V TRAILERS e g a t in
CAMPER Vol. 8, No. 1, Issue: 41 January February 2019
1956 Silver Dome The magazine for all vintage camper trailer collectors, restorers, admirers and dreamers.
RESCUE
R E S TO R E
R A L LY
www.vintagecampertrailers.com
1
We picked up a 62 Shasta trailer and the side looked like a kid took a stick to the side of it. It was bad. We brought the skin to Hemet Valley RV and they Made a new piece. The Bottom skin is new and the top skin was old, but they look identical. It had 6 inch lines and it turned out perfect. Thanks Guys. Great job. -Barry
What our New customers Year, New siding! have to say about us
ďƒŠ
2019 Resolutions
Five Star Plus!!! Steve and his company demonstrate what customer service should look like. Thanks so much! -Glenn I recently purchased all of the siding,trim and entry door for an 1970 11’ foot trailer that I rebuilt using only the metal frame of the original trailer. I contacted Steve at Hemet Valley RV and sent him a side view of the trailer with the dimensions on it. Steve figured out what material I needed and the amount and sent it. Everything that I needed I received in a timely fashion and it was packaged in very strong boxes...Thanks so much for the great job Steve, I have no doubt that your business will have continued success, Great Job. -Wayne M.
1. Fix all of the leaks, dents and dings 2. Get a shiny new paint job or polished finish Located in Hemet, California, we offer a wide variety of RV siding and camper siding for a variety of vintage and/or rewire my trailer camper trailers. Our panels3. andRe-insulate products are ideal when it comes to completing seamless repairs to siding, roofing and edging your vehicle. my trailers resale value 4. onIncrease Extensive knowledge and quality materials. Very fair pricing Hemet Valley RV guarantees to deliver the results that you expect right to your door.
2
www.vintagecampertrailers.com
and quick turn around time. Steve and Tammy are always helpful. -Larry
40 Fortieth
R E S C U E RESTORE R A L L Y
for their
IN THE
USA
When Ted and Becky stopped at the iconic Hackberry Store on Route 66 some folks that had taken pictures of the truck and trailer were a little taken aback to see them get in and drive off as they thought their rigs were part of the dĂŠcor.
Ted and Becky Nelson from Santa Rosa, CA celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary on June 3, 2018. To celebrate, Ted and Becky wanted to visit 40 states in 2018! Much of their traveling has been in their 1965 Ford F100 towing their 1962 Shasta Astroflyte. In 9 days, they traveled over 2,500 miles (including some of Route 66) from Northern California to the Grand Canyon National Park, Monument Valley, Moab, Arches National Park, Capitol Reef National Park and Zion National Park. The Nelsons said it was a great trip and they were only stopped by the law once when an Arizona Highway Patrol followed them to a gas station to talk about their truck and trailer. Currently, Ted and Becky are planning their next adventure. Keep your eyes peeled. You never know when they might make it to your neck of the woods!
Ted stepped up to lead the parade blowing his bugle in the Trailerfest parade. Plymouth, CA
In 9 days, they traveled over 2,500 miles (including some of Route 66) from Northern California to the Grand Canyon National Park, Monument Valley, Moab, Arches National Park, Capitol Reef National Park and Zion National Park.
Ted & Becky Nelson 1962 Shasta Astroflyte Santa Rosa, CA
www.vintagecampertrailers.com
3
Inside This Issue Index
8
6
10
12
15 16
20 24
4
www.vintagecampertrailers.com
30
1956 Silver Dome
6
1961 Traveleze
8
Aristocrats Anonymous Rally
10
1972 Shasta Compact
12
Laminating and Trim for Counter Tops 14 Four Corners Camp Out
15
Port Crescent Trailer Show
16
Cherry Hill Vintage Trailer Rally
18
Colorful Finnish Furnishings
19
Retro Road Map
20
Air Conditioning
24
Before They Were Vintage
30
Classic and Colorful Aloha
36
Reader's Rigs
38
USA Rally Calendar
41
American Tr a i l e r i t e By Paul Lacitinola Publisher VCT Magazine
Volume: 8 - Number: 1 - Issue: 41 PO Box 354, Elverta CA 95626 (916) 572-8554
www.vintagecampertrailers.com vintagecampertrailers@gmail.com Published by: Paul and Caroline Lacitinola American Trailerites The VCT Magazine is published bi-monthly January, March, May, July, September & November. “Be bold in your caring, bold in your dreaming and above all else, always do your best.” ~ George H.W. Bush Vintage Camper Trailers Magazine is a non-denominational supporter of the vintage camper trailer hobby. We welcome all collectors, restorers, admirers and dreamers.
Give a Gift Subscription to a Friend!
Vintage Camper Trailers Magazine reserves the exclusive right to reject or accept advertising or editorial material submitted for publication. The editorial content contained in this magazine does not necessarily represent the views of the publisher. Vintage Camper Trailers Magazine (USPS Publication Number 15940) is published bimonthly (in January, March, May, July, September, November) by Vintage Camper Trailers, 8416 Elwyn Avenue, Elverta, CA 95626-9552. Periodical postage paid at Elverta, CA and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Vintage Camper Trailers, PO Box 354, Elverta, CA 95626-0354.
WE BUY Vintage Camper Trailers, Bicycles, Cars, Motorcycles and Pick-Ups. (916) 992-1427
We bought our first vintage trailer in 2006. It was a 1962 DeVille that we cleaned up and took camping. We stumbled on a group of trailerites and joined in on a couple of vintage trailer rallies. We still have that trailer today, along with several others. Our "vintage journey", as well as other trailerites' stories, are told in our two coffee table books (available on our website). Fast forward to 2019 and our FULL rally schedule is already set for the year. We started hosting Trailerfest in 2011. It has now grown to three different events a year that always sell out. We added an event in Northern California in May, after the Woodsen Bridge event was canceled. Our spring Trailerfest in Hollister, California has a Rockabilly theme and our biggest Trailerfest Rally, 250 trailers, will be in Plymouth California in September, for the third year in a row. In addition to Trailerfest, we also host Boot Camp which is a restoration learning experience. (See the rally calendar in the back of this magazine or visit www.trailerfestrally.com or www.vctbootcamp.com for more details.) We also attend many rallies hosted by others. The rallies that we host are in Northern California due to logistics. Organizing things like food, entertainment and volunteers is best done in our own backyard. This year we have the opportunity to co-host three more rallies outside of California and hope to connect with more trailerites while we are on the road. Maybe you will join us at one of these new camping events? The Hot August Nights Car Show in Reno, Nevada. The Pioneer Village camp out in Minden, Nebraska or the Rally on the Range in Gillette, Wyoming. (See the rally calendar in the back of this magazine or visit www. trailerfestrally.com for more details.) The Hot August Nights car show feeds our passion for classic cars. Field camping in Reno, NV during this event is a great way to stay in the area at a modest price when hotel rooms are at a premium, if you can even find one. We saw a lot of visitors at last year’s open house! In 2019 there will be an evening open house on Friday from 5 pm to 8 pm and from 10 am to 2 pm on Saturday. The rest of the time is yours to enjoy the 1000s of cars that take over the whole town! The events in Nebraska and Wyoming are just two of the many stops we are making on our Golden Caravan cross country road trip. The Golden Caravan project includes the restoration of a one-of-a-kind Airstream trailer that will be featured in a documentary on a TV show called Ultimate Restorations. In June and July of 2019 we will be touring through the Midwest in the trailer. We will be stopping at several Airstream dealers and museums along the way where you can come and see this unique part of trailering history. Get more details and see our complete calendar at www.goldairstream.com www.vintagecampertrailers.com
5
By Pete Whitley
1956
I restored a 1964 Shasta Astroflyte about eight years ago. We decided that it was getting a little tight for a growing family of four so we looked for a larger vintage trailer to restore and camp in. Our criteria was that it would have mid-century modern design, a full bath, and a bedroom that could be closed off to make two living spaces. That pointed us in one direction, a vintage mobile home. We wanted to keep it short because we wanted it to be able to fit in more rustic campsites and smaller campgrounds where a 40 footer would not. One day while searching on Craigslist, we found the perfect
trailer - a 1955 Silver Dome Heritage 24. It had everything we wanted plus a cool trapezoid shape that screamed MCM. It was owned by Johnny Agnew out of Las Angeles. I gave him call and to our disappointment, it had sold the previous day. Back to the drawing board. Unbelievably, a few days later we saw a 1956 Silver Dome Heritage 24 again on Craigslist. This time it was in Massachusetts! These might be the only two in existence. It's as if it were divine guidance. The 1955 and 1956 Heritage line of Silver Dome trailers look just alike from the outside with a slightly different interior layout. They came in seven differ-
Silver Dome
HERITAGE
6
www.vintagecampertrailers.com
ent lengths up to 50 feet. The Heritage 24 was the smallest of the lineup at 24 feet. It only came with a single axle where the 27 foot model came with a choice of dual or single axle and the 31 foot and up only in dual. As far as I know, those are the only two years that had the trapezoid shape with the 1954 being bread loaf and the 1957 a more modern design. They were manufactured in Kalamazoo, Michigan and were a spin-off of the large company, Kozy Coach. They ended production in 1961. We had our Silver Dome shipped from Massachusetts to Sharpsburg, Georgia. As is usually the case when buying a site unseen trailer, it was rougher than expected. Water damage meant a complete interior gut job. The chassis and tongue had through rust so I had to weld angle iron doubles down the main rails and cut off the A frame about two feet under the trailer and weld on a new one. About two thirds of the wood is original as is all the cabinetry. I boarded over the floor (had to cut out several sections) and then installed Continued on page 34
I've always liked mid-century pastels and the coral color. The colors are Samoan Coral which is a special order 1964 Ford Galaxie color and Dover White.
Forbo Marmoleum sheet flooring. The wood is birch finished with amber shellac. It took about four years to restore, much longer than the Shasta that we restored.
www.vintagecampertrailers.com
7
Whiskeze This is a professionally renovated 1961 Traveleze, affectionately known as “Whiskeze�. She is a complete rebuild and redesign of a classic trailer by architects Chang+Snyder of Oakland, California. The end result is a re-imagined space that is airy, open and inviting. The most noticeable differences in this renovation is the opening side wall that converts to a deck to allow for indoor/outdoor living and the full bathroom with walk-in shower. The trailer boasts 320 watts of solar power with inverter and converter, an in-line hot water heater, and TV with wifi booster. She also includes residential grade appliances, sinks, Kohler faucets and shower and a kitchen counter made from reclaimed barn siding by Wellborne and Wright. Additionally, she includes LED strip lighting and recessed lights that are both efficient and dimmable by remote control. Whiskeze will sleep two adults comfortably on the bed that converts from the forward lounge and one child on the convertible side lounge. The build is incredibly solid and has been on trips to Colorado, the Mojave Desert, the Sierra Nevadas, the Fall River and Pacific coast beaches. Although it is for sale on the VCT website, please note that you will be swarmed with people wanting to take tours of your shiny camper wherever you go. 8
www.vintagecampertrailers.com
1961 Traveleze
Towing is a dream with the Anderson anti-sway hitch system and the relatively light weight of approximately 4000 lbs. The trailer has a 25 gallon fresh water tank, a 15 gallon black tank and a 20 gallon grey water tank.
www.vintagecampertrailers.com
9
A R I ST O C R AT S Heather Scanlon
ANONYMOUS The 5th Annual Aristocrats Anonymous Rally in the Redwoods was held at the Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Park in California. 36 vintage campers, trailers and RV’s of all types attended the event. Toni DeCoster, Kathy Forney and Sandi Pearce were the Wagonmasters for the weekend. There was a "Meet and Greet" on Friday and an Open House and Progressive Brunch on Saturday.
