Ski RV's, who's sleeping in parking lots?

I've been using a Big Buddy heater in my van without any problems too, I crack a vent window and a rear window and get plenty of ventilation and no condensation issues.
I have this
Attachment 120107
It's been great having all the room inside, but It gets lousy gas milage, Is only 2wd, and it's over 7'9" tall ( I have to take a ferry to get off the island and anything over that height gets charged double. $90.00). luckily? the transmission went so I'm looking for a F350 to pull the tranny, transfer case, and front axle from to finaly make it 4wd. It wont help with the gas milage or being over height, but it will be more useful.
I also have this, An '81 4wd with a Buick engine
http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/f...g?t=1254345817
that I've been thinking of combining with a chinook camper
Attachment 120108
it would still be big enough for two people, be under height, get decent milage, be 4wd, and still be under 30' long (another charge) when I haul my raft trailer (with a little work to the trailer). My father had a couple of them in the '70s and '80s, they were great campers but were slow as shit, I always thought with 4wd they would be a nice truck.

This would probably work for you, though the price is high:
http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/pm...173050517.html

http://images.craigslist.org/5Ee5T55...a9ffc517b2.jpg

Also, there is this for sale, which would probably fit on your ride:
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/...s/message/1044
Unless you are a member of that Yahoo! Group you cannot access the message, which is:
"I am considering removing the camper from the blazer to sell. I thought I would put it out there and see what kind of interest there is. The camper is complete except for the fridge. I would say that the camper is in fair condition. Rear door needs rebuild, cabinets are rough. Seats and cots are in excellent condition. Canvas on pop-up needs to be replaced. If I can find a buyer for the camper I would then part out the rest of the blazer. I will not start selling items off the Blazer before I sell the camper.Further details are listed in the "For Sale Doc." #27. If you are interested send me a pm. $500.00 for camper."

This K5 Blazer with camper is a rare beast:
http://oklahomacity.craigslist.org/rvs/3174518026.html

http://images.craigslist.org/5Z55Hb5...879c6b1547.jpg

Another one here, also far from you though:
http://dothan.craigslist.org/cto/3133173791.html

Pay attention to the listings that boltonoutlaw posts.
He comes across some of the best deals on Winter capable rigs I've seen to date.
I'll give him credit :yourock: (or blame him :fmicon:) for directing me to the rig I ended up with.

Thanks for the links. That one in BC is very nice but over priced, lots of work put into it though. I've looked at the Blazers but they are too small and they wouldn't get any better milage than the van. I passed up a nice one a few years ago for $2500, I don't remember why, maybe my lack of storage space. I see lots of decent toyota models around, If I can find one with good canvas and box it will make a nice project.

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Originally Posted by AlpenChronicHabitual

Pay attention to the listings that boltonoutlaw posts.
He comes across some of the best deals on Winter capable rigs I've seen to date.
I'll give him credit :yourock: (or blame him :fmicon:) for directing me to the rig I ended up with.

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Ha ha, I wish I had the money to go with the opinions. Looking forward to seeing pictures of your rig in a fresh snowfall.
PS: I haven't seen a nicer [same model] come on the market since...

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/i...JackHorner.jpg

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Originally Posted by refried

Thanks for the links. That one in BC is very nice but over priced, lots of work put into it though. I've looked at the Blazers but they are too small and they wouldn't get any better milage than the van. I passed up a nice one a few years ago for $2500, I don't remember why, maybe my lack of storage space. I see lots of decent toyota models around, If I can find one with good canvas and box it will make a nice project.

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Not especially overpriced as it is 4x4. '88 Sunraders with the 4by are selling for $18000-20000. Take a look at this - $50,000 for a 1985:
http://www.expeditionportal.com/foru...Yes-I-am-crazy

http://www.expeditionportal.com/foru...7&d=1345685012

Your right, It's really not a bad price, I'm looking for a project. I'd like to find a nice 2wd one and use the parts from my truck to make it 4wd, I think with the V6 it will be much better on the freeway while towing my raft than with the original 4.

Here is our RV. Such a fun ski and surf mobile.

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...5_858972_n.jpg

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Originally Posted by ms ann thrope

I've used the Big Buddy catalytic heater in my Class C motor home for four years. You need to leave a window cracked; I generally leave two cracked, as the shutoff on the heaters can be sensitive, and it can be hard to get them going again if the oxygen sensor shuts them down. And there's no condensation problem at all, despite the eager young scientists who insist there must be, with this approach. And no power is req'd to run the things, though there is a fan you can connect to 12v. RV built-in heaters suck a lot of juice, make a lot of noise, get too hot before they shut off & too cold before they kick on . . . Plus they have a feather switch that often prevents them from coming on.

