Caravan Camper Shell (Reno company)

[AMink]

latch side of the door Frame extends below the bed of truck

Abdiver, I'm not sure what you mean, but each door has a latch system. It pins in both the top and bottom of the frame. The pins do hang a little below the inner door frame to make the latch, but the skin on the door that you see when closed covers the pins. I'll take a picture close-up so that you can see what I mean.

 

[AMink]

Pictures

Here are some pics of the back of the cab. If I see any 3gs running around with a Caravan, I'll see if I can get a picture.

 

[abdiver]

Amink, Thanks for the pictures. Yes it cleared up my question. What it was your original pictures showed the passenger side rear shell door ajar (opened aprox 45 degrees and my brain saw it as a single door with the shell door frame extending below the bumper. But now I have it all staightened out. I bought my truck @ Carson Dodge to bad I had not known of these shells at that time I would have checked them out when I was in Nevada. I am also going to compare a gemtop. Also I will call Caravan and see if someone in my area has one. Though reading what Sarj said about his observations of the quality of the unit and your experience I will likely go with the Caravan. But is sure won't hurt me to take an other week or two to decide.



Thanks again for the pictures

 

[Regcabguy]

Callen Rust?

they haven't really improved their shells over the last decades. They still don't use stainless hinges and have a big door handle as opposed to the flush mounted ones like on the professional shells. Their big deal is how strong they are but it will not protect like a roll bar and they weigh a bunch. Take one out of the desert climate and see how they rust. For my money I'll take a professionally made aluminum or fiberglass shell any day.

Big Barney and I live 10 minutes from the Pacific ocean. Other than the lousy paint job on the racks we've never seen any significant rust on a Callen. They are a bit heavy but are built like a tank with insulation and panelled interiors and quality windows. I agree with your comment on the door handles, they suck! The son has taken over the biz now so maybe they'll upgrade! As far as plastic shells go, in 37 years of Mex. trips I can't tell you how many cracked(even Snugtops' "reinforced") shells and blown out windows I've witnessed. Mounting racks up top loaded with fuel,firewood,spare tire,surfboards,kayaks etc. really stresses out the shells.

 

[sarj]

Yo abdiver



Sorry, been on a 4-dayer to CO. No, I haven't seen it on a Dodge yet, but after seeing what they did, I'm not worried about. As far as the Gemtop Outfitter, that was one I kind of was considering, but had reservations, and after I went to Reno to check these out, Gemtop wasn't even in the same ballpark.



sarj

 

[abdiver]

Sarj, Amink,



I am considering buying either a Snugtop its lighter in weight & about 600 dollars cheaper than the Caravan, I don't plan on needing to carry anything on its boat racks as the 3500 with a shell are pretty tall (hard to reach unless you are over 6' 4") It appears that interior room is about the same. Only other difference would be the double doors vs the truck tailgate, and this could be an advantage or not depending on usage



Anyone help me make up my mind Which way would you go and WHY



Thanks, Bill

 

[AMink]

I went with the Caravan because:

-My father-in-law had one for years and it was still in good shape.

-I didn't know what I would be using it for, exactly, so I wanted to have the capacity if needed.

-Local company.

-Liked the idea of steel instead of fiberglass or aluminum because I knew for sure that I'd be bouncing around bad roads with branches etc waiting to grab, poke, and scratch.



You can order the Caravan however you want, single or double door, windows or not, as tall as you want it, etc. I think I've even seen some that retain the tailgate. If you're using just as a cap to weatherproof your bed and not planning on hard duty, I'm sure the Snugtops etc. are fine. In the end it's like so much else... as long as it meets your needs, it's good!

 

[abdiver]

AMink, Thanks for the reply, Do you really think the Metal Caravan is more durable than the Fiberglass snugtop? I am not arguing the point just gathering info. If the truth be known I would rather have a Caravan But first I do want to make sure I don't buy more than I need. Previously I had a 1984 (alunimum frame) Four wheel camper that I bought new and placed on my 84 ford 4x4 never had it off, held up well But now my wife and I are 20 years older and am thinking a shell on my truck with a 24' travel trailer would be nice not having to climb up into a camper and when I want to leave campground my wife can stay behind in the trailer rather than just sitting in campsite waiting for the camper to return.



Bill

 

[AMink]

I honestly don't know much about the Snugtops. They look nice and the ones that friends have seem durable. Bajabob wrote that he's seen windows pop out of even Snugtops on dirt, rough roads. Like I said, if you're not going to do that kind of driving, the Snugtop would probably be just fine.

