Vintage Travel Trailers/Campers

[Acala]

My parents did a lot of RVing when I was growing up. As Tod indicates, the trailers got bigger and bigger. Ultimately they had the biggest airstream. Pulled it with a pickup truck with a bed cap and a nice grumman aluminum boat upside down on a rack on top. That was a sweet rig!

I am thinking about this as well. If you are handy, one option is to buy an old airstream and refurbish it yourself. You can end up with a really nice trailer that way.

I recently asked my Dad which Airstream I should get. He said get the smallest one that has dual axles. For whatever that is worth to you.

[tod evans]

Dual axles and electric trailer brakes make one much more enjoyable to pull, your dad is right Acala..

My utility trailer is a 20 foot with dual axles and 'lectric brakes and I don't mind putting 10K pounds on it and pulling it with my ol' drum-braked panel truck, it tracks straight and true and the brakes are good enough to stop the whole procession....

[Acala]

I see some pretty big old airstreams for not too much dough on craigslist. I assume they have problems and need an overhaul.

This renovation isn't my style but it shows what can be done for not very much money:
http://www.internationalglampingweek...ration.asp?p=1

[Anti Federalist]

Le drool.

My old man had one just like that, without the 428 though.

That's hot $#@! right there.

Honey, come look at the new family truckster.

Or for a tad more money a '68 wagon

Attachment 3818

http://valenticlassics.com/valenti/V...?VehicleID=170

This is cool. A true California surfer style wagon with all of the creature comforts. Ultra rare factory Q code 428ci Super Marauder Engine.

Fully loaded with power Steering, power Brakes, power windows, power seats, Air Conditioning, power rear window, 120mph speedometer, rear bumper steps, tinted glass and much more. One of only 176 ever produced per Marti Report. Dont miss the chance to own one of the rarest big block wagons around.


Engine & Drivetrain
340 HPHorsepower:
428Engine Size:
2.80:1:1Axle Ratio:
AutomaticTransmission:
8Z76Q536774VIN Number:
Interior & Exterior
Station WagonBody Style:
5 Doors Doors:
Pewter MetallicExterior Color:
GoldInterior Color:

Options & Accessories
Am/Fm Radio
Cd Player
Audio / Video:
Disc Brakes
Brakes:
Air Conditioning
Heater
Power Brakes
Power Seats
Power Steering
Power Windows
Soft Ray Tinted Windshield
Comfort:
Back-Up Lights
Exterior:
Bench Seat
Interior:
Seat Belts
Safety:
Special Features
Q-Code 428 Ci Engine
Fully Loaded
Air Conditioning
California Wagon
Fully Documented With 2 Build Sheets And Marti Report
Original Sales Brochure And Books
Highlights:
Marti Report
Original Books
Original Build Sheet
Original Owner's Manual

[donnay]

Le drool.

My old man had one just like that, without the 428 though.

That's hot $#@! right there.

Honey, come look at the new family truckster.

I knew you were going to see that! Ugh! "Clark SLOW DOWN!"

[invisible]

I knew you were going to see that! Ugh! "Clark SLOW DOWN!"

The tilting steering wheel is really the most essential feature.

[donnay]

The tilting steering wheel is really the most essential feature.

[opal]

station wagon.. quintessential mom car. . room for all the kids, groceries, after school apparatus and a 4x8 sheet of plywood between the wheel wells
*sigh*

I learned to drive in a '69 ford wagon..10 passenger.. jump seats in the "way back", in upstate NY.. dad took me out in a parking lot, in winter and I learned how to control donuts into snow banks.. it was AWESOME!

I miss that car

[acptulsa]

station wagon.. quintessential mom car. . room for all the kids, groceries, after school apparatus and a 4x8 sheet of plywood between the wheel wells
*sigh*

I learned to drive in a '69 ford wagon..10 passenger.. jump seats in the "way back", in upstate NY.. dad took me out in a parking lot, in winter and I learned how to control donuts into snow banks.. it was AWESOME!

I miss that car

The world is full of wagons. They all drive like trucks. Men miss automotive wagons, too. I used to have one of these...



...and it handled like a Porsche with a rick of wood in the back. Not every auto-chassis wagon could do that, of course. But when you build a wagon on the mechanicals shared by Chargers and some half a million cop cars, among other things, you can do miraculous things with it. Show me a Yukon that can get around a corner. I dare you.

Oh, and thank the fedgov for that. CAFE standards do not apply to light trucks. So, CAFE standards, designed to help us use less gas, force us into light trucks. Therefore, we not only use more gas than we'd have used without Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards, but we wind up on our roof even in minor accidents because trucks are topheavy. The fedgov is breaking us and killing us, and people think they're doing us a favor.

[Acala]

When I was 17 I knocked down a telephone pole with Mom's station wagon. She was not pleased.

[jllundqu]

All great info...

I just learned that Shasta is making 1,941 Airflytes that are 90% replicas of the 1961 Models but brand new 2015 materials:

http://www.mountcomfortrv.com/New-In...Indiana-787216



My wife really likes the retro-look and feel... I am in agreement that a 2-axle Airstream would be much better investment and just as fun.

[jllundqu]

Doing more research we've found out that these Shasta's have LOTS of problems... we've decided on getting an older Airstream or SilverStreak... dual axel, solid aircraft aluminum, etc.

[jllundqu]

Something like this:

[Intoxiklown]

We just purchased an old FEMA trailer (I live in the Gulf Cast area, so they are around). It has a master bedroom, a bunk bed, dining area, full bath w/ walk in shower. We found it for a great deal at $4k, and couldn't turn it down.

I'm working on converting the entire thing to solar, and my wife is fighting me to make me wait before i remodel it. I see the master bedroom as a sick bay, and dining area as comm / TOC.

I'll take some pics if people are interested, and would be happy to help with legwork down here f someone is interested in getting one like we have. As I said, they are very cheap.

[tod evans]

We just purchased an old FEMA trailer (I live in the Gulf Cast area, so they are around). It has a master bedroom, a bunk bed, dining area, full bath w/ walk in shower. We found it for a great deal at $4k, and couldn't turn it down.

I'm working on converting the entire thing to solar, and my wife is fighting me to make me wait before i remodel it. I see the master bedroom as a sick bay, and dining area as comm / TOC.

I'll take some pics if people are interested, and would be happy to help with legwork down here f someone is interested in getting one like we have. As I said, they are very cheap.

I'd be interested in seeing one.

Not interested in owning one though...

[jllundqu]

I'm finding a lot of old Airstreams and Silver Streaks... some for WAAAAAYYY too much money, and some pretty cheap. My problem will be finding someone to help me with the renovation since I am not too handy with such things.

[Carlybee]

We just purchased an old FEMA trailer (I live in the Gulf Cast area, so they are around). It has a master bedroom, a bunk bed, dining area, full bath w/ walk in shower. We found it for a great deal at $4k, and couldn't turn it down.

I'm working on converting the entire thing to solar, and my wife is fighting me to make me wait before i remodel it. I see the master bedroom as a sick bay, and dining area as comm / TOC.

I'll take some pics if people are interested, and would be happy to help with legwork down here f someone is interested in getting one like we have. As I said, they are very cheap.

Weren't they found to have had toxic chemicals or something?

I want an old Airstream.

[donnay]

Weren't they found to have had toxic chemicals or something?

I want an old Airstream.

Yes, formaldehyde.

Class-action suit against FEMA trailer manufacturers settled for $42.6 million

[Carlybee]

Yes, formaldehyde.

Class-action suit against FEMA trailer manufacturers settled for $42.6 million

That's what I thought.