Rustic Rig Shots

[dhackney]

When we were building our rig I stumbled across this in the local Sears parking lot while making a run for tools.



It was my first exposure to what I would loosely term, um, rustic, rigs.

It did, however, open my mind to the fact that there are lots of people out there in some pretty old stuff, still chuffing along.

Next came the day when I found this parked out front of the shop where I was building the rig.



This combo was very close to my car-guy heart. What a sweet setup. Very limited off-road capabilities, but what a way to get there.

Once we got going, we started to see lots of examples of an entire parallel universe of vintage campers, lovingly restored, usually pulled by representative period pickup trucks, rods, Broncos, etc.

The best example we spotted was at a gas station in Idaho. It was driven by an old guy, I'd estimate in his 70s, weathered, rustic and genuine. He was either directly off the high plains or out of central casting. He was the perfect image of a toughened, wizened Westerner. He was filling his vintage Dodge Power Wagon that was pulling a vintage tag trailer.

We later found them camped up the Yankee Fork, on the way into the River of No Return Wilderness, Idaho. He was pulled off on some BLM land, dry camping.

This is a lousy shot, but it's all I've got.



The very next day we were south of there, somewhere in Idaho, and we came across this truly vintage expedition camping rig in a little town.



This shot is just for scale:


So, I know there's more rustic, vintage expedition type rigs out there.

Let's see them.

[Grim Reaper]

Check out the Gallery here.
http://www.tincantourists.com/

I am pretty sure the tear drop is a "Tourist". I have seen pictures of that before.

Also check out the House trucks.

http://www.mrsharkey.com/busbarn/sharkey/sharkey.htm
More
http://www.mrsharkey.com/busbarn/busbarn.htm

Our family camper is a 1959 Airstream that we are in the middle of a frame off restoration. I plan to pull it with a 1970 Pontiac LeMans a LOT.

In Kennesaw GA there is a person living in a polished early 50's Spartan Mansion. The lot is right on a main street and probably been on it for most of it's life. The lot looks to be well over and Acre and if it can be zoned commercial its probably $750K per acre where its at.

There is a LOT of old tin on the road.

[Funrover]

Here is one I found in Dumont,CO

[adventureduo]

oh my guurdness those are some scary rigs.

[kcowyo]

The very next day we were south of there, somewhere in Idaho, and we came across this truly vintage expedition camping rig in a little town.

Very cool find for a history buff. Technically a camping rig, yes. But an expedition rig? Well not really.

I'm sure Doug, you've seen these all over in your travels but for the flatlanders and new kids on the block, this is called a Sheep Wagon. These were typically pulled by two oxen with a head yoke or collar, like is visible in the other photo.

The traditional design for this wagon came into use in the 1880's with the rapid expansion of the sheep business throughout the West. Compact, efficient living space with well-designed storage areas, built-in benches, retractable table, wood stove, and a sleeping berth were common to all sheep wagons.

Early in the American west, millions of sheep were grazed on the rangelands. A lone herder and his dogs could tend a couple of thousand sheep. The sheepwagon was the herder's mobile home, pulled by oxen as he followed these herds. During the grazing season, sheep were often moved hundreds of miles. These wagons served as shelter, home and refuge from the elements of the open range. It's a cowboy's castle.

These are still used out west for sheepherder's and monitoring large bands of sheep. New ones are still being manufactured today and old ones have been used by some savvy ranchers as guest quarters on their dude ranches.

Here are typical interior views -

[Mc Taco]

Nice refurbished truck in Bodie.
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