When it comes time to buy or sale a vintage trailer, consumers have several options to reach 1,000s of people with the Internet and sites like the Vintage Camper Trailers "For Sale" and "Sell Your Trailer" pages. The Internet has also, unfortunately, given scammers a new venue to find uninformed victims. No matter where you are shopping for, or selling a vintage trailer, be warned that you may come in contact with someone that isn't really interested in the hobby but is just trying to scam you out of your hard earned money.

The “Price Too Good to Be True” scam
In this scam, a prospective buyer sees a vintage camper trailer for a price well below market value. When the buyer contacts the seller, he or she is notified that the seller and the trailer is outside of the country and will arrange for shipment of the car upon receipt of payment, most often via wire transfer (such as Western Union) or bank-to-bank transfer (for very large payments). When the money is transferred and collected, the “seller” breaks contact and the buyer is out the money.

The overpayment scam
A legitimate seller posts a vintage trailer for sale. He or she is then contacted by a prospective “buyer” (really a scammer) who offers to send a cashier’s check immediately plus additional funds to cover shipment of the trailer overseas. When the check arrives, the seller is instructed to deposit it and wire the overage to the “shipper.” When this is done and the wire transfer picked up, the “buyer” breaks contact and the seller is left on the hook to their bank for the fraudulent check and the missing funds. 

Escrow scams
Many consumers are rightfully wary of sending large amounts of money to someone they’ve never met. Scammer frequently recommend the use of fake “escrow” services that will hold funds involved in the transaction until both parties are satisfied that the transaction has been completed. In a typical scam, a legitimate buyer will be approached by a scammer selling a car or trailer (again, often a vintage trailer or classic car priced, but usually priced well below market value). The scam seller will offer to ship the item and that there is no risk of fraud due to the “escrow” service (purportedly eBay, PayPal, or another service). Once the money is transferred, contact is broken (or sometimes additional funds are requested to cover “unforeseen” events). In any case, the legitimate buyer never receives the vehicle and loses their money.
Click "read more" below to find out How to avoid online-buying scams

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We have been able to choose plans that work for the kids' needs as well as ours. With four phone lines we receive a 20% discount off of our monthly bill. When we compared carriers plans, we were so impressed with PureTalk USA that we contacted them to create a promotion for our readers. In addition to everything else that PureTalk USA has to offer, they are giving our ​readers  up to another $100.00 just for checking them out for 90 days! Don’t take my word for it. Compare your plan to PureTalk USA and see how it measures up.

Sal Scolaro of Toluca Woods, CA stole the show at rallies with this set-up! His site was is decked out in period correct gear that made it a crowd favorite. Sal says he mainly buys original cars and trailers and can do most of the restoration work himself. The 1965 Rambler pictured here is still a work in progress.  The longroof is the perfect pairing for the 1966 Driftwood trailer. Driftwood is one of the thousands of lesser known brands of trailers produced in the 1950's and 1960's. Little is documented on this brand. We could only find the following unverified information on the TCT website: Driftwood was made from 1966-1968 by a company called Scully Industries in Indiana.

Camping is a summertime tradition for more and more people each year. Over half a million new RV's were sold in 2018. The vintage trailering hobby continues to flourish both in the US and internationally. People are even "full-time RVers" working on the road as they travel. Vintage and modern rigs outfitted with modern luxuries like flat screen TV's or devices to extend your wireless connectivity make this all possible. You don’t have to work or to join any organizations or clubs, unless you want to. You decide how much, or how little, you want to spend. Vintage trailers and used RV’s are still being had for less than a thousand dollars. You may end up with more camping buddies than you know what to do with! No need to rough it if you don't want to. You can always go “glamping”or “glamour camping”.

No vintage trailer rallies in your neck of the woods? Why not put together your own rally. Start small and simple. It is more important that you move forward with a simple plan now, than be intimidated by all the possible doings you may want to implement in the future. Being the host or wagon-master can be rewarding. It also requires your time and the responsibility to make the arrangements and decisions that will arise before and during the event. Trailerites across the United States contact us to find out about rallies in their area. We hope that you will take some of our ideas and host a rally in your region.

