live in Sequim, Wa. In 1972 I was stationed in Brunswick, Ga. I bought my '72 playpac from Wood's VW. I have owned it ever since. It is in nearly original condition and I even lived in it for a year after getting out of the navy. I have pulled it with my '67 type 1, but that is a hard way to go. I still have the type 1, but I had much better luck with a '56 belair with the 265 v-8. I still have that too. The trailer tows just fine behind a Isuzu Trooper with a 2600 cc four-cyl and currently with a Mazda b2600i. I have owned the rig now for 36 years. I also use it as an office, as I am a teacher and it makes a great place to sit quietly and grade papers. Steven, if you would send me your address I will snail mail you and tell you some of my stories. Best wishes to all - Ralph

[Bigfoot Mike]

Please feel free to post here. We would all like to hear your stories.

PS; I come to Sequim just about every year to see my dad. His birthday is in July. He’ll be 95 this year.

[Donna D.]

Hey Ralph, welcome to FiberglassRV we're glad you're here

We'd all love to hear your stories and view your pictures, please feel free to post throughout the forums.

Next June, there's going to be a gathering of eggs happening almost right in your neighborhood. It would be great to meet an "original" owner and view your trailer first hand. For more information, click this link to the 2009 Washington State Get Together - 2nd Annual, June 4-7, 2009 Taidnapam Park

[Christi V.]

Welcome Ralph..
another Washingtonian here!! (Centralia)
Sign up for the gathering at Taidnapam if you can!!

[Bonnie]

I would love to see some pictures of your PlayPac. I am restoring one from stratch. It's exciting to have another PlayPac owner on the board.

Here's a link to the inventor's thread. It's been pretty interesting.

The Inventor's Chat

[Flygal]

considering what prices are today...just for fun if you don't mind me asking what was the going rate 36 years ago?.......

[Phil Underwood]

welcome to the forum and please post some photos of your play pac

[Ralph Lyons]

considering what prices are today...just for fun if you don't mind me asking what was the going rate 36 years ago?.......

Mr. Wood had 5 on the lot - 4 sold for I think about $2600-$2700. Mine was the last one and just sort of hung around. When I transfered up to Norfolk, Virginia, I offered him $2000 for it and went north with it behind my '67 bug. That was a long 600 miles!

[Ralph Lyons]

Welcome Ralph..
another Washingtonian here!! (Centralia)
Sign up for the gathering at Taidnapam if you can!!

From somewhere else I think I read that this rally is during the first week in June. That is an impossible time for a high school teacher! Sorry, but if you get up to Sequim Bay State Park or the Dungeness Rec area, I'm in the phone book. Be warned, however, teachers go to school in the summer. Last year, I certified to teach applied math and this year I'm looking forward to one or maybe two of the applied science certifications. By trade, I am a toolmaker/moldmaker, and an electronics technician. I teach several shop classes and math at Crescent High School in Joyce about 15 miles west of Port Angeles. Take care and see you later - Ralph

[Flygal]

you must be smiling today....sure your trailer fetches a wee more than that if offered!

Mr. Wood had 5 on the lot - 4 sold for I think about $2600-$2700. Mine was the last one and just sort of hung around. When I transfered up to Norfolk, Virginia, I offered him $2000 for it and went north with it behind my '67 bug. That was a long 600 miles!

[Lizbeth]

Welcome Ralph! I look for ward to your stories.

[ricky w.]

Great to have another Play Pac owner on here! Would love to here some of your stories.
Welcome aboard.

[Kevin A]

Just curious... How much does your PlayPac weigh when loaded for camping? We have two old VWs ('69 Type 1 and '68 Single Cab) and we've often talked about restoring the single cab to towing capacity (bigger engine, tranny, etc.). However, our UHaul 16' VT is probably going to be too heavy for it to tow (about 2500 pounds loaded).

Glad to have you with us on the Forum!

Kevin

[Ralph Lyons]

Just curious... How much does your PlayPac weigh when loaded for camping? We have two old VWs ('69 Type 1 and '68 Single Cab) and we've often talked about restoring the single cab to towing capacity (bigger engine, tranny, etc.). However, our UHaul 16' VT is probably going to be too heavy for it to tow (about 2500 pounds loaded).

Glad to have you with us on the Forum!

Kevin

The type 1 was rated to tow about 1000-1200 pounds, and the '68 truck would have had a 1600cc engine, if I remember right. The truck was heavier than the type 1 and so actually has less payload capacity. Like I said earlier towing with a VW is a hard way to go. Up till this year, I towed with a '88 Isuzu Trooper - 2600cc 4 cylinder. I also towed a small aircraft (a kitfox mod 4) on a trailer with it. The trooper lost the head gasket about a month ago, and I bought a '90 Mazda b2600i pick-up. It's the same size engine so should be about the same. I wouldn't even tow the playpac with a VW unless it was only for a short - really short - trip. It's just too hard on the car. As for your trailer you are twice what a VW could handle - don't try it! Ralph

[Ralph Lyons]

Please feel free to post here. We would all like to hear your stories.

PS; I come to Sequim just about every year to see my dad. His birthday is in July. He'll be 95 this year.

Mike - If you get to Sequim - I can recomend the Rainbows inn rv park. It's about 3 miles from my place - give me a call!
Also Sequim Bay state park and the Dungeness Rec area all nice. Best Wishes - Ralph

[JasonWesterman]

Heres a picture of my 70 vw truck with 74 perris pacer in tow

I have the original owners manual and it says that the towing capacity for a 1970 truck is 1000 pounds. not sure what the bug would be but it seems if the truck is 1000 the bug should be less but maybe not. The payload is listed and 2200, also I have a larger engine and dual cabs so I figure it should handle towing more than that.

[Kevin A]

Heres a picture of my 70 vw truck with 74 perris pacer in tow

I have the original owners manual and it says that the towing capacity for a 1970 truck is 1000 pounds. not sure what the bug would be but it seems if the truck is 1000 the bug should be less but maybe not. The payload is listed and 2200, also I have a larger engine and dual cabs so I figure it should handle towing more than that.

Nice looking set! I don't think our '68 single cab will ever pull our UHaul. Just too much weight to do more than drive it down a short, FLAT road to a nearby VW show. For shows, we could pull the UHaul with our 2003 VW Eurovan (our normal tow vehicle), drive the single cab by itself, and then just hook them together at the show.