Old, old truck campers Dreamer #10030, May 1970

[Chris Hansel]

camper%20rearview.JPGDinette%20rearview.JPGBuild%20Plate.JPGcamper%20front%20view.JPGTonto%20Basin%20in%20Spring.JPGSorry it took me so long to backup my post from last year concerning old Truck campers. As many of you know, truck campers, were for the large part, the first mass produced post- war campers. And they were a real fad in the 1950's and 1960's. Very few of these lightly build campers survive today. About 3 years ago I saw this old camper in a lot in Payson Az. and decided to buy it because it reminder me of one I owned in 1973.

This one does not have any legs, and never did. It is large and , now rare. It's a Dreamer from Southern Cal. Built to service the surfer industry of the late 1960's. It has no heater or a/c as you don't need these things on the beach. It has survived only because it lived in Arizona for 40 years. It's roof is as new. As far as I know this is the only 1970 Dreamer still around, or at least still mountable.

It is the first year for the golden stripe look. Before Dreamer used a diamond design for their markings. These photos were all taken on March 18th, 2014.

The outside is bone stock. I repainted the golden strips and they are about 5 shades lighter than the factory paint. Arizona is the copper state by the way. The interior was in OK condition, but a very depressing gray, brown wood trim. I replaced this with red and white wall paper and used black as an accent color. I removed some of the old dinette seating  and made it strictly and eating, and not sleeping area. This has opened up the camper to make it one of the largest interiors spaces ever seen in a truck camper. Most of the interior hardware is intact, but I have changed out all of the original grey brown fake wood trim. 

You will also note 1970 was the first year to use the sweptback overhang moldings. Before that they were just squared off. At this time the camper is still undergoing repair, but for the first time in 20 years it was used last week ( March 8-9 2014) as a mounted truck camper on a weekend trip to central Arizona.

Work continues on # 10030. In two weeks it will again be used on another short trip. 

It currently lives on Tonto Creek in central Arizona. Any other Dreamer owners please post your photos. For many baby boomers, these were the first RV's they ever saw.

Chris