MODEL
LENGTH
WT HITCH WT
Robert & Rochelle Romero with Miss Mellie
Lo-Liner 13 13 1300 175 Lil' Loafer 13 1900 225 Lo-Liner 15 15 1800 225 Mainliner 15 15 1800 225 Travelier 16 1680 200 Mainliner 16 16 2000 225 S-T Lo-Liner 17 2550 200 Land Commander 18 2050-2250 225 Land-Liner 20 3100 300 Classic 24 4700 300 The Salmons
Happy Campers times two.
Duke
Bev Grow and Wally Boring
Nic & Sylvie Kivrizis
Nicki DesRoches
Bev Emmel and Baby A (started the Aristocrats Anonymous FB Page)
10
www.vintagecampertrailers.com
Barbie & Shawn Gavin with Scout
Sharon Ricci and Pat Roberts
Mel Underwood & Jeanette Krugle
Toni DeCoster with Baby Cakes
The Carmonas
Chris & Terry Calder with The Sugar Cube
Petra Johnson
The Espinosa Family
Susan Brungardt
The Stevensons
Lexi Grier
Scott & Kara Chase with the Shag Wagon
The Sullivan-Pearces with Hank Ford and Miss Sally 1971 Aristocrat Pickup Partner
John Nelson
The Moreharts
www.vintagecampertrailers.com
11
1972 Shasta Compact Not My First Rodeo
By Leon White Although we are not antique or vintage collectors, I have always enjoyed looking at anything vintage. An era when things were built with quality materials and lasting craftsmanship with unique designs and classic looks, as vintage trailers are built. The trailer hunt began when we realized that tent camping was getting less desirable and we preferred being able to enjoy our outings in a comfortable trailer if the weather was bad. Our first trailer was a 13 ft. (body) 1985 Scotty, which had a nice shape, was in good condition, and a project that I could afford at the time. The seller of the Scotty furnished enough photos and answered my questions to the extent that I felt confident purchasing it sight unseen. The cost to ship it from Massachusetts to Seattle was absurd! ($4,500-$6,500!) However, I liked the trailer so much that I drove from Seattle to Massachusetts to bring it back home. This was a planned trip to visit friends and relatives along the way. The total travel cost of my ten-day trip was about $1,200.
the distance and the trust. One knows from conversations and a gut feeling when someone is honest! The funniest was when my partner, Tony, and his CEO had to drive to Portland, Oregon for business. As they passed a large RV Center along I-5, Renee’ said to him. “Doesn’t Leon know they sell those here?”. “I DON’T WANT A NEW WHITE BREADBOX!”. In the Lacitinola’s book, “Vintage Camper Trailers”, page 49. Carl Holm says, “Anyone who has an old trailer knows it turns into a sickness!”. As a professional Artist, this addiction is the same with my fellow Stone Sculptors. “We have a brother-sisterhood of like minds”. When we head for the woods, the idea is to get away from the city life, the noise, enjoy nature and make do with the basics. People are creatures of comfort and must have the TV, Microwave, Air Conditioning, Shower…. I can’t believe how many people do not know what a “Sponge Bath” is!
I was razzed a lot for doing this. Both for Lucky me grew up hiking, camping, 12 www.vintagecampertrailers.com
When I saw an ad on Craigslist for a 1972 Shasta Compact, I couldn’t cross the water fast enough from north Seattle to Whidbey Island to check it out. I purchased it that day. fishing, waterskiing and participating in Boy Scouts. One of my Gramps was a mechanic who repaired every machine himself, as I got to watch, help, and learn. My father was a carpenter, and I learned from him as well. I am sure these were the unconscious fundamentals which taught me to be a handyman and a sculptor. Remodeling the Scotty included removing the blue carpeting that was glued
onto the floor from the bed, continuing up the front wall and onto the ceiling of the trailer! Noise? Warmth? A Sound Studio? Butt Ugly!!! After it’s completion and adding our personal touches it was sweet, but, it was not VINTAGE! The 2017 Rally in Lynden, WA was our first visit to an open house. The rally was like finding “Family” with the same hobby. I just knew that trailerites had to be down to earth, easy going, fun, and somewhat wacky at times! That rally proved that to me! Our eyes lit up when we saw so many unique brands and styles! While wiping my continuous drool, I told Tony, “THIS is what I want!”. Age, Style, and Size. When I saw an ad on Craigslist for a 1972 Shasta Compact, I couldn’t cross the water fast enough from north Seattle to Whidbey Island to check it out. I purchased it that day. The seller allowed me to leave it there for a while because I was told, “NOT to bring it home until we sold the Scotty, so our driveway didn’t start looking like Trailer Trash!” I was thinking more of “Trailer Class”. I put the Scotty up for sale on Craigslist in October. I realized it was fall, and most likely nobody would be looking for a camping trailer that time of year but, the second party who came to look at it purchased it! In the spring of 2018, it was driving me crazy that I could not get out and work on the Shasta due to rain. Our garage is my painting studio, so the work had to be done in the driveway. Everything in this Shasta is original and road ready. It was mostly heavy- duty cleaning while adding personal touches making it our own. Christening it with a logo designed and made by my brother-in-law, Monte Williams, in the shape of a hammock, “Relaxin”. Notice how the X hangs over like a leg! (right) We’ll christen our Shasta on a camping trip to celebrate our thirtieth anniversary! The rest of Leon's article that goes into the detail of his restoration can be found on the Vintage Camper Trailers Magazines websites blog. The article covers some solutions and products Leon found for roof coatings, paint, installing a toilet and finishing the dark paneling.
www.vintagecampertrailers.com
13
RESTORE
Wilsonart Retro Laminates
LAMINATING THE TOP
2. Position the dowel rods on the top substrate surface approximately 12” apart, perpendicular to the front edge. Position the laminate carefully over the substrate. Starting at one end of the counter, start removing the dowels one at a time while holding the laminate in place.
The basic steps to laminating your own counter-tops. A simple do-it-yourself project with basic tools and a router. 1. Apply the adhesive on the laminate first, substrate second using your adhesive roller. The laminate is a non-porous product, it will only dry from one side, the substrate is a porous product, it will absorb and flash into the top as well. It will dry faster. Two thin coats on the surface are better than one heavy coat. One hundred percent adhesive coverage is required (each coat). Before applying a second coat, make sure that the first coat is dry. Allow adhesive on both components to dry.
corners, like sinks, start the routing process by drilling 1/8” or greater holes in each corner. Use each corner as the starting point for the jigsaw process. The radius left by the routing process in any inside corner should remain. 5. Clean off excess adhesive with Acetone and a clean white cloth. 6. Areas that cannot be routed may be filed smooth. Cutouts for sinks may be made with a jigsaw and a fine tooth blade. Holes for faucets may be made with a hole saw. A radius on an inside corner (minimum 1/8”) will strengthen the corner.
3. Use a rubber 3” J-roller to apply uniform pressure across the entire countertop (see photo H). Apply pressure to every inch of the surface for a complete and lasting bond. 4. Route off the laminate overhangs with the router and flush trim bit For inside
Images used with permission from Woodworker’s Journal/Rockler Press, woodworkersjournal.com
FINISHING THE EDGE When purchasing metal banding or table edge make sure you have the correct size needed for your counter-top. The counter-top thickness will dictate the size of banding you need. Take into consideration the laminate thickness added to the wood when determining your banding. When working in campers, the counter-top doesn’t always allow for any overhang from the bottom of the metal banding to the top of the first drawer. Most people realize this after the installation. Make sure whatever thickness the drawers are they will clear the bottom of the metal banding. Table edge can be polished (bright) or satin finished. It may be pre-drilled or smooth faced. It can be fluted or smooth. Most table edge molding is held on with twist nail or small screws. Any cuts in the aluminum trim should be done with a fine tooth blade to minimize jagged edges. A fine metal file can be used to eliminate sharp edges. 14
www.vintagecampertrailers.com
Table edging and trim
If you do not want to see fasteners you may choose a metal banding with a friction fit T-lip on the back for a friction fitted installation. You will need to cut a corresponding groove in the wood for the friction T-lip to fit into. For this, you’ll need a 2 or 3 wing .080 cutter bit, with a ¼”shank. The lip depth on the back of the banding can vary. Please don’t make any cuts in the wood until you have the metal banding on hand. Make sure the guard is set where the cut isn’t too deep. If the cut is too deep you will have a loose banding. This isn’t to scare you, it’s just to make you aware that it’s always best to measure twice and cut once. You can always go in deeper if needed later. Using a banding profile with the friction fit T-lip, you’ll also need to notch the back to accommodate any radius down to 3”. This can be done with a wheel type hand grinder or jigsaw with a fine metal blade. Heffron’s A Moment in Time Retro Design has a large selection of table edge and T-Lip trim. www.heffrons.com
FOUR CORNERS VINTAGE TRAILER CAMP-OUT RALLY By Ron Drake
Fourteen vintage camper trailers converged on the Views RV Park and Campground at Dolores, Colorado last Sept. 6 for the Second Annual Four Corners Vintage Trailer Camp-out. Trailerites from Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona met at the campground near where the boundaries of all four states meet and are marked by the Four Corners Monument. The event started with a meet and greet Thursday evening where organizers Mark and Marsha Camrud of Farmington, New Mexico explained the schedule for the rest of the camp-out. Friday was a day to let everyone explore the many ancient, historical and recreation sites in the area. Saturday began with a pancake breakfast in the pavilion followed by an open house in the afternoon. That evening everyone enjoyed a potluck dinner followed by a gathering around the campfire. Dolores County is still under an open fire restriction so a legal propane fire pit was provided by camp hosts Matt and Wendy Eytchison who also provided fresh coffee every morning of the event. A wide array of trailers were represented during the camp-out. The rally was dominated by several Boles Aero, Streamline and Silverstreak trailers. There were also two teardrop trailers, a Six Pack camper that was mounted on a trailer and a retro Shasta and Holiday. Last year was the first year for this event. This year we more than tripled our attendance. The Camruds would like to see the gathering grow each year until they fill all 50 sites at The Views campground.
A few of the campers are shown gathering for a pot-luck dinner in the pavilion of the campground. Camp-out organizers Mark and Marsha Camrud of Farmington, N.M. Pose in front of their 1952 Boles Aero
The interior of a 1955 Boles Aero Mira Mar that was completely restored from a gutted trailer by Ed Derderian of Castle Valley, UT
RESTORE RALLY
RESCUE
Ed Derderian and Annie Goodenough finished the restoration on their 1955 Boles Aero Mira Mar just in time for the camp-out. Ed designed and drew the plans and constructed the cabinetry. The trailer, which was originally owned by the Bureau of Land Management, was sold and registered in 1955 but he thinks it is a 1952 model. (See interior Left)
The group enjoyed an evening by the “campfire� Saturday evening. Dolores County is a fire restricted area so the fire was furnished by a propane fire ring.
