My first RV - Fiberglass RV
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 09-21-2009, 03:52 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
Adrian W's Avatar
 
Trailer: Scamp 16 ft Side Dinette
Posts: 1,185
Post

Our first RV was a camper shell on the back of my dad's farm pick-up (1970 Chevy) with a butane tank in back; this would have been in 1971. My wife & I drove from Harlingen, TX to Las Cruces, NM for a job interview. We bought the camper shell for the trip. We had two fold up cots (old army style, canvas, take apart to fold), a borrowed Coleman camp stove. The camp stove's leather pump was dry, therefore we had a time getting it to work. Corn oil on the leather to get it going. First time to sleep in it was a KOA in Las Cruces. Got the job, found a small house to rent, spent another night at the KOA. Went to Carlsbad. Can't remember others stops. No real problem. Fell in love with RVing & New Mexico and have been at it for 38 years.

After getting back home, we bought a '71 Chevy Pickup for the camper shell. After moving to NM, I added build in bunks, storage, a spot for a Coleman ice chest and a wooden floor over the metal bed with indoor/outdoor carpet. It was a neat set up for us. It even had a little seat, so you could have a place to put on shoes, etc in the back close to the door. The camper shell had a solid back, with a door & windows on both sides. I took the tail gate off. It had 3 tiers, tallest in the rear, of course. It was great for boon docking & dispersed camping. We also got a port-a-potty.

We also bought a new Coleman stove in Las Cruces before we left. Ha!

In '75, at least I believe it was '75. Traded this set-up on a '75 Scout II 4x4, slept in the back with the tailgate down with a sheet over the back to keep out bugs, or in a tent.

A few years later, around '83 or 4, I got an old '60 something Holiday Rambler Truck Camper for the old '70 pick up, after I got it from my mom. It had roof leaks, water leaks if on city, smelled bad until got to cooking in it each trip. I took the mattress out & burned it (living out on a small, 5 acre farm at the time). It fit a long bed pick-up.

Bought a TT in '86 (a 20' 1983 Komfort Lite Bunkhouse with a head & shower, Wow!) which we took on a trip to Yellowstone, Glacier, Baniff in Canada to Victoria, BC then down the west coast to SoCal & back home towed with the 16 year old '70 Chevy farm truck without a butane tank & a low shell.

After several new to us tows through the years, we went to a '96 Coachman Catalina C-class 22' MH in '97. We went to Canada again for our first trip with it. This time to LA area then up the west coast to Victoria, BC area to Jasper, to Baniff, Watertown, Glacier, then back home via American Falls area of Idaho & Heron Lake. After getting a Fish & Sky Boat, we often towed our Jeep CJ-7 & the boat behind the C-class going up to Elephant Butte State Park.

We down sized to the 16' Scamp in 2005.

We enjoyed each and everyone of them.

Only once did we do any Stealth Camping, back in the early '70s. We pulled off the viewing road by the Grand Canyon South onto a forest pull over and into a forest track of a road. Parked behind some small trees & brushes. No knock on the door in the middle of the night. Only time we disperse camped where I felt as if I was stealthing.

We have had all kinds of things break or not work over the years but nothing to ruin a trip or to keep us from keeping on.

You may have heard of South Padre Island. It was where I first got a taste for camping in the mid-'60s. Very dispearsed camping back then, a '46 Jeep CJ, a tarp for shade, a cot to keep off the sand & away from the sand crabs, a summer weight sleeping bag and food & water. Had a blast, would drive down the beach until no one else were around. Maybe 10 miles from the entry point. My first trip was with a FFA outing to the island.

But my first campout was at Boca Chica with my parents. My dad & his brother fashioned a large open at one end shelter, like a "lean to shed", between two cars on the beach. It had a roof, back wall and a floor using one large tarp as I remember it. They were both farmers. This would have been in the early '50s. I still remember the tarp smell. No a plastic tarp, but a cotton duck treated to be water proof & bug proof as well, I assume.

At that time, you had to take a boat ferry to Padre Island, then get a ride on an old Army Half Track to get to the beach on the island. I belive we only went once, but man did I enjoy the Half Track ride. I was very young.

