May - June 2017 Volume: 6, Number: 3, Issue: 31
SEEING DOUBLE?
HOLLYWOOD Vintage Trailers Southland Trailers circa 1952
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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Inside This Issue Index Double Ender - 1946 Spartan Manor
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Hollywood Vintage Trailers
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Relic Trailers - Retro Style
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Modernism Week Palm Springs
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Southland Trailers - circa 1952
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Boot Camp 2017
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Converter Systems - Electrical Upgrade
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Greetings from the South
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The Cars You Love
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USA Rally Calendar
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Hollywood Vintage Trailers DO YOU OWN A HOLIDAY HOUSE? visit: www.vintagecampertrailers.com to “register” your Holiday House for a reunion at the Murphy Auto Museum.
Southland Trailers - circa 1952
VINTAGE CAMPER TRAILERS THE BOOK - FREE SHIPPING
The vintage camper trailer hobby attracts people from all walks of life. This book features hundreds of photos of restored trailers and the trailerites that rescue, restore and rally across the USA. 200 pages and in hard cover. From the publishers of the VCT Magazine, Paul and Caroline Lacitinola. $24.99
Boot Camp - Lodi, CA - 2017 4
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Visit www.vintagecampertrailers.com, go to the “Camp Store” and use coupon code BOOKFREE. Good in the USA through August 31, 2017.
American Tr a i l e r i t e By Paul Lacitinola Publisher VCT Magazine Volume: 6 - Number: 3 - Issue: 31 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. Oh, well, look-a here what a good day we got today. Why don’t we jump in the car, baby, and go find some place to play. Come on let the top down, get in and let’s roll away. -Chuck Berry 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 37 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
In February, we caught up with friends in Palm Spring at Modernism Week. The following weekend, March 2-5 we hosted Boot Camp in Lodi, CA. In April we will be in Corning at the Woodson Bridge and the following weekend is Trailerfiesta in Petaluma, CA. So begins our rally season on the West Coast. While we try to get to new rallies every year, it is hard to “skip” rallies that we have gone to for years. Most of our trailerite friends, like us, attend several rallies, so we camp with some friends several times a season. However some we only get to see at one particular event and that makes it hard to miss. The first weekend in June we host Rally at the Ranch in Elverta, CA. Last year it was unseasonably warm but typically it is in the low 80’s with cooler breezy evenings. While most rallies sell out, rallies like Rally at the Ranch and the All American Rally in Brooks, Oregon (4th of July) have room for everybody! Held at unconventional large “park like settings”, these rallies have limited hook-ups but make up for fun if you are willing to “rough it“ for the weekend. Through the summer, it warms up in northern California so the rally season slows down a bit. We usually hit some car shows or head for the coast with a few friends. This year Hot August Nights in Reno, Nevada has even started their own Vintage Trailer Revival. Rallies are a fundamental part of the hobby. Where else can you see so many magnificent mid-century preservations and restorations. At rallies, you can make contacts for parts, get restoration ideas or maybe even acquire your next project. After a decade of vintage rallying myself, I can say that I always learn something or see an idea I can use in the future. There is always something new to see whether someone has recently completed a new build or found a well preserved trailer that had been hidden in a barn for decades. Even if you don’t have a trailer yet you still need to tour an open house and see the individualism that each owner has poured in to their own trailer. The second rally we ever went to, several years ago now, was the Pismo Rally. With about 300 trailers and who knows how many classic cars, bikes and motorcycles, I was pumped on adrenaline for three days! I tell people that jumping out of an airplane and being in a police pursuit gave me a similar rush. (I used to be a cop so I was doing the pursuing.) After all these years, and the thousands of trailers we have seen and the friends we have made, we still look forward to the start of rally season. Check back with me after Trailerfest at the beginning of October, we’ll probably be ready to put the old trailers away for the winter. Except for maybe a New Years rally this year? I better check with Caroline! www.vintagecampertrailers.com
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DOUBLE ENDER
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re-imagined the footprint of the vintage trailers he restores. His vision is to create a space that is open and inviting while still providing the necessities one wants while camping or living. Mr.Gomaz says, “Our mini-homes are a blend of vintage styling and modern technology. Completely restored and expertly finished into unique travel trailers designed and crafted to serve the most discriminating buyer.”
“Our mini-homes are a blend of vintage styling and modern technology.”
Many of Hollywood Vintage Trailers’ restorations are now used as guest homes, executive offices or private get-aways for some of Hollywood’s most discerning clientele. All three of the trailers pictured in this article are currently for sale.
A vintage style hubcap is the focal point for this light fixture that screams mid-century.
Designed and crafted to serve the most discriminating buyer. 16
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The value of restored vintage trailers is a question that we are regularly asked. When available, we try to publish the values of these beautiful trailers. Since these trailers are for sale we have included their values below. Restorations of this
caliber require many hours of trial and error labor. (Note the rear door on the Spartan...it was originally on the backside of the trailer.) To see more photos, search “Hollywood” at vintagecampertrailers.com
1962 Shasta Airflyte $27,000 • 1959 Airstream Pacer $65,000 • 1948 Spartan Manor $127,000
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Ed Garl P a l m B a y, F l
Look closely above and you can see Bob’s reflection in the mirror as he is taking this photograph. 24
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1953 Southland
land orida
Ed saw that we were doing a feature on Southland trailers and sent us some before and after pictures of his 1953 Southland. Ed was searching for an old camper to restore in 2012 when a coworker told him about a trailer that her boyfriend was selling. Ed bought it from original owner who was then in his 60s and camped in it as a child growing up in California. It had been in his family since they bought it new in 1953. He lived in it in college and decades later pulled it to Florida.
