It’s no secret that sales of recreational vehicles of all kinds are red hot. Everyone wants to get away, and how better to do it than in a camper of your own, unless of course the campgrounds are full already. But seeing this quite familiar old Chevy flatbed that’s lived on this block for ages suddenly hooked up (yes, really) to a brand new trailer was a bit of a surprise.
Let’s get the proof out of the way first, as some of you might be doubting whether all of the car-trailer rigs I’ve shown were actually connected.
Here’s the trailer; fairly representative of the kind that’s become quite popular because it’s fairly light and they can be towed even by some of the bigger CUVs. In this case, towing ability is not an issue.
Given that this C30 was once registered for a gross vehicle weight of 14,000 lbs, it’s more than up to the job. What’s under the hood is a good guess. Could be a tough 292 six or of course a V8.
Either way, it’s backed by a four speed with a “granny” low gear, so getting underway on even steeper grades will not be an issue.
Is that a key in the ignition? If so, I’m surprised you didn’t steal it. 🙂
Sounds like a good idea for a new series… “”CC Impromptu Road Test.” Tag line: “But officer, I’m an automotive journalist.” 😉
That lever poking out of the transmission hump is a modern-day theft deterrent 🙂
They’d probably blow out their left knee getting that clutch pedal through its travel, and have a hard time getting from Low to 1st gear. “Bull Low” isn’t synchronized, and is pointless for starting out with such a light weight behind it.
Having had a manual transmission mission vehicle stolen from me in 2016, I assure you it is not the deterrent that it is alleged to be.
I always thought of camping as “roughing it” while the drive to and from the campsite was relatively luxurious. In this case it would seem to be the reverse. 🙂
5 mpg takes the economy out of camping.
I was curious about the truck. It had the dually and the longer wheelbase only available on a C/30, and the call outs verify such; but apparently the front suspension, or just the hubs(?) have been swapped out from a C/20?
14K GVWR is the upper limit for a “one-ton” today, and would’ve been quite heavy-duty at a time when most C30s, F-350s, or D-300s topped out at 10K.