JB builds a better camper - Quickup Camper - Brief Article

Whole Earth, Spring, 2002 by J. Baldwin, Liz Fial

Recreational Vehicles (RVs), are proliferating--more than 6.5 million of the waddling, fuel-guzzling, condo-on-a-skateboard machines were registered last year. The newer ones are tending toward bigger, heavier, and show-offier; some weigh more than 20 tons. Would you believe marble floors and a Jacuzzi? I'm not kidding.

All this comes at a price: Most RVs are ecologically disgraceful (which can't be avoided with current designs). In addition to hauling their own weight, the ponderous vehicles must plow about 17 tons of air out of their way every mile! Poor fuel mileage and drastic depreciation are accepted as inevitable. Change is slow and often trivial (e.g. faddish macrographic paint jobs). As in most mature industries, traditional means obsolete. Time for something new.

Since RVs are not going to disappear, and undemocratic size/weight regulations are unlikely to succeed, we decided to demonstrate a better way with a simple but roomy camper that behaves like a respectable, mildly thirsty car. I expect it will appeal to the growing number of younger RV owners, hunters, and fisherfolk who want to explore back roads inaccessible to bigger rigs, and do it modestly and affordably.

The patent-pending Quickup Camper[TM] changes the game. The Quickup is the first camper that offers good performance, good fuel mileage, good handling, and a roomy stand-up interior.

The modular design accommodates custom interiors such as an office, mobile electronics repair shop, or even a hamburger stand. In case you need the truck for hauling, Quickup-to-bare-pickup takes about an hour each way with a cordless screwdriver and an assistant.

We're testing it now, and hope to find a manufacturer and distributor soon. At the 2001 Specialty Equipment Market Association show in Las Vegas, we talked to several thousand people of many ages and persuasions. They liked it a lot.

The Quickup is only the first of a new breed. The advantages of this simple folding principle (the patent for which will be defended by rabid rottweilers) can apply to most any vehicle that does not require a behemoth's presence on the road. What would a Hypercar-based camper be like? We hope to show you someday. You can watch our progress at www.quickupcamper.com.

Flip a switch, and the Quickup quickly ups in about a minute to become an 8' x 8' room with 6'4" headroom. The rigid, carbonfiber-on-foam shells provide security and effective insulation. A battery-replenishing photovoltaic panel rides hidden, but is exposed under skylights when the shells are closed.

We built the prototype on a 2001 Ford F150 XLT with a 4.6-liter V8 and 1,900 lb. capacity--no pipsqueak. Still, the unique aerodynamic shape permits 22 mpg (hwy)--at least double that of conventional pickup-based campers with stand-up headroom. It's stable in sidewinds, too. Light weight (about half that of competitors) also helps mileage, and assures lively performance. A low center of gravity and 50-50 weight distribution bring agile handling without affecting stock ground clearance. The Quickup fits most garages and is legal to park where big RVs are not welcome. There's no fabric involved so you can legally use it in Yellowstone and other parks with bears.

There's a stove, fridge, sink with hot and cold water, and a cabin heater, plus plenty of storage in fourteen drawers and a compartment for bigger stuff such as backpacks, folding bikes, or a rubber boat. Skis and snow or surf boards can ride indoors too.

The dinette transforms into a 7' double bed athwartship with lots of space above it for gymnastics. Top-hinged windows can be left open for ventilation in mild rain, and act as awnings in hot sun. Ambience is light, airy IKEA rather than stuffy 1935 Midwest parlor.

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RELATED ARTICLE: Xtreme cooler.

Coleman's Xtreme ice chests will keep ice for more than five days while locked in a furnace-like parked car in Death Valley. Liz and I can vouch for it: On a recent trip in 80-ish temperatures, one standard small block of vending machine ice lasted a full week, and we still had some left when we got home. They're light to carry, but strong enough to sit on. The simple secrets are thick, high-efficiency insulation, a well-sealed lid, and a heat-reflective outer surface. They cost more than the crumbly, throwaway BB-foam coolers, but you'll soon make up the difference by avoiding unnecessary $2 re-icing. A rare example of intelligent design well realized. --JB

Xtreme[TM] Cooler Coleman Suggested retail prices: 36 qt., $29.99; 58 qt., $39.99; 50 qt. with wheels, $49.99 from outdoor supplies stores www.coleman.com

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