V TRAILERS e g a t in
CAMPER Vol. 7, No. 2, Issue: 36 March-April 2018
Host Your Own
Vintage Trailer
Rally! MORE THAN
50 Rallies listed inside!
The magazine for all vintage camper trailer collectors, restorers, admirers and dreamers.
RESCUE
R E S TO R E
R A L LY
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What our customers have to say about us
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
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Located in Hemet, California, we offer a wide variety of RV siding and camper siding for a variety of vintage camper trailers. Our panels and products are ideal when it comes to completing seamless repairs to siding, roofing and edging on your vehicle. Hemet Valley RV guarantees to deliver the results that you expect right to your door.
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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.
Extensive knowledge and quality materials. Very fair pricing and quick turn around time. Steve and Tammy are always helpful. -Larry
Hitting the Jackpot
Story and Photographs by Richard Cook Jim Inglese of Lake City, FL didn’t know a thing about trailers when he purchased a 1960 Shasta Airflyte (19 ft) on a whim in 2007, nor did he have any family or friends who owned trailers. So it was pure luck that he hit the jackpot his first time out! Not only did he buy the vintage trailer from the granddaughter of the original owner (who lived in Canada), the purchase included the original brochure, invoice, warranty card, manuals, and every other piece of documentation that comes with the purchase of a new trailer! And that’s not the best part. The trailer had been stored beneath a tarp for over a decade prior to towing it back to Connecticut (where Jim lived at the time), so the interior had no water damage and was in perfect condition. Jim stored the Shasta in a building he owned, where it sat undergoing a slow, ten-year restoration due to several non-trailer projects getting in the way. All of the skins are original, as are the windows and frames,
which were taken apart piece by piece, cleaned, polished, and put back together. The only thing Jim had to do to the interior was decorate it to his liking. Other than that, the wood, upholstery, and appliances are all in original condition. The project was completed in 2017 and taken on its first road trip when Jim moved to Florida in June. Next, he took the trailer to Defuniak Springs, FL in September to escape Hurricane Irma. Up until he heard about and attended the Gathering Of The Times Vintage Trailer Rally in Pine Mountain, GA in October 2017, Jim didn’t know he had gotten himself involved in the growing hobby of vintage trailer restorations. Jim tows his Shasta with a restored 1951 Ford Pickup retrofitted with a 1964 Corvette engine. www.vintagecampertrailers.com
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Inside This Issue Index 2nd Annual Malibu Rally
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The Cabin, An Aristocrat Conversion 15 The Gathering of The Times Rally
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@thebunnyboxvb (On Instagram)
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11th Annual TCT Florida Homecoming 33
Lil Hotdish- Page 10
Terry Trailer, Rescued and Restored
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Camper Chef - Beer Mussels
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Trailer Friends, Orbie and Arv
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Before They Were Vintage
36
Juke Boxes, Past and Present
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USA Rally Calendar
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Vintage Camper Trailers
Rally Starter Kit
Ready to host your own rally? We can help.
1957 Trotwood Cub- Page 24
Visit our website for details on our Rally Starter Kit that includes our new book.
Cover Photo Courtesy of
Rick Rajewski 4
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VintageCamperTrailers.com
American Tr a i l e r i t e By Paul Lacitinola Publisher VCT Magazine Volume: 7 - Number: 2 - Issue: 36 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. Talkin' on the phone is not my speed Don't send me no letter 'cause I can't read Don't be long 'cause I'll be gone We gonna rock and roll all night long - Fats Domino Vintage Camper Trailers Magazine is a non-denominational supporter of the vintage camper trailer hobby. We welcome all collectors, restorers, admirers and dreamers. Subscribe Today - See page 40 for details.
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, and Pick-Ups. (916) 992-1427
If you have subscribed to the Vintage Camper Trailers Magazine for a year or more I would hope that you see us constantly improving on a good thing. You may also notice that we try to include a variety of certain elements in every issue. Ideally our mix of pictorials would include a high-end build, a self-build, under 30 trailerites, rally recaps and a “how-to” or “tips” column. When we have material we also like to include Vintage Vendors, Before They Were Vintage and destination related features. We make every attempt to include the input that we receive from our readers in the magazine. We welcome articles from coast to coast and are fortunate to have supporters that take the time to send us photos and stories. If you would like your trailer featured, all you must do is ask! The VCT Magazine wants to represent the variety of hobbyists that enjoy vintage trailering. I found it ironic that as we are packing to leave for Boot Camp and have just released a “how-to” book on Vintage Camper Trailer Rallies, this issue does not contain a how-to article! We received so much other great input from the Tin Can Tourists, Richard Cook, bloggers like Tiffany and Jenny and photos from Rick Rajewski that we simply ran out of room! We even have last minute additions to the rally calendar that will have to go in the next issue. We have a great network of “how-to” writers and we will make sure to include them in upcoming issues. If you have something to share, we invite you to give us your input on trailer restorations, vintage camping or anything else you think fellow trailerites might enjoy seeing and reading about. In the meantime, our “how-to” book about Vintage Camper Trailer Rallies is available on our website. In the book we share a dozen years of rallying experience along with hundreds of photos of rallies we have attended. We tell you how we host rallies like Trailerfest and Boot Camp with over 250 trailers! We give you ideas on how you can host your own rally, and how we can help you. We even created a Rally Starter Kit! The kit includes the VCT Rallies book, full color glossy window signs for each attendee, three of our favorite stickers for each of your guests, sample magazines to pass out and back issues of the magazine that you can raffle off or use as door prizes. Use our starter kit and we also pay you for any new subscribers! If you still need help getting a rally going, we’ll set up a time to get on the phone and answer any questions we can. Go to the “Camp Store” on our website and find “Host A Rally” for more information. We didn't have room for a feature in this issue on our 1955 Spartan Mobile Museum. We did finish it, and took it to some shows in Oregon. We will have it at Boot Camp and we will do a spread on it in the magazine. Until then, you can check out the photos at: www.midcenturymobile.com/museum.html
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2nd Annual
Malibu
Vintage Trailer Rally
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Pirates and vintage trailers took over Malibu Beach RV Park over the weekend of October 13th 2017. Campers themed their trailers with pirate dĂŠcor, and strolled around the park in their pirate attire. Saturday entertainment included the mellow music of a live Caribbean steel drum band, pirate costume contest, raffle, and cannon ball (water balloon) toss! See the calendar in this magazine (ad on page 46) for information on this annual fall rally. Photos courtesy of Rick Rajewski www.vintagecampertrailers.com
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Ahoy mates! Grab your pirate hats and join in the fun at the Malibu Vintage Trailer Rally. The annual pirate themed rally is held at the Malibu Beach RV Park, with ocean-view sites located on a beautiful hillside overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The rally hosted approximately 40 pre-1975 vintage trailers this year.
