CHAPTER IV
CAMPING WITH A FORD
Number of Fords, Mobility of Fords, How to Camp with Them—The Foldaway Bed—The McMillan Bed—The Carefree Folding Outfit—A.B.C. Bed for Fords Only—Universal Car Bed.
About half the passenger motor cars in this country are of the variety known as Ford. Hence we may assume that a large proportion of the readers of this book will want to know what can be done with a Ford in connection with motor camping.
The little Ford can go most anywhere, but one reason for this is its rather diminutive size. The motor camper can get around conveniently in a Ford, but he must limit the equipment taken along with him pretty closely.
If but two are going along, the problem will be easy of solution. Two men or a couple ought to be able to get along with the contents of two suit cases, one on each running board. The few tools required may be stowed under the seat. A small tent or two hammocks and a fly may be added to the suit case on one running board and a roll of blankets put on the other running board, leaving space enough to enter or leave the car.
Some campers are careful to trim the car, as it [32]is called, by balancing the load with about equal weights of equipment on each side of the car. Roughly this may be easily done, but usually the passengers are stowed without regard to balance or trim, and the camping outfit will not be more disparate in weights than the passengers are likely to be. Unless the difference is very great between the loading of the two sides it will not matter much.
Two views of the Foldaway bed for Ford sedans; above, showing it in use for the night, and below, serving as a part of a dressing room
Different Colors for Different Goods
Considerable space may be saved by having duffle bags of the round type, and smaller bags that will fit within the larger bags. These small bags will pack better if of cheese shape, and there will be less difficulty in locating the contents if they are of different colored goods—a color for each classification of stuff; say, white for underwear, blue for canned goods such as evaporated milk, and red for dry groceries like coffee and flour. These duffle bags and the contained bags may just as well be home-made with the resulting saving. The outer bag may be made of heavy canvas, or even stout drilling. Burlap, although a little coarse and rough, would serve if canvas or drilling may not be had conveniently.
Need for Waterproof Protection
Whatever is to be carried outside the car must, of course, be wrapped up in flexible oilcloth or [33]other waterproof material, as the rain is very successful in driving in through an ordinary box or suit case with results disastrous to the contents.
No matter what car the motor camper may use there are at least four things for him to consider. Perhaps most essential to determine in advance is where and how he will sleep. Food, clothing, and car he need not bother so much about. He has his car, whatever make it may be. His clothes, too, can be made to do, no matter what they may be. His food at a scratch he may pick up by the way, but as to sleeping quarters he must take thought in advance.
If the Ford is a touring car or a sedan the camper or campers to the number of two may arrange to sleep very comfortably in the car itself.
In a sedan the seat backs fold forward, and by setting up the two suit cases alongside between the seats a foundation may be laid upon which the blankets may be spread to form a bed. The suit cases may not be quite a fit, and it may be necessary to fill in with some of the other stuff so as to get a fairly level bed, but getting this done to one’s satisfaction is half the good and fun of camping.
How a couple traveled for 9,000 miles in a Ford roadster, using a home-made equipment, is described in the following chapter.
There are on the market to-day various devices for the Ford owner which will enable him at slight expense to convert his touring car or sedan into very comfortable sleeping quarters. The products mentioned [34]here are not necessarily the only good devices on the market. The aim is to give one or two examples of various types of equipment, so that the reader may have an idea of the range of material available.
Sedan Bed
One of these devices is the “Foldaway Bed,” for the sedan. The Foldaway rolls into a bundle 4½ inches by 4 feet, weighs only 14 pounds, and takes up less space than a golf bag. It is made of tough oak and double strength canvas and will support two 250-pound people. The Foldaway has a clever stringer suspension. The rear seat cushion is pushed up to the front of the car, the seat beside the driver is removed by pulling two cotter pins, and the back seat sets low on top of the driver’s seat with cushions removed. The Foldaway may be set up in four minutes. The camper may undress in the car by rolling back half of the bed, and there is room under the bed for clothes and equipment.
Above is shown the McMillan Auto-Bed for use in touring cars; a special size is made for Fords. The lower drawing is the Universal Car Bed which operates on the suspension principle
Touring Car Bed
Another bed for the Ford, for the touring car, is the McMillan Auto Bed. This may be bought for ten dollars or less for the Ford size. The McMillan Auto Bed is based on the idea that you should use what you have rather than load yourself and the car with a lot of things you haven’t and [35]don’t need. With the McMillan Auto Bed the cushions you sit on during the day are the cushions you sleep on at night. With this difference: Between your body and the cushions is a roll of smooth heavy canvas and as many blankets as you see fit to use. The cushions give, but do not sag. Your bed conforms to every curve of your body, and it is wide enough, long enough, and strong enough for two grown people or three—yes, at a pinch, four—children.
The McMillan Auto Bed is set up by removing both front and rear cushions. The adjustable steel rods, on which the cushions rest, are next hooked over the tops of the car seats, both front and back. Then the cushions are replaced so that they will lie evenly on the rods, and the canvas is attached by straps to the side brackets at the back and in front to both sides of the wind-shield.
Roadster and Coupé Beds
For the roadster and coupé there comes what is called the “Carefree Folding Outfit for Touring, Camping, Dining, Sleeping.” This is an attachment weighing 160 pounds which is easily attached to the rear of a roadster or coupé in half an hour by fastening four bolts. This outfit gives the camper a comfortable elevated bed, a storm-tight shelter, a folding dining table, handy while preparing meals and during meals, a writing or work table between meals, plenty of room for suit cases and camp equipment, [36]a special food compartment, a separate bedding compartment, a sun or rain shelter under extensible canvas during the day, and three minutes’ time converts the outfit into a thoroughly practical sleeping room.
One concern, the Auto Bed Manufacturing Company, makes what they call “The A.B.C. Sleeper” for Fords only. It provides means for making a real spring cushion bed for two adults in a car of this type. It can be used with the top up or down.
This same concern makes what they term the “Universal Car Bed” for every car, and which is also a perfect fit for a Ford. It is built on a patented principle of sagless tension, and has a bed mat of heavy canvas, olive drab in color. It is guaranteed not to scratch or mar the car. This bed is priced at $18.00. The A.B.C. Sleeper, for Ford cars only, is listed at $7.50. Prices referred to in this and other chapters are taken from catalogues, but are subject to change and are given that the reader may have a general idea of the cost.
The American Camp Equipment Company makes a car bed which is comparatively inexpensive ($11.45) and will fit a Ford as well as a Packard. It may also be set up outside of the car as a double cot for use in a tent or house. This appliance is called the Moto Bed.
A convenient and inexpensive piece of equipment for a Ford car of any model is the Carefree Luggagett. It fits on either running board. There is no drilling. It is fastened with a strap hook. It affords [37]a closed tight space for carrying loose articles. It has a smooth retainer wall with no rivets or lugs to tear or wear holes in luggage. Since container space is closed, no strapping or tying is necessary. It allows the doors to open over it. It may be attached or detached in a minute. It is substantial and weighs only 7½ pounds. [38]