Things that never were nor ever should be, Part II: the Dodge Caravan "CarCamel"
Click above for gallery of the Car Camel
You need something to carry a car, but you don't want just any old pickup truck or SUV because anybody could do that. And since you do have that vintage Dodge Caravan lying around... why not grab the chainsaw and make something really special?
Allow us to officially introduce the Car Camel. Apparently plying the highways of Ontario, Canada, it's a shortened minivan with a car hauler stuck to its backside. It ain't pretty, and it probably ain't too fast, but we have to admit that it is pretty neat... if you're into that kind of thing. Have a look at the gallery of images below, but if any of you get the idea to make a Car Koala... please, don't. Thanks for the tip, Zak!
UPDATE: Jackpot! Autoblog reader Paul H found the owner's personal blog on which he explains how, and more importantly why, he built the Car Camel. Also check out more pics of the Car Camel, including it actually carrying a car, in the gallery below.
Gallery: Car Camel
[Source: Photobucket]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
bill jackman 1:05PM (8/25/2008)
I wouldn't want to get hit from behind driving that thing, but it's a good effort.
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petey 1:46PM (8/25/2008)
Here is the guy's blog
http://www.netbug.net/blogmichael/?p=21
petey 1:49PM (8/25/2008)
wow.
after a closer look at that link it looks like the rear suspension actually "kneels" like a camel for loading and unloading.
Randy 9:32PM (8/25/2008)
I actually think this one looks kinda cool. With the right blend between the cab and the bed it could actually work.
why not the LS2LS7? 1:08PM (8/25/2008)
I'm not sure loading another car on a unibody car is a good idea.
Oh, and check out the rear rims. Ugh rolling shutter artifacts.
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Tekin112000 1:39PM (8/25/2008)
I don't think I would want to use it to haul cars, the frame seems a bit flimsy for that much weight.
It would be really good for dirtbikes. Easier to backup than a trailer, there seems to be enough room behind the seats to lock up extra gear and probably gets better gas mileage that a full size truck.
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Carols Ray 1:12PM (8/25/2008)
Its awesome looking!!! better than the other short dodge caravan!!!
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MemphisNET 1:16PM (8/25/2008)
You gotta make due with what you've got sometimes! Good effort... I wonder what the tow/haul rating would be - and +1 to 'why not the LS2LS7?' - hopefully he/she beefed up the unit construction.
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Shawn 1:31PM (8/25/2008)
This guy was at Targa Newfoundland last year, I was gonna grab a Pic but it looked so well done that I figured it might have been a small fleet vehicle.
He was carrying an original Mini to compete in the Targa!
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Zandr 1:46PM (8/25/2008)
Ah, early Mini, Smart, same thing. (The mini's probably lighter. ;)
mjk 1:39PM (8/25/2008)
THAT is living the high life.
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Zandr 1:39PM (8/25/2008)
I remember seeing this done with a late '60s Eldorado... that would be a much more rational car-hauler. I can't imagine this thing could get out of it's own way with anything bigger than a Smart on board.
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eric@liberatore.net 2:10PM (8/25/2008)
I've seen one too. Would by any chance have seen it in northwest Arkansas? I couldn't imagine there actually being two of those.
Asshauler 7:45PM (8/25/2008)
You must mean the Olds Toronado.
http://www.442.com/tech/hauler.html
This one has been around since the dawn of teh Intertubes... ;)
WolfgangNC 1:43PM (8/25/2008)
Being an engineer, unless those tubular rails are solid (meaning not tubular) then it might be okay; but the lateral bracing looks very weak to me. I would be very skeptical of the proper load/tow weight. Good effort; but lacking real integrity.
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Benfolio 2:38PM (8/25/2008)
Eeek, they are NOT solid: "...the frame was to be used as an air reservoir..."
BUT: "Because the minivan is a unibody type of construction we had to build a fairly substantial subframe inside to attach the deck to. What we did was probably overkill but I figured better safe than bent."
ehisforadam 8:50PM (8/25/2008)
Solid beams don't add that much as far as strength or rigidity and they would add (probably literally) a ton of weight.
Paul 2:05PM (8/25/2008)
Thanks for the link to the blog. He makes a good argument for the project:
"The idea of lifting the car more than a meter in the air so that it could be carried over the top of the differential and suspension of the flat bed seemed to be ridiculous. I figured that a much better solution would be to use a front wheel drive vehicle and carry the load on a deck between the rear wheels."
It's actually a pretty bright idea. Coolest thing about it is that he can drop the rear and make it so you don't need a loading ramp. The only problem would be that I would assume that the extra weight of another car on the rear wheels could make the FWD grip (steering and acceleration) a little spooky.
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BigMcLargeHuge 2:35PM (8/25/2008)
FWD front wheelie? That would be an epic tragedy.
Ha!
retsel 2:34PM (8/25/2008)
the guy did some CAD diagrams... lol... u have to love it... but he lives to far north to be a red neck...
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