January-February 2016 Volume: 5, Number: 1, Issue: 23
1934 Covered Wagon A Museum Quality Restoration That Respects the Era’s Classic Style The magazine for all vintage camper trailer collectors, restorers, admirers and dreamers.
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Inside This Issue
Covered Wagons pgs. 6-15 Electric Brakes pg. 20 Articles Mid 20th Century Pop Culture Pictorials Covered Wagon by Flyte Camp Behind the Scenes with Flippin RV’s 1963 Aladdin- In Loving Memory 1950’s Caddy Camper and a B17 Bomber 1952 Chevy Pick-up Camper-Steve McQueen 1968 Cardinal Deluxe 1972 Lark Rusty Ritz
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Publisher Paul Lacitinola
6-15 11 16 18 22 26 34
Editors Caroline Lacitinola Nancy Veal
Rallies Buellton CA Camp Crawdad Camp Out
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Technical and How-To Replacing Electric Brakes Trailer Couplers-Replacing Yours
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Rusty Ritz pg.34
Contributers to This Issue George Garza Cheryl deVoss Tim Haworth Watt “Orbie” Mungall Swanee Owens Dale Godfrey USA Rally Calendar-41
American Trailerite By Paul Lacitinola Publisher VCT Magazine
Volume: 5 - Number: 1 - Issue: 23 PO Box 354, Elverta CA 95626 (916) 572-8554 www.vintagecampertrailers.com vintagecampertrailers@gmail.com Publisher: Paul Lacitinola American Trailerite The VCT Magazine is published bi-monthly January, March, May, July, September & November. “I would rather wake up in the middle of nowhere than in any city on earth.” -Steve McQueen Vintage Camper Trailers 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
I’m writing this column at the end of December. I am already feeling the itch to get to a rally in the spring! As 2015 comes to an end I am able to take a minute to reflect on all of the things we have been able to accomplish this year because of the vintage camper trailer hobby, the people we are surrounded by and this magazine. The Trailerfest Rally 2015- 250 trailers in Lodi, CA in October. 2016 is 85% sold-out with attendees from last year! Register now at www.trailerfest rally. com. (Page 44) Camping In Style Museum Display- We were honored to be asked to consult on the display and assemble a variety of trailers that pay tribute to the hobby. (Page 40) Vintage Camper Trailers The Book- Our first, but hopefully not our last book has been final proofed and is at the printer! Available in the spring of 2016 from us, on Amazon and in bookstores. Boot Camp- We pulled the trigger and scheduled our first Boot Camp trailer restoration training weekend! Almost immediately we sold over 50% of the tickets! (See ad on page 3) Along with all of that we filmed a couple of episodes with Flippin RV’s. One with our 1948 Vagabond at Modernism Week in Palm Springs, CA and another in Sweet Home, OR where we covered the unveiling of the 1934 Covered Wagon trailer featured in this issue. Google used our 1957 Terry to shoot a TV commercial and we continue to add to our collection with a barn find all original 1960 Ideal (look for it in an upcoming issue of the magazine) and our current project, a 1961 Streamline. In 2016 we want to add another event to the calendar. Plans are in the works to hold the Worlds Biggest Trailer Rally! Our goal is to have an event that can accommodate EVERYBODY that wants to can come. So many rallies are limited to how many attendees can come, by how many camp sites they have. Rallies sell-out and people that want to be involved in the hobby can’t. We want to change that. We are finalizing a venue in Northern CA for the first weekend in June. Stay tuned for details.
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shield behind the fireplace showcases some of the team’s creative solutions to restoring vintage camper trailers. Anna was able to find fabric for the couch and curtains that represent the era of the trailer and give it a real feel of vintage elegance. The exterior of the 1934 Covered Wagon is covered with leatherette siding and has a period correct canvas top that mimics the unique construction method that was originally used. (Leatherette is an imitation leather product commonly used in the marine industry.) This was the first time Justin and his team at Flyte Camp had worked with this material. Justin was a bit concerned with how it would turn out, but was excited to learn something new in the trailer restoration business. After the process was complete, Justin shared with me that it was his favorite part of the Covered Wagon restoration. We met up with friends Justin and Anna at the Sweet Home, Oregon Rolling Oldies Vintage Camper Trailer Rally to see the completed restoration of the 1934 Covered Wagon. The Covered Wagon is a real time capsule and a beautiful piece of history. As they revealed the restoration to us, the conversation kept coming back to the ingenuity of the builders in 1934. From the jack that was built into the trailer body with a detachable hand crank (reminiscent of the hand crank starters on early 1930’s cars) to the lightweight tongue made of spring steel, this trailer speaks of a time of growth and ingenuity in manufacturing in America. The careful restoration and respect this trailer was given by Flyte Camp ensures it will be enjoyed for generations to come.