​A vintage trailer rally is nothing more than people getting together with a common interest in preserving the nostalgia of the past. You don’t have to dream up a theme, hire a band, and commit to filling 100 sites to host a rally. If there are no vintage rallies in your area, you can be the first to take on the role of wagon master. Use our experiences,  and ideas to help you get started. It’s as simple as 1,2,3

The first three things you should do are very simple and probably go without saying

1. Pick a date.
2. Pick a location.
3. Let people know about the event.

 
Picking a date may be as simple as inviting others along on a trip you have already planned. Our first rally was based on a weekend that the park had prearranged activities. We literally just showed up and invited our friends to join us. Make sure your date does not conflict with other vintage trailer rallies or major events in your immediate area. For a comprehensive list of trailer rallies in the United States, consult the Vintage Camper Trailers Magazine. Once you make your plans, the Vintage Camper Trailers Magazine will publicize your event in the calendar section for free. Let us know by filling out the rally form here.
 
The fourth thing you should do is ask for help. Do you know someone that has hosted a vintage trailer rally? Consult with someone that has already done something similar. Learning from someone that has been there, and done that, will save you the trial and error and possibly some grief. In the event you do not know anyone to consult with, you may want to get a copy of the book, Vintage Camper Trailer Rallies. It has a lot of information and ideas about hosting a rally, along with hundreds of photos of vintage trailers.
 
We created a “VCT Rally Starter Kit” to help you with some of the things that would have helped us when we were starting out. The kit includes our "how-to" book along with raffle prizes, free gifts for your attendees, and window signs that look like you know what you’re doing! We even give you a way to generate some profits to cover the costs of your event.
 
Hosting rallies is a labor of love, not a get rich quick scheme. With our “VCT Rally Starter Kit” we will even include a phone meeting to answer any questions you may have. We look forward to helping you get started planning and hosting your own vintage trailer rally!

Submitted by Dan Donnovan 
If you are restoring a vintage trailer this concoction may come in handy.
A subjective test of  popular penetrants with the control being the torque required to remove the nut from a "scientifically rusted" environment. 

*Penetrating oil ..... Average load*

 None .................... 516 pounds
 WD-40 .................. 238 pounds
 PB Blaster ............. 214 pounds
 Liquid Wrench ..... 127 pounds
 Kano Kroil ........... 106 pounds
ATF-Acetone mix....53 pounds

The ATF-Acetone mix was a "home brew" mix of 50 - 50 automatic transmission fluid and acetone. Note the "home brew" was better than any commercial product in this one particular test. Our local machinist group mixed up a batch, and we all now use it with equally good results. Note also that "Liquid Wrench" is about as good as "Kroil" for about 20% of the price. 

​Machinist's Workshop Magazine (March/April or May/June, 2007) tested penetrants for break out torque on rusted nuts. Significant results! As forwarded by an ex-student and professional machinist, Bud Baker. 

By Paul Lacitinola
Publisher, The Vintage Camper Trailers Magazine
 
The variety of camping trailers built post war through the 1960’s is seemingly endless. After a decade in the hobby I am still learning of manufacturers that I have never heard of. The popularity of the vintage trailer hobby has caused many people to have a new-found interest in once obscure and long-forgotten trailers. Most vintage trailer enthusiasts are familiar with the major brands like Shasta, Airstream and Aristocrat, but there were many more mid-century manufacturers that were small operations with limited productions. The market was flooded with trailers of different sizes, floorplans and amenities. Determining the vintage trailer that will best suit your needs today is a critical part of investing in a classic coach.
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Most motor vehicle departments consider the length of a trailer to be the overall length from the ball hitch to the rear bumper. Sometimes sellers only measure the length of the body and do not include the added length of the tongue. Make sure you are clear on the actual overall trailer dimensions. When purchasing a trailer consider where it will be stored. You may be restricted in the length or width of a trailer that will fit in your storage area. Other primary considerations are how many beds you will need and what type of bathroom, if any, is a “must have” for you. Bathrooms may include any combination of a commode, shower, tub and sink. The smaller the trailer, the less likely it is to have a bathroom. Trailers can range from 10’ to over 30’. I think that up to a bout 26’ is a manageable size. The bigger your trailer, the more considerations there are for the type of tow vehicle that you have and the campgrounds that can accommodate you.