Ray and Julee Rocha
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Carlos & Sherry Vivas, and Wrigley
Left to Right This Page: 1964 Boles Aero Zenith, Chuck & Pat Salyer Pirates ready to party! Pirate Dog. 1965 Shasta Airflite, Alex Kleckner & Erika Boyer (rally hosts) Dave Highway, Elizabeth Asman Highway, Paxton and Brynlee
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Lil Hotdish You could call it a "vintage fish house camper." It looked very shabby – and not the shabby chic kind of shabby. A matte grey painted exterior with dents, broken windows, and plenty of water damage. Submitted by: Jenny Anderson - Girl of 10,000 Lakes, @girlof10000lakes - girlof10000lakes.com
When I first saw the Lil Hotdish, it was far from love at first sight. I found it while scrolling through my Craigslist this past fall. I was actually looking for a fish house for ice fishing on our Minnesota lakes in the winter. This one happened to be a vintage camper that was converted to a fish house so it would work for all four seasons. You could call it a "vintage fish house camper." It looked very shabby – and not the shabby chic kind of shabby. A matte grey painted exterior with dents, broken windows, and plenty of water damage. But I saw the potential and so did my husband Nick. It would also make a great little sidekick to my Instagram and blog Girl of 10,000 Lakes which is dedicated to inspiring folks, especially women, to get outdoors. We had to have it. We got the camper for $1500 from the boonies of Buffalo, MN. It looked like something out of Breaking Bad. I was embarrassed to have it in our driveway. But with a ton of TLC, this ugly duckling would soon become my Lil Hotdish. It took around two months to get the Lil Hotdish into shape and bring back its vintage flare. The make is Monitor from Wakarusa, Indiana, 1960s era. The original owner of the camper converted it to a fish house. The trailer bed is a crank down mechanism, which means we can lower the entire camper close to the ice for fishing. There were five holes with covers on the floor for ice fishing (now there are four — I’ll explain why in a bit). 10
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There’s a propane gas heater that vents outside to keep us warm in the winter. It sleeps up to four people, quite snuggly. We did a $1000 DIY renovation to get it back into shape. Some updates include new luan boards, a copper foot pump sink which now covers one of the fish holes, wainscoting and faux tin walls, new floorboards and laminate flooring, fresh coat of exterior and interior paint, and a cooktop area for our Primus Tupike camping stove. There were definitely issues we had to fix, like the carpenter ants and wood rot. I still have goosebumps thinking about that. We patched up holes on the outside, fixed the brake lights, heater and windows, etc. We kept the original ceiling, cupboards, seating, table, and gas lamps. In the end, Nick and I decided the camper needed a super Minnesotan name. It was between the Minisota and the Lil Hotdish. Nick and I both agreed the Lil Hotdish was the clear winner, especially since I planned to cook up some hotdishes (some people call them casseroles) in the camper. This is the first winter Kiwi (our yorkie), Nick, and I took the Lil Hotdish out onto the ice. With the camper hitched on our SUV, we've rolled onto the ice roads of Mille Lacs Lake nearly every wintry weekend now. Mille Lacs is known for premium walleye and bass fishing. The ice is around 27" thick, which
Ice fishing on the lakes of Minnesota www.vintagecampertrailers.com 11
is more than enough for driving an SUV and towing a camper. Once the camper is unhitched, it's a process that I now know like the back of my hand: lower the crank down mechanism, hook up the propane to get the heater going, grab the auger and drill holes in the camper, setup the rattle reels with bait and put the line in the water, and transform the Lil Hotdish from travel-mode to hygge-mode. In case you haven't heard of a rattle reel, it's a fishing reel that's attached to the wall of the camper right above the ice fishing holes. Place a minnow on the hook and lower the line down into the water until it's hovering a foot or two from the bottom (that's where the walleyes are). It allows us to fish while we are sleeping since the reel starts rattling when a fish is hooked. It's the best kind of alarm clock to wake up to. Most people have heard of farm-to-table, but lake-to-table is on a whole other level. The freshest Friday Fish Fry anyone can ask for. Shore Lunch or homemade beer batter combined with fresh walleye make for excellent fish tacos. Crack open a cold one and you have yourself a memorable meal. Our friends always ask, "how do you stay warm when it's -10 degrees outside?!" It's called a heater, folks. Thankfully, ours works really well and it gets toasty in no time. One propane tank can last us three days. My favorite part of the Lil Hotdish, besides being able to ice fish, is the camaraderie it provides. It's a comfortable little space for sharing a meal together,
Our friends always ask, "how do you stay warm when it's -10 degrees outside?!" It's called a heater folks.
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We get a lot of looks from other anglers who drive past the Lil Hotdish on the lake. We've even had people knock on the door randomly out of curiosity. There are fish houses scattered all across the lake, called "shanty towns." But most fish houses are either home built or super modern. Our Lil Hotdish is definitely unique. It has vintage charm with the comforts of home.
Most people have heard of farm-to-table, but lake-to-table is on a whole other level.
drinking wine, playing card games, listening to tunes, and simply catching up on life while surrounded by a beautiful winter wonderland. It's efficient to be able to sleep on the ice in the camper instead of going back to a hotel, which is what we used to do. Before the Lil Hotdish, our fish house was a pop-up shanty or basically a tent. Now, we wake up in the luxury of the camper, make french press coffee in the morning, and cook up some chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast.
Hot pressed coffee and Kiwi (our Yorkie). www.vintagecampertrailers.com
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After
Ice fishing holes in the floor.
Before
"This summer, the Lil Hotdish will go on a new adventure to see the mountains. We plan to take it through Grand Teton, Glacier, and across the border to Banff. " 14
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The Cabin
Katie Wiley, the owner of Stagecoach Detail and Design has recently renovated a 1971 Aristocrat Lo-Liner. “The Cabin� has been completely renovated from top to bottom starting with the cedar planks that gives it a warm, cabin-y feel and smell! The aroma of cedar throughout is so incredible! The dinette was been reupholstered in durable canvas with additional memory foam for added comfort. The dinette table was remade using stained cedar. The kitchen was completely rebuilt with new butcher block counter tops, new appliances, a new handmade
1971 16ft Aristocrat Lo-Liner Photos by Katie Wiley
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This Aristocrat sports an electric fireplace. The fireplace has been placed inside a charming chimney for coziness and ambiance. hammered copper sink as well as new hardware and fixtures. The bedroom area has a TV/DVD player with a swivel mount that allows it to be comfortably watched while lying on the brand new custom made, organic cotton, memory foam mattress. The TV can also be swiveled to watch while sitting in the dinette area. Right: Maverick, age 5, and Nash, age 4, with Katie. (Little sister/daughter, Bo, age 2, not pictured.) 16
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Features
•Sleeps up to 4 comfortably on dinette that folds out into bed w/ newly upholstered dinette cushions and a custom made memory foam, organic cotton, bed •3 burner stove w/ oven •New electric refrigerator •New handmade hammered copper sink •New oiled bronze faucet •New toilet •New hardware throughout •New lighting •New flooring •New 24" TV with DVD player on swivel mount •New electric fireplace w/ heat option •Lots of Storage throughout w/ hangers and baskets •All bedding and pillows included (brand new) •New battery •New wiring •USB port for cell phone charging •Fully stocked with a four place setting of Cabin appropriate speckled enamel plates, bowels, mugs and cookware, flatware, cast iron skillet, wood round coasters, coffee pot, and toaster... just about everything you would need for your next adventure!
My family and I share such a love for these older trailers, in fact, our children have never known a life without a vintage trailer in the driveway starting with our 1977 Coachman so to share our passion and possibly inspire someone else to save one of these treasures from a landfill is what it’s all about.
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G AT H E R I N G O F THE TIMES
Story and Photographs by Richard Cook
Vintage trailerites swarmed the Pine Mountain RV Resort in Pine Mountain, Georgia on October 12th - 15th for the 2017 Gathering Of The Times Vintage Trailer Rally, proving that this hobby is alive and well on the east coast. In fact, the campground filled to capacity with over 140 vintage trailers registered (a 50% increase over last year’s event), including a one-of-a-kind prototype 1955 Wally Byam’s Holiday Model 16 and a rare 1947 Great Western, one of only three known to exist. Originally started by Doug Millard in 2013 as the North Georgia Vintage Trailer Rally in Hiawassee, Georgia, the inaugural event saw twenty-three trailers in attendance, mostly friends of Millard. Pete Whitley took over 18
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hosting the annual rally in 2015 and quickly expanded NGVTR’s popularity, attracting vintage trailerites from as far away as Montana and Massachusetts. By 2016, the rally had outgrown its Hiawassee location when ninety-four vintage trailers showed up, causing an overflow crowd to set up in a neighboring campground. Thus, the change of venue for this year’s event to Pine Mountain. In addition, the rally’s name was changed to Gathering Of The Times. Pine Mountain RV Resort is a full-service park with a playground for kids, swimming pool, and hot tub. There’s even a large pavilion, which was reserved for rally guests throughout the 4-day festival. Rally
attendees
started
arriving
1956 General Coach (14 ft) owned by Jim and Marta Bell of Ontario, Canada.
1964 Fleetwing (14 ft) owned by Dean & Darlene Anderson of Charleston, TN.
1970 Serro Scotty Sportsman Highlander Mike and Lisa Fowler of Smyrna, GA.
1977 Apache Ramada (20 ft) owned by Freddy and Tabatha Smith of Athens, TN. The tow vehicle is a 1960 Chevrolet Kinswood Wagon complete with surfboard and travel decals.
