I bought a camper (kinda)

[zelph]

I was on EBay just now and I got a "Riviera Indoor-outdoor cooker" alcohol stove for $25.00. It looks like it operates on the same basic principles as does an Origo, and is similar in parts. It's got to be from the '70s because of its awful pastel green colour, but I figure for $25.00, I was willing to give 'er a go.. If I dig on it, I'll upgrade to an Origo..

Looks like a Trangia type stove in the center of it. Origo has a large disc canister with absorbing material in it. Holds a quart of fuel.

I used my single burner Origo today in my garage to warm my hands and also my son's. we were doing a father/son stove making project. I'm teaching him to make the Fancee Feest stoves.

The origo's are quiet and much safer than pressurized gassers. You'll like em.

[steamjam]

Well I gave the Riviera alcohol stove a go for a month and I went back to my trusty Shmel.

That Shmel, my trusty old Coleman 1 litre pot, a 6" cast iron frying pan, a Bundeswehr utensils set, and my now rebuilt wood gas stove seems to be all I really need now that I've spent 6 months in a Dodge van parked next to a river and the railroad tracks. I put away my portable hot water heater and now use a 1 gallon water kettle with my wood stove. It works way better and wood chips/scraps are free instead of buying propane.

I sold off all the stoves I didn't end up using along with the various mess kits I tried. The only "extras" I kept are the Russian 8r clone, a Coleman 533, and a Swedish mess kit only because its stainless steel and they are so hard to find now.

[zelph]

I need to send you a stove "care package" email me or send pm with address/PO box. I got too much stuff

[steamjam]

Well I've been talking about this for months now, and I have finally gone off and done it. I'm upgrading my van:


It's a 1985 Dodge Ram Van-Charger. or "V-charger" for short. It's a partial van-conversion with a 5.9L and auto 4wd. I have to do some surgery to the rear driver corner and an interior revamp, but for $900 I couldn't say no. In fact I just drove it 170 miles home from buying it and it ran pretty well.

[zelph]

Speechless in the midwest You guys on the west coast really get some great deals. Looks like a "no rust" vehicle....nice find. How much u want for your old one?

Give us a photo of the top in the up position when you get a chance.

You are now set for life....until the next great deal comes along

[steamjam]

Speechless in the midwest You guys on the west coast really get some great deals. Looks like a "no rust" vehicle....nice find. How much u want for your old one?
Give us a photo of the top in the up position when you get a chance.
You are now set for life....until the next great deal comes along

The Van charger is a high-top, not a pop-top like a VW Westfalia. Its got zero rust, which is amazing for a Dodge B series of this vintage. Even Desert B's from this era rusted up! I'll haveto take a pic of the driver side rear tail light area to show you guys what I am up against. Its only cosmetic damage but it looks pretty awful. I'm a gonna be cutting and welding in some new panels... I am also going to weld in a new drip rail on the side doors to eliminate the wheelchair access door (Which I don't know why its there. The vans never been used for wheelchair access..) and I'm going to install standard van side doors in their place.

The body isn't the big challenge. That goes to revamping the interior. I'm no carpenter, and I'm a gonna have to learn how to make cabinets and tables. I'm also thinking about installing plumbing, and water purification along with the 110V and batteries on this van. I think I am going to install a fridge on this one. I want this to be more a home away from home rather then the minimalistic bare-bones camper my shorty is.

My other 4wd van, seen in the very first posting of this thread is going to be used for parts. Its so badly rusted in the firewall, door/windshield pillar and passenger side frame horn it's not worth fixing. Its got a perfectly good 4wd system in it so if anyone wants a 4wd conversion "kit" ready to install in their 1971-2003 Dodge B, (Some welding required) just private mail me... We can work something out...

[zelph]

The Van charger is a high-top, not a pop-top like a VW Westfalia

well.....don't bother fixing it up....keep looking for the Westfalia go for utopia

[zelph]

Install a full length roll-up awning on the passenger side. cook outside with an Origo alcohol stove. I have a combo electric/alcohol to send you if you want. Easy to have the best of both worlds at a campground or Wallmart parking lot

[zelph]

Yes, indoor toilet is a must

[steamjam]

well.....don't bother fixing it up....keep looking for the Westfalia go for utopia

If it wasn't for needing to work on a Westfalia like every 15 minutes while on road trips, I'd buy one!