Since we sold the rpod 2 years ago we have been RV free. But it couldn't last. Our new acquisition:
1994 Chinook Concourse. Why an older Class B this time around?
Our use case changed. When when bought the rpod we were living in Hatteras NC on the Outer Banks. We had the not fun experience of evacuating during a couple hurricanes and having hours of stalled traffic and nights sleeping in the car due to lack of hotel rooms. So we wanted a platform we could both use for camping and to bug out early and for extended periods, as folks aren't allowed back on the island for several days to weeks after a bad storm. Ultimately we gave up on the OBX, too many storms and floods, moved to the mountains, where we have a small farm with all the work that entails. So the rpod went to someone who could make use of it.
But we missed travel and camping. What to do when we can only get away for a few days at a time?
The answer requires a a combination of two vehicles: an airplane to get somewhere quick, and a camping vehicle to stay in when we get there. Well, actually 3 vehicles, we need a car to get to the airport here....
It had to be a small class B that fits in a normal parking space, so we can leave it places we want to visit. It needed to be affordable because the airplane sucks up most of our limited disposable income. It had to be older. My wife had to be comfortable driving it (she never liked towing the rpod) because I'm not talented enough to drive it and fly my airplane at the same time.. Over my wife, it had to have a full bath with shower And after all the structural, workmanship, and water intrusion problems with the rpod and other standard issue RVs we've had, I wanted a high quality fiberglass coach built on a robust platform.
The Chinook satisfies all those requirements and I think still looks good too. Ford E350 dually chassis with a 460 V8. 21 ft long, drives and parks like a big pickup or large SUV. One piece fiberglass shell, no water leaks after 28 years. Nice cabinetry, fabrics, high quality fit and finish.
How does it compare to the Rpod? It has about the same interior space as our 172, but arranged differently. Nicer kitchen with a large fridge, double sink, and Corian counters. About the same interior and exterior storage, dining, and bathroom space.
A bit more water storage, which is good for boondocking. The fresh water system is entirely within the heated space, so no freeze problems with that while camping.
Less convenient sleeping arrangement, it has a jackknife sofa we will have to pull out every night. Nothing is perfect. We could have opted for an RV with separate overcab sleeping but we're too old for all the climbing up and down to use the bathroom.
So next steps will be to fix the broken and/or not fully functional items one expects to find in a near 30 year old camper. I'm starting that voyage of discovery now...
Then a couple trial trips. If those work as we hope then the mods and upgrades can start. My wife wants to do a few cosmetic changes most notablly replacement of carpeting with vinyl flooring and new blinds.
I'll begin a power system moderization to allow full off grid operation, including air conditioning, food refrigeration, and winter freeze protection. That will entail a large lithium battery bank and solar array, inverter/charger, high efficiency heat pump/air conditioner, compressor refrigerator, and heating for the black and gray tanks. It already has a 4kw generator which I plan to keep as backup for the solar, but I'd like the solar array to handle the food fridge and interior freeze protection requirements without fuel use when the vehicle is parked remotely.
We'll see how it goes...
------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold
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