 

[sarj]

After discounting the outfitter, I took one last look at the snug top. The lines are a little more refined cosmetically. I liked the idea of easy removal, but decided it would probably end up on all the time anyway. They had a slick little fold-down window against the cab window. It seemed to be the best of the fiberglass products. I’d also followed the stories about windows popping out, and glass doors shattering.



Biggest reasons I got the Caravan:

- more durable (beyond any doubt in my mind)

- more secure. The glass door of a shell is begging to be broke into

- I really wanted the double doors for easier access to the truck with my trailer on when traveling. I didn’t want to lift a door, and drop a gate, and then crawl on my knee’s to get what I needed.

- It’s much easier to customize the interior of the caravan for my personal needs given its frame structure vs. a smooth glass shell interior.

- I’m having the roof racks made, but not installed. I wanted options open for the future use, and happen to be 6’4”. My roof racks will probably used as a platform for off-the-ground tent camping on top of my truck down in baja when I leave the woman at home and just go with the dogs and another truck. I also figure the roof racks will be good anchor points for a wind-break or awning off the back when boondocking with the truck alone.



Mink has it right when he says you go for what works for you. Just think through all your uses, and go with the best choice. I wouldn’t sweat the money either way. Buy quality and what fits the bill, and you save in the long run… the CTD mentality .



sarj

 

[abdiver]

"I’m having the roof racks made, but not installed. I wanted options open for the future use"



sarj,

Do you plan to later install the roof racks yourself later on if you chose to?



I really appreciate you and AMinks thoughts on this subject AND I know you sarj have done your homework. sarj How does the Caravan join the truck bed does it have a good seal? I wish I could go to Reno and check one out but I am trying to finish my house as for some reason my wife wants to move in ASAP. So I won't have much time to go and see one in the near future. sarj you make very good points.



sarj What part of Baja do you like to go to. My buddies and I used to go to camping on the islands in the Sea of Cortez. Some of the guys were school teachers so they had lots of time camped on every island Now everyone's retired and they don't seem to have time to go anywhere.



AMink could you post any more interior pictures ?



Thanks guys, Bill

 

[sarj]

When I was there talking with Walt, I saw how everything was fabricated, and asked him about the racks. Everything is painted separately. I figured I may never need them since I have a 9’ stake bed dumptruck for work around the house, and my boat is a 14’ inflatable. That was one other reason for the Caravan, was to have an interior mount for the outboard when I travel, & the Caravan is well suited for it. The shell will be drilled for the racks, & I have the flush rubber plugs I’m going to silicon in, if & until I mount the racks.



The seal on fitment is good. It’s bolted on, and I hate drilling holes in the rails of the bed to do it, but I figure if the shell is ever coming off in the future, it’ll be because I have a new CTD in the drive, and I’m converting this one to a stake bed dumper.



I’ve never been on the gulf side of baja. All my trips are for surf on the Pacific side south of punta bunda, and I also haven’t been to cabo... just spots in between. That was going to be this year, but family health issues are going to put that off 1 year I think. I’d like to cross over to Maz and go a little further south, but I need to find another truck or two to make that run with.



sarj

 

[AMink]

Abdiver-more pics for you! . Like Sarj, I like the idea of being able to attach brackets etc. inside. So for, I've only hooked in some heavy clips to hold a small fan motor for duck hunting from sliding around, but I've toyed with the idea of some bracket for my 15hp outboard. Just never did it.

 

[abdiver]

AMink, Thanks for the pictures.

 

[abdiver]

AMink, Just wanted you and Sarj to know I will be picking my Caravan around the week of the of Jan 2nd, Dale from Caravan said it should be ready either this Fri (tomorrow) or the 2nd. As they will be shutdown for the holidays till Jan 2nd and considering the weather over hiway 80 I hope be in Reno sometime after the 2nd.



Happy Holidays, Bill

 

[AMink]

WOOOHOOOO! Merry Christmas, Abdiver! I think you'll really like it.

 

[abdiver]

Pictures of my Caravan Topper

Here are 4 pictures of my Caravan Camper picked it up last week. I first installed the bedrug (easy on my knees) Then installed the 70 gal Transferflow tank(now I have to cut a 5" hole for the tank filler neck in my New Shell, Ouch!) I had to wait almost 4 months from the time I order the shell. Now all I need it to find the right Travel trailer. And I will be set. O'yeah I forgot my wife wants me to finish the house first.

 

[AMink]

Oo. Oo. Oo.

 

[ttreibel]

That is almost 3 times what I paid for my Glasstite Raider I like the look of the double doors but with my short box I sure would miss having the tailgate fold down for extra length.

 

[RankRam]

Looks great and I'm thinking it was well worth the wait.