Mary Ann Keller of Bosque Farms, N.M. greets visitors to her 1970 Streamline Duchess during the open house.
www.vintagecampertrailers.com
15
The Port Crescent Vintage Camper Show
By William Flood
Celebrates Its 10th Anniversary
Sun, surf, and aluminum were all gleaming the last weekend of July in Port Crescent, Michigan during the Port Crescent Vintage Camper Show. Over 120 vintage trailers and motor coaches added to the beauty of the Lake Huron shore. The Port Crescent show is one of the major events hosted by the Tin Can Tourists (TCT), the oldest and largest vintage trailer club in the world. Founded in Tampa, Florida in 1919, their original mission was to promote fraternity and friendliness among campers and the communities where they stopped. Today, the organization has over 2,000 members in North America along with chapters in three countries. While still upholding their founding principles, they also champion the promotion and preservation of vintage trailers and motor coaches in part through gatherings like the Michigan event.
rare trailer. She acknowledged it was a fluke that they were able to find a Bowlus, let alone afford one. For nearly a year, her husband Brian searched online during his lunch hour, eventually stumbling upon an obscure comment on a blog about a Bowlus possibly being for sale. It was located across the country in Santa Rosa, California. The owner was very attached to the trailer and was quite selective about who would acquire it. So selective, that the Bosch’s had to es-
John Truitt, TCT Hall of Fame member and show organizer, noted that this year was the 10th anniversary of the Port Crescent event. He said the original show in 2008 had only 13 units but this year he could have easily booked the entire park. More than 200 people registered and brought 120 vintage campers with them. Participants were primarily Midwesterners but some traveled from as far away as West Virginia and Virginia. Between 1,500 and 2,000 visitors also came, drawn by the opportunity to meet the owners and tour the rigs inside and out. Every conceivable year, make and variety of vintage 1965 Airstream Globetrotter camper was represented at the show. That included trailers dating back to the 1930s, motor coaches, camper van conversions, and even one pickup truck camper. Truitt de- sentially pass an interview and even spend the weekend bescribed how each year, the show sports a theme. This year fore it was agreed they’d be the next fortunate owners. While was “Peace, Love, and Flower Power” celebrating the Hippie it was a rare find, it required a flatbed to bring it home and era and nearly all the rigs were emblazoned with peace signs eventually an aircraft mechanic’s help with the rivets. and psychedelic colors. Renee and Zac Cruse from Detroit brought a 1964 Garway. One special trailer, a 1935 Bowlus Special Road Chief came The couple was trekking through Northern Michigan and the cleverly disguised as the Beatles’ Yellow Submarine. Co-own- “for sale” sign became a bolt of inspiration to buy. The rig was er Jeanne Bosch told an amazing story of coming to own the pretty far gone, having last been used as a hunting cabin. 16 www.vintagecampertrailers.com
Zac is a builder and Renee an interior designer and rather than do an authentic restoration they decided to take a few liberties with the reconstruction. The interior renovation became what they called “creative reuse of found objects” like using leftover cork flooring and a mid-century credenza for part of the cabinetry. That hunting cabin saga kept reappearing. A 1967 Yukon Delta now owned by Debbie and Kevin McCurry from East Tawas, Michigan came out of the woods, requiring reconstructing from the ground up. Dave Vanderworp’s 1964 Compact Shasta “canned ham” style trailer was another. It suffered similarly; nearly all the wood was rotten and required replacing. He also noted that early 1964 was when Shasta stopped production of the curved body and changed to the more rectangular “toaster” style trailer. This 1967 Yukon Delta was once a hunting cabin
Renee and Zac Cruse’s 1964 Garway
1958 Tour-A-Home
1935 Bowlus Turned Yellow Submarine
Fellow canned ham fan, Ken Defer brought a 1962 Rodelite. Ken said that “Canned hams all have their own personality.” He did his own strip-tothe-bones restoration. The entire interior is now steel, faux painted to look like wood. He even hand-crafted the light sconces out of mid-century lamp shades. Doug Campbell introduced his rare 1959 Sun Cruiser. He described what 1962 Holiday House he knew of Sun Cruiser’s history; former employees of Shasta started the company and built trailers almost identical to Shastas - all the way to mounting similar wings on the roof. Shasta eventually sued for patent violation which led to the demise of Sun Cruiser. Only a handful were ever made and Campbell was fortunate to acquire one. His Sun Cruiser was yet another rig that shared the hunting cabin fate. Sandy Mastin and Steve Brown didn’t uncover a derelict trailer during their hunt; instead, it was a goldmine discovery - 1952 two-bedroom Vagabond found on Craigslist. The 31-foot trailer was manufactured in New Hudson, Michigan and had been sitting on a lot for 60 years. Despite sitting for so many years, it was in nearly ready-to roll original condition, including having its entire birch interior intact.
Dave Vanderworp’s 1964 Compact Shasta
Like so many at the show, Cullen and Cris Tate from Shelby Township, Mich- Peace, Love, and Flower Power igan talked more about the people they’ve met than the trailers. While they brought a 19-foot 1953 Vagabond in original condition, Cullen spoke primarily about club members. He said, “It’s a whole culture. The bottom line is, it’s a people club, not a camper club.” And, Doug Campbell, the owner of the Sun Cruiser, echoed the same, “When you first start, it’s all about the trailers. After a while, it’s all about the people.”
The Port Crescent Vintage Camper Show runs each year the last weekend of July. Interior of 1952 Vagabond For more information on the Tin Can Tourists, contact: tct1919@gmail.com www.vintagecampertrailers.com
17
CHERRY HILL VINTAGE TRAILER RALLY
By Ron Drake
The warm days and cool nights were a perfect combination for the annual Tin Can Tourists Northern Utah Vintage Trailer Rally, which was held September 14 and 15 at the Cherry Hill Water Park in Kaysville, Utah. Over two dozen vintage trailers gathered at the camp park section of the water park on Friday and got settled in before a potluck dinner that evening in front of organizer Watt “Orbie” Mungall's 1952 Silver Streak Clipper. A news article in the Ogden Standard-Examiner newspaper featured the trailer rally and described the rally as a “redneck parade of homes, which will give the public a rare opportunity to peek inside a couple dozen restored travel trailers from the 1950s, 60s, and beyond.” That article brought many curious spectators to the day-long Saturday open house and no doubt inspired many to look into the hobby for themselves.
"Orbie" Mungall wears weird headgear as he welcomes trailerites during the BBQ
Smoke-A-Billy BBQ and Grill rolled up with a large catering trailer to furnish the evening meal of various barbecued meats and side dishes and a couple of ladies playing guitar and violin furnished a variety music for the diners. During the dinner Orbie informed the gathering that next year's TCT rally will be held at the KOA campground in nearby Perry, Utah, not far from previous rallies. The group will have their own section and will be able to accommodate even more vintage trailers. Above Left: A 1959 Shasta Airflyte purchased and restored by Shania Laird. Middle Left: Interior of "Daisy," a 1963 Shasta owned by Kirk and Jen Hill. Bottom Left: A 1966 Fireball owned by Theren Blue after the sun goes down.
18
www.vintagecampertrailers.com
Colorful Finnish Furnishings
Meets Vintage Camper
Does your trailer design have a written plan?
On the evening of her company’s 20-year anniversary, Sondra Phillips’ love for renovating campers was born. After the party she found the perfect Go-Tag-Along camper nearby on Craigslist. Sondra loves a challenge and looked forward to the adventure of designing a small space that was both functional and fun. Sondra Phillips has been an interior designer by day for 30 years and vintage camper restorer by night for 3 years. [Sondra loves spending time with her kids, sunsets, camping and design.] She is the founder and owner of SKP Design, a commercial/residential interior design firm located in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The company has four areas of focus: Hospitality Design, Office Design, Medical Design and Residential. Projects range from small office designs to national franchise designs to large facilities. Sondra’s shared love
for design, small spaces, vintage, the outdoors and camping merged to form her passion for renovating vintage campers.
Sondra’s shared love for design, small spaces, vintage, the outdoors and camping merged to form her passion for renovating vintage campers.
The camper showcases Sondra’s love for color and pattern, and how they can be combined in a successful way. Although the 1960 Go-TagAlong looks beautiful now, it was not a pretty job. It first had to be gutted and cleaned out. Luckily the previous owner had already stripped the interior and added Masonite to the interior so it was ready to paint. After scraping off a layer of the floor “the original” flooring could be seen. How cool! The next step was selecting new materials and finishes to update the camper and give it a fresh look. The interior color palette was inspired by the camper’s exterior yellow stripe as well as Sondra’s own collection of Massimo Vignelli Hellerware melamine plates. The camper was painted with
neutral grays along the dinette and kitchen area that was contrasted by a bright orange color along the back bunk area. For the floor a sheet vinyl with a vintage floral motif from Mannington Commercial called Filigree was selected. Its weathered and hand painted pattern gives the flooring a rich and authentic look while the visual of ornate metalwork gives the floor an eclectic mix on the classy style. The counter and table top feature a fun, patterned, green laminate as part of Formica’s 100th Anniversary collection
to keep the space colorful and lively. A decorative panel in a wavelike pattern serves as the backsplash in the kitchContinued on page 23
www.vintagecampertrailers.com
19
with Mod Betty
I am Mod Betty ( in real life, Beth Lennon ) and I wanted to introduce myself as you’ll be hearing more from me, in my column Retro Roadmap. This will be a place for me to share with you what I call “Cool Vintage Places, Good Eats and Retro Fun” as I do in my website www.RetroRoadmap.com.
canned ham shape and cheery aqua stripe? I confess, sometimes I’d take the roundabout route to the grocery store, just to make sure it was still there.
I too am a vintage camper trailer owner! My musician husband, Cliff, and I are the proud owners of a 1964 Serro Scotty gaucho, made in Irwin, Pennsylvania.
One day in December of 2010, I drove past and noticed a very small “For Sale” sign attached to the camper’s back window. Even though Cliff and I had never camped out at all - and we didn’t even have a vehicle that could tow anything - I went directly home and grabbed him, so we could take a closer look at it together.
I had driven past this Scotty for years, always peeking at it, tucked next to the garage behind someone’s house. Who could not be smitten when seeing that
kind of like camping without the dirt Hello TRAILRITES from Mod Betty of Retro RoaD MAP 20
www.vintagecampertrailers.com
Being a vintage camper trailer owner or enthusiast, you already know the charm of authentic vintage things. I love discovering the authentic vintage places that still survive - places where you get that stepped back in time feeling as soon as you step inside. From downtown theaters to vintage 5 &10’s, kitschy roadside attractions, bowling alleys, classic diners, family owned bakeries, mom and pop motels, to vintage inspired destinations and events. Just like vintage campers, the places I love to share all have their history, their traditions, their stories. And hopefully you’ll be inspired to hit the road - with your camper or without - and have fun supporting these national gems, helping to keep them alive.