Facing Page: 1947 Great Western (17 ft) owned by Todd Emily of Athens, GA. Recently restored by Ken Hindley in Ontario, Canada, this trailer made its debut at the Tin Can Tourists Fall Gathering in Dearborn, MI in September 2017. The second showing of this sparkling beauty was a few weeks later at the 2017 Gathering Of The Times Vintage Trailer Rally. It looks futuristic in 2017, yet it was designed seventy years ago in 1947. Extremely rare! Only three are known to exist today. The flat-decked roof on the1947 Great Western is a reinforced sleeping platform for two people. Access is via handholds and footholds running up both sides of the rear slope. Thursday afternoon with a 2:00 pm check-in time. Festivities started that evening after everyone finished setting up their trailers. Welcome bags were handed out containing a trailer sign, identification badges, rally schedule, rally poster and rally koozie. Then it was time to meet and greet old friends and new, and relax with a drink in hand. Friday night saw trailerites bringing tasty treats to the pavilion for a tapas dinner (...so much great food, so little room in our tummies to eat it all). On display for everyone to enjoy was a miniature beachside vintage trailer diorama in 1/24th scale put together by Richard Cook using a Shasta Airflyte trailer, Chevrolet Nomad tow vehicle, picnic table with ice coolers, Coca-Cola bottle,
1962 Forester (13 ft) owned by Kevin and Glenda Mooney of Apex, NC.
1955 Wally Byam’s Holiday Model 16 prototype owned by Lanny Webb of Athens, GA. Built by Airstream. It took the Vintage Airstream Club several decades before they accepted this beautiful gem as part of the Airstream brand.
two cases of Budweiser, vintage billboard advertisements, and a dancing hula girl on real beach sand. Following the casual dinner, trailer historian and restorer Tim Heintz gave a detailed lecture about the history of trailers and the Tin Can Tourists camping organization. Then came the retro party (sock hop/hippie/ rockabilly), where everyone dressed up in period attire (poodle skirts, saddle shoes, rolled up jeans, tie-dyed t-shirts, and headbands) while dancing the night away. The fun had only just begun!
display). Saturday night saw trailerites back at the pavilion for live rock and roll music performed by Sweet Grass Sally, a local band from Newman, Georgia.
The highlight of the rally was Saturday afternoon’s vintage trailer show (participant-only open house) and flea market. Unfortunately, there wasn’t time enough to tour every trailer (...there were just that many vintage trailers on
Oh, yeah...I forgot to mention that free coffee and mimosas were enjoyed each morning at the tiki hut. Clear your calendar to be in attendance at next year’s Gathering Of The Times Vintage Trailer Rally!
When organized activities weren’t taking place, trailerites swapped stories with other trailerites. Final goodbyes were said on Sunday morning. All campsites had to be vacated by noon to make room for the incoming Bluebird Wanderlodge Motorhome Rally starting later that day at Pine Mountain RV Resort.
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Submitted by Tiffany
@thebunnyboxvb
It all started with the love that I have for the outdoors. For the last year, I’ve taken many trips all over Virginia just to hike and be out in the mountain air on my weekends off. I’ve always dreamed of having a camper, and my dreams became reality in August of 2017. My brother found an adorable vintage 1966 Decamp breadbox trailer for sale. It clearly needed some work done to it, but we were down for the challenge of restoring. It took several months of dedicated long hours to restore this beauty. 51 years after it was made, I’m giving this camper a chance to make more fun memories while being outdoors. I’ve put a lot of love and
friends 20
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@vintagecampertrailers commitment into Bunny Box, and have decided to rent it out so others can enjoy it like it’s their own! It is now available to rent through Airbnb in Virginia Beach, Virginia. See what all the glamp is about on Instagram @thebunnyboxvb My favorite spot so far in Virginia Beach is First Landing State park! You're near trails and on The Chesapeake Bay. Facing Page: Tiffany with a croc pot, friends gather around the holidays, Tiffany in the doorway of the Bunny Box. This Page: Let it snow! Why not if your inside staying warm. Personal touches brighten up the inside of the Bunny Box. Friendsgiving: Tiffany, Chrissy, Jessie and Allie.
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11th Annual
Florida Homecoming Story and Photographs by Richard Cook The Tin Can Tourists had perfect weather for their 11th Annual Florida Homecoming in Estero, FL on November 2-5, 2017. Also known as the Koreshan Unity Settlement Gathering & Show held at Koreshan State Historic Site, twenty-two vintage trailers were on display for the public to tour. One of the trailers experienced an electrical fire upon arrival, but quick action with a fire extinguisher prevented a total loss. (Warning: When was the last time you checked your fire extinguisher?) The owners towed their trailer home (...approximately thirty miles away), did an overnight clean-up job, applied paint to hide the smoke and fire damage, then returned the following day to rejoin the event. 22
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Thursday evening after everyone finished setting up their trailers, club members brought snacks to a casual ‘get acquainted’ social. Although most of the attendees were already friends from past years, five new members (...including the author and his family) were officially inducted into the Tin Can Tourists organization by Forrest Bone, Director of TCT. Later that night, Tim Heintz, vintage trailer historian and Southeast Regional Representative of TCT, gave a presentation on the history of the club, as well as the history of trailers and trailer parks. Friday began with a catered breakfast of eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits, fruit,
juice, and coffee. Vintage trailerites sure like to eat! The rest of the day was a relaxed affair with club members visiting other club members. At 4:00 pm a table was set up for a game called “What is it and How is it Used?” The owners of each trailer brought an obscure object (...some brought more than one, which is why the table displayed twenty-five objects). Everyone got a pencil and piece of paper with the numbers 1 through 25 printed on it. The intent of the game was to guess what the object was and explain how it was used. Cheating was not permitted (...no asking for help, no Googling photographs of the objects on smartphones, no looking at other people’s answers). It was a heck-
Facing Page: 1949 Spartanette owned by Forrest and Jeri Bone of Gregory, MI (April thru October) and Bradenton, FL (the remainder of the year). Tim Heintz, vintage trailer historian, explained during his presentation that early trailer parks had individual restrooms behind each trailer site, and always on left side of the site. After communal restrooms became vogue, manufacturers moved the rear doors on two-door trailers to the right side. Above Left: 1962 Airstream Globe Trotter owned by Hunt and Susan Jones of Mountain Lakes, NJ. Notice the red emblem to the left of the door. The name Globe Trotter was spelled as two words in 1962, whereas today it’s a single word with a lowercase ‘t’ (Globetrotter). Above Right: 1963 Shasta owned by Danny and Gail Kent of High Springs, FL. This compact treasure is called ‘The Yellow Submarine’ partly due to the exterior paint scheme, but mostly because of the interior’s Beatlemania theme. The paint job, by the way, is fourteen years old. Below Left: Friday evening’s game of “What is it and How is it Used?” The author’s wife and daughter, Bonnie and Jennifer, are in the foreground. Forrest Bone, Director of TCT, is to the left of Jennifer. Below Right: 1963 Airstream Overlander owned by David and Lauren Carlyle of Naples, FL. Modified differently than most Airstream restorations, this trailer features a Victorian-Gothic-Gypsy vibe on both the exterior and interior. This was the Carlyle’s first Airstream restoration. In the past, they’ve converted horse trailers into travel trailers using similar themes. MORE PHOTOS ON PAGE 40 of-a-lot of fun (...and difficult). Correct answers weren’t given until after dinner, which was scheduled as a group affair at 5:00 pm. Each trailer brought a dish to share, while TCT provided the meat (...fried chicken). As previously stated, vintage trailerites sure like to eat! At 7:00 pm everyone gathered to hear the answers to the game. The highest score was twenty correct objects. The two most interesting objects were a huge metal valve used in the diesel engine of a cruise ship and a long iron rod used for prying up steel spikes holding down railroad tracks. Friday night was spent mingling in smaller groups around several trailers.
Saturday started with another catered breakfast, this time with biscuits and gravy, fruit, juice, and coffee. Nobody can claim the Tin Can Tourists don’t eat well at their gatherings! When 10:00 am finally came around, it was time for the public open house (...the main event of the weekend). TCT members gave tours of their trailers and explained about the growing hobby of vintage trailer restorations. Besides enjoying the tours, there was also live music and an arts & crafts show going on at the Koreshan Unity Settlement. There was so much to do, there was no time to be bored. The open house ended at 4:00 pm. At 5:00 pm TCT members gathered for a catered dinner of barbeque chicken, pork, cornbread, and all the fix-
ins’ (...a real southern feast). Afterwards, most trailerites took down awnings, lights, plastic flamingos, and other decorations in preparation for Sunday’s departure. A few people even departed that night to be home for church the next morning. Final goodbyes were said on Sunday morning, with TCT providing pastries, juice, and coffee. Departure came earlier than usual to make room for vendors arriving to set up for a local farmers market. It was a fantastic November weekend and a great build-up to the Tin Can Tourists 99th Winter Convention (...with about 200 vintage trailers expected to attend) in Brooksville, FL in February 2018. Hope to see you there. www.vintagecampertrailers.com
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Who knew that buying an old camper and fixing it up would ultimately be a life changing experience? We certainly didn’t 10 years ago when we took the initial plunge into the hobby! In 2008 my wife Liz and I had been married for 4 years, were comfortably settled after moving in and fixing up our first home and I was, as always, looking for the next project. In the past, we’d been casual campers and it was more my thing than hers initially, but we both decided we would probably enjoy it more if we got out of tent camping and into a camper of some sort. Our love for old things, including owning several old cars over the years, had already been established and when we started looking into campers, we were less than impressed with what we were finding: poorly built, overpriced trailers that we would be lucky to get a few good years out of (in my opinion). The vintage trailer hobby was unfamiliar to us at that time but like most things, I decided I could come up with something better for a fraction of the price by fixing up an old trailer which meant having something cool; not a white box like everything else in the campground. So our search began! It didn’t take long and there was a 24
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gutted 1961 Avion T27 in our driveway. For the next year I poured hundreds of hours into that trailer as the entire neighborhood watched on in anticipation. As expected, we learned a lot redoing that camper and it served us well for a couple years. Since parting with the Avion, we have “serviced” a couple more campers including a Holiday Traveler, a Del Rey Truck Camper, and our current trailer a 1957 Trotwood Cub that we’ve enjoyed for the last 4 years. Finding and redoing these old campers has truly become one of my favorite pastimes, and besides the campers we have personally redone... we have also “rescued” several that have now been restored by others. Currently, our project is a 1955 Silver Dome built in Kalamazoo, MI, just 90 miles from our home in Muskegon! We are excited about finishing this trailer complete with a few more creature comforts than our Trotwood. The hope is to tow it with our 48 Pontiac Convertible down Route 66 all the way to the west coast sometime in the future. The thing that we never anticipated when we got into vintage camping was the relationships that we
Brandon and Liz Morrison Muskegon Michigan
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Brandon and Liz Morrison in front of their trailer at the West Michigan Vintage Rally.
