Stepvan/Chiptruck conversion to RV

topic posted Sun, August 12, 2007 - 12:56 AM by  Sean
so, the story goes like this...My Dad & Brother own a distribution route for a local Potato Chip company, Tim's Cascade. for years, they ran the route out of a Gruman stepvan...it died, so they replaced it with another Gruman, a Diesel Dually retired Frito Lay truck. last year, after the rear end differential going out for like the 3rd or 4th time in 2 months, my brother, who was running the operation solo by now due to my Dad being forced to retire from diabetes-related disabilities, decided to retire the chiptruck in favor of a new utility trailer to tow behind his brand new Dodge Ram 1500 Hemi V8. so, the Gruman sat a few months ignored, when one day my brother comes up with the idea of eventually, over the course of a year or so, converting it. he bought a cab-over camper to use in the meantime, & I got one that was damaged but usable to eventually gut for the conversion...the project pretty much went totally cold...& then, this May, after deciding to go back to college for Environmental Sciences & Sustainable Living Systems, my roommate & brother's girlfriend, Paula, came to an impass while trying to find an affordable housing situation near her new school...after a few weeks of nothing stacked on nothing, the idea sparked & went inferno in the course of an hour...she would convert & live in the chiptruck, thereby resolving her housing issue & also providing her with her Thesis for her degree, as she is planning in stages to convert it to Biodiesel & then eventually straight veggie oil. you can view her journal & photos of the conversion here:

www.chiptruck.blogspot.com

she is progressing rapidly & will be living in it full time by September 24th. it's pretty amazing to see.
posted by:
Sean
Washington
  • Re: Stepvan/Chiptruck conversion to RV

    Mon, September 3, 2007 - 5:58 AM
    Wow! Thats sweet! You should get her to join this tribe. Also like to see pictures of your future House Truck. You will be the first one. Most here who have a hippie mobile have skoolies. So your friend's would be the first step van and you will be the first house truck. I am finally getting closer to purchasing a bus. Trying to save for a bus and pay rent doesn't happen very fast. LOL

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