Cool Vintage Places ~ Good Eats ~ Retro Fun We met the lovely family who used to bring her to the Philadelphia Folk Festival, but had outgrown her. While it appeared to be sound, there was evidence of some leaks but we both saw this cute little camper through rose colored glasses. (This also was shortly after my father passed away, so the thought to “seize every moment” was on the forefront of my mind, and this opportunity had practically fallen in our laps.) We made the arrangement that if the sellers could tow the Scotty over to our house AND it fit in our low ceilinged garage then we’d buy it. And we did! That’s when the research began. Being the creator of the website www.RetroRoadmap.com I was well versed in gathering information on-line about vintage places, so within a few keystrokes I began familiarizing myself with all things Scotty. We visited a NSSO Organization) rally in western Pennsylvania, met founder Nancy Kroes and peppered her with questions. It was a thrill to see all makes and models of vintage Scotties and the people who owned them. As luck would have it, one of the folks that the NSSO suggested for restoration help was located within an hour of our house. That took
(National
Serro
Scotty
a few years - we were in no rush, and wanted it to be done right - and there was more damage than we had anticipated. But as I say, just like you can’t seal the lid back on a tuna can when you change your mind, once a camper is down to the frame you can’t really just say “put it back together and we’ll take it home”, so we had her done up right and she came out great. Then she came home and sat in our garage. And sat. It finally became obvious to us that our schedules and lifestyle did not really include time for camping! Cliff is a busy musician, so almost all of his weekends - especially in the nicer weather - are when he’s gigging or traveling for music. We struggled with this for a while, feeling guilty for buying the camper and never taking her out on the road, but even when she’d be parked in our garage, just seeing her in there put smiles on our faces. It then occurred to me that I could get the wifi signal from the house out in the garage! I turned the camper and half of the garage - into my writing retreat or “Ma’am Cave”. When Cliff is loudly playing electric guitar in the house, I go out there and do my Retro Roadmap writing and research. A patch of fake grass, my favorite Don Featherstone
Photographs by Brian Schwenk
I turned the camper AND half the garage into my Ma´am Cave www.vintagecampertrailers.com
21
flamingos, some vintage lawn chairs for visitors - it’s kind of like camping, without the dirt! Our dog Rigby is a fan of this setup and insists on sleeping outside of my door when I’m in there. I also discovered it was fun to tow her along with me when I gave live presentations or to sell my Retro Roadmap Roadbooks at vintage flea markets and events. I set her up with the door open, let people peek inside and call her a really big conversation piece, as she draws curious people from all over. They always leave with a smile on their face - and hopefully a book or two! So while we have taken her on an adventure or two to music festivals, I’m happiest when she’s parked in the garage, twinkle lights above, with me inside researching and writing my books and planning my next Retro Roadmap adventure. I am excited to get to know all of the VCT family and share some destinations that I think you will enjoy. If you have any questions or ideas, suggestions or shares - email them here and I’ll see you on the road! Beth Lennon www.retroroadmap.com Facebook, Twitter, Youtube: RetroRoadmap Instagram: Retro_Roadmap Beth Lennon, also known as Mod Betty is the creative mind behind Retro Roadmap® Roadbook series, based on her popular travel website RetroRoadmap.com / the online source for "Cool Vintage Places & Retro Fun!" She has written for the National Trust for Historic Preservation, crowd-funded / starred in the Retro Roadmap® video series, hostessed vintage weekends and meetups, and loves delivering presentations that are fun, informative and inspirational. Featured in the Boston Globe, Philadelphia Inquirer, Huffington Post and WHYY-TV, when not on the road 'sploring, she's researching her next adventure while seated in her vintage 1964 camper.
22
www.vintagecampertrailers.com
Continued from page 19
en and accentuates the vintage gas cooktop. Bright yellow vinyl was selected for the cushions in the dinette and bunk area for easy cleanability. Instead of selecting and installing new cabinets, she used Crate and Barrel wire bins above the kitchen counter as a way to display her colorful dishes that serve as an accent in the camper. Colorful curtains in a fun whimsical pattern and Marimekko* accessories from Target help tie everything together. The camper includes the original gas cooktop and range “hood” in its 5’ wide kitchen along with a new refrigerator. Another design challenge was deciding how to design the kitchen cabinetry around the wheel well. Drawings and a quick mock-up was done to help visualize the situation and come up with the solution. In order to incorporate the outdoors and extend the living space, an exterior canopy from Vintage Trailer Supply was added on.
Finishing touches include a variety of art pieces from local artists. Sondra now takes the finished project on the road all over Michigan with her family. She shows off the Go-TagAlong at different events and shows in Michigan such as Vicksburg Car Show (Vicksburg, Michigan), Red Barn Spectacular at the Gilmore Car Museum (Hickory Corners, Michigan), Michigan Restaurant Show (Novi, Michigan), and various Tin Can Tourist rallies. It has also been featured in Sondra’s home of Kalamazoo, Michigan at PalletPalooza, Kalamazoo Institute of Arts Art Fair, and Open Studios at SKP Design. Renovating the Go-Tag-Along sparked a new interest and hobby for her. As a designer, her creative brain never stops working and she is often found contemplating how she could use new materials and finishes for future campers. She has now collected a total of seven vintage campers: Two Little Gem Campers, a Concord Traveler, a Chateau traveler, a Shasta, the Go-Tag-Along and her most recent project a 42 foot long 1954 Spartan Imperial Mansion. She is now developing a line of her design business called “Ready To Roll”. She looks forward to giving many vintage campers a new life. Her projects can be seen at www.skpdesign.com *Marimekko is a Finnish home furnishings, textiles, and fashion company based in Helsinki. It made important contributions to fashion in the 1960s. It is particularly noted for its brightly colored printed fabrics and simple styles, used both in women's garments and in home furnishings.
The before pictures of the 1960 Go-Tag-Along Project.
www.vintagecampertrailers.com
23
RESTORE
Air Conditioning
Creative cooling for your vintage trailer. There is more than one way to restore a vintage trailer. We turned to our readers and the pro's to find out what trailerites are using to cool their trailers.This is what we found out. By Scott Campbell Retroluxe Vintage Trailers Within a few months the weather will again change from cold winter, to spring, then on to summer. Getting out to enjoy our vintage trailers again becomes the focus of most vintage trailer enthusiasts. Vintage trailering in warmer climates, and in hot summer heat poses the challenge of keeping the interior of your trailer cool. Trailers produced up until the mid 1960s were not equipped with
Honestly, most vintage trailers look much better without a modern AC unit sitting on the roof.
First, let’s consider the roof mount AC. All roof mounted AC units fit over the top of any 14” ceiling vent opening. Securing the unit to the roof is done by installing the provided bracketry and four bolts into the bottom of the AC unit through the vent opening. New AC units come with a foam water gasket seal that is sandwiched between the unit and the roof. Older AC roof seals, around five years old, tend to dry out or shrink allowing water to get in. Replacing the seal is done by removing the AC unit, the old seal and cleaning the roof skin thoroughly. Using fortiflash, line the ceiling vent. Wrap the opening with the fortiflash covering 1” of the roof skin edges, the exposed roof structure and about 1” on the ceiling so that if there is a future leak the roof structure and ceiling are protected. Next apply a bead of Trempro 635 between the roof skin and new seal. If an older ceiling vent was removed be sure to apply sealant to remaining holes and allow enough time for it to dry. Then reinstall the AC. Trailers with curved roofs may require additional support under the rear of the AC unit as roof mounted AC units are designed mostly for flat roofs. Most roof mounted units weigh around 90 lbs. This may require adding Roof mount A/C unit controls extra roof sup- inside of the trailer. ports to handle the weight.
air conditioners. Unlike newer trailers, vintage trailers were designed with retro shapes and curves that pose challenges to installing roof mounted AC units. Honestly, most vintage trailers look much better without a modern AC unit sitting on the roof. Especially true with smaller can ham trailers. Today, most RVs and trailers come with roof mounted AC units. They are energy efficient and they look right at home with current travel trailer designs. Installing air conditioning in a vintage trailer is not difficult and there are a couple ways to get it done. Most Roof AC units require a dedicated 20 Amp. 115V shore power circuit. On older trailers an electrical upgrade may be needed. 24
www.vintagecampertrailers.com
Next, let’s consider installing a window mounted AC unit. Window units cost hundreds less than roof mounts. Small window mount AC units draw less power and in smaller trailers have enough CFM output to adequately cool the interior. In most cases, the units can be placed in a less conspicuous location such as a closet or under a bench or bed. Putting a window mount AC in a vintage trailer window is usually unsightly, tends to leak and permanently damages the window structure. When installing a window mount AC into a trailer keep in mind that window mounts are designed to vent outside so when putting one inside a closet or under a seat there needs to be enough air space above and on both sides of the unit to allow it to cool. If an AC is placed into too small of a space it will overheat and not work. A window mounted AC also needs an unobstructed shrouded exhaust vent and the ability to drain off accumulated condensation moisture. AC exhaust can exit the trailer by installing a sealed exhaust chute with a latchable exterior door. It is always best when installing a roof or wall mount A/C to follow recommended manufacturer suggestions. Our shop, has had success with the installation of the roof mount and custom installations of Note A/C in bottom of cabinet. the window mount AC units.
RESTORE
Air Conditioners
What to consider before installing one. We asked more than on person so we could get more than one answer. Your application may present additional or different challenges. Use this series of articles as a guide before you invest in an A/C unit. BY John Palmer Palmer Boys Trailers I use roof mounted Dometic RV A/C units, purchased through Vintage Trailer Supply (VTS) There's lots to consider, in installing them on a 60 to 70 year old trailer. Structure of the roof and walls The weight of a roof mount A/C unit is roughly "over 100#" installed, and it's going to be bouncing up and down while your traveling down a highway. I have not yet seen a vintage roof that will hold this weight without some cross beam support retrofit work. I even place extra supports inside the walls to carry the weight from the added roof rafters. Look to place the unit where you have cabinets and closet walls to help spread the weight. Personally, I would not be willing to give up a standard roof vent just to add the A/C unit. Standard roof vents are very effective at removing hot air from the trailer, and providing flow through ventilation. Your going to have to have the ceiling open anyway, so it's not any more work to custom locate the unit and properly frame out the opening. Please note, that many vintage aluminum skinned/framed trailers have suffered from aluminum corrosion and you really need to inspect the inside condition, after the ceiling panels are removed.
accessory condensation drain kits for this unit. By the time you buy the A/C compressor unit, the retro fit drain kit, the inside air distribution panel, and finally include the freight, your at $1,000. in round numbers "per unit" in parts. You need to carefully route a 1/2" PEX drain line so that the condensation water will drain by gravity through the ceiling and down the wall and exit through the floor. This is just another reason you want to do the A/C install when you have the trailer fully apart.
Power Requirements If you're rebuilding You need to run the proper large and sized wiring inside the wall and a medium, to large sized stiff ceiling. You need a 30A shore powvintage trailer, the additional er circuit to your breaker panel as a minimum. You want a dedicatexpense for A/C is minimal ed 20A circuit directly to the A/C unit. This circuit needs to have to the overall cost. On 12 gauge wiring from the circuit breaker to the A/C unit. Should higher-end trailers it is a you desire to dry camp and power the A/C with a generator, you will expected amenity like a need a "large" 3.5KW sized unit. A normal "single" Honda 2000 Watt gentoilet and shower.
Condensation Line The A/C unit is going to pull moisture out of the air, and that condensed water is going to need to go somewhere. Most aftermarket A/C units just let this water drip down the outside of the trailer. After you have spent hundreds of hours (or maybe thousands of dollars) polishing your skins to a high shine you really don't want to have water running down the outside of the trailer. Dometic offers a nice "low profile" A/C unit with 13,500 BTU's. This is cooling enough for a 20' or under trailer size with good insulation. You need two of these units for the larger trailers. VTS also stocks the
erator will not power a A/C unit, and the rest of the trailer.