Towing through the Tunnel Of Trees in Northern Michigan.
The Trottwood's classic interior
The trailer needed the typical repairs to moisture damaged wood.
Our 65 Holiday behind our Roadmaster Wagon.
Exploring the Quincy Mines along the route of the Super Dooper Yooper Looper.
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discovered and continue to grow. In the last ten years we have hosted our local West Michigan Vintage Rally at Hoffmaster State Park 7 times that usually brings in a little over 100 trailers each year and as many as 1,000 visitors for our open house. We have also organized the Tin Can Tourists Super Dooper Yooper Looper tour of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula; a caravan of 30 vintage units in 2015. This excursion spanned 10 days exploring the entire Upper Peninsula and changing campsites daily. We logged over 2,000 miles and had a caterer along to provide the group with dinner each night! There have been many other great trips throughout the Midwest with all the friends that we’ve made along the way. Since 2015 we have put around 10,000 miles on our little Trotwood, several of which were behind our 48 Pontiac. Late last summer we attended a first-time rally in Pennsylvania and made it into a 10 day trip traveling along with 6 other vintage units down through West Virginia and looping back to Michigan through Ohio. In addition to the scenery and travel, we’ve discovered that the friendships are the most important part of this whole adventure, and it’s almost hard to believe what an impact getting a vintage camper and becoming involved with the Tin Can Tourists has had on our lives! Now, we’re looking forward to another action packed summer full of exploring the backroads of America with the top down and the Trotwood on the hitch, gathering pieces and parts for our Silver Dome project, and most of all spending time with all the great people we’re connected to thanks to this hobby. May we meet many more of you down the road... until then, Happy Camping!
Our 1969 Tradewind in the Redwoods. www.vintagecampertrailers.com
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Te r r y Tr a i l e r Rescued and Restored . The original inspection certificate is still on the wall in the closet containing inspectors signatures. The paper was so fragile that we covered them with clear Plexiglas. Story and Photographs by Jim and Judy Lundal
We are relatively new to the Vintage Trailer arena. Over the past 7 years, all the work our trailers required was performed by us in the driveway. We’re not professional restorers, but we have built several garages, remodeled our kitchen and completed a lot of DIY projects, the work just seemed simple. Approximately 7 years ago, our daughter said she was going to bid on ebay for a vintage trailer located in Northern California. (We live in Southern CA.) She won the trailer with the high bid so her father, Jim, a friend and I, went to pick up the trailer. While driving north, we stayed the night with another friend just outside of Chico, CA. It was near the location where the trailer we were picking up was located. The next morning was a tour around the friend’s English walnut orchard and his neighbor’s property. While all were visiting with the neighbor, Jim was more interested in what he found behind the neighbor's house. (See adjacent picture.) 28 www.vintagecampertrailers.com
An inquiry to the owner revealed it was a 1953 Terry Rambler and the last DMV registration was in the 1980’s. It had been sitting since before that time for many years. Terry History: The owner recalled that in the 1960’s he was attending Chico State University and someone said he could live in the trailer. The transition is not clear but the current owner had the Pink Slip in his name. Since this trip involved picking up and towing home another trailer, my only interest at the time was sending the picture to my daughter. The Terry owner’s son told me (on the side), that his dad would probably let you have it to get more room. The trailer that was bought on ebay was a 1956 Aljo and we towed it home to Southern CA. It was a total ground-up restoration with rotten floor and structural frame and missing
some interior cabinets. Fast forward 1 year and I am tearing down the Aljo in our daughter’s backyard and documenting everything. “Life” interfered about this time and we decided to downsize our home and needed to buy and sell some things. Also, our daughter was planning to relocate out of state since the company she works for was relocating. End result: The Aljo was scrapped! About a year after we had downsized, we remembered the Terry, up north. A phone call revealed the trailer was still behind the house, amongst the old tires. We agreed on a price even though I had not been inside the Terry and had no idea of condition. The owner said: “as is”.
Jim Chico, CA in the northern part of the state, is not considered a “no rain” arid CA area. Summers can be very hot, and winters are subject to a considerable amount of rain. The Terry was located on a farm, between two major rivers, in an area noted for flooding. Although the trailer was never under-water, after 40+ years of sitting what could we expect. Our friends had greased the wheel bearings and we put on new tires. We set out to pick it up and tow it home. At home, an inspection revealed wood structure damage. The damaged area was limited to the “canned ham” curved back corner on the door side and under the front and back windows. The plywood floor was sound, and the floor still had undamaged original linoleum in excellent condition. Additional inspection indicated a very unused trailer. The Marvel refrigerator still worked, the stand alone, four burner Preway stove with oven and broiler appeared to have never been used and all the blue Formica counter top and table top surfaces were in good condition. Another item was the original wood removable rear bunk. Later when searching the rear storage area under the bed the original awning was still folded in a box.
Also, as a final discovery, the original inspection certificate is still on the wall in the closet containing inspectors signatures. The paper was becoming quite fragile so we covered them with clear plexiglass panels. Restoration/rebuilding was going to be limited to removing front and back aluminum siding and windows. Again, this was www.vintagecampertrailers.com 29
performed in our driveway. While front and back windows were removed, Judy polished the windows, and installed new gaskets. There was only one electrical outlet in the trailer originally. While the front was being restored, an additional outlet was added under the table and another in the end of the galley cabinet. Since dry camping was anticipated, Jim installed a 15 gallon water tank under the seat with a hand pump at the sink.
The original taillights were modified by Jim to include double filament bulbs for more light while driving and allow for brake lights and turn signals. A new 7 way cable was installed from the front tongue plug to all the signal light system. Finally, new interior paneling was installed inside on the lower panels in the front and back. The new interior paneling was stained with several coats of Amber Zinsser Shellac. You know you are done when the new panels color matches the original, then it is time to quit. Now it was time for the original exterior aluminum to be reinstalled.
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At this juncture, painting the exterior was considered. Our Terry still has remnants of original paint (dark green and cream) and with cost, etc. we decided to stay with its original patina. However, we do not wash it aggressively as you can see the patina leaving in the runoff water. The Interior work was limited. All original paneling and cabinets have the original finish. The original window coverings were venetian blinds but some were missing and others needed much work. I made curtains to match the blue Formica counter tops and table top. I also got original 1950’s curtain hardware off Ebay. We reupholstered the original seat framework with new marine grade vinyl material. The original electric light fixtures were intact and working. The trailer never had gas lights. Also, the original exhaust fan that is attached under the cabinet, above the stove, is original. This early trailer did not come with a vent hood. This being our very initial vintage trailer has not only provided satisfaction of saving something (some say a piece of trailer history) but we use it often. The trailer has now seen Yosemite, Shaver Lake, trailer meets, and local stays nearby.
APRIL 13 SPRING CLEANING EVENT DO NOT MISS THE DEALS!
Vintage Spartans on display!
ONE DAY ONLY!
