Ok, so I've been cruising the local classifieds to see what's out there in the way of a class C motorhome. I've been considering either buying one or buying an old 18-passenger school bus (a "short bus") and converting it into a camper, then spending my winters traveling the southern USA. I know, I'm only 36 and it's a bit early to be thinking about things like that, but I am just dreaming.
So I find this for sale (being a Toyota it's made of gold and priced as such):
(http://www.foxthundercats.com/images/toyotamotorhome.JPG)
Just what I'd like. Not too big, easily piloted through unfamiliar towns...
...So then I started thinking. I'll never buy a Toyota motor home because I would never pay what people think they're worth. Normal (van-based) Class C motorhomes are a bit cheaper, but still quite expensive and I don't like the size of most of them (too big). Then there's that "Homer Simpson" style about them, like the camper Homer bought in the first season when he was jealous of Flanders. So I thought "If someone could build a motorhome out of an 80's 4-cyl Toyota truck, why not a Fox T-Bird?"
That's when my mind snapped. I present my concept drawing of a class C Thunderbird motor home:
(http://www.foxthundercats.com/images/88birdmotorhome.jpg)
This would essentially be the body of a fox 'Bird (from the B-pillar forward) sitting on a 1-ton truck chassis with a motorhome body.
I know, it's crazy. Still, I'd really, REALLY love to show up at Cat Jam with something like this :mullet:
cool, a turbo-home
I would do something like that.
can I barrow it to take to the races in April? That would be Cool! LOL
Oh my god man.
I saw one of those little toyota homes at the tire shop I worked at. Some woman was daily driving it I think... I dont know how that little truckthing hauled all that around. It sure was NOT a 1-ton though...
I would personally invest my time into building a teardrop trailer with a Tbird theme, lol.
:hick: (http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb170/1WLDBRD/trailer20park.gif)
Believe it or not there was a 1-ton payload package available on those 80's Toyotas (and Nissans, and Dodge Dakotas - I had a 1-ton Dakota). Some even had dual rear wheels. When they say "1-ton" they mean it, though - 2000 pounds is it. Full-size 1-tons can usually hold two or more tons (the F-350 Super Duty has a 6120 lb payoad).
So at first when the screen popped up I said you were crazy. I saw a family picture with a bunch of people’s heads reded out. Then I scrolled down and read and realized your still OK.
ipsd, would that be your first time racing a motorhome? :hick:
build it!
Would surely save on room expenses, maybe you could park it on Eric's front lawn...
Yah cause there's obviously nothing crazy at all about a T-bird motorhome. :rollin:
It looks like a lot work, but I'm sure it can be done with enough beer and a welder. :hick:
I'd love to get in on that project.
I even have a dish for the roof. :D
Jesse James ended the show to soon he was looking for more ideas to bad you didn’t think of it then.
(http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii266/BillyInnes/erase.jpg)
I used to be a scrub dog at an auto/motorhome shop. Those little Toyotas were able. I had a hard time believing it could even move, but when you got in it it drove perfectly fine. I drove a Nissan conversion as well, but the Toyota was definitely the better rig. It was a manual too. The thing is the cab rode as low as a car, and every time you got out you cracked your head on the sleeper.
One thing to remember is if you want a turbo-home, you're going to want to make that a turbo-302. That Toyota was using the R22, arguably the toughest passenger car engine ever made. I wouldn't trust a 2.3T to make it to New Brunswick hauling a camper.:slap:
Oh, one last thing, you're crazy. :screwy: I think I'd rather see a FWD Fox-bird than see yours cut up to make a motorhome.
Yep,your crazy.
I don't think you're crazy.....Insane maybe,but not crazy.LOL.
I'd love to. Maybe some day, after I strike it rich :hick:
Yeah, right... Eric would probably see that monstrosity heading for his lawn and instantly renounce his views on gun control :2gunsfiri
Cool! And I've got an FTA receiver to make it complete!
Jesse James can come up with his own ideas. If this were ever to see the light of day I'd wanna be the one to build it.
I'm not surprised they're able. Really, it'd be no different than towing a small camper trailer, something a 22r-powered 'Yota should be more than capable of doing. It's not going to win any drag races, but it would cope easily enough...
If this was a turbo anything, it'd be a turbo diesel. Preferably a CRD...
No fear. If I were to build it I'd start with a basket case, since really the only T-Bird or Cougar parts on it would be the body shell from the B-pillars forward.
As for FWD... that's actually crossed my mind for the Bird motor home. Drop an Olds Toronado drivetrain (455 V8, FWD) in there and it'd make sorting out the rear suspension a LOT easier...
...And now, to prove I've gone completely over the deep end, I present concept #2, this time based on a Cat (can't leave the Mercury guys out of the insanity). Although more radical, this one would be much, much easier to build, and would be easier to drve and get better mileage to boot. If I ever do this motorhome thing I'll likely follow this route:
Is that ac in or fan out? It would be original.
Never mind the genny's in there.
That's all well and good but everybody's gonna know you're one of them Snowbirds, blue hair or not.
If you want to really blend in it needs to look more like this....
A Tiffany Cougar Pop-Up Camper would be wicked bad-ass....DO IT!
lmao
The only problem with a Tiffany Cougar version would be that it'd be so long it'd have to bend in the middle :hick:
lol, yeah you'd probably need a CDL to drive something like that too