As unveiled at Winter Count 2014 near Maricopa, Arizona.
This classic kite shaped beauty is built into the bed of an old Dodge Power Wagon. Like all projects of this nature, she’s a work in progress but is already and awe-inspiring thing of beauty.
The layout is a traditional elevated cross-bed with a kitchen down one side with additional storage and seating down the other. A clever table is concealed under the counter and pulls out to be utilized from side-by-side seating.
The tail gate porch is an excellent addition to the space.
Best of luck to both Jed and Hilary in their future adventures.
For those who know the Snail, you might notice something different. I’m making a little post about the new look but I just loved the sunset picture from today after work. I have a very short window of light at the end of the work day but try to use it best I can. More changes to come in the very near future.
I am hating my job so much right now I’m ready to jump in and run away. Bad people can really ruin your day no matter how much you try to make things better.
Roland and Mary Conklin of Huntington, N.Y., made house-car travel a family experience. Their bus factory built the Gypsy Van, shown above, and in the summer of 1915, the Conklin family set out to see America.
The little home is never done. I don’t expect it ever will be and I think that’s great. Trying to approach a balance that will be perfect enough to live in yet stay within the reality of time, money, and general laziness. Since the beginning, I have wanted an exterior kitchen on the vardo but, at first, I was obsessed with size and weight (or lack thereof). Over the last few months I decided to jump in on the project but, being determined to spend as little money as possible, I awaited materials to appear.
See the wasted space here?
Still determined to keep the weight as low as possible, I piled up the kitchen basics on my floor and figured out an approximate volume. Two small stoves, a kettle, coffee pot, cafetiere, a couple of cooking pots, tea tins, coffee cans, and some miscellaneous space. A few essential cooking utensils for good measure. Not much really. I decided I can store the less frequently used implements inside the truck or in the tool boxes of the wagon. With that examination made, the final design was almost infinitely more simple than my initial thoughts (which contained shelves, niches, and little drawers that only add weight but some real coolness, to the overall box). These may be added later though. So here’s what I’ve come up with so far.
Upcycling some old pine 1 x 12″ shelving boards, I decided to use these as the basic building unit and the building began. Essentially, I created a box about 33″ tall by 21″ wide with two morticed-in shelves. I wanted a fold down shelf to cook on when on the roadside or at a temporary campground and for this, I found a couple hinges off an old secretary desk (I save lots of hardware) and old steel drawer pull that came in a box of junk from some auction years ago. To attach the door, an old piano hinge that needed a little scraping a brushing to remove some ancient enamel paint was located and brushed up.
Cleaned-up piano hinge being installed.Old steel industrial drawer pull being installed with some recycled stainless screws.The door will serve as a wind block for food prep or cooking.Still some tweaking and finishing up to do before we hit the road but it’s finally coming together.While I ponder how to lock it up in a more secure way, a small latch from an old box does the trick for the moment.
I should mention here that I did buy star-drive, stainless steel screws for the construction so I’m now into the project for about $6.00 of real money. More to follow soon I hope!
Cruising the interwebs this morning, looking for some images of caravans I came across this nice sheep wagon on Blacksmith Angel’s Tumblr blog. I love the photo but there’s no information with it.
This classic kite shaped beauty is built into the bed of an old Dodge Power Wagon. Like all projects of this nature, she’s a work in progress but is already and awe-inspiring thing of beauty.
The layout is a traditional elevated cross-bed with a kitchen down one side with additional storage and seating down the other. A clever table is concealed under the counter and pulls out to be utilized from side-by-side seating.
The tail gate porch is an excellent addition to the space.
Best of luck to both Jed and Hilary in their future adventures.
Preindustrial Craftsmanship 