​Are you contemplating turning your vintage trailer hobby into a business?
Do you have a vintage trailer restoration business you'd like to grow?
Learn the ins and outs from a business owner with a thriving west coast vintage trailer restoration business.

​Denny Stone – Bio
Denny is the owner and chief designer at So Cal Vintage Trailer. With a style that merges mid-mod with tech and a bit of old school, Denny and the So Cal team has have been designing and building some of the country’s most sophisticated vintage trailers for nearly 15 years. So Cal Vintage has been featured in the Washington Post, New York Business Daily Insider, Vintage Camper Trailers Magazine and on numerous industry podcasts.

​Denny grew up in a family of builders and designers, studied art and business, and spent a long career in business development and marketing. With a life-long love of modern furniture and architecture, Denny and the So Cal team of experienced craftsmen have built a business and brand that helps clients find, design and build their vintage trailer dream. One of Denny's goals for client projects is to create a look and feel that could have come out of a New York or Milan design studio in the ’50s or ’60s embedded with stealthy tech, materials, safety, and efficiency upgrades to support modern lifestyles and sensibilities.

Denny will be presenting these Boot Camp Workshops at the CampNation Expo August 11 and 12, 2023.

​In 2015 the interest in vintage trailers was growing. There was a demand for an event to teach people how to restore their trailers correctly. We developed the Boot Camp Learning Experience. Boot Camp was a weekend of workshops presented by professionals willing to share their craft. Each year, Boot Camp sold out, but the workshops were only available to 150 participants a year due to the format. Boot Camp had to expand to be accessible to more people. We reimagined Boot Camp as the CampNation Expo.

CampNation Expo is for all campers regardless of their camping style. RVs, vintage and newer trailers, teardrops, fun runners, motorcycles, pop-ups, tents, fifth wheels, boondockers, expedition, earth roamers, stealth campers, adventure vans, buses, overlanders, and anything else you camp with are welcome to join the CampNation.

CampNation Expo is an experience for camping and road trip travel enthusiasts to camp and connect with hundreds of fellow outdoor enthusiasts. The weekend includes guest speakers, workshops, Q & A panels, demonstrations, and an expo featuring vendors of camping gear, parts, and services for your recreation and tow vehicles. Have camping items or vintage trailer parts to recycle? Sell them swap meet style at your site.

Earlier this year, we threw out some ideas to save fuel as prices were going up. Fuel prices have not stopped rising, and inflation, in general, may be impacting your family. We surveyed RV’ers to find out how their travel plans may be impacted in the upcoming months. As a follow-up to that survey, we asked about the habits of vintage trailerites as their travel relates to rallies. Here is what we found…

Most rally participants are typically getting out of town to attend a rally. Hitting the road and camping with friends can still be an affordable way to take a break from your day-to-day responsibilities.

Towing a trailer is more complicated than just running down the freeway in your commuter car. Being alert of other drivers and road conditions can be exhausting. Over 60% of vintage trailers tuggers say 5-7 hours is about enough in one day. Only 8% are willing to push it much beyond the 8 hour a day mark.

What is the farhest you have traveled to a rally? Almost 70% travel less than 300 mile max.

Have something to add to the conversation? Let us know in the comments.

​The increased price of fuel will certainly affect your travel budget. Coupled with inflation across all sectors it may be enough of an increase to cause you to rethink your travel plans. Before you do anything drastic, consider these 6 fuel-saving tips and take our 3-question survey to give us an insight into how vintage trailerites are dealing with the rising cost of camping. 

KEEP YOUR TOW VEHICLE IN TOP CONDITION (Also applies to RVs)

• Keep your trailer and tow vehicle tires inflated to their recommended tire pressure. Every five pounds per square inch (psi) of tire pressure you lose can translate into a two percent loss of fuel economy.
• Oil changes and tune-ups on your motorhome or tow vehicle can result in between a 4% and 40% increase in fuel economy.
• Change your tow vehicle air filters. A dirty air filter can significantly reduce fuel economy. 
• Speeding and rapid accelerations will drain your tank. A consistent speed is best. You may give up fuel economy by a whopping 15 to 30 percent if you’ve got a lead foot. 55 to 60 miles per hour is typically the law for towing and will maximize your fuel economy.

Camping is still a good value for vacationing. Even with unpredictable fuel prices, you can keep your trip as economical as possible by following these tips, making your own meals enjoying the sites and the company of your travel mates and the new friends you meet along the way.

Share your money saving ideas and feedback or questions in the comments.

