Narrow cab over?

[jdodd]

Hi,

I'm about a month into fixing up a 7' cab over camper from the late 70s or early 80s. I didn't realize until after I bought it that I don't fit in the cab over bed. I'm 6' and can only lie down if I lie diagonally. All documentation I come across shows Alaskans having a wider body than this one. Curious if anyone knows of a narrower model, or if this was a custom build?

Also does anyone know of a way to date the camper? I have the serial number, but can not find any other date marking.

Thanks

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

I think I've heard that at one time, Alaskan's were built in a couple of different factories in different states. It's never been clear to me if they were all owned by the same company, or if one or more different companies were building them under license. If the later, that might explain the difference you've found.

It really bugs me that no one has written a good book on the history of Alaskan Campers the way they have of, say, Airstream Trailers. I wonder if the current factory would cooperate with a writer wanting to do so, as in making factory records and old photographs available. You could e-publish it for Kindles and not have to deal with a paper and ink press at all.

Anyway, if you wanted to lie front to back instead of across the width, you could put a piece of 3/4 plywood directly on the cab floor, sticking into the rest of the camper. How far into the camper would it have to stick? Just a thought . . .

 

[Denver Alaskan]

Hi jdodd:

In 1998, and very likely in a few preceding and following years, Alaskan offered two mini-cabover campers for mini trucks, such as the Ford Ranger and many smaller imported trucks. Their existence is documented in the 1998 Price List following the 1998 sales booklet just posted at the very bottom of this thread:

https://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/topic/13687-alaskan-brochures-and-company-information/


The only dimensions given in the Price List is length of the mini-camper's base, either 7' 6" or 8' 6". These 2 mini-cabovers respectively weighed 230 and 165 pounds less than the standard 8' cabover. I imagine they were also narrower than the standard 84" width of the full size 8' cabover.

Measure the length of your cabover's base that sits on the trucks floor, then measure its width and post those numbers here. They might establish that your Alaskan is a mini-cabover designed for a mini-truck.

Your cabover certainly looks narrower than the standard 84" width of full size Alaskan campers, and I'm interested in learning what its length and width are. Thanks,

Denver Alaskan.

 

[jdodd]

Thanks for the info. It does seem like it would fit well on a smaller truck. The length of the base is just about 7', I'll have to measure the width tomorrow, I want to say the base width is 32". I have it on a 1978 Ford F100 right now, and I had lift it 5" off the truck bed, so the cab over part would clear the cab.

Here's a couple pics. Almost ready to go camping. I lowered the interior cabinets closest to the bed and made a removable piece (not pictured) that bridges the two cabinets extending the bed so we can sleep parallel with the camper.

 

[CougarCouple]

Clean looking camper. Looks like you have a real nice piece of history there.

Russ

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

That's nice and clean inside.Did you do the work?
A lot different then your first posted picture.
Interesting to find out it's history.
Frank

 

[jdodd]

Well looks like this is a Mini Cabover. Fits nicely on a 2001 Mazda B4000 (Ford Ranger). I put airbags on the truck, just need to add a rear sway bar. Went camping last week, no problem getting over Ebbetts pass (hwy 4) in CA.

 

[jdodd]

pics