John Steinbeck truck camper

John Olson did it in 2009. He wrote a book about it called "Down John's Road.

Another book was recently written that suggests Steinbeck didn't even go to the places he said....Ruined my day as TWC infected me with "Wanderingitis" when I was a kid and read it for the first time......
"Travels Without Charley" by Bill Steigerwald

My first pick up truck camper was named "Rocinante"

I still enjoy reading a few pages of Travels With Charlie while sipping a good red wine when were out camping for a few days. I don’t know if he really ever made that trip, but I certainly made it with him many times.
;)

Loved that book. Had a big effect on me too!

You can see it in person at the Steinbeck Museum in Salinas Ca.

If you go to the Steinbeck center you can have a squished penny Truck Camper like mine.

My dad had a 66 GMC with the larger V6. That thing was a pulling beast. Ran at what to me seemed to be high rpm, but it would run all day and night like that. Dad had the five speed with compound low for first gear. I don't know what kind of mileage he got with it. Dad loved that truck. We had a 8.5 foot camper that he would put on it and take us kids camping. I would buy a truck with that engine in it any day.

5 Speed in a 66 ?....Learn something new every day. I had no idea.

My father had a 65, Short Bed Fender Side, 4WD with a snow plow....4 speed and straight 6 cylinder motor. Had to put 400 pounds of elevator weights in the bed. When the plow was up and you stopped a bit abruptly, the rear tires would come off the ground!

...we were at Steinbeck's driveway (well, technically, now the heirs property, of course) near the village of Sag Harbor-- a little over 2 months ago, whilst visiting with friends in Water Mill. This is the house where he wrote "Travels with Charley", and where his dog Charley is buried.

The actual Steinbeck house was not visible through the very dense hedge along the left side of the "Lane", however, the garage was visible. We had not driven all the way to the garage, where the hedge opens up. We did not enter onto the actual property, just on public land.

I imagine that "one day", this house may be opened up by the heirs (or, some new owner) as a historical site, but that remains to be seen...

We have done most of the Steinbeck route from Maine to Sag Harbor (this includes the ferry crossing from Orient Point, Long Island, over to New London, CT., etc, etc)...