In a personal history sort of way, the Trail Along to Pismo rally most likely began to formulate in June of 1963. We spent our honeymoon camping in an “umbrella” tent in Sequoia National Park for a week. In those days, most regular folks did not go far from home for their wedding celebrations like they do today. We continued camping in a tent until we purchased our first new truck and camper in 1967. We joined a camper group and belonged to it on and off for about 40 years (became secretary-publisher of the newsletter/flyer for a few years) and eventually had a couple of different sized motorhomes while we raised our four children. Members of the club took turns planning these just camping (and dune buggy) type rallies. We still belonged to the club until just after buying our first vintage trailer in 1999, and then — there was no going back.
 
We attended the Newport Dunes Rally a couple of years before I voluntarily assisted with publishing its newsletter and events for the wagonmaster, Craig Dorsey. The following year, when it appeared it would not be happening, I asked the wagonmaster if I could do it, and it was a yes. Altho’ it regularly had 100 vintage trailers, we could only obtain 75 sites at such late notice. The staff at Newport Dunes was very helpful.
 
We began attending small rallies mostly in northern California, a couple in southern California and Arizona enjoying and exploring the vintage trailer world with the old-timers and the newcomers. We kept seeing Bob and Cindy Ross at many of the rallies throughout this time. One day I received a call from Cindy Ross asking me to join her and Bob and one other in planning and organizing an unnamed event at Pismo Coast Village. Cindy found Pismo Coast Village Resort on the internet and felt it was an excellent location to bring northern and southern Californian trailerites together in one place. We were used to hosting many teams, birthday, school, work, graduation parties, and receptions in our backyard.  I replied with a yes since I often organized events at my place(s) of work before retirement. Even though Chuck Miltenberger was not listed as a wagonmaster, he was always present, supporting and assisting with all aspects of the rally.
 
Bob and Cindy were, and still are the canned ham specialists. It seemed everyone either owned a restored trailer or had one worked on by them. Their specialty at Pismo was the number of trailer folks they knew which was essential in getting the first word out on Pismo. They were and still are highly respected and popular amongst trailerites. Planning began in 2007, and it took 3 or 4 months to fill the spaces. Later on, it took less than 24 hours. We went by postmark as we accepted checks by snail mail. We also did not charge any registration fee. We decided it would be the party we gave. The waiting list grew longer every year. The most challenging part was putting names on a waiting list, recognizing how badly they wanted to join the Pismo experience, and we wanted to share it with them, too.
 
Little did we realize at the time how this rally would take on a life of its own and grow and grow and grow. Cindy and I were concerned and anxious if we would even be able to fill the 100 sites we had. We ended up adding sites and think we had 125 sites that year. The following year it grew to 160. Then I think we had a year of maybe 225 trailers. Pismo notified us that they were giving 300 of their 400 sites to us; we had this number of sites for at least the last two years of the event.

PRESS RELEASE: Laramie, WY October 14, 2021 – CampgroundViews.com has partnered with Vintage Camper Trailers to provide campgrounds and RV parks with a targeted avenue to reach camping enthusiasts. The companies will share information on campgrounds that utilize CampgroundViews.com’s new Campground Virtual Tour technology with the experience made available on PeriodEvents.com website.
​
“This is a fun partnership as it brings our cutting edge technology together with old school cool in the vintage camper community,” said Mark Koep, Founder and CEO of CampgroundViews.com. “We are constantly seeking ways to help our client parks expand their reach and this is a perfect way to make it happen.”​

NAME: Hannah Weber
TITLE: Owner/Boss Lady
COMPANY NAME: Hannah's Granny Crafts
YEARS IN BUSINESS: 4 years officially - However, I started selling in the 3rd grade
WEBSITE URL: hannahsgrannycrafts.com

Tell us about your business. 
My business is centered around handmade crochet products. I focus on baby items and home decor. My target audience is the busy woman looking to gift high-quality, handcrafted products effortlessly.
 
What does being a business owner means to you and why you became an entrepreneur in the first place?
Being a business owner means the absolute world to me. It means I can build a life of my dreams. A life of financial independence, flexibility to make my own schedule, and the ability to make my own rules. It means I will be able to stay home with my future children while also running a business.

What or who has been your most significant influence in business and why?
My mom is the most amazing influence in my business. A considerable part of the reason I was so willing to jump into the life of entrepreneurship is that my mom owns several businesses in our small hometown, and I have grown up right in the heart of those businesses. I have seen the pros and cons of being a businesswoman, and I know that, for me, the pros outshine the cons in SO many ways. From a very young age, I have known that I wanted to be my own boss, and my mom has played a huge role in helping me achieve that goal - for instance, allowing me to sell some of my products in her gift shop starting in just the 3rd grade.
Another huge influence in my life is my grandma - "Grammy." Both women have overcome considerable obstacles in life and have used hard work and perseverance to overcome these obstacles. Grammy is such a massive influence in my life I based the branding of my business around her.

