nccamper
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Post by nccamper on Mar 6, 2020 5:42:07 GMT -8
I came upon this camper for sale on ebay. Normally, I try not to be negative but this leaves me cold. Maybe it's the merging of new designs (like windows, plastic, etc) with a ham shape? But it's more than that. I can't really explain it.
Is it a lack of soul? Sterile? It has many vintage-like features with modern conveniences. But I feel nothing when I look at it.
This looks better to me. Thoughts?
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roadtripper
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Post by roadtripper on Mar 6, 2020 6:31:26 GMT -8
No blood, sweat and tears.
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WhitneyK
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Post by WhitneyK on Mar 6, 2020 6:34:58 GMT -8
Car manufacturers do it all the time, "reproduce" a vehicle that resembles "the good ol' days", but has all the modern conveniences and reliability added. AND, people gobble them up.
Personally, I don't see anything wrong with the camper pictured (and don't worry, I'm not offended in any way). For those that want "instant satisfaction" and don't mind shelling out a bunch of $$$, then there you have it.
Do I WANT to spend countless hours building a small camper for my wife and I to use, no. BUT, am I WILLING to so that I have something that costs considerably less than a new one (well, hopefully, or at least not all at one time), will be to our liking, hopefully structurally more sound / sealed / and last longer? Yes. That, coupled with the fact that I can point at it and say "I did that". Now, is our li'l camper going to be 100% like it was from the factory? No, it will have added accessories to accommodate our more modern life, yet retain the looks and feel of yesteryear.
Something just occurred to me, funny, how with all our "modern" ways (cell phones, cameras, computers), we've reverted back to relying on battery powered devices again.
Just my opinion, didn't say it was a good one...
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kathleenc
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Post by kathleenc on Mar 6, 2020 7:47:59 GMT -8
I just like old stuff that has survived. Always have!
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Post by wisconsinjoe on Mar 6, 2020 8:10:35 GMT -8
My gripe about almost all new campers is that they are designed for such modern conveniences that you are forced to plug into electricity (to run those microwaves and TVs) and carry water and sewage tanks because folks insist on having private bathrooms. What I love about our vintage canned ham is that it is simple, lightweight, able to make a living space off grid, and be a place to relax comfortably in imperfect weather. It is the perfect alternative to tent camping. Of course I love the vintage style and louvered windows because they can be opened for ventilation even in light rain. However, I wouldn't mind this newer camper if they offered a stripped down version without a bathroom and had it set up with a good battery system to run lights and fan for days off grid.
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ekimnamniets
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Post by ekimnamniets on Mar 6, 2020 8:12:06 GMT -8
Bingo! On stuff that has been around more than a while, I always think "wish this thing could talk, the stories it could tell". That's why my house has numerous items that most people probably don't appreciate. Good thing I seldom try to please the masses.
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Hamlet
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Post by Hamlet on Mar 6, 2020 8:26:48 GMT -8
Wow, I love it! The soft tones, the huge front window that doubles as a door, the way the light filters in. Oops, that’s the tent.
Kidding aside, the repro doesn’t have any soul. Partly because all human touches have been stripped away (except for that unfortunate bed-covering). Part of what makes our old trailers so characterful that we name them, is that through the act of restoration, even if we make modifications, we put in part of ourselves. This leaves an indelible mark on a trailer. There will always be something that, in retrospect, we would have done differently, but we choose to live with anyway.
We’ve had several tents over our marriage, but we never put enough time into fixing or fixing them up that we gave them names. Long live Hamlet! (Several reasons for the name... He is, compared to most trailers, like a Hamlet to a town. He’s too small to be a full ham, and he is owned by Scandinavians who think he is the king of small trailers.)
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Post by vikx on Mar 6, 2020 12:30:08 GMT -8
No class, no charm.
I think all the vents and add ons on the trailer body take away. And if people only knew how nasty an RV toilet can get, maybe they wouldn't want that "private" potty...
If it has a rubber roof, only 12 years to last.
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Hellonwheels
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Post by Hellonwheels on Mar 6, 2020 14:09:26 GMT -8
If you are going to go "modern" get something with slides.
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newin62
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Post by newin62 on Mar 6, 2020 15:29:08 GMT -8
The funny thing about nostalgia is how we decide what is worthy and what is not. The older I get the more I see value in what was created with an artistic aesthetic where form was as just as important as function. We can see that ended in the 70's when the pressboard boxes replaced the canned hams. Calling that trailer retro is kind of like going to Epcot Center to see France....but I do envy that indoor toilet and shower!
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WhitneyK
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Post by WhitneyK on Mar 6, 2020 19:36:06 GMT -8
My gripe about almost all new campers is that they are designed for such modern conveniences that you are forced to plug into electricity (to run those microwaves and TVs) and carry water and sewage tanks because folks insist on having private bathrooms. What I love about our vintage canned ham is that it is simple, lightweight, able to make a living space off grid, and be a place to relax comfortably in imperfect weather. It is the perfect alternative to tent camping. Of course I love the vintage style and louvered windows because they can be opened for ventilation even in light rain. However, I wouldn't mind this newer camper if they offered a stripped down version without a bathroom and had it set up with a good battery system to run lights and fan for days off grid. Good point.
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ruderunner
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Post by ruderunner on Mar 7, 2020 2:47:46 GMT -8
In all honesty, we looked long and hard at the Riverside Retro line before deciding to build our own. Just couldn't find a floor plan that we could agree on.
There's a market for things like this, Retro style and modern convenience is a great combination. Id be willing to bet if you spent a weekend in one of these you'd be trying to figure out how to get some of the features into your build.
In my own auto hobby I've made plenty of upgrades to classic vehicles to bring them up to modern standards. Adding things like radial tires, good stereos, overdrive and even fuel injection all with the goal of driving the wheels off it.
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nccamper
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Post by nccamper on Mar 7, 2020 4:58:27 GMT -8
If I were going to buy a new camper and money were not an issue it would be a Bambi Airstream. Classic look with modern conveniences. They make one with wood grain interior (not completely) which is nice but it's not as warm an inviting as the amber birch.
I agree about new campers needing to be on the grid. It limits where we can camp. I guess you don't need to use the microwave, dishwasher, AC, shower, flatscreen TV with cable, etc. But then why buy a camper with all these things?
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WhitneyK
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Post by WhitneyK on Mar 7, 2020 20:38:32 GMT -8
And if people only knew how nasty an RV toilet can get, maybe they wouldn't want that "private" potty... Can you image the first time someone tried to explain to our ancestors about indoor plumbing? "You want me to do WHAT in the house?"
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kudzu
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Post by kudzu on Mar 8, 2020 3:48:52 GMT -8
"For what it is" I think it is well done. They actually did a good job of making a new camper with the overall look and feel of an old one. Much better than anything else I have seen.
Would I buy one? No. But it isn't made for people that want a Vintage Camper either. it is made for Todays market, not yesterdays.
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