Hotels are nice. Motels are cheap. Earth ships are, well, you know earthy. But for real travelers -- the wanderers with a lust for wheels --...
Hotels are nice. Motels are cheap. Earth ships are, well, you know earthy. But for real travelers -- the wanderers with a lust for wheels -- there's nothing more intoxicating than traveling the countryside in a camper. Watching the scenery glide past getting a sunburn on the arm hanging out the window reveling in the freedom to stop anydamnwhere
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The guy who converted the Model T didn't corner the market on wooden campers, though. Check out this truck-slash-log cabin. It doesn't look like it's going anywhere soon, but it's nice to know that whereever you're parked, you've got a window to throw trash out of and a tiny stove for cookin' up some grits.
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The one-of-a-kind, Wothahellizat (say it out loud...):
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Switching gears slightly, designer Kevin van Braak has figured out a way to bring a little countryside into the city. Essentially a trailer that unpacks into a thriving green space, the crafty trailer easily unfolds, allowing you to camp in a camper, on some grass, in the city..
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The sleek, Euro RV, the Knauss V-Liner
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custom-built 1958 Edsel Ranger Motor Home
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Okay, so maybe the Train RV is a little big. Fair enough. Maybe you're more into this completely stylized, totally tricked-out, all-season Vanagon. This particular Vanagon features:
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Urban camping takes on a new meaning with Michael Rakowitz' P(Lot) project, which we mentioned recently. Grab a sleeping bag; find a parking space; and you're good to go.
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Owned by Zulu Overland, this overlander is typical of the vehicles I saw zooming through Zambia. With space below for food and gear, and plenty of seats above for convenient game-viewing, these monsters were notorious for screaming over potholes as though they were pinholes.
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Hit the brakes! Before we spend too much time getting INTO the city, let's remember what campers and RVs are for: getting the heck outta dodge! Were I to get the chance to travel the world, this may be the overlander I'd choose to do it in. Sturdy, compact, and complete with a map in case I forget where I've been, this rugged little piece of machinery can take you almost anywhere you want to go.
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In stark contrast to that wobbly-looking log cabin camper, this mighty behemoth oozes testosterone and sweat. Fit to tackle all manner of terrain, but homey enough to receive all your favorite episodes from the Travel Channel, this camper -- dubbed the Train RV -- is the little camper that could.
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Vanagon isn't the only cool VW camper. Haven't you ever heard about the Little Bugger Mini Home? This 1967 Little Bugger Volkswagen Conversion Camper is one of only 200 made by a shop in Irvine, California.
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Volkswagon clearly manufactured the most hackable vehicles of the 1970s and 1980s. Disagree? Check out this Hybrid RV, featuring a bus with a pop-out and a Vanagon with a pop-up:
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For example, one of the oldest known campers is this converted Model T from 1920. Part house and part car, this novel cottage on wheels -- complete with its own sunroom and back porch -- gives a new spin to the term "life on the road."
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The Terra Wind, a floating motor home
