One of the bonuses for being a regular reader of Barn Finds is that some of the most interesting and unusual vehicles being offered in the marketplace are written up right here. That said, this 1963 Ford F100 4WD pickup topped by a 1963 Del Rey Sky Lounge Camper for sale on eBay in Troy, Michigan is one of the coolest vehicles ever to be profiled on these pages. This red retro camper has everything you would need for a weekend camping and the oversized upper section gives sleepers lots of headroom and a view like no other! Would this purpose-built vintage camping rig be just the ticket for a campout at a local state park this weekend provided no low-clearance bridges are lying across your path? Fifteen bidders have raised the price to a scant $7,100 with just two days to go. Does that low number surprise you? Are you interested in bidding on this awesome ride?
Before we dive into this write-up, a little context is needed. In the post-World War II world, a lot of Americans had something they had never enjoyed before. That new feature of their lives was disposable income for hobbies. Many of the vehicles we profile are a result of this ability to spend beyond the necessities. While we have written up numerous sports cars, kit cars, homebuilt vehicles, and everything in between, we seldom get the privilege of addressing truck campers. While tent camping has always been popular with a certain subset of people, we are Americans. We bring houses with us when we go camping. Today, travel trailers, vans, and motor coaches are the most popular forms of recreational vehicles. In the sixties and seventies, slide-in truck campers were a very popular way to go camping. The idea was that you could use any heavy-duty pickup at your disposal to carry the camper. The camper portion was held up in your yard by a set of jacks that held the bottom of the camper higher than the pickup bed. You simply backed under the camper, lowered the jacks, fastened any clamps or turnbuckles (very, very important), and headed out into the hinterlands. It wasn’t long before manufacturers were offering special editions of their trucks, which were called camper specials, to go after this relatively small but dedicated subset of the market.
Sadly, despite thousands upon thousands of these slide-in campers being sold, their survival rate is abysmal. If you have never owned a camper or travel trailer of any sort, then you need to know that the construction methods for these vehicles are different than that of a regular home. Campers have to be lightweight to be drug around by anything smaller than a Peterbilt. That means that the walls are typically framed up with 1×2″ and 1×4″ boards, the interior walls are sheathed in thin plywood, the outer walls are corrugated aluminum, and the whole assembly has to be just strong enough to hold together for a few years. The flexing inherent in traveling down the road combined with the usual deterioration of materials doesn’t add up to long lives for such vehicles. To paraphrase a Confucius of camping, such vehicles “age in dog years.”
With all of that being said, seeing this camper setup decades after the truck and camper were built is quite amazing. The company doing the legwork for this sale tells us that they have sold numerous spectacular vehicles for the seller of this camper combo over the years. This one, however, seems to be the most impressive yet. The seller started with the body of a 1963 Ford F100 pickup, grafted it onto a 1977 Ford F250 frame, and modified that vehicle to carry such a heavy and tall load safely.
While the depth of the restoration is not discussed in the picture-heavy ad, we know that the vehicle is powered by a 460 cubic inch big block Ford V-8 and backed by an automatic transmission. The pictures show that the cab looks to be properly restored, with the original dash still in use with the steering column and steering wheel from the 1977 truck fitted to it. We can also see an auxiliary tachometer and a more modern radio nestled in the dash. Some of the pictures also reveal that there are a few tears in the seat on the driver’s side.
The shot under the hood shows the previously mentioned 460 shoehorned between the 1963 fenders. Those fenders look to have been partially sprayed white over the original black in a surprising lapse of tidiness. Looking around, we can see that the truck is equipped with power brakes and likely has power steering as well. We can also see a modern ignition box installed on the driver’s front fender well. Conspicuously absent in such a nice build is an air conditioning system. Regardless, we are told that this truck and camper combo has taken numerous trips over the years and has understandably been a star attraction at some car shows along the way.
While the truck is undeniably cool, the camper itself is amazing. Built by Del Rey Industries in Elkhart, Indiana, these campers distinguished themselves in a crowded market by the use of wraparound glass in the front of the “third tier” of the camper. Del Rey became the largest producer of RVs by 1966, and nearly all of the units were slide-in truck campers such as this one. The company tried to make travel trailers, budget-model slide-ins, and motorhomes. However, it was their higher-end campers with the “Sky Lounge” design that sold the best.
A look inside this camper gives you a good idea of why they were so popular. Despite the compact design necessitated by the dimensions of a truck bed, these campers came with all of the features of a small home. Campers had at their disposal a three-burner stove with a built-in oven, a refrigerator, cabinets galore, and a full bathroom with a sink, toilet, and shower. In true camper fashion, the dining table could be converted into a bed and there were plenty of windows and a screen door to allow for air circulation.
Yet it was the Sky Lounge section that probably convinced more people to purchase one of these campers more than any other feature. Slide-in campers always had the permanent bed positioned above the cab of the truck. This is a rather claustrophobic setup, as you cannot usually sit upright in bed. The height of the Sky Lounge allowed that and added windows to make the space seem open and airy. If you are going to spend a weekend with the family, especially if it is raining, then a little extra space is wildly important.
