1978 Nomad Trailer Restoration/Project: 88GMCtruck is at it again.

[88gmctruck]

Yes and no. The jack once lowered won't sit any lower than my drop hitch, which I have never hit while attached to the trailer. I also will be able to open my tailgate fully again, something that wasn't possible when it remained in the original location.

 

[88gmctruck]

Well, I got a score of a deal today on craigslist.

Replacement fridge. Mine was on it's way out, after the initial few uses it kept working less and less effectively.

Spare water pump.

120v to 12v converter.

All for $80.

 

[trouttrooper]

Holy crap, you stole that stuff. I'd love to get my hands on a converter. That fridge doesn't look that old.

 

[btfarm]

Nice score man!:thumbsup:

 

[88gmctruck]

Holy crap, you stole that stuff. I'd love to get my hands on a converter. That fridge doesn't look that old.

lol the fridge actually is a year older than mine, but works great so far.

 

[cwq21]

Man you did an awesome job. I just found this thread and read all 11 pages. You did a hell of a lot of work to it and it looks great.

So are you going to come to Louisiana for our next Gulf Coast camping and GTG?
ROAD TRIP

 

[88gmctruck]

Thanks for the compliment. It's been a great trailer so far.

As for a road trip in it, that isn't going to happen at this point in my life. 8MPG doesn't feel too nice on the wallet. Don't get me wrong, i'd love to do something like that, one day.

 

[88gmctruck]

It's been quite awhile since I've updated this thread, but the trailer is doing well. It's currently sitting, winterized in the snow outside. I have plans to use it in the upcoming weeks, dependent on weather.

One mod I kept forgetting to post was the Grote 6-LED surface mount flood lights I picked up on ebay. I mounted them on the outside of the trailer, and man they are awesome.

Truck and trailer with every light on.

Few misc camping shots.

 

[great white]

Boondockin'!

 

[88gmctruck]

Have another update. I replaced the 2 car batteries I had on the trailer with 2 Costco golf cart batteries. They are much larger and a much better deep cycle. I took the trailer out this weekend and ran the lights, flood lights, stereo and heater all weekend (was in the 20s) without any noticeable drop in power. The weekend was quite an adventure.

So, I first started off trying to go to Cle Elum, Wa to camp in the snow. After getting there, we had found out that this winter for the first time, they converted the camping NFS lands to Sno Parking permits. The permits are $42 per vehicle for 2 days. So, we instead went to Vantage, Wa to another camping area we like that doesn't have ridiculous fees. this area doesn't usually get snow, so we were a little bummed because of that, however we had quite the day Saturday. It started snowing around 10am and didn't stop till about 1am. We ended up with about 18" of snow...... Had quite the challenge getting the trailer back out to the road...

The trailer does actually tow quite well in the snow, didn't have any problems. This was the first time using the new towing mirrors, and all I can say is they are nothing short of amazing.

 

[JiFaire]

Snow camping? You guys are lunatics ... I love it!

 

[trouttrooper]

I remember one November when Dad and I went elk hunting for a week out in the high mountain desert of eastern Idaho. I had a 23' camp trailer and we took both trucks (his an '84 K30 CC SRW and mine an '84 K20 regular cab). First the temps dropped to 5F, thank God for the oversized forced air furnace in the camper. Second we had a big snowstorm hit with lots of wind. To leave we put tire chains on both trucks and dad broke trail back to the highway busting drifts that were up to the grille. I literally drug my trailer to the highway. The wheel wells on the trailer immediately packed in with snow after the first series of drifts and the tires weren't really turning much from then on, which didn't really matter anyway because I was just dragging it over the snow on the frame. Couple times I almost came to a stop, but the K20 did its thing and chewed through the snow like a beast.

Fond memories....

 

[j johnson]

love the pics. hope a good time was had by all!!!bummed about the other park!! its all about the money though...wish i was there!!

 

[big block 88]

88 are you happy with those nbs tow mirrors? I have them on my LBZ from the factory, and I would like them on my 91 project truck

 

[88gmctruck]

I remember one November when Dad and I went elk hunting for a week out in the high mountain desert of eastern Idaho. I had a 23' camp trailer and we took both trucks (his an '84 K30 CC SRW and mine an '84 K20 regular cab). First the temps dropped to 5F, thank God for the oversized forced air furnace in the camper. Second we had a big snowstorm hit with lots of wind. To leave we put tire chains on both trucks and dad broke trail back to the highway busting drifts that were up to the grille. I literally drug my trailer to the highway. The wheel wells on the trailer immediately packed in with snow after the first series of drifts and the tires weren't really turning much from then on, which didn't really matter anyway because I was just dragging it over the snow on the frame. Couple times I almost came to a stop, but the K20 did its thing and chewed through the snow like a beast.

Fond memories....

See I love getting into these situations, keeps life interesting doesn't it?

88 are you happy with those nbs tow mirrors? I have them on my LBZ from the factory, and I would like them on my 91 project truck

You missed the last line of my previous post, "This was the first time using the new towing mirrors, and all I can say is they are nothing short of amazing." So yea, they rock.

 

[88gmctruck]

Been awhile since I've updated this thread, snow has really limited trailer movement and progress, but I've done a few mods here and there....

2 golf cart batteries

New trailer lead with a fully molded plug. Original had a wire burnt up in it.

235/75R15 Cooper Weathermaster ST tires. They are a bit taller and have an additional 600lbs capacity per tire.

New spare and backup lights

And, probably the most substantial "mod" : 99 K2500 6.5L Diesel 5-speed AKA the towpig.

 

[NVW]

The truck matches the trailer better, looks good.

 

[88gmctruck]

A little update. I took the trailer out 2 weeks ago with the first tow in the 99. Oh man, the diesel pulls so, SO much better than the 88 does. This truck was out to the Juniper sand dunes.

Well, Took the trailer out once again this weekend. I went up to the foothills in Idaho, to one of my favorite camping areas. I went up a few weeks prior to see how the snowpack was doing and determined it would be passable by this time. I did however choose to take the 88 up with the trailer, because of it's maneuverability and tank like traction. This trip truly put to the tests of having the lift and larger tires on the trailer.

Friday evening. Was a bit of a challenge getting her up there, but I made it without any assistance. I just love how much of a tank the 88 is. Notice the mud spray up the front of the trailer.

My buddy Devin's 83 and the 88

This is how things looked Saturday night.

And this is the same view, Sunday morning.

Lots of snow.

Truck ready to depart.

 

[BIGR]

Nice camping in the snow. Good thing the truck goes good in the snow.

 

[88gmctruck]

Few shots of the truck + trailer last weekend down on the river. Got just a hair under 14MPG towing it. Also managed to swing by the scales, the truck + trailer was around 11800 LBS.