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"Little Chinook" ... since 1992 ...
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I first purchased a 1976 Toyota Poptop Chinook (a.k.a. "Little Chinook" ... a.k.a. "Chinookie") in early 1990s, and I still drive it around today. It has been wonderful. The interior couch/bed has been stripped out and dog crates have been installed. I sleep on top of the dog crates. At the dog shows folks have been known to knock on my door just to see how me and all those dogs can fit inside !!!!!!!! It currently is approaching 107,000 miles (2004).
On the road ...
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Genna and Lissa, Columbia Park, Richland, Washington, September 30, 2006
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Lissa and Genna, Boardman RV Campsite, Boardman, Oregon, October 1, 2006
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Boardman RV Park Campsite, Boardman, Oregon, October 2, 2006. This is a gorgeous place to camp.
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Lissa as "co-pilot", taking a break at campground at Rock Creek, Washington, April 24, 2004, on the way to the Yakima, Washington, dog shows.
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"Little Chinook" on the road to the Richland, Washington, dog shows, stopping at the Wallula Gap along the Columbia River. Image taken September 26, 2003
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Return trip, Stanley Rock, Oregon. Image taken September 29, 2003
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My new REI "screen house" made it's debut at the Richland, Washington, shows in September 2004 ... it worked GREAT !!! ... first picture is the setup off the back of the rig. The grey on the one side of the "house" is a shade cloth I added for the sun ... the other side is how their bug mesh looks ... two zippered doors are mesh which zip open and tie at the sides (not visible in the pix) ... dogs are Lissa, Keeley, and Genna ...
The second image is the tiedown of the screen house to the rear wheels.
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Elma, May 2003, with Maddie, Lissa, and Abbey (pointers) and Corey the vizsla creature standing on the fence. We all fit inside. I sleep on top of the crates and Lissa sleeps in the front seat (see interior pix).
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Tacoma/Puyallup, June 2003, with Lissa, Corey, and Genna. An awning support and shade cloth makes a sun cover.
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looking inside from standing in doorway, May 2003
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my bed on top of the dog crates, May 2003
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from inside looking towards rear, May 2003
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left side of counter, May 2003
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right side of counter, May 2003
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"Chinook Migration to the Sea", August 2, 2003 ...
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A group of us from the online Toyota Chinook Campers Group met at Seaside Oregon on August 2, 2003. It was fun. "Little Chinook" had a bath, the inside was cleaned, and Gene and I both wore new T-shirts made for the occasion --- I wore the dogs and Gene wore the graphic. We took Lissa and Riley with us. Lissa had to "point" the waves and Riley had to chase them.
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"Phineas" ... since 2003 ...
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"Phineas" is a 1987 Toyota Dolphin, currently with under 30,000 miles on it (2004). We purchased it in the Spring of 2003, however it never saw in dogshow in 2003. Unknown to anyone, there was MAJOR rot occurring along the inside of the walls and the support beams ... honestly, nothing showed on the inside of the cab !!!!!! ... eventually a new roof, re-built over-the-head cab, and part of the side wall work got finished and I've been "slowly" working on the rest of the insides ... put the dog crates back in and began camping out in April 2004 ... it's just a GREAT RIG !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Current Images ...
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Outside setup with Pink Flamingo, Lissa, and Siren, Centralia, April 2007 ... ground matts go on the back and the xpens go on the front.
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Looking towards cab, Centralia, April 2007 ... crates over the cab, crates in the dinette area, and I sleep on the couch.
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Over-the-cab area, Centralia, April 2007
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Former stove/oven area, Centralia, April 2007 ... the stove was pulled and with a little carpentry work a storage box was dropped in its place ... storage box is used for dog food and dog dishes.
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Flowers, Centralia, April 2007 ... always a bit of spring.
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Spring Windsock, Centralia, April 2007
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Motorhome to Dog Show Vehicle ...
"Phineas" parked on our front lawn.
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Dinette area before dog show vehicle transformation.
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Looking towards rear, before dog show vehicle transformation.
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Looking towards over-the-cab, before dog show vehicle transformation.
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Our first campout was at the Centralia shows in March 2004.
From left to right Corey, Lissa, and "Bev's Josie".
The girls are still in their jammies.
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Campout at Elma shows, May 2005, with Corey the vizsla creature and Keeley the pointer.
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Outside setup with Corey and Keeley, Elma, May 2005
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Looking into rig towards couch, July 25, 2004.
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Couch, makes into my bed, Elma, May 2005
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Couch/bed from doorway, Elma, May 2005
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Trader on couch, Elma, May 2005
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Looking towards over-the-cab with Trader in the "Penthouse" suite, Elma, May 2005
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Dog crates in the dinette area, July 25, 2004.
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Inside, crates in what use to be the dinette area. Crates are covered with colorful blankets for the winter. Elma, May 2005
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Cat hanging on door to let the vizsla creature know the screen door is closed !!!, Elma, May 2005
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"The Rot" ...
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The pictures dont do this rot justice ... plus it smelled like the Olympic rain forest inside !!!!!!!!! ... water was just dripping off of the plywood we ripped up ... since we didn't exactly have the time, place, or expertise to handle this type of work, we took Phineas in and had a professional re-build the over-the-cab and part of the kitchen wall, and put on a new roof ... the rest of the kitchen and shower area would come later.
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"Big Chinook" (as to why "Little Chinook" is called "Little") allowed me to meet many many AAA folks as it always seemed to break down and be towed. I was sure glad I didn't sell "Chinookie" during this period. I ended up ditching "Big Chinook" when I purchased "Phineas", the 1987 Toyota Dolphin in the spring of 2003. The image below was taken as I left it at the RV place.
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