When my mom was a teen, to get across to the island, they could wade across, before the InterCoastal channel was cut. They also had to cross by row boat to get to Matamoros. Port Isabel was called Point Isabel http://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation...sabel-texas.htm then as well, but the Lighthouse was there. Old even then. Ha! The school distract is Point Isabel still today. http://www.pi-isd.net/ ..... http://www.portisabelmuseums.com/

After building the causeway & bridges to the island, it was a toll road for many years. Most of this old causeway & bridges are just fishing piers or gone today. It had a lift on one bridge to allow ship to pass under, which caused long lines waiting for it to open.
__________________
DesertHawk- Las Cruces, NM USA
2015 Lance 1985 ~ Casita de Campo ~23' 4"
~Previously ~ 2005 16' Scamp
2009 White Ford F-150 Reg. Cab Longbed ARE Topper
Adrian W is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-21-2009, 04:23 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
ronsmith100's Avatar
 
Trailer: Casita
Posts: 451
My first rv
Attached Thumbnails
skate.jpg  
ronsmith100 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-21-2009, 04:50 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Greg A's Avatar
 
Trailer: 1981 13 ft Scamp / Nissan Titan
Posts: 1,852
My first RV:



Name:   Rucksack_Travel_Hiking_Army_Backpack_BB53_.jpg
Views: 46
Size:  13.9 KB
__________________
Owner:
Fiberglass-RV-4Sale.com
Scamp Owners International
2015 Escape 19 & 1997 Scamp 19
Greg A is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-21-2009, 04:54 PM   #4
Moderator
 
Frederick L. Simson's Avatar
 
Trailer: Fiber Stream 1978 / Honda Odyssey LX 2003
Posts: 8,222
Registry
Send a message via AIM to Frederick L. Simson
Wink

http://www.neatoldtoys.com/ From the home page, scroll to the bottom and click on "HISTORY"
Boy with Tonka Toys
I think I was 7. "It" was a blue metal Tonka/Buddy-L pickup truck with a matching blue plastic slide-in camper, just like the one next to this boy's right knee in the 1st picture on the History Page of the website linked to above. It was the bestest Christmas EVER!!!
__________________
Frederick - The Scaleman
Frederick L. Simson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-21-2009, 05:18 PM   #5
Member
 
Trailer: Play Pac 1973
Posts: 33
Registry
Yup, I was one a them long haired freaky people back then. 1974 and me with my 1935 Chevy truckhouse that I lived in while going to college at Evergreen State College. It had a small, wood cook stove, porta potti, stained glass windows, etc. Where I parked it while at college was on a fairly remote 20 acres, with a small porch and, of course, a 1 holer (outhouse). The rig in the background is my friend Jack's 1935 International.


Click image for larger version

Name:	steve_and_2_house_trucks.jpg
Views:	116
Size:	63.0 KB
ID:	23631


Steve
Stephen T. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-21-2009, 05:40 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
ronsmith100's Avatar
 
Trailer: Casita
Posts: 451
Quote:
Yup, I was one a them long haired freaky people back then. 1974 and me with my 1935 Chevy truckhouse that I lived in while going to college at Evergreen State College. It had a small, wood cook stove, porta potti, stained glass windows, etc. Where I parked it while at college was on a fairly remote 20 acres, with a small porch and, of course, a 1 holer (outhouse). The rig in the background is my friend Jack's 1935 International.


Attachment 23631


Steve
Steve ur yankin my chain here... I mean... no, .. I mean really?

I need to meet more of you people!

Dang!

PS I really boom over the first nations whale!
ronsmith100 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-21-2009, 06:28 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
james kent's Avatar
 
Trailer: Boler 1984
Posts: 2,938

Click image for larger version

Name:	Winter_Camping.jpg
Views:	69
Size:	50.8 KB
ID:	23633


Doing some REAL camping back about 1975.
Now why do thay call us Crazy Canuks?
james kent is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-21-2009, 06:31 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
james kent's Avatar
 
Trailer: Boler 1984
Posts: 2,938
Before the tent I used to mount a small wall tent into the back of an old Pickup and throw in and old matress.
james kent is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-21-2009, 08:46 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
Rick kl's Avatar
 
Trailer: 2000 24 ft Shasta Ultra Flite
Posts: 251
The trunk of my 1966 Ford meteor served for those overnight trips to bush parties and pig roasts, I discoverd how comfortable it was in there while installing Craig power play 8 track speakers ($300 player in a $200 car) later I bought a fold up with a canvas top, cold and wet !
Rick kl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-22-2009, 07:36 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Sandra Lair's Avatar
 
Trailer: 1982 Scamp 13 ft
Posts: 379
My "first RV" was a quilt thrown over the clothes line! I still remember how much cooler it was on a hot day. My "second RV" was one of the hand-me-down Army tents our troop used at Girl Scout camp. They were square & supported in the center by a tall pole. When it rained, they leaked.....a lot. We had a great time!

Sandra
Sandra Lair is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-22-2009, 09:45 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
Robin G's Avatar
 
Trailer: 2007 Casita
Posts: 3,428
First that I owned was a 73 27ft Explorer Class A, hand me down from my parents with only 22 thousand miles on it. It was like brand new even in the mid 80's when they gave it to us after they bought a new rv. But the first rv I ever camped in was a travel trailer my Dad bought after my Mom told him she wouldn't camp again in a tent. So he bought the trailer, Sorry can't tell you what it was Dad passed a few years ago ( he would have known) but Mom doesn't remember what brand it was. All she remembers is that it was wonderful compared to a tent. From there we owned and camped in several travel trailers, overhead campers, C Class, Class A, 5th wheel and last but not least a B Class.