A.Watt (Orbie) Mungall (left) and his friend Arv Fackwell (right). Orbie is a contributor to the Vintage Camper Trailers Magazine and an avid Tin Can Tourist, rally host and all around go-to guy in the hobby. If you don't know him, you haven't received an email from him signed... Retired (now a "crusty") Doodlebugger 1978-2008 "There is not a problem that dynamite will not fix quick." Over the past few years Orbie has told me about his friend Arv and we even did a little feature on his hitch invention a couple of years ago. Today I received the following email from Orbie: Arv Fackwell, my friend for 15 years passed away. Every time we got together he was an endless source of trailer history. Arv started selling trailers and parts just after WWII. He opened Arv's Trailer Supply in 1962. The business closed in 2017 and I helped him remove all of his stock. Arv knew the folks that built Road Runner, Jet, Kit and Rancho El Rae in Ogden UT. Arv was an inventor and an innovator. He will be missed. I told Orbie: We are blessed to be in a hobby where we have made so many friends. We have also learned that having so many friends comes with the highs and lows of the good times and the not so good times. -PAUL, VCT MAG www.vintagecampertrailers.com
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Brussels
Beer Mussels and
Belgian Fries
Photo by Raf Willems
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Bart Cops, 43 is here out of Belgium, Europe. He immigrated from Belgium to Southern Nevada a little over five years ago. It is here he found his love for being a hobby chef. Bart has gained fame by cooking dishes not only for his local Farmer’s Market companions but also his family, friends and those less fortunate than he. Bart swears by the basic honest kitchen and presents himself as an autodidact cook with amazing skills. His other passion is his 1983 Avion.
RECIPE By Bart Cops - Camper Chef TIME 30 min-2 Servings INGREDIENTS • 4-5 large Golden Idaho potatoes to cut fries • 1 small onion • 1 garlic clove • 1 bottle of (Stella Artois blond) beer • 1/2 cup mayonnaise • 1/2 stack of celery • 3-4 pounds cultivated large as possible mussels, rinsed • 2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley EQUIPMENT • Equipment: a peeling knife, fries pan and a medium pot • Accompaniment: crusty bread (preferably a baguette) PREPARATION Cook Belgian fries twice. First 6 min, let them ‘rest’ while you prepare your mussels and cook second time when your mussels are in the second stage of cooking. Cook until they float in your cooking oil. (375F) Shake them off and add salt if preferred. Meanwhile, a good spoon of butter in your pot. Than cut onion into very thin slices, cut celery into small half inch pieces, add garlic clove into your pot, add the beer bottle and salt and pepper . At that point add mussels in a wide heavy medium pot and turn the heath to high. Keep it covered immediately and cook until you see steam coming out. Uncover with a towel or ovenmit, shake the mussels 3-5 times until you really shook it up. Back on the heath for another 4 minutes until they are open. Double check if mussels are open. Never stir, steam is the keyword. Ready when the mussels are open, soft and pale golden. Discard any mussels that are unopened! Pour liquid (or the soup like we call it) over the mussels, then serve with Belgian fries and (mustard) mayonnaise on the side.
Photo by Heikki Verdurme http://www.heikki.be/
Belgian Fries are loooooong fries, absolutely no peels and cut exactly 9 mm think on each side. Remember to bake them twice, first for 6 minutes and then until they float and golden brown. That gives them the crunchy taste we know in Belgium. Delicious with salt and mayonnaise! Camper-Chefs’ notes: #1: rinse mussels 3-4 times with cold water before cooking! #2: add butter on the bottom of your mussel pan to give it a rich buttery taste. Photo by LeCornet.be
1958 Roll-O-Vend www.vintagecampertrailers.com
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dan@vintagecampers.com
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A visual wonderland filled with fascinating and diverse imagery that will surprise the average reader. The travel trailer figured prominently in twentieth-century American pop culture. It’s put on grand display in this kitschy celebration culled from the coffers of Trailer Travel’s Phil Noyes. $29.95
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BEFORE THEY WERE VINTAGE
The Camper That Found Me by John A. Larsen It was a crisp Christmas morning in 1942 when my parents crossed the border into Mexico with their 1937 Pierce-Arrow Travelodge Model A camper in tow. Theirs was not a vacation but the beginning of a ministry of translating the New Testament into the previously unwritten Huasteco language. My brother was an infant and I was born two years after they set up camp on a reservation in central Mexico. Their camper stood in stark contrast to the surrounding bamboo walled, single room huts topped with thatch roofs. About all they shared in common was square footage. The 19’ Pierce-Arrow was to be my first home. My parents slept in the back where they converted the dinette into a bed, and my brother and I slept in the front—he on the click clack sofa and I in a crib. The side of my crib kept him from rolling off the bed. For three years the four of us lived in the camper without electricity or running water. For most of that time my brother and I were in diapers. Summer temperatures sizzled so much that one day the thermometer exploded when it shot past 120 degrees. The risk of contracting malaria from mosquito bites kept us confined to the inside after dark. How my family managed to cope under those conditions I can hardly imagine! The Mexico camper story ended on a sad note. While visiting family in the US one summer, the trailer caught fire and burned to the ground. All was lost including six years of my father’s translation work.
The trailer caught fire & burned to the ground.
Since I have only vague memories of our Travelodge, I was thrilled to see an identical one, beautifully restored, in the Gilmore Car Museum near Kalamazoo, MI. I spent nearly an hour checking out every inch of it, trying to picture my family living in one just like it 68 years earlier. A wave of emotions washed over me as I studied it inside and out. 36
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Above: Mexico ca.1945 Right: My older brother and me with the Pierce-Arrow in background. Below: Remains of the Peirce-Arrow after the fire.
Though needing a complete restoration, the cabinetry is intact and the body is amazingly well preserved. My intent is to bring it back to its original condition and, having lived in a trailer just like it, I have found working on it extremely enjoyable. In Greek mythology the Phoenix found new life arising out of the ashes of its predecessors. Happily, my restored Travelodge will be named, “The Phoenix.”
The luxury Pierce-Arrow car company suffered financially in the depression and ventured into the camper business in hopes of keeping the company afloat. Sadly, it went bankrupt in 1937 after producing 440 campers. 105 Model A’s, their flagship model, were built and the rest were 16 and 13 footers. It is estimated that fewer than a half dozen 19’ Model A’s survive today. At the time of my visit to the Gilmore, I could not have imagined that I would one day own one of these rare, highly collectible campers. But one recently found me! A friend with whom I had shared the Mexico story alerted me to one that was for sale in Louisville, KY. I immediately jumped at the chance to buy it. Truly, it was like finding a needle in a haystack.
My Pierce-Arrow in need of love
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The Jukebox Past and Present By: Heffron’s A Moment In Time Retro Design Everyone knows what a jukebox is, but does it get the credit it deserves? Jukeboxes used to be located in the corner of every pub or bar. The classic jukebox was coin operated and played the music selection that the customer chose with the press of couple buttons. It was perhaps one of the largest factors in shaping music and enabled artists a second revenue stream. At Heffron’s we are lucky enough to sell these classic machines to many of our customers. But the history behind them is what makes each one so special. The history of the jukebox is a roller coaster ride, filled with highs and lows and mixed with innovations along the way.
Jukebox Development
One of the first "music for money" machines was invented by Louis Glass and his partner William S. Arnold in San Francisco. Together they presented a device that would play a song from a wax cylinder phonograph when a nickel was inserted. In 1889 this machine was installed at the Palais Royal Saloon, located in San Francisco. Needless to say, this was a huge success. It lead to more people entering the world of jukeboxes and created the "big four" manufacturers which were Rock-Ola, AMI, Seeburg, and Wurlitzer. With competition came advancements, particularly in the areas of the number of songs in the playlist and visual appeal. Around 1937 people began referring to these machines as "Jukeboxes". The term "juke" typically being used as slang for dancing or acting wildly.
The Height of Success
Despite production of jukeboxes being halted during World War 2, the 1940s and 1950s are considered the heyday of the jukebox. The new era of rock ‘n’ roll helped position the jukebox as a key part of music for teenagers and the youth. Perhaps the most iconic jukebox was released in the late forties known as "The Bubbler". This model had tubes of bubbles that moved along the machine's top. 38
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Not Without Struggles
Time hasn't always been kind to the jukebox however. The jukebox was sometimes the center of controversy with parents worried about the popularity of jazz and swing music. Many believe that this type of music was a bad influence, along with the location itself such as low-class bars. When researching this topic we also came across stories of scandals in New York where the Mafia were controlling operations of jukeboxes throughout the area. The other issue facing the Jukebox was technology. CD Players, the iPod and online music all changed the way that people listened to music.
Jukeboxes Today
The jukebox would need to change with the times and embrace technology to keep its place. Today many jukeboxes can play CD's or have the ability to dock MP3 players in order to access your music from your iPod or other devices. Interactive touch screens are another nice feature that helps keep the jukebox more modern. The jukebox also solved the issue of their size. Tabletop jukeboxes allow you to enjoy your favorite music anywhere and everywhere. Who needs the radio when you’ve got a portable jukebox playing your favorite music while you travel down the highway in your vintage camper. Another option is the RockOla Wallette. These devices are more of a speaker that needs to be connected to a regular jukebox. However they are great for diners that can put a Wallette on each table and allow their customers to play all of their favorite tunes.
