Welcome to Louis (Lou) Dawson's backcountry skiing information & opinion website. Lou's passion for the past 50 years has been alpinism, climbing, mountaineering and skiing -- along with all manner of outdoor recreation. He has authored numerous books and articles about
ski touring and is well known as the first person to ski down all 54 of Colorado's 14,000-foot peaks, otherwise known as the
Fourteeners! Books and free ski touring news and information here.
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Backcountry skiing is dangerous. You may be killed or severely injured if you do any form of ski mountaineering, skimo randonnee and randonnée skiing. The information and news on this website is intended only as general information. Due to human error and passing time, the information, text and images contained within this website may be inaccurate, false, or out-of-date. By using, reading or viewing the information provided on this website, you agree to absolve the owners of Wild Snow as well as content contributors of any liability for injuries or losses incurred while using such information. Furthermore, you agree to use any of this website's information, maps, photos, or binding mounting instructions templates at your own risk, and waive Wild Snow owners and contributors of liability for use of said items for ski touring or any other use.
I can’t wait to follow this. I went the VW Vanagon Westfalia route for my car camping forays but that had as much or more to do with the fact that I’m a rear-engined VW nut. Building up an old pull-behind is a much more sensible way to go!
Lay up an epoxy/carbon shell and let it snow!
Shane and all, we’ll try to file more posts in a timely way, but they won’t come fast. Everyone is out having too much fun. We do have images from all stages of the build. You can find quite a bit of info via search for “diy foam panel camper” and other word sets. Lou
I’ve been daydreaming about doing this too… but the satisfaction of building it appears to far outweigh any actual need I might have for such a trailer.
Great idea! You have me making space in my garage for this project tomorrow’!
I made a Ford Transit Campervan and put on 4Wheel Drive at Quadvan in Portland. I have 4 continental snow tires on it in winter, and its a beast. Grips on ice. The depth of the snow high centering it is the only limitation. It insulated thick and has solar panels, two bunks, and a counter/ drawer for cooking. There is a 85 qt Whynter frig that works great. I put thermo film for electric heat on the floor and its great to melt snow, and keep the frozen toes warm in the morning. I used 220AH of AGM battery and that seems enough for fridge, lights, floor heat, and electric kettle for coffee, and music. We’ve been all over BC last winter, and Northern BC this summer. Will do BC for Dec-Feb then Ferry up to Alaska for Alaska Range spring and Gate of Arctic Summer.
Hi Jim,
Sounds like a great rig. Back in the day I had a high top Chinook 19′ camper van powered by a turbo diesel. I drove it on ice or 10 ” of new snow up my 17% grade road with a bunch of tight corners for several years. If you have enough weight on the drive wheels and great tires 4 wheel drive is almost overkill.
The nice thing about that rig was that 10 minutes after skiing you were in a hot shower and with the furnace it was warm enough to sit around in shorts. Don’t know why i thought I should sell it when it hit 170k.—