Given that the Sky Lounge section sits so high above the rest of the vehicle, it is a small miracle that it has survived all of these years without meeting one of those low bridges we see so often on YouTube. Another surprise is that this combo has only reached $7,100 in bidding. Even if you look past its 1960s collectability, the recreational vehicle market is currently just as crazy as the used car market. For a functional camper with a running truck, this is an amazing deal. Hopefully, one of our readers snaps this funky rig up and enjoys it thoroughly before it ends up being used as housing and parked on a side street in one of our major cities.
Did you ever own or enjoy using a slide-in camper? Do you have any great camping stories to go along with the experience? Please share them in the comments.
Thorough, excellent write-up. (Who wrote it? I did not see a by-line). Very cool retro vehicle. Nice to see a camper like this in good shape; the “age in dog years” thankfully doesn’t fit here.
My first thought was indeed “cool retro vehicle”; my second thought was “high center of gravity?” The somewhat more modern chassis and drivetrain would help, but seems to me it would be most happy doing 55 mph on the old US highways, as opposed to dealing with semis whizzing by doing 80.
Tons of pics in ad.
This is the type of unique vehicle (accompanied by the great writing) which keeps me interested in Barn Finds.
Cool indeed. But with the aerodynamics of a cinderblock, I could only imagine what the hi-way MPG is…
Pretty sure that the cinder block would have a lower drag co-efficient in a wind tunnel test. Wowza!
GPM I think. This is not like a box bucking thru the air, this like a stack of boxes bucking air! Still, I like it, just would not drive it too far from home base.
Bob_in_TN It says the write up was done by Jeff Bennett.By the way I must say that as a regular Barn Finds reader your comments are always positive, insightful and often informative.Kudos to you my fellow car nut!🍻
I always enjoy Bobs comments as well, JG. A real class act!!
Thanks Jeremy and MrBZ. When I first saw the write-up there was no by-line attached. It showed up a bit later, after I commented.
So, the kudos go to Jeff. He does great work.
This is pretty cool, but might be better suited on a Dually pickup.
Beautiful and interesting rig!
I need this! I’ve never seen a Del Rey Sky Lounge Camper before, so thank you, Jeff! If I buy one, my wife may… well… *not* thank you, but that’s my problem. This is full-on post-war American adventure seeking and optimism in truck/camper form. Ease that rig onto the Eisenhower Highway of your choice and the world is your 8 MPG oyster. I’ve actually been taking inventory of small campers with a. Separate shower, b. Large bed for adults and small bed for crumb-snatchers, and c. room to stand up and walk around. I’d love to see a molded fiberglass shower in this one. Otherwise, I wouldn’t change a thing. Fill ‘er up and start stamping that National Park passport.
Love the truck, so clean and cool. But unsafe chicken coop on the Highway.
If there was a contest for the most interesting barn find of the year, this would surely be a finalist.
This is a GREAT value at just over $7,000. Very interested in this classic Truck / Camper combination.
Great write up Jeff.
I like it, I like it a lot, wrong continent sadly.
Cool, I like it! Great bug out vehicle in a Mad Max scenario!
I would love to have this. Just need to find a driver cause I’m riding up top!
From experience- this is a wonderful conversation piece. Great garage art or car show fun. It would be miserable to use as a camper.
All the other comments by others but add the lack of modern reliability. You have an old truck and an old camper manufactured by a company that did not have the engineering resources of Ford or GM. These things broke when new.
Even with replaced and reengineered modern parts, they still are not like a new Airstream. (O’h wait, my brother’s 2021 is currently off the road waiting on parts also.) You need patience, automotive repair skills and general handyman skills for the camper part.
My point is that you won’t drive to the camp site, park and have a trouble free weekend. If you do, you should then go buy a lottery ticket.
Sorry, I disagree. These older trucks can be very reliable, it would be the camper that would require the most maintenance as all campers shake going down the road. This rig or your new Airstream, and this is a great value, where the Airstream’s MRSP is way higher.
This is a perfect weekend or during-the-week getaway vehicle. Someone will have a ball in this blast from the past.
You both may have missed this is the write-up:
“The seller started with the body of a 1963 Ford F100 pickup, grafted it onto a 1977 Ford F250 frame, and modified that vehicle to carry such a heavy and tall load safely.”
So, the truck part of this has been updated and fortified to carry the load a lot more efficiently than would have been possible back in the day.
Is seems big for the period, but is much smaller than the giga slide in camper I see mounted today. They are like steering a whale.
I bet this goes down the highway just fine. A bargain for this set up, should go for double that. The interior is beautiful.
I wonder what the clearance is, or if it’s taller than your average Class A with acs and sat dish on the roof.
