The Turtle aka Beggar's Ride

After deciding to do this cross country trip thing I had several logistical things to work out. Like what the hell am I going to drive.........(especially import since I did have a car at the time)....I started look at different kinds of vans and RVs. I looked at the old hippy standby the VW Bus but it was just too small.....then I looked at a couple of Dolphin RVs(those are the little RV built on Toyota Mini trucks) but they were too expensive and hard to find....plus a little impractical for day to day driving as well......so I started looking a van conversions...not the ones with just a bed and a TV in the back but the ones with full RV capabilities........I found a couple, the best looking option was a 1983 Chevy G20 van with a Greenbriar
conversion.

It was in Alabama and only had 100,000 miles and the price was right......off to bama I go to check out this beauty.......turns out to be in pretty good shape it has some cosmetic issues, needs a muffler, and a little rust, but all in all good mechanical shape and had all the goodies I was looking for. As you can see from the pics it is set up with a full kitchen, toilet, and dining/sleeping area with another sleeping area up top that i will use for storage. It also has an air conditioner installed in one of the rear windows.

I have made a few mods to the van since I got it they include upgrading the battery on the secondary electrical system with a deep cycle marine battery, installing a TV and DVD, back up camera, and also adding a CB and a fuzz buster. Oh and of course I had to put a Citadel Sticker on the spare tire.
After a couple of short shakedown trip I have also added a awing set up for some additional shade and living space when I am in camp. There is plenty of room for 2 people with the upper sleeping area but it gets a little cramped for
storage of bags....but it will be fine for me and my dog Major on the big trip.

I also added a hitch hauler for extra gear and the moped(no elephant on a roller skate jokes). The latest modification was a snowboard rack on the inside to keep my board out of the way and safe from sticky fingers.......I will add some pics of those later.......three more days and I am outta here....

I would rather be lost in my world than stuck in yours.....Brett.