The jukebox is rich in history and continues to be popular today. Heffron's is proud to offer some of the most popular jukeboxes around. We offer a large collection of retro jukeboxes such as the Bubbler, and portable devices such as Tabletops and Wallettes. To learn more you can visit our website: www.Heffrons.com or give our office a call. We look forward to hearing from you! www.vintagecampertrailers.com
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1963 Beeline owned by Sandra Mullon and Pat and Mike McLaughlin of Bradenton, FL. The theme for this brightly painted trailer is pink flamingos (the tropical birds are everywhere inside and out). The license tag on this 1963 Beeline reads: 63B-LINE. Clever!
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23
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The door on Hunt and Susan’s Globe Trotter is covered with vintage decals Hunt collected while traveling with his parents as a kid. His dad wouldn’t let him put the decals on their vehicle, so he saved them in a box. Whenever the decals fade or tear, Hunt replaces them with other vintage decals in his collection (...which still has approximately one hundred unused decals). Notice the mirror-like shine on the Jones’ Airstream. Hunt polishes this trailer five times a year to keep the aluminum sparkling. His efforts have paid off because the trailer has made the cover of two trailer-oriented magazines. How many other vintage trailer owners can make that claim?
Hunt Jones tows his 1962 Airstream Globe Trotter with this beautifully restored 1955 GMC 100 Pickup. The tow vehicle for Raymond’s Ventura is this 1959 Dodge Coronet. Check out those pink tailfins! Behind the Coronet is a 2016 Vintage Cruiser owned by William and Beverly Jones. Although the trailer isn’t vintage in age, its retro-styling makes it welcomed at all TCT gatherings and most other vintage trailer rallies. The author and his wife own a similar Vintage Cruiser, except their 2017 model has the ‘Woody’ package (with a knotty pine interior). The author is currently also searching for a vintage Metzendorf to restore in his seven-foot tall garage (email him at fswjh@att.net if you know of a Metzendorf for sale).
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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. March 22-25, 2018 Tyler, TX 4th Annual Gathering of Teardrops & Vintage trailers. Tyler State Park, 789 Park Road 16 Tyler, TX 75706 Open House: Saturday 3/24/2018 1-4 PM. Shelley Tumino shelleytumino@gmail.com 903423-0171 April 6-8, 2018 Hollister CA WEST COAST KENCRAFTS at Casa De Fruta. This is an “easy peasy” camp out... all we have “scheduled” is a Saturday potluck and camp fires in the evenings. 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 For more info or reservation, call Virginia & Charles Diffey at 559.304.8054 or email vcdiffey@yahoo.com April 19-21, 2018 Corning, CA 9th annual Rally At the River. Woodson Bridge RV Park, Corning CA. Please call the park at 1-520839-2151 and ask for Rena to book your site. Rachel, Harp's RV Service. harpsrv.com 916-4349151 April 20-22, 2018 Richland, WA Patriot Show and Shine. 2200 Williams Blvd. Vintage Trailer Campout starting Friday night with the movie under the stars, campfire and popcorn on campus. Trailer check-in starting at 5:30pm. Saturday, April 21, 2018. 9:00am - 3:00pm Car & Bike Show & Awards • Silent Auction & Raffle • Live Entertainment throughout the day • Food & Vendors. $15 per Motorcycle. $25 per vehicle or trailer. All Vehicles Welcome http://patriotcarshow. libertychristian.net. 509.946.0602 Kris Dunham. kdunham@libertychristian.net April 13 - 14, 2018 San Diego, CA 5th Annual Pismo South at Campland on the Bay in Mission Bay $120.00 for 2 nights (tax included) Book through Campland 800-422-9386. We have a few full hook-up left, the rest are water and we have entertainment both Friday & Saturday, open house being at 12 Noon on Saturday and a pot luck. cgeary40@gmail.com or call 909-584-0176 Cathy or Brian Geary
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April 27-28, 2018 Pismo Beach, CA Aristocrat Anonymous SoCal, 165 S. Dolliver, Pismo Beach, CA 93449. First Rally for the SoCal group. Looking for Aristocrat Trailers of all types and years. Other vintage trailers will be considered. Go to the Aristocrat Anonymous Facebook page and look under events. Hurry before all spaces are gone! Open House: April 28th, from 10am to 2pm also Craft Sale. Rudy Hernandez rhernand@verizon.net 909 630-3777 April 27 - May 7, 2018 Angels Camp, CA Contraptionarium is at the Calaveras County Fairgrounds otherwise known as Frogtown. This is an open to all categories "Camp Out For Creative Adults," come and go as you please, 24 hour security. Daily field trips with Maps and suggestions for adventures in the area. Kayak trips and 35 Wineries, State parks like Indian Grinding Rock and Calaveras Big Trees. Email Christy at blacksmith@caltel.com for more information and registration packet. www.gypsytimetravelers.com April 27th-28th, 2018 Seymour, IN Happy Glamper Show100 Indianapolis Ave, Seymour Indiana 47274. 2nd Annual Happy Glamper Show in Historic Downtown Seymour Indiana. Vendors, Vintage Campers, Food, Sip & Stroll on Sat 2-5 includes samplings of craft beer, wine and spirits locally made in Indiana along with Music and Entertainment. Come show off your Glamper!Friday camper set up is 3pm till 6pm. Open to the public 6-9pm. Sat open to public. Mike Kopp mike@callmikekopp.com April 27-30, 2018 Hampton, GA Summit Racing Equipment Atlanta Motorama Vintage Trailer Show. 500 Tara Pl. Spend a weekend in the infield of the legendary Atlanta Motor Speedway. For vintage trailers, campers, and motorhomes built before 1990. Generators allowed. Register Here: https://oss.ticketmaster.com/aps/ ams/EN/buy/flexplan Bruce Wilson 770-954-1237 bwilson4020@gmail.com May 3-6, 2018 Chula Vista, CA 5th ANNUAL CINDY ROSS’ VINTAGE TRAILER. RALLY, Chula Vista RV Resort, 480 Sandpiper Way, Pre-registration & payment required. Cowboys and Indians themed good time, fun stuff, prizes, and more. For forms and more info contact Barbara Shields @ 951 672 2366 or Barbarashields@aol.com.