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Buddy heaters are not catalytic. They burn a traditional "flame" and thus take much more oxygen, put off carbon monoxide and require low oxygen shut off sensors for use indoors because of all of the above. Catalytic heaters require none of the above thus are much safer for parking lot use! Plus for me, because of the low oxygen cut off sensor, my buddy heater would constantly shut off when I got much above 65 to 6800 feet. Total PITA.

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Originally Posted by shredgnar

A) they are safe for indoor use.
B) heaters put off carbon monoxide not carbon dioxide

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Sorry, got my carbons mixed up and you are right, buddy heaters can be used inside with adequate ventilation. If I remember correctly, I believe my buddy manual said at least 18 square inches of ventilation. With that said, the reason catalytics are much more popuar in the RV world because of the catalyst burn, the risk of carbon monoxide poising is alot lower!

I am not telling you what to use, just trying to help out my fellow parking lot brothers stay warm and safe.

Hope to see you in a parking lot soon!

I don't run the heater all night long, just long enough to warm up the van, then I'll light it again before getting out of bed to warm it up again, It only takes a minute to get it over 70* in there. I bought my girlfriend a 12 volt electric blanket a few years ago and it works great, she keeps it in her sleeping bag and turns it on if she gets cold during the night, It also has a timer on it (about 20 minutes?)so it can't kill the battery.

Attachment 120328
Once I finish building this my van will be set for the winter
Tons of storage for parking lot pimping

I'd consider going with two twins, that way you can stack them and get top access to the storage, or put one mattress on the side and have a pseudo couch. Plus you'll have a place to put stuff that is snowy/wet and not wet out your mattress.

Make sure those rollers are heavy duty too.

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Originally Posted by MakersTeleMark

I'd consider going with two twins, that way you can stack them and get top access to the storage, or put one mattress on the side and have a pseudo couch. Plus you'll have a place to put stuff that is snowy/wet and not wet out your mattress.

Make sure those rollers are heavy duty too.

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X2 on the the double twins. A buddy did that in his truck camper and it is working out well.

Also as an FYI, box spring mattresses are horrible bottom insulators. Consider going with a closed cell mattress topper to help insulate.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MakersTeleMark

I'd consider going with two twins, that way you can stack them and get top access to the storage, or put one mattress on the side and have a pseudo couch. Plus you'll have a place to put stuff that is snowy/wet and not wet out your mattress.

Make sure those rollers are heavy duty too.

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Twins are nice, especially if they are stacked.

mmmm, stacked twins...

wait, what are we talking about?

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Originally Posted by MakersTeleMark

I'd consider going with two twins, that way you can stack them and get top access to the storage, or put one mattress on the side and have a pseudo couch. Plus you'll have a place to put stuff that is snowy/wet and not wet out your mattress.

Make sure those rollers are heavy duty too.

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Its a long wheel base e350 so i have a good 7 feet between the bed and the front seats and the mattress was free so for now its what im gonna use

Free mattress in a van. Sounds like your going to get laid a lot.

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Originally Posted by MakersTeleMark

Free mattress in a van. Sounds like your going to get laid a lot.

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Dude, bro... He's got himself a free mattress in a van, chicks dig guys with skills.

Selling my 2000 Chinook Concourse 21' Class B+ Motorhome.
Ford E-350 Super-Duty chassis. 6.8 liter Triton V-10 engine. Automatic transmission. 30190 miles. 70 hours on generator:
http://eugene.craigslist.org/rvs/3256850661.html

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/i...E/NIXONMPN.jpg

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/i...E/EUGENEOR.jpg

What's the maggot price in that bad boy?

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Originally Posted by Dave Marshack

What's the maggot price in that bad boy?

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I take it you saw the list price.
Shoot me a PM if interested Dave

I take it you sprung for that Bigfoot? Damn, I'd love a Chinook. Want but can't have. Hope it goes to a good home.

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Originally Posted by That was Pontus

I take it you sprung for that Bigfoot? Damn, I'd love a Chinook. Want but can't have. Hope it goes to a good home.

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Nope. Have my eye on other game...(more this week).
I was toying with buying that Bigfoot and driving north to Williston, ND to flip it in an oil boom town with a shortage of housing but I couldn't get it together and it sold. Hopefully someone here quietly snatched it up. It was too big for me. Would have been perfect for a winter film crew or as an AK parker.

winter digs for 3 months last season revelstoke, RP, baker, and this shot at Kwood 2011-12, Esbar heat, 410ah 12v, 3000w inverter charger, over 20 mpg with out a head wind. in 2010-11 did 13000mi averaged 22.3 mpg. you can see build here http://www.sprinter-source.com/forum...ad.php?t=12482

Attachment 120422

befor the sprinter it was an astro awd but no real heat and you cant stand up

Attachment 120438

whywodintya

There are a couple Bigfoots currently on the Spokane craigslist:
http://spokane.craigslist.org/rvs/3253775958.html
and
http://spokane.craigslist.org/rvs/3251640567.html