The Quickup Camper

September 22, 2006 9:43 AM

Easy to drive, and not bad looking. It's the quickup camper.
posted by leapingsheep (26 comments total)

J. Baldwin is my hero.
That is all.
posted by Floydd at 9:47 AM on September 22, 2006

leapingsheep, Not bad looking? Did you see the same pictures I saw?
posted by dov3 at 9:52 AM on September 22, 2006

That's cute, but I can't help wondering if a more space-efficient design couldn't be achieved with a vertically raised roof cap and four drop-down sides, similar to a traditional popup camper.
Those cavities protruding over each fender seem useless except for catching tossed dirty underthings.
posted by CynicalKnight at 9:56 AM on September 22, 2006

Neat design. Solves a lot of problems. Lightweight, can be mounted on any 4x4 for serious off-road exploration (Africa), low profile when driving (wind sheer, MPG, shipping-crate ready), hard-shell lockable safe/secure (not a tent, secure from theft and animals) - this is an excellent design made by someone who understands what is needed in an expedition vehicle. I wouldn't take it to Alaska in the winter though.
posted by stbalbach at 9:57 AM on September 22, 2006

That's actually pretty fucking cool.
posted by Divine_Wino at 10:01 AM on September 22, 2006

dov3, the exterior when open is a little unsightly (though no worse than a traditional camper), but it is worth it for an interior like that. And when it's closed, it looks great.
posted by leapingsheep at 10:08 AM on September 22, 2006

I hope that creepy guy doesn't come with it.
posted by buzzman at 10:21 AM on September 22, 2006

I wonder how much you can store in it when it's collapsed? It looks decent from the pictures on inhabitat, but perhaps losing more than half the storage of a normal pickup bed?

Why am I so into things like this?
posted by Divine_Wino at 10:36 AM on September 22, 2006

Baldwin has said that, at 18, he heard Buckminster Fuller speak for 14 hours non-stop.

Cocaine's a hell of a drug.
posted by Mr_Zero at 10:37 AM on September 22, 2006

I bet you could carry a lot of Pepsi Blue in that thing.
posted by Doohickie at 10:49 AM on September 22, 2006

That's cute, but I can't help wondering if a more space-efficient design couldn't be achieved with a vertically raised roof cap and four drop-down sides, similar to a traditional popup camper.

I would also be wary of the waterproof-ness of the top joint of the A frame that's made by the two shells. Seems like that would be a problem with this design. The clean sleek lines of the popup would be ruined by having to throw a tarp on it every time it rains.
posted by peeedro at 11:01 AM on September 22, 2006

The thing that always prevents me from seriously considering camper tops is that, if you want to go somewhere (like down the road for some supplies, or over to another trailhead), you need to pack up your whole camp to move the truck.

It's the same thing that keeps me out of a Westfalia with safari windows.
posted by madajb at 11:08 AM on September 22, 2006

Why hasn't anyone designed a new version of the old VW Westphalias? I have a 73 Westy, the form factor is fantastic, if only the damn thing would run without constant cash injections. The same kind of camper van, built on a more modern and reliable frame, would be fantastic.
posted by LarryC at 11:13 AM on September 22, 2006

I would also be wary of the waterproof-ness of the top joint of the A frame that's made by the two shells. Seems like that would be a problem with this design.

It could be a design problem, but since half the shell actually rises from underneath the other half and comes to rest at an inclined angle, it should also be easy to sort out.

I'm more into boats myself, but that things is pretty cool.
posted by magullo at 11:19 AM on September 22, 2006

So I was looking at Google Images to see what a Westfalia looks like, and I found this awesome picture. That is all.
posted by dame at 11:22 AM on September 22, 2006

Why hasn't anyone designed a new version of the old VW Westphalias? I have a 73 Westy, the form factor is fantastic, if only the damn thing would run without constant cash injections.

Try a '71 or earlier. The Type3/Type4 pancake engines that showed up after that are notoriously wonky...especially if fuel injected. My buddy's '69 is a dream to operate and starts every time.

Alternately, a late model Vanagon that's already had the late model Golf engine conversion is da shiznit.
posted by rhythim at 11:23 AM on September 22, 2006

This is a very cool idea. It really doesn't look bad when the camping part is down, and it opens into a nice little hut. This would be an awesome setup to go on a roadtrip in.
posted by triolus at 11:30 AM on September 22, 2006

LarryC, there was this concept for bringing back the Westfalia bus but I don't think that WV is going to build it.
posted by octothorpe at 11:36 AM on September 22, 2006

I found this awesome picture

Oh man, when I think of all the folks up here in Canada slathering cubic litres of bondo into their rusted veedubs, and at the Pick-a-Part yards in Nevada and California they were crushing rust-free beetles, vanagons and cabriolets like cockroaches in a Boy Scout mess kitchen.
posted by CynicalKnight at 12:16 PM on September 22, 2006

Why not a VW? Well, you're stuck with the vehicle like that year round. The quickup doesn't appear to be a permanent attachment. I could be wrong, though.

Otherwise, this is a cool idea. a trailer version would be pretty slick too.
posted by drstein at 12:22 PM on September 22, 2006

You know who else was easy to drive, and not bad looking?
Hitl...uh...I mean uh Jessica Alba.
I’d like to camp with her, if you know what I mean.
/sexually.
posted by Smedleyman at 3:31 PM on September 22, 2006

The thing that always prevents me from seriously considering camper tops is that, if you want to go somewhere (like down the road for some supplies, or over to another trailhead), you need to pack up your whole camp to move the truck.

You want one of these.
posted by Wet Spot at 5:59 PM on September 22, 2006

Bucky talked for forty two hours
posted by hortense at 8:12 PM on September 22, 2006

The thing that always prevents me from seriously considering camper tops is that, if you want to go somewhere (like down the road for some supplies, or over to another trailhead), you need to pack up your whole camp to move the truck.

Actually, one of the current trends in higher end truck campers is powered lifts, which allows you to easily leave the camper behind while you drive around.
posted by pandaharma at 10:41 PM on September 22, 2006

There are plenty of camper conversions available of current Volkswagen Transporters/Eurovans and also other similar sized vans like MB Vianos. The Eurovan MV Weekender was sold in the US as recently as 2003 and there seems to be used examples in the market.
posted by insomnus at 12:37 AM on September 23, 2006

While not as compact as the old Westfailas, RV conversions of the small (for the US) Daimler-Chrysler Sprinter vans are beginning to be available in the USA, now that the chassis is being sold there. VW-sized campervans have long been common in Europe.

Actually, one of the current trends in higher end truck campers is powered lifts, which allows you to easily leave the camper behind while you drive around.

Depends on your definition of easily (disclaimer: self-link).

Speaking from related experience, it is almost always true that expandable RV designs sacrifice storage space - they kind of have to, they have to retract into somewhere. One exception is the ultra-cool (and frighteningly expensive) raise the whole roof approach from UNICAT.
posted by String at 6:53 AM on September 23, 2006