May 3-6, 2018 Lodi, CA Trailerfest Back to the 1960’s Rally. Yogi Bear Jellystone Tower Park. 250 vintage trailers! This rally sells out every year! www.trailerfestrally.com. Ad on opposite page. May 3-6, 2018 Walnut Grove, CA Snug Harbor Campout. 3356 Snug Harbor Drive, Ryer Island off State Route 84 Not an organized rally. Vintage trailer not required all RV's are welcome. 20 minutes from Trailerfest. Make your reservations here: 17 sites available.http://www. snugharbor.net/ No Open House. Kathy Forney bygoneshop@aol.com 925-978-6989 May 17-20, 2018 Pismo Beach, CA Trail along to Pismo. May 18-20, 2018 Bodega Bay, CA Bodega Bay Vintage Trailer Rally, 2001 Highway 1, Bodega Bay, CA. Potluck chowder cook off Friday evening. Saturday breakfast and open house 10-2. Saturday is the non host cocktail party, get them drinks ready, followed by a tri-tip dinner (you supply the sides) and don't forget about your kite making!!! Open House: Saturday May 19, 2018. 10-2 pm. Robin Gutierres Kristinagutierres@sbcglobal.net 510 604 3117 May 17-20, 2018 Manchester, CA Trailers by the Sea, 44300 Kinney Rd, Manchester, CA 95459. Vintage Trailer Campout, Pot Luck, Contact Yolanda at Manchester Beach KOA. (707) 882-2375 to get a space. No open house. Steve Chiurco, info@steelgeishadesigns.com, 707-3280431. May 19th - 20th 2018 Fullerton, CA Muckenthaler Motor Car Festival 1201 W. Malvern Ave. Fullerton, CA 92833. A beautiful Concourse de Elegance event laid out on the eight rolling treelined acres of the Muckenthaler Cultural Center. Featuring exquisite motor cars, vintage travel trailers and motorcycles, hot rods, and customs. Open House: Admission Fee - Saturday - $5.00 Sunday $10.00. Tom McDonnell carshow@themuck.org 866-411-1212 May 17-20, 2017 Bozeman, MT RALLY AT THE HOT SPRINGS. At Bozeman Hot Springs Campground and RV Park
81123 Gallatin Rd, Bozeman, MT 59718 406-5873030 for reservations. Contact Kelly Boldy at 707738-8607 or giggler664@yahoo.com May 29 - June 3 2018 Jackson Center, OH Alumapalooza® is an annual event held at the Airstream, Inc. factory. Produced with the support of Airstream, Inc., Airstream Life magazine, and other sponsors, it is five days of Airstream fun. www. Alumapalooza.com June 1-4, 2018 Cheyenne, WY The Ranch is a Wyo.” Disney Land”,activities for all ages. Go to web site to get full spectrum. More than bison,trains and camels. When making reservation, notify you're with TCT,vintage or modern and head count for optional buffalo dinner on Saturday pre-evening $15.00 adult (cash). Bring your own plate,cup,roller napkins,etc. Dinner is paid correct cash,(dollar close), at TCT H.Q. on check in at Space A-1. Rally fee of $20.00 per space. Open to non TCT folks. CUT OFF RESERVATION DATE; MAY 30th . After the 30th spaces will still be available as close to Rally as possible. Friday;show up,sign up,set up. Pre-sunset pot luck,meet and greet,settle in. Saturday; Open House 10 am to 5 pm. Flea market items encouraged,bring your unwanted vintage goodies. Saturday evening. Buffalo dinner, bon-fire, (if permitted). Meeting to get input and suggestions for next rally. Plan something for Sunday morning. The dry camp area will be the meeting area. Porta toilets will be on site. Plan is to set up dry camp spaces in a crescent shape,open end facing North. The vintage tractor folks will be joining us on Sat. Also working on the local vintage auto group. Orbie 434-730-3840, wattmungall@gmail.com June 1 - 3 2018 Cape May Court House, NJ Jersey Shore Wings Vintage Trailer Rally. 1917 Route 9 N Campe May Court House, NJ 08210. Fun filled weekend of camaraderie with fellow Vintage Camper enthusiasts. Vintage car show, Discounted site rental and more. Marlene Catanoso avaloncmpg@gmail.com 609-624-0075 June 7-10 Sandusky, OH Scottys at Sandusky. Camp Sandusky 3518 Tiffin Avenue, Sandusky, Ohio 44870 A gathering of Serro Scotty trailers on Lake Erie. No Open House. Sara Nicholls saranicholls@yahoo.com 602-708-4127 June 9-12, 2018 Big Bear, CA Trailer Rally at the beautiful Lighthouse Resort on the north shore Big Bear Lake. We will have potlucks as well as an outdoor movie night under the mountain sky. Every spot is full hook ups, $40/ night. Max or Lori at the Lighthouse Resort www. bigbearlighthouseresort.com 909.866.9464 June 15-17 2018 Virginia City, NV Step Back In Time. 355 F St Virginia City, NV 89440. Step back in time vintage trailer rally. June 15 through the 17th 2018 in Virginia City Nevada. Join us for a fun filled weekend! Cocktail party Friday night, potluck Saturday night. Open house
Saturday 10 AM to 2 PM. To make a reservation contact Virginia City RV Park @ 775-849-0999. Open House Saturday 10-2:00pm. Wes Crites. Loyds_pss@sbcglobal.net 775-813-7960 June 17-20, 2018 Bend, OR BEND CLASSIC RALLY, 25th Anniversary VAC Rally. J Bar J Youth Ranch at 62895 Hanby Road, Bend, OR 97701. Fees are $25 per night the proceeds of which go to the Youth Ranch, a 501c3. Contact Dal Smilie, Rally Host at dalsmilie@aol. com or 406 461-3714 VACation in Oregon! June 20-23, 2018 Brooks, OR 2018 Vintage Airstream Club Rendezvous, Vacation in Oregon! If you have a vintage Airstream, Argosy, Byam Holiday or Curtis Wright please join us at Powerland Heritage Park. Contact VAC 1VP Dave Morrison at 1vp@vintageairstreamclub.com July 3-8, 2018 Brooks, OR All-American Vintage Trailer Rally Powerland Heritage Park in Brooks, Oregon just off I-5. No reservations required, there is room for everyone. Restrooms, showers, electric and water available. Antique tractors, trucks, cars, motorcycles, trolleys and trains. Civil War reenactments. Oregon’s largest vintage trailer rally. All the info is at www.all-american-rally.com July 13-15, 2018 Post Falls, ID Phuddy Duddy Cruisers Vintage Trailer Rally 4th Annual. 3263 E 12th Ave. Open Show FREE Dry Camping. Old Time Movies, Live Music, Swap Meet, Pot Luck. Check-in Friday 12 PM, Check out Sunday at 1:30 PM Open House to the Public Saturday 10 AM to 4 PM Linda Shinn omasgarden42@gmail.com 208-659-7285 July 12-15, 2018 Hampton, IL Great River Road Vintage Trailer Rally, 1201 State Ave, Hampton, Illinois 61256. On the banks of the Mississippi! Nightly group meals, campfires, Sat-
urday open house, and a lot of great friends. We are just across the river from LeClaire, IA, home of the American Pickers. Open House: Saturday July 14, 2018, 12-3 p.m. Kevin Isaacson austinoaks22@gmail.com, 309 521-7066 July 19-22, 2018 Elkhart, IN Silver Avion Fellowship (SAF) 25608 Co Rd 4, Elkhart, IN 46514. All Avions and Cayos manufactured from the mid-1950s through 1990 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 will be $25 pp. The rally fee does include evening snacks, meals and morning coffee the same as last year. Your camping fee will be paid directly to Elkhart Campground at a reduced rate of $34 per night for two persons. All sites will be full hookup as in the past. 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. Terry at Keyholeren@aol.com Terry Prentkowski/Bernie Stuckey &Deb, Andrew and Maddie O’Connell. No Open House. 317-258-8671 July 19-22, 2018 Brownsville, OR Rally On The River, tucked away in the beautiful town of Brownsville. This is an old fashion vintage trailer rally. Electricity available for all trailers. Bathrooms and showers also. Camp on the river in the shade. There will be a horse shoe tournament for adults. Microbrew and wine tasting on site Friday and Saturday. Music Saturday night along with a potluck. This is kid friendly, so we have a pie eating contest, corn shucking contest along with a kids bike parade. Cost is $35.00 per night. 2 nights minimum. Guarantee a good time! Space is limited so sign up as soon as possible. Make checks payable to Wade Long. (Please put rally registration on the check.) Mail to Wade Long 2495 Marcola Rd. SPRINGFIELD, Oregon. 97477. If you are bringing children or grandchildren, please let us know their ages. Also send us your email address so we can send you confirmation. Go to Vintage trailer rallies and events on Facebook for
OPEN HOUSE MAY 5TH AT TOWERPARK LODI, CA - 10AM-2PM BRING YOUR CLASSIC VW'S, BUSES, BIKES AND VANS. PRE-REGISTER AT: RUBENRAMIREZ5189@YAHOO.COM
CABINS STILL AVAILABLE
TRAILERFESTRALLY.COM www.vintagecampertrailers.com