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The trailers original stove top and leaded glass cabinets. Left: the dinette, at the rear of the trailer, folds down to convert in to the bedroom.
Looking through to the rear of the trailer you can see the dinette that converts in to the bed. Above Left: A view of the dinette. Left: This commode is tucked away in the door on the right side in the photo above.
The original sink featuring it’s original hand pump fixture on one side and a modern water faucet on the other side. Anna’s decorating touches represent the era of the trailer and give it a real feel of vintage elegance.
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Cadillac Camper and a B17 Bomber?
Owner: George Garza, Orcutt, CA
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George, of the Beatniks Car Club in Southern CA, collects all types of vintage campers, cars, bikes. His business partner, Lupe Rodriguez, helps find, bring home, and repair these vehicles. The Caddy camper is very original and is used regularly. They were made from Hearses and Ambulances in the 50’s. The camper was converted in the 50’s from a B17 Bomber Fuselage. It has several aircraft riveted patches down the sides. They cover actual bullet holes received
in battle. George refurbished this camper as a dedication to his father and other family members that served in the armed forces. There is an old bomber style mural painted on the side to resemble his mother. The knobs on all of the cabinets are 25 cal. bullet cartridges and it has old cage style lights from a submarine. Another hobby of his is re creating world war II trench art, like the lamp pictured. He also enjoys incorporating military memorabilia into every day items, such as a camp stove with legs that are large caliber shell casings. Yet another trailer that show the imagination and creativity of the folks in this hobby!
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health codes for dispensing food without a lot of extra expense so he decided to sell it. The entire camper is now painted to look like a rusty old metal and wood shack. I had a picture in my head of what I wanted and hired a young artist to paint it out. It was by far much cheaper than having the camper professionally painted and restored. The top portion is simulated rust. Several shades of paint were mixed with sawdust and sand and put on like a mud paste. It’s hard as a rock now and shows no signs of coming off. The bottom was painted to look like wooden boards. The whitewalls on the tires were actually painted on too. On the floor I used plywood and scored it every six inches to make it look like old wooden planks. I painted it with porch paint in a green similar to the shade you see on the outside and then used glaze to put in the cracks to give the floor a dirty worn out look. I furnished it with a twin bed and two other pieces that are bolted to the floor. By removing the wall cabinets the trailer looks huge on the inside. I still have tons of storage in the dresser and the table I made. The inside walls looked too clean because the paneling was all new. So I stained them first then faux painted leaks running down the walls in the corners and on the ceiling....yes I said leaks! The whole theme of this trailer was to look even older and rougher than it is and every old trailer I’ve ever seen had leaks! When I’ve taken it to shows people have actually told me I’d better repair the inside leaks and I get quite a chuckle out of it. I’ve also had men touch the side of the trailer and comment that they’d never seen aluminum rust before and walk off with a puzzle look on their face! To me this trailer represents what people can do with their trailers if they don’t have the money or the knowledge to restore it to original condition, but still want to have a great time camping. The freedom of this trailer is if a rock hits it and causes a dent or a ding in the paint it doesn’t matter one bit. It just adds to the look. . I would advise anyone to let a professional check out your trailer before you make a decision to alter it. It could be worth saving. In my case original was not what I wanted. For me camping represents a simpler time in life. It offers time with nature and friends and there’s no better way to do it than in a vintage camper. When I’m driving down the road pulling an old camper people always wave, honk and stop to talk to me at gas stations. I look at the new campers made today and think only that they remind me of a giant loaf of bread going down the road. I don’t even wonder where they’re going because I know when they
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get there they will probably spend more time inside than out. Yet every time I see a vintage camper it makes me want to go somewhere, to be outside and to be with friends. Let’s face it; vintage trailers are just a lot cuter than what they make now! My young nephew described it best when we saw a tiny
vintage camper on the road with a boxy style and he said “Look! There goes a box full of fun!” Hope you enjoy the pictures. I love it when I go camping and people point to my trailer and laugh. That’s what camping is all about!
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PO Box 354, Elverta CA 95626 Your mailing indicia shows the �Last Issue Number� that you are currently subscribed through. This is issue #23.
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