1965 Apache Silver Buffalo

[ryan]

The green canvas tents we had at boy scout summer camp always smelled the same. No idea how long they had been set up over the summer to "air out"

I can smell this post

 

[Uncle Gump]

As a kid we deer hunted for 10 days every year out of a couple Army surplus wall tents. As crazy as this may sound... the smell of the canvas tents bring back some of my best memories of time spent with my dad.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Just for reference, this thing had been closed up for like 20 years. The canvas smell was a little extra thick.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Wiring is all goofy, trailer is old enough nothing is standard color and whoever scotch locked it in a Kmart parking lot in 1982 just went with whatever felt right when they wired to tow pig and matched the trailer to that. I don't know if the original ground had a problem or what but we seem to have two, only the one that wasn't hooked up works.

And a pin broke off my new connector so that shut me down last night.

One socket is kinda weak, probably could use all four. I wish LED assemblies were an option like a utility trailer. I have one lens that doesn't match I would like to replace at some point.

Also discovered it has the awning stowed under the kitchen bench seat. We had it half packed by then, I need to see if I can find the poles somewhere. It would look like this:

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Also got a pretty good start on packing.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Who stacks tackle box and camping stuff ON their fishing poles?

That awning is a nice bonus!

Be sure to toss it in on top of your fishing poles too!

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Who stacks tackle box and camping stuff ON their fishing poles?

That awning is a nice bonus!

Be sure to toss it in on top of your fishing poles too!

Mine is beside the folding chairs in it's own pocket. Oliver's was haphazardly on top, it got moved after the pic when I grabbed his cup of juice he left on the floor.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Someone else was not impressed with my packing job... so now it is perfectly tetrised holding pretty much the same gear for our 5 mile journey.

Bikes are loaded



Then we get to replacing the trailer connector. I had a new one, one of the pins fell out as I was taking it out of the package so I returned it today for a new one.



Tail lights



Brake lights



My phone wanted to go to night mode which doesn't work with turn signals but they do work.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

The Silver Buffalo has landed!

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Concern of mine... the swingout does open far enough to get the topper glass open.



Found our spot.



Lake view even



Looks like some sort of lunar lander with the silver finish and angled jacks lol.



I did put actual screw type camper jacks under it for added stability.









Yeah, we fit right in...



For lighting I took bungie cords and hung christmas lights around the ceiling with a switch lamp cord. So we could just reach over from our bed and turn the lights on and off like a less feral camper.





It was decent, you wouldn't want to rebuild a carburetor in the amount of light but it was good enough to easily find your way around the camper.





Finished campsite before teardown this morning





Bacon as its meant to be cooked.



Fridge fit in this spot absolutely perfectly and is awesome beyond words to have with while camping.



All ready to head home.



Takeways:

1. Roadcover is a POS and not long for this world. Needs dealt with before any real long distance trips happen.

2. Mattresses SUCK. We were going to use air mattresses but they didn't fit. Had one that was a little too small (I think it was a "Full") we let Oliver use and we double stacked the other ones. Never had a worse nights sleep, knees, hip and back were killing me all day which has NEVER happened before. Pain actually woke me up throughtout both nights. So that needs dealt with.

3. I also need to procure a spare tire/wheel before any real trips happen.

4. Cosmetic stuff, repaint the hitch and frame underneath with the landing gear. She is talking about recovering the floor etc.

5. Spent two days getting the lights to work, never had a car behind me at any point of either trip...

Temps were perfect, both of us put quite a few miles on our bikes and little guy had a hoot getting more independent and riding around making new friends. Left the windows open during the day and shut it up before I went to bed. Highs in the mid 80's lows around 50... couldn't really ask for much better.

It was super nice to have room to move around and enough headroom to walk all over without having to duck inside unlike a dome tent. I could tell there was a little more rebound on bumps but otherwise the truck did not care it was there. Dual exhaust pointed at an aluminum camper deflect neat noises out the sides too lol.