Amazing story and I loved the link to the picture, with the red Datsun. It reminded me of my first "camper" which was a 1981 Toyota Truck with a shell. I was 16 and had it for 10-years doing all sorts of off-road exploring in Crested Butte Colorado and New Mexico. My second was a 1991 Tacoma with shell and a built up sleeping platform. This served as my first paragliding and hang gliding vehicle which was capable of getting into some more remote launch sites in the Owens Valley and others in California, Nevada, Oregon, and Utah.
A few years later I upgraded to a T100 which was larger and more capable, with more comfortable sleeping in the back. I still miss it because it was the perfect size for getting into the backcountry.
.
My paragliding and hang gliding days are over, but this year I finally was able to get the TC. It's a huge difference in comfort, but I will always remember the fun times sleeping in the back of those trucks.