Noise You are going to have a lot of fan noise from these units. It's not objectionable during the day, but it's a problem at night. This is the reason I would do an A/C "only" unit. Dometic also offers a heat pump, heater/air condition unit, but I've found it's just too noisy at night. Remember, when we install these in a aluminum framed trailer the framing and skin acts like a sounding board and amplifies the noise. Note, the fan runs all the time, and only the compressor cycles on/off during normal operation. Custom Paint The outside covers are plastic and are white. Many of our trailers are polished aluminum and the white plastic really sticks out. I have had good luck priming the plastic with two part epoxy primer, then spraying them with a quality automotive single stage silver paint. My trailer and A/C unit is www.vintagecampertrailers.com
25
RESTORE
stored outside 365 days a year and it looks like new after a couple of years. I have also used Jeff Styles to custom paint the inside panel matching my dark amber wood finish. He's "really good" at his trade. Regarding existing A/C units that might be leaking. The installation is very simple. The units are just sandwiched between the trailer roof and the trailer ceiling. They are held together with four very long threaded 1/4" bolts in the corners of the 14" by 14" vent opening. There's a large, very dense foam rubber seal. This seal dries out and sometimes needs to be replaced. They are generic, and available from VTS, and most other RV suppliers. To install, you need to remove the inside air distribution panel, the four bolts, and the electrical wires. Make note of the wire colors, so you reconnect them to the same terminals. It's obvious that you need to make sure the trailer has no power connected while your doing this work. You need a helper on a ladder outside. One person is going to get under the A/C unit inside the trailer and lift one end (about 50#) of the unit up a couple of inches. The person on the ladder is going to slide a section of 2 by 4 under the raised end to support the A/C weight. Then you raise the other end and support it with a second 2 by 4. You can slide out the old seal and slide in the replacement from inside the trailer's vent opening after it's raised. You don't have to remove the entire unit from the trailer. Drop the unit back down on the new seal, align the bolt holes and evenly snug up their tension. Let is sit for a day to settle, and retighten. The entire job is maybe only one hour, requires minimal tools, and is not technical. I have done only one trailer with a removable Home Depot window unit. It was a trailer that I rebuilt into a Park Model at a customer request. I was not happy with the result and would not do another. 26 www.vintagecampertrailers.com
Cooling the Air Readers Solutions....
I have been researching A/C for months. I have a 10 ft 1954 Terry (above and right) and don’t want to mess up all of the original wood. I have a dog and can’t leave her in the trailer to venture out when it is hot. -Laura I saw the trailer below at a SOTF event and thought it might work for me. Putting the unit on the tongue the air would come in underneath my dinette and not be visible. Thank you so much for addressing installing A/C.
Window A/C mounted on tongue is hardly noticeable outside or inside of the trailer
Two Feathers Restorations & Design llc. Deerfield, MA The Serro Scotty Highlander is a very common unit that comes to our shop to be fully restored from the ground up. Our customers like to add a heating element to the a/c units. We prefer the Coleman Mach II low profile systems. Their height is low (8”) and they only weigh 65 lbs. They are very aerodynamic and we prefer to limit the amount of eye catching items on the roof of our vintage units. Less distractions allows admirers to focus on the vintage unit. One of the key parts that a owner must understand is that your roof was never designed to handle 65 lbs of load on its roof! Many times the roof structure must
be fortified. Since most of these trailers have walls that are rotten 4” to 6” at the bases, rebuilding the walls and roofs to carry the load is something that can be engineered into the plan. When a customer has a request of a roof top a/c unit, we also like to install new skins on the trailer at the same time. This allows us to add insulation and wrap the trailer in a membrane product that keeps the cold air or warm
air from escaping. If you do not want to add the expense of a new siding your a/c unit will not be as efficient as it can
be. Mach II units are larger than what most campers require to cool them. They are designed for campers that are 18'. To reinforce your trailer for a roof mount a/c unit: First, remove the metal skin roof. Take 1" steel box tubing and run it right next to your existing roof vent wood frames. (Both sides). Use top quality screws to attach the new metal frame to the wood frame. You will need to pre-drill your holes. Replace any rotten wood that you find. We also recommend to place your screw every 4 - 6". This will disperse the weight of the a/c unit. The metal tubes should rest on the walls of your trailer. You may need to remove some of the wood framework where the metal needs to go. If you live in areas of heavy snow load, you can add additional metal to other areas of your roof. This method is used mostly in the Serro Scotty, Shasta and other trailers that have roof frames that are 1" tall. In other trailers you may find 2x2" Construction. You then can use 1x2" steel box and stand it up on edge as that is were it is the strongest. Run your electrical using a dedicated line. You will need to upgrade to 30 amp service. Depending on the l e n g t h from your p o w e r box. You will find out what gauge of wire you will need. Most trailers under 16' use 10 gauge. Your A/C unit will come with instructions and a guide on what gauge you will need for the distance of wire. Costs: a typical unit to purchase runs $1200 If you have your trailer going through a restoration already. You should expect no more then $400.00 extra for the framing and electrical. Most units are getting the electrical upgraded to 30 amp service. Your power box is a cost of $175.00
This is a Climate Right 5000 btu unit I purchased from Home Depot. It works great and I only had to drill two three inch holes. Fred Wachob, Rock Hill SC 1975 Serro Scotty,15 ft.
I use a "Koldfront model 802W" (on Amazon) and put the Cool-Aide Insulator Sleeve over the exhaust hose that leads out a window. Bob Mellin www.vintagecampertrailers.com
27
RESTORE
Creative Cooling
Installation in a 1969 Shasta Compact. Trailer restorers are creative if nothing else. Here is a cooling system that is a do-it-yourself project with common supplies from the hardware store. Story and Photographs by Richard Cook
was screwed down instead of being hinged.
The previous owner of our 1969 Shasta After removing the dinette seat, duct Compact had installed a 5,000 BTU system, a/c unit, drip pan, and electrihome-style air-conditioner underneath cal outlet, years of accumulated dust the rightand grime were wiped away, especially hand from the a/c filter and coils. In other dinette words, maintenance. seat in a what was The capacity of the plastic drip pan originally was increased by attaching closed-cell a storage rounded foam strips (normally used compartfor pipe insulation) to each of the four Inside view of previous owner’s ment sides. The corner gaps between each installation of a/c unit in 1969 accessible length of foam were filled with gutter Shasta Compact showing no via an sealant. The curve of the drip pan insulation on duct system. outside allowed water (from condensation) to access flow down towards a rubber hose that door. Although this a/c unit cooled exited the trailer through a hole in the our small trailer, I didn’t like the way it floor. was installed. First, it was attached to the floor using a thin metal band held The wood framework of the dinette down by two screws. Second, the hot seat was reinforced with two additional exhaust was vented out through an vertical beams. In addition, the front uninsulated aluminum duct system that crossbeam of the framework was made wasn’t sealed around the access doorremovable using two metal brackets, way, which allowed hot air to reenter thus making it easier to remove the the compartment and mix with fresh air a/c unit for maintenance. After setting flowing in through a floor vent (used the air-conditioner into position on top for cooling the compressor), which of the drip pan, the front crossbeam reduced the air-conditioner’s efficiency. was reattached. Three metal brackets In addition, because the duct system were then used to attach the top of the wasn’t sealed, water air-conditioner to the could enter the compartframework (one bracket ment during a rainstorm to the front crossbeam since the access door and two brackets to the had to held open with a back crossbeam). stick while the air-conditioner was in operation. A cardboard mock-up Finally, access for mainof the new duct system tenance was restricted was taped together Cardboard mock-up of new duct because the dinette seat system. and trial-fit inside the 28 www.vintagecampertrailers.com
compartment. Because the new duct system was to be made from the twisted remains of the original duct system, the aluminum sheeting was hammered smooth, then screw holes and tears in the metal were covered with foil tape. The repaired aluminum sheeting was then cut to size for the six pieces (left side, right side, bottom, left top, center top, right top) of the new duct system, leaving enough extra metal on the ends of three of the pieces (bottom, left top, right top) to form 90-degree bends as attachment tabs. Self-adhesive foil insulation was applied to the outside of each piece of aluminum. The bottom piece and both side pieces were positioned in the compartment and secured to each other using sheet metal screws. Foil insulation was used to seal the gaps between the new duct system and a/c unit, as well as the gaps around the access doorway. The three top pieces weren’t installed at this time. The next issue to resolve was being able to operate the air-conditioner during a rainstorm without water entering the compartment. The soluPlastic trash bin with tion was a 3-gallon vent hole, foil tape, and plastic trash bin window screen. purchased at Walmart for $2.99. A vent hole was cut out of one side of the trash bin, then the bin was covered with foil tape to disguise the fact that plastic was being used on a vintage trailer. Two pieces of pressure-treated
Back view of completed plug/vent.
Homemade plug/vent doing what it was designed to do during a thunderstorm.
Plug/vent installed and held in place with wing nuts.
plywood were cut to fit the outside and inside openings of the access doorway to build a watertight plug. The outside opening was slightly larger than the inside opening. A large oval hole a fraction smaller than the lip of the trash bin was cut out of the outer piece of wood. A piece of window screen was taped over the top of the trash bin to form an insect/critter barrier, then the bin was pushed through the hole in the outer piece of wood. Gutter sealant was used around the lip of the bin on both sides of the wood to make the outer half of the plug watertight. Two large D-shaped holes were cut out of the other piece of plywood and several layers of self-adhesive foil insulation were applied to the plywood surrounding the two holes. Duct tape was applied to the outer edges of the insulation and plywood, finishing off the inner half of the plug. To complete the plug, the two halves were screwed together, sandwiching the lip of the bin and insulation between them. The finished plug was then trial-fit in the access doorway with the bin extending outward from the plug and the vent hole facing downward. The open access door rested on top of the bin. A simple connect/disconnect system for the plug was designed using a pair of metal brackets screwed to the back crossbeam inside the compartment. Each downward-facing bracket had a long bolt extending towards the access doorway. Two holes were then drilled through the plug to match the positions of the bolts. Wing nuts secured the plug to the bolts, making it easy to install and remove the plug without tools. The three top pieces of the duct system were attached with sheet metal screws, the remaining gaps were sealed with insulation, and the dinette seat was attached using a pair of hinges, finishing off the project.
Reinstalled a/c unit secured to back crossbeam. Also visible are brackets securing plug/vent to framework.
The first use of the reconfigured air-conditioning system occurred during the 12th Annual TCT Florida Homecoming in early November 2018. The circulating air inside the Shasta was so cold, the a/c unit had to be switched to low. During a thunderstorm on Friday night, the plug did its job by preventing rainwater from entering the a/c compartment as the hot
exhaust vented out through the bottom of the converted trash bin. During the TCT Open House the next day, the most-asked question my wife and I answered was “What is that silver-looking thing extending out of the storage compartment?” After explaining what it was and how it worked, many people took photos so they could build one themselves. A few days after the TCT Florida Homecoming, we displayed our Shasta at the 2018 Gathering Of The Times Vintage Trailer Rally at The Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park & Campground, where again the most-asked question we answered was “What is that silver-looking thing extending out of the storage compartment?” So not only does the homemade trash bin vent do what it was designed to do, it’s become a curiosity piece that starts conversations with trailerites and non-trailerites alike.
Homemade plug/vent was a curiosity at the 12th Annual TCT Florida Homecoming and 2018 Gathering Of The Times Vintage Trailer Rally.