Would be scary to ride up top and go under a bridge 😳
Yes, that is certainly a high-top camper, as nice as it looks inside, and exactly what I thought about hitting a bridge possibly, or just going around a corner too fast, or a high wind. Years ago, while moving a relative, we rented a You Haul box truck in suburbs west of Philadelphia. The “main line” area was known for the old Pennsylvania RR headed for Harrisburg and points west. A lot of the underpasses had low clearances. I forgot what I was driving and hit the bridge! We stopped at a 7-11 store and bought some gum, chewed a lot and used it to hide the skylight that showed thru a corner of the box. I would not trust the camper, even with the heavier duty F-250 frame, note the sag. But the truck is worth much more than the price so far. I have a 66 F-100 with transplanted Mustang HO 302 and AOD trans. I like the ride of the twin I beam that started in 65, but some do not like that. Lets see what or if this sells for.
Unfortunately, it is probably an illegal combination. With the F100 only being rated at 5000 lbs it is undoubtedly going over that. Even though the F-250 frame and suspension can handle it, it doesn’t make it legal.
It’s an F250, with an earlier body. The F100 on the cowl has nothing to do with anything.
Tell that to the DOT. The VIN and data platee are F100. The legal limit is tied to the VIN. The only way to change that is the manufacture issuing a new weight rating. Good luck with that.
Great write up and I do like it! Wouldn’t want to own it. Spent a weekend in a slide in camper once, and yes they are a bit cramped. Was on a Chevy 3/4 ton and not a small unit. Center of gravity on this unit is has to be off the chart, but trip to the lake for the weekend should work just fine.
Yea F250 axles that’s good, the newer bed that’s good, hmmmm the 292 or the 460….. yea although I’ve logged in years with the 292, I went 390, the 460 auto is good too
I run mine with the double molar scoops they fit perfectly on the hood
I wrote above before I saw that the price has not met criteria at $15,000. Well, the truck alone is worth at least that much as 4-wheel drive, I think. If I bought it and had a piece of empty land, drive the camper to the plot and use it as a mobile home for fishing or hunting, etc. That’s it, too dangerous to haul the camper regularly.
Awesome rig! I would use it for forays to fairly nearby campgrounds (and some Cars&Coffee gatherings as well) A well maintained’77 F250 can handle this camper, and be dependable. It doesn’t have a bevy of ECMs, PCMs, relays, and other electronic wizardry to fail. Nice upgrade to the ‘66 era box- as ‘63 had the choice of intregal box, stepside, or a ‘57-‘60 throwback.
Back in the late 70’s, I was at a truck leasing facility getting my rig serviced. I asked the Service Manager if they had a service truck I could borrow to get dinner while I was waiting. He handed me the keys to his personal vehicle : a 1960’s C-20 with a slide -in. That thing handled like a drunken cow on roller skates ! I can imagine how it handled in cross winds. I didn’t go far and he was smiling when I handed back the keys. I can just figure what this F-100 handles like with the tenement slide-in. ” Hang-On Hannah, we got us a 20 -knotter comin’ a midships !! “
Good story, but this one is far from that one.
You may have missed this is the write-up:
“The seller started with the body of a 1963 Ford F100 pickup, grafted it onto a 1977 Ford F250 frame, and modified that vehicle to carry such a heavy and tall load safely.”
So, the truck part of this has been updated and fortified to carry the load a lot more efficiently than would have been possible back in the day.
Nah, didn’t miss a thing in the write-up. The write -up doesn’t compensate anything for the physical appearance of the high center of gravity on this . This must be something on a decreasing radius off-ramp
What is the height of the camper/truck?
The truck, and conversion, is great. I’ve used a few cabovers( nothing as fancy as this DelRay! ) for hunting camps. Mounted on a 20 ft flatbed, you have a deck to step out on ( middle of night old man trips!! ) and a dry place to cook / sleep. Cramped!! But they pull great, no high center of gravity. Room for a four wheeler also.
I’d be reluctant to fly this ship in the wind.
The truck, and conversion, is great. I’ve used a few cabovers( nothing as fancy as this DelRay! ) for hunting camps. Mounted on a 20 ft flatbed, you have a deck to step out on ( middle of night old man trips!! ) and a dry place to cook / sleep. Cramped!! But they pull great, no high center of gravity. Room for a four wheeler also.
I’d be reluctant to fly this ship in the wind.
We lived in these in the 1980s while shearing sheep in Wyoming. Back then they were cheap and plentiful to buy. Suited our purpose perfectly. Fuel was cheap back then as well. Shoshone to Casper 6 mag in a head wind if it was a side wind you had to be very careful or you would be in the ditch on the side of the road, it happened to a few of us one even got blown on it’s side on I 90 in a gale force wind one evening.
That truck has a 1964 grill in the first picture 📸!
Neat. Would need a decent size garage to keep it in. No way should this be left outdoors other than when actually using it.
Bring A Trailer just listed one as well with a ’68 Chevy pickup. Two in the same week on national classic car platforms? And this red one is a mere two hours away from me in Michigan. Makes me wonder…