You very first TC...

My first camper was a 1964 Parkdale 8.5 ft. made in CA. It had the typical icebox, porta potty and propane light, which was also a great heat source. Had it on a 1962 3/4 ton Chevy that had torsion bar front suspension. It was the only year that Chevy did that. It was a good ride. I kept that until 1984 when I bought an F-250 and an 8 ft. Sunline with a fridge and heater. Traded the camper in 1993 for a 9.5 Sunline which was the last one made. Replaced the 1984 F-250 for a 1997 F-250 diesel. Still running that truck and camper combo as I probably will never come up with over $100K to replace both today.

I WISH I had a pic of my first TC! I was in my 20's and bought a 70 Ranchero GT...it came with a slide-in built for it. Mannnnn it looked all maw n paw kettle, and it was a REALLY primitive camper. True icebox, 6 gallon fresh with a hand pump that drained out the back on the ground. Slept 4, 2 in the cabover and 2 on the dinette. The first weekend I used it I was hooked.....LOL, had one ever since. I'm on my 6th now.

Not quite the same but my first camper nonetheless ... Picture taken in 1970.

1965 VW Factory Camper ... Coleman white gas stove, ice box and a bed with a small closet. Lived in it for a year and a half traveling the western US as well as racing District 37 in the desert.

This has been an awesome thread. Enjoyed looking at all the "first" campers.

I just recently got my first truck camper.... after owning A's, B, C's, fifth-wheel and travel trailer. Bought a new Palomino HS8801 and am on a 10 month trip with it. Truck is my same one, 2013 Dodge Ram, 2500, LB, CC. Had airbags installed and everything is working out great. 3 months into this new adventure!

Already thinking... maybe one slide? LOL.

Love this thread!

Currently on my first TC. Love these classics

My first camper was a 2000 Fleetwood 8.6:



Carried on my trusty 1997 F250.

Oregun wrote:
Here is mine. 1968 Royal Coachman by Teardrop
Bought it in 1976 from my dad. It bit the dust in the 80's when an Oregon storm (80mph)
blew it over. Interior was very nice.
Photo is in Ca. redwoods

Very cool looking TC!

First camper bringing it home nice tiedowns soon to change

If you have never had an actual "ice box" for your fridge (remember those big ice machines set in a parking lot, you put your 2 quarters in and a huge chunk of ice came sliding down the chute and came out the end), hand water pump for the sink (and only about 10 gallons of water in the fresh water tank), no hot water and no bathroom then you don't know what an old cab over truck camper is.. ha, ha! 4 of us camped in this for years!

Not to mention the single 20lb propane tank for heat, the 3 burner stove and oven and the old lantern style propane light with the mantels (that also heated the camper pretty well on it's own).

All of that was a huge step up from the Army Surplus canvas tent we started out with in the late 60's.. Then Dad bought the brand new 1971 F250 Custom and we RENTED the 8' cab over camper for our camping trips! It was great as a 8 year old kid compared to that tent!

Did that for a couple of years and we got the first travel trailer in the mid 70's (25' 1976 Taurus bunk house) and that was even better! No air conditioner, no awning, no TV's, but had propane fridge, water heater, bathroom, 12v water pump! Heaven!

I have pics of them all, but just not scanned, so can't share, but I am spoiled now with the 2003 Prowler I have now! ha, ha!

Mitch

Oregun wrote:
Here is mine. 1968 Royal Coachman by Teardrop
Bought it in 1976 from my dad. It bit the dust in the 80's when an Oregon storm (80mph)
blew it over. Interior was very nice.
Photo is in Ca. redwoods

That's badazz.