We picked up this 1954 Campover last summer. Luckily we live near Elkhart IN where is was built originally. There is very little to no information about the company. So we are taking liberties in the resto-mod. I got most of the aluminum sheeting on it last fall.
Vintage Travel Trailers
- Thread starter greasemonkeyman
- Start date
greasemonkeyman
Well-Known Member
Many of the original canned ham trailers back in the 50's and 60's were built on a metal chassis using 1"x2" framing.They actually built them from the inside out.Once the plywood flooring structure went down over the chassis,they would install the interior,the interior walls along with the framing,then attach the outer skin,paint,install windows and trim and they were done.
thood1954
Active Member
The 60 International is so unusual.Ill bet it gets alot of attention.
74newport
Active Member
Awesome topic, i have a 1978 coleman pop-up i use during the summer, and i just bought a 1966 chevy cruis aire (yeh thats how they spell it), 1 of 6 made, that iam going to use for camping.
greasemonkeyman
Well-Known Member
Ready for a road trip?
.
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I'm not read in on the Lance the Destroyer meme. Can someone fill me in?
.
I'm not read in on the Lance the Destroyer meme. Can someone fill me in?
commando1
Old Man with a Hat
Lance (the Destroyer) is a best bud of mine down here. A real hard core Chrysler guy. Always had a couple of them. Well he used to be until his wife left him, found a whacko G/F (who also left him) and his mind got all effed up. Shame. He knew every P/N from the 63/64 Chryslers.
But I digress, as a kid, he lived across the road from a junk yard. Instead of playing ball and getting into trouble with the other kids, he spent his childhood in the junkyard. He developed the ability to strip a car in one day to its bare carcass with just a monkey wrench and a screwdriver. Makes a living selling off all that crap. The problem is, being an Ace of Spades on stripping a car, he cant put one back together to save his life. I've seen him take one clunker after another and ruin it while trying to "fix it up a little to sell". Hence, his title, "Lance the Destroyer" He's a real character. Part KY hillybilly, part Cuban. Ever meet a Cuban Hillbilly?? Hysterical.
But I digress, as a kid, he lived across the road from a junk yard. Instead of playing ball and getting into trouble with the other kids, he spent his childhood in the junkyard. He developed the ability to strip a car in one day to its bare carcass with just a monkey wrench and a screwdriver. Makes a living selling off all that crap. The problem is, being an Ace of Spades on stripping a car, he cant put one back together to save his life. I've seen him take one clunker after another and ruin it while trying to "fix it up a little to sell". Hence, his title, "Lance the Destroyer" He's a real character. Part KY hillybilly, part Cuban. Ever meet a Cuban Hillbilly?? Hysterical.
Lance (the Destroyer) is a best bud of mine down here. A real hard core Chrysler guy. Always had a couple of them. Well he used to be until his wife left him, found a whacko G/F (who also left him) and his mind got all effed up. Shame. He knew every P/N from the 63/64 Chryslers.
But I digress, as a kid, he lived across the road from a junk yard. Instead of playing ball and getting into trouble with the other kids, he spent his childhood in the junkyard. He developed the ability to strip a car in one day to its bare carcass with just a monkey wrench and a screwdriver. Makes a living selling off all that crap. The problem is, being an Ace of Spades on stripping a car, he cant put one back together to save his life. I've seen him take one clunker after another and ruin it while trying to "fix it up a little to sell". Hence, his title, "Lance the Destroyer" He's a real character. Part KY hillybilly, part Cuban. Ever meet a Cuban Hillbilly?? Hysterical.
Thanks for the rundown Stan. Lance sounds like a guy I'd like to have a beer with
67Monaco
Old Man with a Hat
Randy Grubb's Decoliner.
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greasemonkeyman
Well-Known Member
That's a pretty cool machine.....if only money was no object.Here's another motorhome......
74newport
Active Member
Heres my camper, i bought before winter, its a 1966 chevy cruz aire, its 1 of 6, the person that built these i gues they were a flop, so they went to dodge, and they started the company xplorer campers, heres a site that tells about both. www.xplorer21.com.
bluefury361
Old Man with a Hat
I'm supprised no one has mentioned the "Tin Can Campers". A group dedicated to restoring and using these old units.
http://www.tincantourists.com/?gclid=CObPm_2Psb0CFY0-MgodtWQA6w
http://www.tincantourists.com/?gclid=CObPm_2Psb0CFY0-MgodtWQA6w
bluefury361
Old Man with a Hat
It dosen't fit into the "vintage" catagory, but Ellie and I just picked up a 1994 Jayco pop up to tow behind Jazebelle.
It hasen't seen much use in it's 20 years but needs a lot of TLC. I've ordered a complete new canvas for it and am doing a remodel on the interior. Its got everything we need, A/C, fridge, 3 burner propane stove that mounts inside or outside, sink, king & queen size beds and a booth that seats 4. Should be perfect for us ....... A heck of a lot better then the tent at Carlisle.... LOL.
I have a hitch that I will modify to fit Jazebelle and be removable when not in use. The unit weighs about 1400 lbs and is about 17' long overall. A friend has a 72 Imperial parts car with a factory towing package. I'm going to use the trans cooler from it.
Maybe a vintage unit down the road, we'll see how this works out.
It hasen't seen much use in it's 20 years but needs a lot of TLC. I've ordered a complete new canvas for it and am doing a remodel on the interior. Its got everything we need, A/C, fridge, 3 burner propane stove that mounts inside or outside, sink, king & queen size beds and a booth that seats 4. Should be perfect for us ....... A heck of a lot better then the tent at Carlisle.... LOL.
I have a hitch that I will modify to fit Jazebelle and be removable when not in use. The unit weighs about 1400 lbs and is about 17' long overall. A friend has a 72 Imperial parts car with a factory towing package. I'm going to use the trans cooler from it.
Maybe a vintage unit down the road, we'll see how this works out.
greasemonkeyman
Well-Known Member
The Trailmanor seems to be the best of both worlds as far as newer campers go.It's a pop-up,but is a hard sided unit ( no canvas ).It comes in different sizes and most will fit into your standard garage when closed.It only takes a matter of 3-4 minutes to set it up and you've got an instant self-contained camper that's actually pretty large inside.They also say that it only uses one more gallon per mile while towing.
commando1
Old Man with a Hat
patrick66
Old Man with a Hat
I'm restoring...actually, completely rebuilding...a 1946 4x8 teardrop camper. Link to my build here at: http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=57952
greasemonkeyman
Well-Known Member
Looks like your starting from the ground up with that teardrop.I guess a teardrop is more like a step up from a tent.It's hard to consider one of these after having and airstream in the past.But they really are bare bones camping,except having a solid roof over your head at night.And with the really light weight of those teardrops,it makes towing with virtually any vehicle a snap.Here's a video of a teardrop build............ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qX9JmcPHVRE
commando1
Old Man with a Hat
I remember as a kid all those little ads in the back of Popular Science to DIY trailer plans.
I always thought that was so cool!!
I always thought that was so cool!!
NWMoparguy
Member
Are those ghosts???? lol
I like em all but that last one is really cool.
This is a homemade or customized one. I like the porch like an old rail road car
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