The advantage of using a 5,000 BTU home-style air-conditioner on a small trailer like a Shasta Compact is that it only needs a 15-amp electrical system to operate. This came in handy at the TCT event because a 15-amp system was all that was available at the Koreshan State Historic Site where the gathering was held. Except for one other trailer that had a 5,000 BTU a/c unit, none of the other trailers were able to run their air-conditioners during the 4-day event. The next rally where we’ll be displaying our Shasta will be the TCT Centennial Celebration in Brooksville, FL in February 2019. Stop by to say hi and check out the homemade vent! www.vintagecampertrailers.com
29
Tillitson vel Coach Tra
BEFORE THEY WERE VINTAGE We had the pleasure of meeting up with Greg Tillitson at the Sacramento Auto Show in October, 2018. Greg’s grandfather, Montgomery Frank Tillitson, owned and manufactured Tillitson Travel Coach in Florida from 1938 -1940. Greg shared his family photos of the Tillitson Travel Coach Company. Greg was unsure what happened to the business but knows his grandfather, “Monty” moved to Long Beach, CA in 1942 and started another business called “Tillitson Music Co.” which owned and maintained jukeboxes located in bars and restaurants. Greg mentioned that he has never seen any pictures of the interiors of the Tillitson Travel Coach. We reached out to Toni and Chuck Milltenberger, vintage trailer historians and fellow trailerites, and they were able to send some articles mentioning the Tillitson Travel Coach. The March 1939 Automobiles and Trailer Travel Magazine featured an article on the T.C.T. (Tin Can Tourists of the World) gathering in Tampa, FL. In the article, there is a picture with the caption, “W.F. Tillitson smiles with satisfaction at the reception given his coaches at Tampa.” The following year the April 1940 issue of Automobiles and Trailer Travel Magazine again featured an article on the T.C.T gathering in February of 1940. They reported 1,984 coaches participated in the annual event and mentioned that two new Tillitson Travel Coaches were on display along with Anderson Coach, Travelo, Platt, Schult, New Moon, Badgers, Trotwood, Kozy Coach, Silver Domes and several other manufactures. 30
www.vintagecampertrailers.com
No interior photos of these trailers are known to exist. Very little documentation on the Tillitson trailers could be found. If you have any information regarding these (or other) "Before They Were Vintage" trailers, let us know.
By Paul Lacitinola
This style of travel trailer was invented in about 1927 by Glenn Curtiss, a leading American aircraft designer. By using airplane principals, Curtiss felt that he could build a trailer that was lightweight, but strong enough to travel over country roads. These trailers were built in Michigan by the Aerocar Company of Detroit. They were manufactured commercially at several locations in the U.S.A. at facilities that were licensed by the Aerocar Corporation. A new Aerocar would have sold for around $5,000 at a time when you could buy a new ford car for less than $1,000. Definitely not for the "trailer trash" budget. See: www.hindleysgarage.com
www.vintagecampertrailers.com
31
Sharing our vintage trailers with the public at shows and rallies is exciting and often elicits stories of people’s pasts. Greg's connection to the hobby was one of those moments that makes the hours we spend at events worth it. If any of you can help Greg out with interior pictures or any more information on the Tillitson Travel Coach, we would like to be able to give him a bit more insight into his family's business.
Monty is on the right side and Mary is standing in the center. On the left side is Monty's Father George Edward Tillitson (1869-1941)
32
www.vintagecampertrailers.com
Tillitson displayed trailers at the TCT event in Tampa, Florida. Search www. vintagecampertrailers.com for "Tillitson" to see all of the documentation we found on the custom built Tillitson trailers.
www.vintagecampertrailers.com
33
Forbo Marmoleum sheet flooring. The wood is birch, finished with amber shellac. It took about four years to restore, much longer than the Shasta. Children require more of your attention as they get older. I've always liked mid-century pastels and the coral color. We have so many vintage turquoise items I'm about turquoised out. The colors are Salmon Coral which is a special order 1964 Ford Galaxie color and Dover White. These are very close to Silver Dome production colors (Johnny's 1955 was coral and white). When I sanded it down, I could see that the original colors were white and turquoise. A very dark turquoise that didn't look very happy. A really cool thing happened as I was demoing the trailer. I found a picture of an airplane drawn by a little girl behind the fridge. It was drawn long ago and had her name on it. Well, I got on Face-
ground for many years. She visited it during the summers and had many great memories playing in it.
Lane (13 ), Cindy, Charlotte( (14 ) and Pete Whitley with their 1956 Silver Dome (Continued from page 6)
book and sent out private messages with an image of the picture to everyone with that name in Massachusetts. I must have sent fifty messages. And then, BINGO! I received a return message from a lady that said she drew that picture! We chatted back and forth and she told me that it was her Grandmother's trailer and was in a camp-
VintageCampers.com !
BUY
SELL
RESTORATION
I was searching vintage mobile home pictures on the net and saw a picture of a Silver Dome Heritage 24. I was astounded and after closer inspection I saw that it was our trailer! It must have been taken after the campground era because it looked to be in an urban environment. The lady that drew the picture also told me that the campground was closed and she didn't know what happened to it after that.
BEFORE
R.V. Doctor George
Surplus & Used R.V. Parts The Largest in Northern California
PARTS Tue-Fri 7-5, Sat 7-3 Closed Sun-Mon
• Custom Remodel • R.V. Repairs • Insurance Work
(916) 927-RVDR (7837)
We specialize in SPARTAN !
The Doctor is equipped to give your RV an End to End Exam for Recreanitis!!
and other riveted trailers.
2574 S. Strawtown Pike - Peru, Indiana (765) 473-8088 info@vintagecampers.com dan@vintagecampers.com 34
1142 Dixieanne Ave. Sacramento, CA 95815
www.vintagecampertrailers.com
!
www.rvdoctorgeorge.com
The stainless steel coffee mug that’ll last A CUSTOM PAINTING OF YOUR TRAILER so long, one day it’ll be www.simoneritterart.com Practical and stylish, the perfect gift for Christmas
The stainless steel coffee mug that’ll last so long, one day it’ll be Timeless design that suits any home or camper trailer
Road-tested by thousands of camper trailer enthusiasts
Unbreakable double walled construction with comfortable handle
F
You can canfind findusus You onon Instagram & Facebook
and stylish, the perfect gift for Christmas Instagram and Facebook FINDPractical OUT MORE HERE @betterforyour @betterforyour
Timeless design that suits any home or camperfacebook.com/betterforyour trailer www.betterforyour.com/mugs facebook.com/betterforyour www.betterforyour.com/mugs Road-tested by thousands of camper trailer enthusiasts
Harps RV Service
Unbreakable double walled construction with comfortable handle You can find us on Instagram & Facebook
FIND OUT MORE(916) HERE 434-9151 www.betterforyour.com/mugs
aprons, towels, coin purses, banners, keychains, magnets
@betterforyour facebook.com/betterforyour
Vintage RV Restorations Electrical/Propane Repair Appliance Repair Insurance Work Used Parts Store
183 Flocchini Circle, Lincoln, CA www.harpsrv.com
www.vintagecampertrailers.com
35
R E S C U E RESTORE R A L L Y
IN THE
USA
CLASSIC and
Colorful Jack and Cindy Ferris restored their Aloha trailer themselves. Jack was in the lighting business so it is not surprising that the light over the dinette caught my eye. The "Classic Coke" exterior is super clean and classy. Inside are splashes of color that make every camping trip a fun destination.
36
www.vintagecampertrailers.com
The Original The Original
RV Leveling system RV Leveling system
Works as great as our Stop n’ Chock But has Works as great as ourofStop n’ Chock But has the added benefit a dock as well! theIdeal added benefit of a dock as well! for: Travel Trailers, MoTor HoMes, UTiliTy
Trailers, BoaT Trailers, anyTHing wiTH a HiTcH jack Ideal for: Travel Trailers, MoTor HoMes, UTiliTy Trailers, BoaT Trailers, anyTHing wiTH a HiTcH jack
www.vintagecampertrailers.com
37
R E S C U E RESTORE R A L L Y
IN THE
USA
Staci and Tim's 1970 Ideal trailer and 1956 Chevy 210 Series Wagon
Clea Korf, Minneapolis, MN 1972 Red Dale Foxy Redwood Pictures taken at Grand Marais, MN
Danielle Bouchier 1963 Aladdin, Ruby
New & Used Shelving Pallet Rack Forklifts SacramentoLift.com 38
www.vintagecampertrailers.com
9s a1c 6r a-m4e 4n t4o r-aRc kA. cCo Km
Maggie Shook 1953 General Deluxe Coach, 32'
THIS MAGAZINE IS
NOW AVAILABLE DIGITALLY ONLINE
www.vintagecampertrailers.com
Carolyn Cameron, from NSW Australia and her 1977 11 ft York Caravan that she shares with her partner Shane and their Australian Shepherd Claire.
Daniele sent us these photos. The trailer is from the UK. It is a 1966 Cheltenham Waterbuck
All Bigfoot Ultra Pads carry a full lifetime guarantee.
Our RV Pads are made from the same materials we use to make pads for heavy construction equipment and military use.
www.outriggerpads.com Visit our website for pricing. (888) 743-7320 www.vintagecampertrailers.com
39
Vintage Camper Trailers RALLY TILL YOU DROP
Our books contain hundreds of photos like this one sent in by Korey Dugas. Use the coupon code 41FREE and we will pay the shipping and send you FREE stickers with your order.
On the back cover of this magazine you will find your mailing indicia similar to this one (below right). If you have a recurring payment set-up through PayPal, it will say "Recurring". PayPal will automatically renew you IIiIIIIIiiIIIIIIIIi II IIIII iii i i I IiiII IIIIIi I annually until you cancel. ****************3-Digit 756 If you have not set up a recurring payment Last Issue: THIS IS YOUR21LAST ISSUE Joe Espinosa through PayPal, you will find other 1234 Main Street information about your subscription Yourtown, ST 98765 status there as well.
a
The Vintage Camper Trailers Magazine now available in digital format on-line!
Offer good through February 2019.
Gift a Friend WITH The VCT Magazine Use this form or subscribe to this magazine on-line at: www.vintagecampertrailers.com
41
Name _______________________________________________________________________________________ Address ______________________________________________________________________________________ City_______________________________________________State ______________ Zip ____________________ Email________________________________________________________________________________________ Start the subscription with ___ current issue ___next issue Phone (____________)_________________________ ___ Gift ___ New Subscriber ___ Re-newing $32.00 annually ($64 for two years) in the USA. Subscriptions outside of the USA must be done on-line. Mail this form with a check to: PO Box 354 Elverta, CA 95626.
40
www.vintagecampertrailers.com
US A Rally Calendar
We do our best to confirm all events before press but plans do change. Make sure and call to confirm. Many times rallies have an open house on Saturday to view the trailers. Call to confirm the rally is open to the public if not stated. Listing your rally on this calendar is FREE, just let us know in advance. We also offer cheap display ad rates for rallies if you want your event to stand out. Paid ads include a listing on our website and Facebook page events calendar. January 31 – February 3, 2019 Lake Havasu City, AZ State Park (WINDSOR BEACH-Over Flow Lot) 699 London Bridge Rd. Limited spaces! Open house for the public, from 10am until 3pm on Friday and Saturday. (Park cost $3.00 per person to come into the park). Demonstrations on Dutch oven cooking and care for Dutch ovens Friday and Saturday afternoon. dry camping, there will be a plug in to plug in cell phones, etc. Power available for medical devices only. There are showers and restrooms. Cherri and Mike, (928) 505-2730, jra@cnw.com February 22-24, 2019 Palm Springs, CA Modernism Week February, 19-24, 2019 Brooksville, FL TCT Centennial Celebration. Sertoma Youth Ranch. at the Winter Convention Registration will be available beginning early in November. www.tincantourist.com March 7-10, 2019 Spartanburg, SC Join us for the first Gathering of the 2019 upstate camping season at Croft State Park. NO Open House. You can make reservations on the Croft State Park Website http:// southcarolinaparks.com/croft/introduction. aspx. We will be in the Lake Campground Loop until full and will likely spill over into the other loop. These sights are water and electric only! Once booked PLEASE email info@southernvintagetrailers.com with your site number!