Melrose, FL is where Ed met up with the original owner. In anticipation of a 170 mile ride home, it was then that he learned that the trailer had no working lights and the frame was so degraded that the side skins flapped in the breeze like elephant ears. To make it even more challenging it began pouring rain. No lights, no license tag, a white-out rainstorm, front side skins flapping. It was amazing that he got it home in mostly one piece. (Ed did lose a couple of trim pieces.)
The restoration took a year. Ed worked from the floor up. He preserved the original look but included a retro fridge and matching microwave, flat screen TV, dvd player, LED lighting inside and out and an AC / DC power. Ed will likely sell the Southland now that he is restoring his dream trailer: a Spartan Manor 25’, that is in deplorable condition.
Want to see more of Bob’s photos? Visit www.vintagecampertrailers.com and search “Southland”. www.vintagecampertrailers.com
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B O OT C A M P March 2017 - Lodi, CA The second annual gathering of trailer restorers got together this year to share their knowledge about a variety of different aspects of vintage trailer restoration. Several seminars addressed 12v, 110v and solar electrical systems. I think I learned just enough to make me dangerous.
by Paul Lacitinola
Boot Camp 2017 in Lodi, CA hosted over 180 trailerites eager to learn about a variety of different aspects of vintage trailer restoration. Nearly two dozen presenters gave over 40 1.5 hour presentations on everything from electrical trouble shooting to painting to interior wood work. Classes were presented in the park’s pavilion and in a 40’ x 40’ tent. Beginning Thursday afternoon through Sunday morning Boot Camp offered a seminar in both venues at the same time. Something for everybody! Boot Camp attracted a dozen attendees from out of state. Folks flew in from as far away as Wisconsin and Canada. The park offered cottages for those that did not camp at the park and some people opted to stay in nearby hotels. Thursday night we kicked off the weekend event with Hawaiian Barbeque! We, (Paul and Caroline Lacitino26
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Gary Warner (pictured above and right) was just one of the speakers at Boot Camp that addressed electrical systems. Joel and Rachel Harp of Harps RV in Lincoln, CA and Adam Blair of Avalon RV in Benicia, CA also spoke to 12v and solar systems.
la) hosted the event along with a lot of help from Faye and Barry Holland, Tim and Linda Brown and Glen and Deb Nichols, along with many, many others. Breakfast and lunch were provided for the attendees. Some new fun menu offering were grilled cheese and tomato soup for lunch and an oatmeal bar Sunday morning. The large open air classrooms gave presenters the opportunity to go to work. Jimmy Evans prepped and painted trailer panels and Scotty from Artistic Airstreams brought an Airstream to show the variety of stages of polishing. Scotty was also able to not just talk about it, but show you how he and his team polish trailers. Other presenters like Gary Warner and Adam Blair (Avalon RV), have built elaborate displays and bring tools for the “students” to use. Their classes give the attendees
the chance to see how electrical and solar work. Tim and Linda Brown and Joel and Rachell Harps (Harps RV) brought a variety of props, tools and products that illustrated everything needed for wood finishing and repair to trailer maintenance. All the classes were more than just lectures. The extra efforts made by the presenters took the event to another level. Along with all of the learning that went on there was also a lot of socializing. Friday night we were entertained by the Gypsy Time Travelers blacksmithing and story-telling (See issue # 27 of the VCT Magazine). Saturday, Vanessa gave Swing Dance lessons. Boot Camp is an opportunity for trailerites that are doing some or all of their own restorations to learn how the pros do it. Comparing success’ and failures,
Other presenters and guests included: Steve Loomis from Hemet Valley RV, Justin Scribner from Flyte Camp, Rick Burros from R and D Motorsports, Mel and Jenny Davis from Ace Propane, Frank Lewis from State Farm, Josh Hicks, Scotty and Vanessa from Artistic Airstream, John Green and last but not least Penny Cotter.
learning tips and tricks and establishing relationships with like-minded people are the advantages of Boot Camp that
you don’t get watching videos or reading a blog. When we got home from Boot Camp it was time to get back to work on our 1955 Spartan. John Green got the wood paneling installed over the aluminum frame work and it was time to connect all of the wiring. I rewired the trailer with 110v outlets and 12v lighting. Now I needed a power supply to make it all work. I contacted Mike Tomarchio the National Account Manager at Parallax Group, Inc. Mike helped me select their 8300 model for my project. Mike also sent me even more information about their power supplies that I thought would be good information to share with the VCT magazine readers. Mike’s email, along with some more pictures of Boot Camp are on the following pages. www.vintagecampertrailers.com
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PO Box 354, Elverta CA 95626
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