In the late 60's and early 70's. America was in a Recreational Vehicle boom. Every driveway had a camper, trailer or boat in it of course this had a terrific impact on trucks, not to mention the aftermarket industry Chevy showrooms were full of R.V. brochures and outdoor accessories for your car or truck. Trailer wiring, tow packages and camper shells were the accessories of choice. This whole back-to-nature kick launched the Blazer which became a popular project truck of restorers and customizers alike.
The Blazer (whether it be a 4-wheel drive or 2-wheel drive) was definitely a recreational vehicle. Ninety percent of the ads and brochures showed them in camping and offroad environments. There were also tons of pop-up tents, soft tops and trailer hitches available for them. On the truck scene, the R.V. options were plenty. Camper special, packages with dual batteries, camper wiring, slider rear windows, heavy suspension, and extended beds were popular.
In the late 60's and early 70's, GM even built a "Longhorn" truck that had a six inch longer bed for hauling larger campers. They promoted it specifically for camping. The following points were emphasized for the buying public: Long 133-Inch Wheelbase for better weight distribution; Big 8-1/2 foot Pickup Box large enough to handle a spacious 12-foot camper body; Leaf Spring Rear Suspension engineered to handle the extra weight of a fully equipped camper body Six Different Engines, plenty of muscle to haul heavy camper bodies at highway speeds; Six different transmissions which can be tailored to meet the needs of any camper enthusiast Special Camper Options some listed above plus air conditioning, west coast mirrors, power steering, power brakes and more.
Another option was the side bed mounted tool box. Now why, if you had an eight foot or eight and a half foot bed truck would you need a tool box on the side? Onlv if vou had a bed full of camper! Saddle gas tanks were another popular option or accessory. These really came in handy when vour 402 big block truck was loaded down with a big camper and you were pulling your boat to places unknown in the wild outdoors. Now, the Cadillac of them all: the one ton chassis-mounted walk through camper. Two of my good friends bought these houses on wheels in 1972 and I had the privilege of driving them to many rodeos and it was a pleasure. I would really like to find a nice clean 69-72 chassis-mounted camper with all the bells and whistles, just like I remember in '72. I’m sure there are some nice, low mileage ones around.
The last time I wrote about wanting something, it was a 2WD Blazer and I have since found and purchased two. So here goes: help me find a camper now! These R.V. Blazers, Longhorns and campers are definitely on the wayback. Day after day I see orders for parts for these and people are always writing to me about them. Hey, why not restore something for the entire family to enjoy to enjoy no matter how big or small your family happens to be. The Longhorn three-quarter ton Chevrolet pickup with a 133-inch wheelbase and an 8-1/2-foot box provides excellent weight distribution for the longer camper bodies now coming into greater use. New for 1969 models is extensive front-end restyling for a more massive appearance. The higher hood line carries out the long horizontal lines of the body, and an anodized aluminum grille with a black grid imparts a broad, rugged frontal look. Two-stage, multi-leaf rear springs
are standard equipment. Interiors are brighter, and optional chrome dress-up mouldings carry a passenger car flair with wood-grain inserts or black paint trim.
Optional engines include a new 255 hp., 350 cu. in. V8 and a 310 hp. 396 V8. Of special interest to camper buyers are new Below-Eye-Line optional mirrors with low-mounting arms to provide better side vision and reduced wind noise. With independent coil spring front suspension and two-stage multi-leaf rear springs, the Chevrolet one-ton chassis-cab has excellent riding and handling qualities with adequate capacity for large frame-mounted camper bodies. New front-end styling this year, with a higher hood line and anodized aluminum grille, gives a more massive appearance. Optional power includes a new 350 cu. in. V8 of 255 hp. and a 310 hp., 396 cu. in. V8 to meet nearly any performance requirement. An optional 3-speed automatic transmission also is offered. Other new features include foot-operated parking brake, better door sealing, improved cab and sheet metal mounts for quieter ride, brighter interiors, and automatic choke on all engines.
The last photo is my camper today. I’ve owned it for over 35 years and the picture of a model holding the truck selectors vehicle 1969 vehicle selector for campers and camper bodies.