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more on our event. You can contact me @ orenterprises@hotmail.com or call me with questions at 541-206-3572 ask for Wade Long July 20 - 22, 2018 Taylorsville, CA Trailersville Trailer Rally/Camping Taylorsville Campground. 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.). There is a private mine tour (bring flashlight), and a water turbine plant tour for the rally. Public swimming pool, tennis court, fishing, and more. Bring your water stuff and play on the river. Motorcycles, minibikes, or whatever you want to bring are allowed. Friday night meet & greet at the only local bar with special drink made for event. Potluck Saturday night in the campground. $14.00 per night (paid in advance). Contact us if you need additional information or a reservation. Open House Saturday July 21st. Wes & Diana Crites loyds_pss@sbcglobal.net 775813-7960 July 20-22 2018 Minster, OH 3rd Annual MId-Summer Get Together. 4401 Ft. Loramie Swanders Road Minster, Ohio 45865. Come Join Us for Fan Fun weekend for a causal gathering at Lake Loramie State Park in Minster Ohio 45865. We Will be Trying to fill-in Sites in one corner of park, sites 112-119 premium lakeside sites, sites 121-130 reg sites. But please feel free to choose any site. All attending will be responsible for making your own resv! http://parks.ohiodnr.gov/lakeloramie Park Office: (937) 295-2011, Camp Office: (937) 295-3900. Reservations (866) 644-6727, Randy Allen, magseven13@gmail. com, 423-542-8095 July 21-28, 2018 Waves, NC 2018 NAFCAree. 24798 NC HWY 12, Waves, North Carolina. The 2018 NAFCAree will be held at Camp Hatteras Campground in Waves, N. Carolina (the Outer Banks) from July 21 – 28, 2018. Camp Hatteras is a world class RV resort in the middle of the Outer Banks (OBX). The campground sits on 50 acres with Oceanfront and
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Sound-front accommodations including RV and Tent Sites along with Park Model Rentals. Camp Hatteras Resort has been a family owned campground since 1991! INAFCA will be on the sound side of the road overlooking the Pamlico Sound. We will have up to two camping loops and we will be all together. Mike DiMauro mikedimauro31784@aol.com, (305) 619-9585 August 3-5, 2018 Livingston, MT 6th Annual Fiddlers Picnic Rally. Join us August 3-5, 2018 at the Old Mercier Ranch for the 6th annual Fiddlers Picnic Vintage Trailer Rally. This is dry camping on the bank of the Yellowstone River on the South edge of Livingston Montana, the gateway to Yellowstone National Park. This is in the midst of a 500 picker jam that is over 40 years old. Bring your banjo! Social hour, potluck and pancake breakfast. $25 contribution to the Picnic covers it all. Dal Smilie dalsmilie@aol.com August 9-12, 2018 Big Bear, CA If you’re a classic car enthusiast this is the Vintage Trailer Rally for you. Please join us at the Lighthouse Resort on the north shore of Big Bear Lake for the trailer rally This Rally coincides with the “Fun Run” car show in Big Bear. Saturday enjoy a front row seat at the Lighthouse Resort as 500 classic cars drive by in style. Max or Lori www.bigbearlighthouseresort.com 909.866.9464. Spaces are $40/night full hook ups. August 17th-19th 2018 Pocatello, ID Bannock County Blue Grass Festival TCT, open to all vintage trailer rally in at the County Fairgrounds. Non members welcomed.Fees are $15 per space(full hook up),per day.$35.festival charge. Cash only at check in. We will have an area reserved for us. Bring some leveling boards and shade.Open House is Sat.9-6. Go to www.bannockcountybluegrassfestival.com for more information.We had a great time last year kick'in back with great music. Orbie Mungall @ 1-435-730-3840. September 4-10, 2018 Lynden, WA Mt. Baker Vintage Trailer Rally. NW Washing-
ton Fair & Event Center 1775 Front St Lynden, Washington 98264. 18th Annual Mt. Baker Vintage Trailer Rally. Washington State's Largest Annual Vintage Trailer Rally held every year the weekend after Labor Day at the NW Washington Fairgrounds in Lynden, WA. The Dates are Sept 4-10, 2018 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 and one-time rally fee of $15. (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. Open House Saturday, September 8, 2018 12-4:00pm. René Perret DownRiver11@yahoo.com, 360-431-7311 September 7-9, 2018 Winthrop, WA Wheel into Winthrop. 316 Castle Avenue. Vintage Trailer Enthusiast Extravaganza!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, Tractors one block down & Parade of 120ish autos that come through our Campground on Saturday the 8th. Join the Party! Open House Saturday from approx 11-2 only if you wish to join. Anna Kominak pinenearpark@gmail. com 509-341-4062 September 14-16, 2018 Newport, OR South Beach Rollin’ Oldies Vintage Trailer Rally at South Beach State Park. Trailer Open House, Potlucks, Night Glow & more. This is a great coastal location where the Yaquina Bay meets the Pacific Ocean. Plenty of nearby activities, including bike paths, crabbing, fishing, Lighthouse tours, Oregon Coast Aquarium, antique shops & restaurants. Priscilla LeWallen: lewallenw@msn.com phone 503-831-1268. Ashley Morrison-Roberts Morrison.ashley1@gmail.com phone 503-522-6179 Watch for upcoming info at ROVT.org listed under “events”.
September 14-15th, 2018 Kaysville,UT TCT rally at the Cherry Hill water park. Non members with vintage trailers are welcomed. Elevated fire pits are OK. All trailers must be gone by check out due to Halloween village starts setup.O pen House is Sat.9 am to 6 pm. A BBQ dinner is planned for Sat. pre-evening. I'm trying for $10 per person,cash. Call Cherry Hill at 1-801-4515379 from 4--to 6 pm, (winter hrs).Be sure to be put in the vintage grouping. For rally site info. go to cherryhills.com. Early arrivals is OK. Refined tomfoolery is welcomed. Orbie @435-730-3840 or wattmungall@gmail.com.
September 27-30, 2018 Plymouth, CA Trailerfest 1940’s Wing-Ding Rally. 49er Village. 250 vintage trailers! This rally sells out every year! (See ad on the inside back cover) www.trailerfestrally.com.
October 11 - 14, 2018 Columbia, MO Cottonwoods RV Park & Campground. 5170 N Oakland Gravel Road. Monster Mash themed Vintage Trailer Rally at our campground. Oktoberfest Food & Beer fun, monster themed activities, live music, a Vintage Trailer open house, and more! cottonwoodsrvpark@ gmail.com www.cottonwoodsrvpark.com 573-4742747 October 19-21 2018 Malibu, CA Ahoy mates! Grab your pirate hats and join us for the 3rd Annual Malibu Vintage Trailer Rally! Pirate themed rally open to all vintage style trailers (no open house). Located on a beautiful hillside
overlooking the Pacific! Stay in comfort with clean bathrooms and heated showers; conveniently located near area restaurants and shops. Find our group page on Facebook! Email Rally Host Alex at MalibuVTR@gmail.com for rally updates and additional information; Alex 818-298-9842. Limited space available! Reserve your site direct 310-4566052. Malibu Beach RV Park; 25801 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu CA October 26-28 , 2018 Santa Barbara, CA Ocean Mesa Halloween Vintage Trailer Mash. 100 El Capitan Terrace Lane. 5th Annual Halloween Vintage Trailer Mash at Ocean Mesa RV Resort in Santa Barbara , California. Come join us for spooky family fun , decorate your vintage trailer for
September 27- 30, 2018 Eagleville, MO Eagleville Vintage Camper/Glamper Rally FOUR. 22708 W. 182nd Street, Eagleville, MO 64442. Exactly half way between Kansas City, MO and Des Moines, IA on I-35. Great campground with fabulous owners! Great times with great friends!! Vintage Swap Meet, Dutch Oven Classes, Open House, Community Campfires, Potluck...It's the place to swap stories and meet up with your new best friends!! For Questions and RALLY reservations, contact Lisa Smith at ebm@grm.net or 660-868-0933. For CAMPING reservations, contact Eagle Ridge Campground directly at 660-8675518. It gets bigger and better every year!! Open House Saturday Noon to 3:00 pm Lisa Smith ebm@grm.net 660-868-0933 Sept. 28th-30th, 2018 Crossville, TN Cumberland Fall Vintage RV Rally. 3609 Peavine Firetower Rd. Open House. Rickey King Randyking104@yahoo.com 931-409-4982
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Halloween, Pumpkin carving contest, Trailer trick or treating , costume party Saturday night .$86.25 a night , Call Ocean Mesa to book reservations (805)879-5751. Open House. Joe Messina Henrysamocean@hotmail.com (504)858-7376 November 2-4, 2018 Kernville, CA Rivernook RV. 14001 Sierra Way 760-376-2705 Make reservations with the park directly. Tell them you are with the Vintage trailer group. Phil & Wendy at 951-520-3118. November 2 - 4, 2018 Jackson, CA Rancheria Rally. 11407 Dalton Road. Located at the beautiful Jackson Rancheria RV Park. Third annual Rancheria Rally. Join us for a fun weekend with friends who love the 'vintage' lifestyle. Come out before the weather turns cold and rainy. No Open House. Greg and Wendy Burns rancheriarally@yahoo.com 209-605-1305
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November 7-11, 2018 Live Oak, FL Gathering of the Times 2018. 3076 95th Dr, Live Oak, FL 32060. Join us on the banks of the beautiful Suwanee River for a vintage trailer rally to remember. Please visit our website, www.gatheringofthetimes. com, for more information. No Open House. Pete Whitley pete_whitley@ yahoo.com 678-378-3725. (See ad below right) February, 19-24, 2019 Brooksville, FL TCT Centennial Celebration. Sertoma Youth Ranch. Send us your 2018 rally info: Go to www.vintagecampertrailers. com and select the “Rallies� tab to complete a simple form. This list can not be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from the Vintage Camper Trailers Magazine.
www.vintagecampertrailers.com
SATURDAY - 10 AM TO 2 PM
OPEN HOUSE​ SEPTEMBER 29, 2018
49ER VILLAGE - PLYMOUTH, CA
www.trailerfestrally.com
www.vintagecampertrailers.com
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PO Box 354, Elverta CA 95626
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