I've never seen a Omega/ Newport in person but I have been in the pop top model and I lived in the back of a plywood "RV" in a chevy longbed for a few months so I have an idea of what it would be like. The Omega is as big as I could really get away with driving through Mexico, any bigger could get too awkward and expensive to drive. I would plan on sleeping in it ~ 1/2 of the time.
I was thinking an epoxy coating on the floor & wall below a shower head and a circle of tubing to hang a shower curtain on would be a removable shower option, put it in the middle of the walkway by the door perhaps with a drain by the door and also have a way to attach it to the outside on nice sunny days. IDK.

Thanks for the info!

 

How much taller is the Omega vs a pop-up Chinook? This is one of the greatest things I love about my Chinook is the ability to bring it into the garage without any issues.

Would you be able to remove the rear wheels and place them on a dolly setup to get it into the garage?

 

Good warning on the ammonia leak! Thanks.

Well, whatever you think would work for you for a shower will likely work for you for a shower. I figure having a camp curtain and portable shower & toilet outside will work best for me, but if you feel you need something inside, I'm sure you could get your idea to work.

I'm not sure how much taller the Newport/Omegas are than the pop tops. But the pop top is only maybe a foot taller than a regular 2wd truck with a topper? I can stand up in my Chinook. I think it's over 8' at the highest point. It's also wider than yours. The pop tops are a little taller than mine when they're popped up, which is also nice for you.

It's all a compromise...I feel like mine is a good compromise between being a true RV with space, insulation (rather than a thin layer of canvas), and no set up after getting to camp, yet it will still fit in a normal car-sized parking space, is easy to get around town in, great gas mileage etc.

The pop top Chinooks are their own thing. It's awesome to be able to fit in a garage, not be tall and top heavy, and probably even a bit better gas mileage. I was really unsure at one point which I liked better. But in the end, I like what I've got.

Bottom line is that it's just not going in the garage. Even if I somehow got it in there, I would have about 1' of space on either side between it and the sides of the garage. Not sure I could get the side door open. And I LOVE parking my car there in the winter and not having to scrape.

When I get really motivated and decide to work on it in the cold, I'll just get a heater going to get things warmed up a bit, especially if I'm doing anything with caulk or glue.

 

Here's a cool webpage about camper trucks. They's got photos of original magazine adds and stuff. The Chinook pop-up style Toyotas are there, showing a couple of nice 4x4 conversions. The Newport and Omega Chinooks are farther along in the article.

http://www.tincantourists.com/wiki/d...k#.UptVksRDupU


The internal trim on these was kind of cheap looking, but worked. Maybe the lightweight stuff was necessary to keep the weight down. Zach- your upgrades add quality and it's unique. Looking good.

 

Thanks. Yeah, when I first bought it I was searching for any info I could find on them, and found that site. It's pretty cool.

Well...some of the stuff was light and cheap. But a lot of the other stuff was heavy and cheap. So I think they were mostly going for cheap.

I think when it's all done, I'll be slightly lighter than it was before. I got rid of a lot of weight in some areas, but probably added weight in others.

No matter what, it's going to be nicer than it was when it was new.

 

Just bored so I figured I'd post photos of my new carb and the ridiculous door speakers I put in. Engine compartment is a lot shinier than when I bought it.

 

Thought this would be appropriate

 

Very nice... never realized how many mfgs. used Toyota chassis over the years...

 

On some of the early toyota motor homes calling them a manufacturer is being generous. A friend of mine has parted several motor homes and some of the frame extensions have been down right scary as to how they did it and the lack of quality of the work.

 

Yikes, that's a lot of Toyota motorhomes in one place!!

 

That's cool! Looks like a guy from over at toyotamotorhomes.com posted that. Yeah...a lot of different manufacturers were in the game in the 80s and early 90s. Based around the same general idea. Some where quality, many were not.

The best quality ones in that lineup in the video (in my opinion), where towards the end. There was one Sunrader, which is all fiberglass like mine, then something like a Chinook, but wasn't...but it was an all fiberglass pop-top. The all fiberglass is the best. But Dolphin did pretty good, and most by Winnebago were good.

I agree with dropzone...I think most, if not all of the frame extensions, at least in the 70s and 80s, were pretty sketchy.

I've doing a lot of work lately (even with winter) so I'll have some updates soon.

 

Pretty soon it'll just be down to finishing touches. These are the last of the "major" projects. The final wall panel, counter top and cabinets:

















And finishing up the insulation and vinyl for the cab-over area:



I just need to build some sort of cabinet up above that last counter piece, then just figure out things like paper towel holder, towel rack, spice rack...all that sort of stuff.

 

Rebuilt carb from National Carburetors was junk...and I was running out of time to diagnose what its problem was, so I just went with a Weber. Wish I had done it a year ago.



Just had to move the throttle bar and attachment point for the throttle return spring up a couple inches, since with the stock plastic spacer and the adapter, the carb is sitting up probably two inches higher than stock.

Used the top existing hole as the new bottom hole, drilled a new top hole, and used a stack of nuts to raise the return spring...





Went with a manual choke because I think knobs are cool..



I have some other updates once I take photos.

 

I see you've been making a lot of progress!

Will all webers for the 20R need this modification? I'm also planning to swap in a 20r when I start putting stuff back together.

Any trips in the near future?

 

They will need this modification unless you find an adapter plate that keeps the carb at a stock height. If I had used the Weber two-piece adapter, I'm not sure whether I would have needed to move the throttle stuff up or not...some other people who are using the Weber plate would have to jump in. It was very easy to make it work, though.

I'm on one now! From Helena to Moab so far. Just got finished with dinner and a couple beers at the Moab Brewery.

Probably towards a different area on southern Utah tomorrow for a week or so. Then Escalante.

 

I'll hit you up if I run into any issues when installing mine.

Moab, sounds awesome! I'm hoping to check out a few west coast national parks with the Chinook late this summer. Might even head over to Glacier.

How was the camper held up this trip?

 

Great. Yeah, if you have any issues, just ask. Mine went really smooth.

Sounds fun!

I might be back in Montana in July or August, but not sure yet. I'll be headed up the west coast probably in June/July.

 

If you're passing through my neck of the woods on your West Coast trips, PM me, I'll buy you a beer!

 

Will do!

 

awesome work, i'm very intrigued by the amount of space you have compared to my 4runner with the subs and spare parts and tools and car seat in the back. doesn't leave alot of sleeping room. (we've done it. but a little too cozy) (and not as bad as Mr.orange snuggle with his spare block)
also.
i laughed so loud i scared roommate when i saw that door speaker. in a good way.