But here is a pic of the first RV I camped in 1964, it's the one behind my brother and I
Attached Thumbnails
Chris_and_I_camping_1964.jpg  
Robin G is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-23-2009, 03:30 AM   #12
Senior Member
 
Joseph Domingos's Avatar
 
Trailer: 1973 Compact II / 2001 Honda CRV SE automatic
Posts: 285
Send a message via AIM to Joseph Domingos Send a message via Yahoo to Joseph Domingos
My first camping experiences were tent camping with friends and family. At first everything was borrowed, but as time went on I slowly got stuff of my own, sleeping bag, tent, cooler, etc. It's a very different feeling to have your own stuff, vs. it all being borrowed, right?
After getting tired of sleeping on the ground, and making the decision to get a rig of my own, I found myself a tent trailer that 'needed some work'. I still remember getting it home, opening it up in my garage, and just sitting in it, dreaming of the fun trips I was going to have in it! It actually needed more work than even my Dad and I could manage, so it has since become a flatbed trailer for the ATVs to ride on, which it does quite well...hehe Still a good investment though, for only $100!
And then I learned about fiberglass rigs! Hunting on Craigslist diligently, I found my Compact II, YAY! So in a way, it's my first REAL RV... MAN have I learned a lot from it too, and from everybody on this website. And it's just the beginning! I'm sure there are many adventures ahead with the Compact, and probably several more rigs in my future after it. You all will see them all as they come, in pics on here! hehe

That's my two cents, thanks!

Joe
Joseph Domingos is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-23-2009, 02:51 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
Gina D.'s Avatar
 
Trailer: Former Burro owner and fan!
Posts: 9,015
Registry
I bought this real cheap.. it was very easy on gas.

My cousin Yoshi and I had great adventures in it.

Click image for larger version

Name:	myfirstrv.jpg
Views:	74
Size:	92.0 KB
ID:	23698


But seriously folks...I my first RV was a VW bus with full Wesfalia package... tho I didn't really appreciate it at the time as an RV. It was my daily driver. I LIVED in the thing during hard economic times.

I am going to be living in the Burro soon for the same reasons... it will be a tad more comfy.
Gina D. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-23-2009, 03:34 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
Gerda, H's Avatar
 
Trailer: 2010 17 ft Escape B ('Cafe Egg')
Posts: 191
Registry
Cool

Aside from tent camping, my first RV was a regular VW T4 bus with build-in cabinets and fold-able bench. No kitchen appliances or running water, and also no camping roof. Was fun though, especially since I picked the furniture and curtains to go in. I loved it, and it was also my regular driver. Very economic at that, being a 69 hp Diesel... Those Germans again, I know.... Just aggravates me that I couldn't get my 4Runner as Diesel with manual transmission, oh well.... And now I am really looking forward to my Escape 17'B trailer I am getting next year!
Gerda, H is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-23-2009, 04:53 PM   #15
Member
 
Wilder's Avatar
 
Trailer: 1993 Scamp 13 ft
Posts: 61
Registry
I had this 1967 VW Westfalia for 12 years. Still kind of sad that I finally sold it in 2004 ;(
Attached Thumbnails
DSC01696__1024x768_.JPG   DSC01744__1024x768_.JPG  

Wilder is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-23-2009, 06:07 PM   #16
Senior Member
 
Gerda, H's Avatar
 
Trailer: 2010 17 ft Escape B ('Cafe Egg')
Posts: 191
Registry
Wow, a T1! What a sweet ride!!! Just love the inside and outside! I can imagine you regret now you sold it!!! Here in Wisconsin there aren't too many of those around, likely due to our winters...
Gerda, H is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-24-2009, 10:07 AM   #17
Senior Member
 
Doug & Anna-Marie P's Avatar
 
Trailer: 2008 17 ft Escape B
Posts: 128
We had a bare bones tent trailer (nothing but beds and canvas walls)
After one COLD/WET weekend it was for sale on MOnday and by the end of the week we had our 13' Boler!!!
After many many mods and many great trips, we sold it 14 years later and now have our 17B Escape.. (and boy what a change from those early days!!!!)
Doug & Anna-Marie P is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-27-2009, 06:56 AM   #18
Senior Member
 
james kent's Avatar
 
Trailer: Boler 1984
Posts: 2,938
Found this from our honeymoon. Taken under the Champlain Bridge at Expo '67 Montreal.


Click image for larger version

Name:	Expo___67.jpg
Views:	36
Size:	53.0 KB
ID:	23757
.
james kent is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Upcoming Events
No events scheduled in
the next 465 days.
» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:48 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.