What have been the most effective marketing initiatives or programs you have used to promote your business?
Showing up. Simple as that. I mostly use Instagram and Facebook to market my business. Consistency is key. Show up for your audience - in stories, posts, everywhere possible. It doesn't have to be perfect, it doesn't have to be planned - just show up.
 
What one thing have you learned as a small business owner that has served you well over the years?
It sounds cliche, but your failures are not as detrimental as they seem "in the moment." You will move on from them, and some of your greatest successes will come out of your biggest failures. I have come to love failure (ok, not LOVE it, but appreciate it) because it only helps me improve in the long run.
 
Do you have any new projects coming up? 
I don't have any huge projects coming up at the moment. I am focusing more on perfecting some of the smaller "behind the scenes" mechanics of my business to get things running just a little smoother :)

What do you do for fun/relaxation? 
We are lucky enough to live in the center of Montana, surrounded by mountains. My favorite way to spend the weekends is in the mountains in my camper, my boyfriend and the dogs. I can crochet and take in the fresh mountain air - nothing better! I also love to hunt, which is so accessible to us because of where we live. We are truly blessed!
 
What is the number one business goal you plan to accomplish over the next year?
My number one goal for 2021 is expanding the amount of in-store places Hannah's Granny Crafts items are sold around the state and possibly beyond!
 
What would your book be about if you were to write one?
The adventures you can find in small-town Montana while running a business from it. I live in a town of 300-ish people, and I think many people think it's "boring." It is the farthest thing from that, and I wouldn't change it for the world.
  
What is the best way to connect with you?
I am most active on my Instagram account - @hannahsgrannycrafts. I am also on Facebook as Hannah's Granny Crafts, and you can check out my website hannahsgrannycrafts.com to find out more and look at items to purchase! So with that, I'll leave you with "Good Going" - a phrase Grammy says to me often. It means, "good luck, I'm in your corner rooting for you."

One cold but sunny April day, I just needed some sun.  I wanted to layout, but there was still snow on the ground!  I found an old sleeping bag, wrapped myself up in it, and went and laid outside – it was freezing!  I was feeling what old-timers called “cabin fever.”  Many of us have never had to deal with those feelings until the recent quarantine.  I know my vintage trailer friends are a breed of doers.  We are not used to staying put, and this quarantine is challenging us.  We are also a group that is kind, inventive. We have the willpower to do whatever it takes to accomplish our goal of protecting our community so we can camp together soon. 

Wednesday morning, we had a meeting with business owners, builders, suppliers, etc., all connected to the Vintage Camper Trailer world.  We are all trying to figure out how to help each other weather this storm so we can all restart again when the quarantine is lifted.  Many great ideas were shared, and our community leaders are strong and innovative.  If you are able, support our people.  They are working hard to stay in business to support our hobby. 

We had received a Zoom invite text to a virtual trailer rally from a random phone number.  The invite said it was BYOB, so I replied and asked who I was going to be drinking with on Wednesday night.  Turns out, that it was quite the group of trailer riff-raff!  What a great way to check-in and connect with some of our trailer buddies!  I miss them desperately but love them too much to see them in person. We had some good laughs, and it was nice to see everyone was in good spirits and adapting.

Cabin fever does pass as the sun sticks around and melts the snow.  I am feeling a need to see my friends and go camping, but I know it is not yet the right time.  So, I am sending you all my love and prayers and lots of long-distance hugs.  

-Caroline

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) quarantine may be the most significant negative impact to the American economy in history. Many people are out of work for an undetermined amount of time, making the future unsure. A government stimulus may help those that are eligible. As time goes on, some families may need to liquidate assets to make ends meet. Fortunately, vintage trailers have been appreciating in value should it become necessary for you to sell yours. For most of us, the thought of HAVING to sell our vintage trailer is something we may not want to think about. If selling your vintage trailer or tow vehicle becomes a necessity, we want to help.

www.buyvintagetrailers.com utilizes the social media following of the Vintage Camper Trailers Magazine to notify the community every time a new trailer becomes available. Your ad is posted to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest. Standard and Featured ads include targeted boosted posts on Facebook and Instagram. Your ad is seen by even more potential buyers in your region.

Buyers can use tools on the website to search for specific types of trailers or to search within a particular region of the country. Buyers are notified on one of several social media platforms when a new ad is placed. Your ad shows up in the feed of their choice. We don’t wait for buyers to come to the site, we go to them.

If you are selling a vintage trailer or classic tow vehicle, we have over 700,000 contacts waiting to see what you've got.

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