March 7-10, 2019 Hollister, CA The 4th Annual VCT Boot Camp at the Casa de Fruta RV Park. VCT Boot Camp is for the restorer of vintage camper trailers. Beginners are welcome! It is a combination of intensive classroom learning and demonstrations for those interested in acquiring new skills or sharpening your existing ones that are essential when restoring trailers. VCT Boot Camp is an opportunity to meet with industry pros that make their living in the hobby and are willing to share their methods with you. Get in on all the action, camaraderie and enjoyable learning experience centered around the vintage camper trailer hobby. Do not wait too long to make your reservation. www.vctbootcamp.com, (916) 572-8554. April 5-6, 2019 Roswell, NM Tin Can Tourists turns 100 years in 2019 and centennial celebrations are being planned by all the regional chapters. The Southwest chapter will be hosting a UFO themed rally in Roswell, NM (aren’t UFO’s the ultimate tin can tourist??) April 5-6 2019. Camping is $25.00 per night, you will be placed on a waiting list, as we are full now. Contact Gail Leggett for registration: ggleggett@hotmail. com or Karen Campbell Karencampbellwithrt66@hotmail.com or 505-620-5276. April 5-7, 2019 Folsom Lake, CA Oasis West 2019 Vintage Trailer MicroRally. 7755 Folsom-Auburn Rd, Folsom, CA 95630. Join us for the 4th annual Oasis West 2019 Vintage Trailer MicroRally. This intimate rally features 17 sites with full hookups, Friday night cocktails, Saturday morning hike, Private Trailer viewings, a Satur-
day night potluck / Vintage game night and a Sunday Pancake fest. Reservations start in October 2018. Trailer Tour Saturday at 2pm. Email ChristianSalmon@comcast.net for details. Chris Salmon 916-715-1258 April 4-7, 2019 Hollister, CA West Coast Kencrafts and Freinds Gathering for Good Times. Casa de Fruta, 10031 Pacheco Pass Hwy. This is an "easy peasy" camp out. No Open House. Reservations can be made through Charles and Virginia for a club discount rate of $40 a night or you can call Casa de Fruita and say you're with the group at $45 + tax per night. Reservations through us must be made and paid by March 15th. After that they must be made through the park. We're on Facebook at West Coast Kencrafts and Friends. Virginia & Charles Diffey at 559.304.8054 or vcdiffey@yahoo.com April 24-28, 2019 Jekyll Island, GA Groovy Beach Bash - 1197 River View Drive This is the SVTF spring fundraising event. This years theme is a Rat Pack Weekend so it will be a blast. Lots of great activities planned. All details can be found on our website www. SouthernVintageTrailers.com Open House, Saturday 11-3 (Charity) Kimberly Hoke info@southernvintagetrailers.com 864-2851228 April 25-28, 2019 Hemet, CA Gear up your Woodies and VW Buses and get ready to cruise back in time to SoCal in the ’60s at Golden Village Palms’ 5th Annual “Surfin’ USA” Pre-1985 Vintage Trailers, Campers & Classic Car Show. Sixties beach vibes never looked so good on some of the
March 7-10, 2019 Hollister, CA www.VCTBootCamp.com
A RESTORATION LEARNING EXPERIENCE www.vintagecampertrailers.com
41
at Bull Shoals Dam Site Campground. No rally fee, campground $22 - $25 per night. Call the campground directly to reserve a spot. 870-405-9619. A TCT event. GPS Target: 1616 Bull Shoals Dam Site Blvd.
finest vintage trailers and campers, plus classic cars, motorcycles and trucks! On Saturday, pull on your best beach getup and tune in to a Beach Boys tribute band that will have crowds twisting to classic surf jams. Throughout the weekend, we’ll also have celebrity impersonators, vintage vendors, and more. www.goldenvillagepalms.com/vintage 866-468-9033 May 2-5, 2019 Red Bluff, CA Durango RV Resort. Any vintage trailer at Glamperfest can compete in the Glampolicious contest. (See the website for details. The contest has nothing to do with your type of trailer.) First prize is a weekend escape for two to Napa, CA (see: www.1948spartan. com) www.glamperfest.com, (916)572-8554 May 2-5, 2019 Bull Shoals, AR 3rd Annual - Best Dam Vintage Trailer Rally
42
www.vintagecampertrailers.com
May 9-12, 2019 Sylva, NC Newadi Vintage Trailer Rally. 2486 Dark Ridge Rd, NO Open House. Pete Whitley pete_whitley@yahoo.com 678-378-3725 May 9-12, 2019 Chula Vista, CA Cindy Ross' Vintage Trailer Rally scheduled for May 9-12, 2019, has been canceled due to the closing of the park. May 31- June 2, 2019 Hot Springs, AR Hot Springs Vintage Camper Rally. Hot Springs National Park KOA, 838 McClendon Road, Hot Springs, Ar 71901. A gathering of tin canners in the "spa city" Hot Springs, Arkansas. Come a day early or stay a day late and check out the city, which is a popular vacation destination. Visit historic bath house row, the beautiful lakes or Magic Springs theme park. Open House 1:00-4:00 pm Danny Baker danbak123@gmail.com. 501-207-1020
GOLDEN CARAVAN Rescue • Restore • Road Trip • Rally
W W W. G o l da i r st r ea m . c o m May 31-June 2, 2019 Grass Valley, CA Rally in the Pines. 11223 McCourtney Road, Grass Valley CA. Come join us for a great weekend in the pines. Bring your vintage trailer and family for a relaxing time. There will be a free to the public open house on Saturday from 10am-2pm, BBQ, a presentation about the local area, swap meet, and too much fun to mention! Open House Saturday from 10am-2pm. Liz Park Harpsrv@ hotmail.com 530-273-6217 ext 221 May 30- June 2, 2019 Pine Mountain, GA Vintage campers and glampers rally, 8804 Hamilton Rd. at the Pine Mountain RV
HOLLISTER, CA
TRAILERFEST
FOOD, FUN & MUSIC
www.trailerfestrally.com
Vintage Camper TRAILERS
Tr ad iti on al s om Ho t Ro d & Cu st Ca rs ho w
th e Liv e Mu sic by nd al s Vi nt ag e Va Q Me mp hi s BB Roll & k c o R k P o t lu c OW SHOW N SH ION Fa SHIO FaSH Open House es t Da nc e Co nt
JUNE 6-9, 2019
Open House Saturday, June 8. 10 am to 2pm
resort. The rally is for participants only who have paid admission and shared pot luck dinner and yard sale with fellow campers. The open house is NOT public and is for participants only. The rally is open to campers 1979 and older but please ask if you don't fit the bill. We can always make exceptions to the rule! wparducci@aol.com 334-201-4811
May 31st to June 2nd, 2019 Cheyenne, WY The Terry Byson Ranch has reserved our area of the common and "A" "B" rows. Dry camp and full service is available close together. The tractor group will be back and bring some classic cars along .T.C.T sponsored ,but all trailers are welcomed. Curiosity seekers encouraged. Sarah Mc Reynolds,from Texas will be bringing the Sat. dinner makings and Sat lite lunch for the tractor gang. $10.00 for the diner, $20.00 for the rally fee. Early arrivals fine. Call Terry Bison Ranch @ 307-634-4171 fo reservations. Ricka is the "informed rep", Confused?, call/ text me @ 435-730-3840 Thanks to the "help" Orbie
joy the nearby beaches of the Jersey Shore. Minutes from Historic Cape May. Visit the boardwalk and amusements, local wineries, antiques and an excellent selection of shopping and dining destinations. Easy traveling June 6-9, 2019 distance to Atlantic City. Open House. AvaHollister, CA lon Campgroundavaloncmpg@gmail.com. Rockabilly Rally. Casa De Fruta RV Park. 1-800-814-2267 Saturday Open House, 10 am to 2 pm, Traditional Hot Rods, Custom Classic Cars and June 11-July 18, 2019 Vintage Motorcycles are invited! (Tell your Vintage Camper Trailers Magazine friends to drive in between 8 am to 9 am Live Cross Country Road Trip Music by the Vintage Vandals! This event Beginning in Northern California and travwill sell out, get a spot today! www.trailerfes- eling across the country to Jackson Center, trally.com, (530) 728-0411 Ohio (and back). Several stops along the way. Camp with us at Pioneer Village in MinJune 7-9, 2019 den, Nebraska or at the Rally at the Ranch in Cape May Court House, NJ Gillette, Wyoming. Come and see our GoldJersey Shore Wingz Rally. 1917 ROUTE 9 en Caravan restoration at one of our stops at N. All makes and models are welcome! En- Airstream dealers and museums along the
June 7 - 9, 2019
Avalon Campground Clermont, NJ
Join us for the 4th Annual
Jersey Shore Wingz Vintage Trailer Rally
Enjoy the nearby beaches of the Jersey Shore. Minutes from Historic Cape May. Visit the boardwalk and amusements, local wineries, antiques and an excellent selection of shopping and dining destinations. Easy traveling distance to Atlantic City.
All MAkES And ModElS wElCoME.
2 breakfasts and 2 dinners included in the $35 per adult rally fee. E/w/S site is $50.00 per night. Craft workshops ($)
Don’t have equipment? Ask about cabin and trailer rentals. Don’t miss out on the fun!
Call Avalon Campground for more details and reservations: 1-800-814-2267 www.avaloncampground.com www.vintagecampertrailers.com
43
June 14-16, 2019 Virginia City, NV Step Back in Time. 355 F St. Open house 10-2 p.m. The RV Park has a deli, store, laundry, restrooms and showers. Hurry, limited spots with full hook ups available. If you would like to join us, call or email the RV Park in VC at 775-847-0999 or www.vcrvparknv.com to reserve a site at a discounted rate. Please contact Wes and Diana at 775-240-9049, loyds_pss@sbcglobal.net after you made the reservation so we can get your contact info and space (this is very important).
way. See our scheduled stops and contact information to make your reservations for our camp-outs. www.goldairstream.com, June 13-16, 2019 Minden, NE Pioneer Village Campout. Make your reservations directly with the park and we will see you there! One of our many stops on our cross country Golden Caravan Road Trip. See our complete schedule at www.goldairstream.com. Reservations: (308) 832-2750 www.pioneervillage.org. Wagonmasters: Paul and Caroline Lacitinola.
July 11-14, 2019 Gillette, WY Rally on the Range. Cam-Plex Multi Events Center. Make your reservations directly with the park and we will see you there! The Little Levi Rodeo event is July 13th at the outdoor Wrangler Arena. Contestants ages 6 to 14 will compete in Pole Bending, Barrel Racing, Breakaway Roping, Team Roping, Steer Riding, Sheep Riding, and Goat Tying. One of our many stops on our cross country Golden Caravan Road Trip. See our complete schedule at www.goldairstream.com. Reservations: www.cam-plex.com (307) 682-0552. Wagonmasters: Paul and Caroline Lacitinola.
July 1st to 7th, 2019 Brooks, Oregon All American Vintage Trailer Rally 3995 Brooklake Rd NE in Brooks, Oregon. Oregon's largest vintage trailer event. New for 2019: vintage trailer historian Tim Heintz will be with us to answer trailer questions and camp with the Northwest crew. No reservations required, just show up and join the fun, there is plenty of room for everyone. On site museums for cars, trucks, motorcycles, trains, tractors and there's an antique trolley that runs right through our camp. Also, one of the largest Civil War reenactments in the Northwest. All the info is at www.all-american-rally.com Open House Friday and Saturday open house, 9am to 3pm. Bob Gallagher usn@comcast.net 503-999-6626.
