Alternative to purpose build carrying case? ($$$)

Your picture shows the standards raised, lower them to their lowest position, remove the rail clamp if it can be done without removing a standard then measure from the lowest point to the highest, the width, and the length.
With the measurements in hand go to a good hardware store and check the inside dimensions of portable tool boxes for a good fit.
Watch ebay for a Graflex Vulcanoid case for the Graphic View II as it may work.

Look for a molded plastic tool box, or possibly a roller type suitcase. The camera should drop in upside down.

to carry this beast on hikes and trips

You said you don't have a problem with the weight at this point in time - maybe you'll think different after a one or two day hike. Unless you don't need all the movements and extension of your monorail, what about a small and lightweight 4x5 field camera?
Not the answer you're after, but worth considering in my opinion.

I faced a similar dilemma when I first got into 4x5--mine was a Toyo 45F, which is comparable in size and weight to your Cambo. I couldn't afford two cameras and needed the movements for commercial still life work, so a lighter folding camera was out of the question. I traded for sewing machine use and made a cloth case for the Toyo that has worked out well for field work for almost 30 years. Making it was fairly simple--a large piece of brown paper for a pattern, and two layers of coated nylon cordura pack cloth with ensolite foam in between to protect against the occasional bumps. Attached is a picture--if you want more info, let me know.

First thing -- your not stupid at all. Secondly, that is a SCX, not a regular SC. The SCX, I believe, is taller than the SC and may not fit in the Calumet/Cambo storage case. For transporting, though, you should seriously consider removing the bellows and rotating the standards 90 degrees so it is flat. Then you can probably fit it in a backpack. I'm not sure if hte SCX standards remove from teh rail as easily as the SC... but they probably do. Removing hte standards will make it even easier to pack into a backpack.

For a storage container, I would consider taking the measurements to a local home goods store and look at the wide variety of Rubbermaid and Sterilite plastic storage tubs. One or more of htem should be big enough for your camera.

Take some measurements, then wait until Spring. Go to Walmart, target, et al.. and check out the picnic cooler selection.
Charley

Most view cameras have a rail of 16 to 20 inches, but depending on the lens and type of phoptography you do, you may not need the length.

For example. one of my 4X5s has a 90mm wide angle lens, so for that camera I cut the rail in half because I would never need 16" of lens-to-film distance. This made things more compact and an easier-to-transport camera.

Whereas your father is a woodworker, I will send you a photo of a case I built for a full-sized 4X5 in a few days. It is mostly of 1/4" plywood. However it is not here, so it will be a bit of time before I get to the place where the camera is stored.

John
www.XtremeDigitalPhotography.com

Andrew, I would like more info about your sewn bag. What kind of foam? What did you use for snaps and closures? What would you change after your experience with your first? Thanks.

Michael--The foam was called ensolite, used in the early 80's as a pad for sleeping bags. The hardware and fabric came from a store that carried materials for making backpacking equipment, I don't recall any particular brands, etc. As for the design, the one thing I changed after the initial build was to put in a piece of light metal to keep the knobs of the camera from permanently imprinting on my hip where the camera rested... I have walked a lot of miles with that bag on one shoulder and my 12 lb. tripod on my other. I wouldn't recommend this for a camping trip, but for a few miles from a car, mine has worked well.