a brief survey of live-aboard land vehicles

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INNOVATOR

TYPES

Vehicles suitable for long-term residence can be classified by construction into three basic types and six subtypes:

Integral vehicles, where living accomodations and carrier are a unit. These include: "Motorhomes" built from the ground up. Dealer-modified forward control van trucks. Old delivery trucks outfitted by backyard mechanics.

Campers, including: Slide-in campers which fit on the bed of a pickup truck. Chassis-mount campers which bolt to an open-frame truck.

Travel trailers which are towed by other vehicles.

Not included in this survey nor recommended to the potential nomad are "mobilhomes"—house trailers so large as to require special tow trucks and State permits. Another drawback of mobilehomes is their lack of self-containment. They must be parked in trailer courts where water, sewerage and electric connections are available.

Integral vehicles of all varieties have living space and driving controls in one compartment. This permits easy access, most efficient use of space and presents less wind resistance than a camper and truck having the same frontal area. The major drawback is less flexibility; the vehicle portion cannot be easily separated for tradein or freight carrying.

Motorhomes include the largest, most luxurious and most costly of all land-mobile accomodations. Ranging up to 35-foot specially-outfitted buses, many are called and deserve the name "land yachts." They often include such equipment as 110 VAC generators, air conditioners and flush toilets with holding tanks. Built from the ground up in small quantities, motorhomes tend to be more expensive than campers or trailers having equivalent accomodations. They also have more design flaws in their running gear. Prices for new units start around $6000. The relatively few motorhomes on the road attract more attention than campers. This is a delight for some social metaphysicians but not for the serious libertarian. As designs mature and production quantities increase, motorhomes may become more attractive.

Volkswagon, Dodge and Chevrolet dealers sell new forward-control vans furnished with some living accomodations. The major advantage here is compactness including a low silhouette and light weight. This means easier parking, less wind resistance, better gas mileage and less concern with over-hanging tree limbs. Disadvantages include limited space and weight carrying capability, few transmission options, relatively little ground clearance, lack of stand-up room (unless an expensive bubble top is added, which increases height and wind resistance) and (presently) relatively high cost per space and equipment. New prices range from $4000 to $6000; few have yet reached the used market.