June 13-16 2019 Olema, CA Olema by the Sea. 10155 Hwy. 1 Olema,ca 94950. A small group of trailers enjoying the company of others. Thursday evening is fried turkey, Friday dinner is chowder cook off, Saturday is pancake breakfast, no host cocktail party followed by dinner. Sunday is pack up and see you at the next event. No Open House. Robin Gutierres kristinagutierres@sbcglobal.net (510) 6043117
g n i p m a C c i Class Sponsored by
TH - 11 TH 7 T S U G U A R ENO NV | , K R A P L E A F A R RANCHO SAN • Open house show times Friday, Aug. 9, 5pm – 8pm Saturday, Aug. 10,10am – 2pm
• $100 Entry Fee to include: - 1979 and older trailer plus 1 tow vehicle - 2 credentials (Entry into: MAG Auctions, Swap Meet, Drag Races - $270 value)
44
www.vintagecampertrailers.com
R
E
G
I
S
T
E
• $10 Spectator Fee HAN Participants are free along with children 6 and under
R
F
O
R
2
0
1
9
hotaugustnights.net | 775.356.1956
T
O
D
A
Y
July 11-14, 2019 Hampton, IL Great River Road Vintage Trailer Rally. 201 State Ave. Join us on the banks of the Mississippi River for the 5th Annual Great River Road Vintage Trailer Rally. Vintage trailers 1978 and older, and unique trailers and RV's. Please join our Facebook group, Great River Road Vintage Trailer Rally, for more details. Open House-Saturday July13, from 12-3. Kevin Isaacson austinoaks22@ gmail.com 309 235-4448
July 18-21, 2019 Brownsville, OR The Rally On The River. This is a family rally meaning kids and grandkids are encouraged to come. We have plenty of stuff for the kids to do. Cost is $35.00 per night with power, bathrooms, and showers. Everyone is in the shade . You are 200 feet from downtown Brownsville Oregon. If you want to make a vacation out of it you can come as early as July 16th. We have a full kitchen there so breakfast is served every morning. Go to our Facebook group page Rally On The River and check out all the video and pictures. This is a open registration which will open January 2nd 2019 everyone gets a shot to come join the fun. We had 86 trailers last year and we are shooting for 125 this year. Any questions feel free to send me a text or call me at (541) 206-3572 Hope to see you all there! Wade and Lisa Long p.s dogs are welcome to. This is a handicap accessible park so we will work with you. July 18-21, 2019 Elkhart, Indiana Silver Avion Fellowship (SAF) 25608 Co Rd 4,
Elkhart, IN 46514. All Avions and Cayos manufactured from the mid-1950's through 1990's are welcome to participate in the Silver Avion Fellowship (SAF) Summer Rally. All stages and types of restoration are welcome. Children and pets are welcome. The rally fee is $25 pp. The rally fee does include evening snacks, meals and morning continental breakfast same as last year. Your camping fee will be paid directly to Elkhart Campground upon arrival at a reduced rate of $35 per night for two persons. All sites are full hookups. The rally is very informal with few activities planned so you can visit with friends, explore Elkhart including the RV/ MH Hall of Fame/Museum and surrounding areas. Early arrivals and late departures are welcome. No public open house. Terry Prentkowski Keyholeren@aol.com 317-2588671. July 19-21, 2019 Taylorsville, CA Taylorsville County Park and Campground 1/2 mile east of Taylorsville, next to the Indian Creek/River. This is a County campground with fire pits and water in various locations in campground, no electric. Restrooms w/ showers available. General store w/Deli in town (great food and prices.). Public swimming pool, tennis court, fishing, and more. Bring your water stuff and play on the Indian Creek. Motorcycles, minibikes, or whatever you want to bring are allowed. Friday night meet & greet, Potluck Saturday night in the campground. $14.00 per night. Contact us if you need additional information or a reservation. Wes 775-813-7960, loyds_ pss@sbcglobal.net Come and view the vintage trailers 10:00-2:00pm Saturday July 20th, 2019. August 2- 4, 2019 Livingston, MT
The Fiddlers Picnic is a 44 year old acoustic music jam held on the Old
THE 67th ANNUAL
California RV Show is moving to the Auto Club Speedway, Fontana, CA.
OCTOBER 4- 13, 2019 www.vintagecampertrailers.com
45
Mercier Ranch on the South side of Livingston, MT, just North of Yellowstone National Park and on the banks of the Yellowstone River. Dry camping. The meat portion of a potluck is included as well as a pancake breakfast. Old Timey, bluegrass, Celtic and more acoustic music is heard throughout the event, all over the grounds. Bring your instrument when you come or just tap your toes.
River” so we can plan events accordingly. FlyingFlorence66@gmail.com Angela, Danielle and Julie (The Three Gals) NO Open House. 530-320-6303 August 16-18, 2019 Lakeport, CA Lakeside RV, Car, Boat, and Motorcycle Show - 2019. 1 First Street, Lakeport, CA 95453. Come join us and display your Vintage RV at the 2019 Lakeside RV, Car, Boat and Motorcycle show. The show is on the banks of Clearlake in downtown Lakeport, CA. There will be vendors, bands, awards, fast nitro-fueled boats demonstrating their power on the water, and lot's of beautiful cars and motorcycles. This is a fun show, with beautiful views from your campsite. So come join us with your Vintage RV, 1978 or older. We have reserved the entire RV park. Call the Willow Point Campgrounds to reserve your site at 707-262-2785 For more information you can also call Al Fox at 707321-0811 www.curbside.tv/lakeboatshow. Saturday, Aug 17th9am to 3pm. Al Fox foxdelivery@aol.com 707-321-0811
Dalsmilie@aol.com for details
August 7-11, 2019 Reno, NV Hot August Nights. See ad on page 44. August 8-11, 2019 Truckee, CA Happy Campers Rally by the River. 10068 Hirschdale Road, Truckee CA. Truckee River RV Park This will be a fun family friendly event filled weekend of campfires, a potluck, and splashing and/or relaxing by the river. We are aligning this weekend with Reno’s Hot August Nights Vintage Trailer show (Aug 6-11, 2019) so you can enjoy a day trip to this awesome event if you’re interested.1979 or older. Book your reservation through Truckee River RV Park (http://www. truckeeriverrv.com/home.html) When booking let Truckee River RV Park know you’re attending the “Happy Camper Rally by the
September 3-9, 2019 Lynden, WA Mt. Baker Vintage Trailer Rally. NW Washington Fair & Event Center 1775 Front St. Lynden, WA 98264. 19th Annual Mt. Baker Vintage Trailer Rally. Washington State's
Largest Annual Vintage Trailer Rally. This is field camping with no assigned spots. You pay and register upon arrival. (Cash, check or credit card) Showers, restrooms and a rv dump station are on site. Power and water is abundant and available for most everyone with extension cords and water splitters. Cost is: $30 per night plus a one time rally fee. (Add 3% for credit card payments). All are welcome to attend. Those trailers that aren't Vintage or "in The Spirit of Vintage" will just be asked to park in a designated section along the perimeter. This years theme is: Cowboys and Indians. Yes, Saturday, September 7, 2019 12-4:00pm. Rene Perret DownRiver11@yahoo.com (360) 431-7311 September 5-8, 2019 Branson, MO Branson KOA Annual Vintage Camper Rally. 397 Animal Safari Rd. 8th Annual Vintage Camper Rally. All campers dated 1976 and older receive special pricing. Events include a swap meet and trailer tour. Tour on Saturday, September 7 from 12 - 3 pm. Open to the public. Asking for donations to KOA Care Camps. Angie Dickerson angie@bransonkoa.com 417-334-4414 September 6-8, 2019 Winthrop, WA Wheel into Winthrop. 316 Castle Avenue. Vintage Trailer Enthusiast Extravaganza!
Package for Vintage Trailer Owners
Oct. 25th to 27th, 2019 Breakfast provided Saturday & Sunday - Best Halloween Costume Contest - Best Halloween Decorated Vintage Trailer Contest - Murder Mystery Dinner Friday Night - Saturday Trick Or Treating Open To The Public - Pumpkin Carving Contest. Secure your site today.
Call To Book 877-624-4140 Visit www.EmeraldDesert.com/vintage 46
www.vintagecampertrailers.com
A laid back gathering for folks who own vintage trailers. A great time to make new friends, show off your RV and Oooh and Ah over other folks' vintage RV's, Tractors, Motorcycles, Bicycles and collectible Automobiles. There will be an Auto Show including vintage Semis, Motorcycles, Parade of 120ish autos that come through our Campground on Saturday the 8th. Join the Party! Open House Saturday from approx 11-2. Anna Kominak pinenearpark@gmail.com 509-341-4062 September 13 -15, 2019 Newport, OR South Beach ROVT Rally.South Beach State Park. Join Rollin' Oldies Vintage Trailers for our annual rally on the Oregon Coast. Soup Bar, Potluck, Night Glow & more! Reserve
sites thru Reservations Northwest in A, B & C Loops. We welcome 1980 and older trailers. Contact your hosts Priscilla Lewallen & Ashley Morrison-Roberts at lewallenw@ msn.com & morrison.ashley1@gmail.com to register with the ROVT after you book your spot. Open House. Ashley Morrison-Roberts, morrison.ashley1@gmail.com (503) 522-6179 Priscilla Lewallen 503-831-
Go to BrighamCity@ko.com for information or call 435-723-5503.You can book now. 435-730-3840. Orbie
1268
September 20-22, 2019 Perry/Willard, UT RALLY ON THE FRUIT WAY "Journey" KOA. We are back in the country! Rates are $35.00 flat rate,no discounts,per nite,per trailer. Most spaces are full hook ups. James and Kristan Settlemire are our camp hosts.
September 26-29, 2019 Plymouth, CA TRAILERFEST! White Wedding, An 80's Love Story. Karaoke, Fast Times- a live 80's cover band, muscle cars and over 250 Vintage Trailers! Register ASAP for this sellout event: www.trailerfestrally.com October 4 -13th, 2019 Fontana, CA The 67th Annual California RV Show is moving to the Auto Club Speedway, Fontana, CA. The move will improve the customer experience with FREE Parking, real bathrooms and yummy food courts! On exhibit will be 1,200 brand new 2020 model year RVs with over 120 booths of camping accessories and RV related products. Over 40 camping seminars and RV test drives available. Take Hwy 10 and exit off Cherry St, head north to the track entrance. FREE PARKING! Adult Admission $15. See www. TheBestRVShow.com. October 11 - 14, 2018 Laconia, IA So Harrison Vintage Camper Rally. South Harrison County Park. 35 vintage campers pack a secluded campground for a weekend of fun to include 4 large group meals, a Fri night band, a special observatory event, a nightly bonfire, Open House-Saturday 1-3pm. Abby Kincaid-Bohnsoharrisonpkvintagecamperrally@gmail.com 502-994-3832. November 1 - 3, 2019 Jackson, CA Rancheria Rally. 11407 Dalton Road, 4th annual Rancheria Rally. Located at the beautiful Jackson Rancheria RV Park. Join us for a fun weekend with friends who love the vintage lifestyle. A great 'end of year' rally.No Open House. Greg and Wendy Burns rancheriarally@yahoo.com 209-605-1305 Send us your rally info. Visit the "RALLIES" page on our website to link to a simple form to give VCT the details about your event This list can not be reproduced without written permission from VCT Mag.
www.vintagecampertrailers.com
47
41
PO Box 354, Elverta CA 95626
48
www.vintagecampertrailers.com