Go to a Vintage Trailer Rally
Once you have determined some of your non-negotiable needs and desires, you are ready to begin looking at trailers that also fit your budget.  Waiting for one that fits your parameters, and is close enough to go see, may take a while. Rather than waiting for one to pop-up for sell nearby, I recommend you visit a Vintage Camper Trailer rally that has an Open House. An open house is typically held on the Saturday of a rally and is open to the public to tour the trailers. Often there are trailers for sell at a rally or the people there have, or know of, trailers for sale. Being able to see several different sizes and floor plans will help you continue to focus on the perfect vintage trailer for you. Meeting and mingling with people already in the hobby will give you insight into variables you may not have considered. Do you prefer twin or full beds? Is their enough ceiling height? Is the available living space enough for your kids, pets and gear? (All the rallies in the USA are published in the Vintage Camper Trailers Magazine).

Take a Test Drive
Once you narrow down the trailer type, size and amenities that you would like, you may want to take one for a test-drive. Outdoorsy.com now offers a searchable data base where you can find “vintage” trailers for rent. You can even search by brand name like “Airstream” or “Shasta” to help you find the trailer you would like to take camping. This nationwide database provides you with the opportunity to experience vintage camping before you buy. It also provides you an alternative to owning a trailer yourself. If you ultimately invest in a trailer you may want to offer it for rent on Outdoorsy.com to offset your expenses. If you are going to be camping, why not take advantage of a 50% discount on your camping fees? Passport America is the original 50% Discount Camping Club and has the largest network of quality campgrounds across the nation. A one-year RV Discount Camping Card is only $44. You will likely save as much on your first weekend outing.

See the Trailer in Person
Always go and see a potential trailer purchase in person before dropping your hard-earned cash. Trailers always look better on-line and computers don’t have smell-o-vision.  Even a novice can “feel” a soft floor or smell a funk that may be impossible to get rid of. If you can’t go see the trailer, you can take your chances with a trusted friend that may be closer and can give you their feedback. Consider the risk/reward of NOT seeing the trailer in person, and the cost of transporting the trailer, in the overall cost of the RV.

Other factors to purchasing a vintage trailer include evaluating the condition of a trailer and determining the value. These are two important aspects of investing in 70-year-old camping trailers requiring their own articles. Here is a link to an article on valuing a vintage trailer. You will also want to explore your vehicles tow rating, so you are able to travel safely.
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Buying a vintage trailer and being a part of the vintage trailering hobby should be a very positive experience. The first trailer you buy, may not be your “forever” trailer. Being in the hobby, and participating in the rallies yourself, will expose you to many opportunities to find your perfect trailer. Selling the trailer that you have shouldn’t be a problem with all the interest in the vintage trailering hobby and another newbie on the hunt for their first vintage trailer.
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Other Resources
Visit a rally with over 200 trailers! www.trailerfestrally.com
Learn how to restore vintage camper trailers.
Shop for a vintage camper trailer.
Sell your vintage camper trailer.

by Melody Gilmore
I have been having a wonderful time combining three passions of mine - cross-stitch, travel trailers, and postcards (see issue #4 of the Vintage Camper Trailers Magazine, October 2012: Greetings from Trailer Town Campground). Camping and visiting America's spectacular national parks is something else I love to do. Collecting vintage postcards of Yellowstone has been a popular hobby since my first trip in 1988. A lifetime resident of central Ohio, I always long for the days when I can discover a new trail or scenic campsite among the peaks and pines.

In 2012, some of my glamping gurus asked if I could create cross-stitch patterns of their vintage campers. I shared those designs on social media along with some other trailerite creations. After numerous nudgings from friends and family over the years, I finally decided to start a design business (facebook at openroadabode or email openroadabode@gmail.com). My initial series included small 4x6" patterns printed on postcards. This year will introduce several larger designs and "camper samplers" (to be released at the Nashville Needlework Market in March).

The timing couldn't seem to be more perfect as more and more Americans are hitting the open road and enjoying all the benefits that recreational living has to offer. Crafting while camping is also experiencing a surge in popularity...particularly needlework. Compact and portable, small projects can be packed in vehicles and trailers for your leisurely convenience. And they make great gifts for exchanges at gatherings or to add to your own lovely, camping décor.

I have created a special design for Vintage Camper Trailers Magazine readers that I hope you will enjoy stitching in whatever fabric and floss colors you desire-  "making it your own." Not a cross-stitcher, but would love to learn this simple form of embroidery? There are many basic tutorials on the Internet to get you started. Just like hitching, take one step (or stitch) at a time and have fun with all the adventures that await you with a needle and thread!

​How fun would it be to work with vintage trailers every day? The vintage trailering hobby only seems to be growing. Vintage trailers appeal to so many people for so many different reasons. Restoring them for rallies, rentals and mobile vendors are just a few of the ways vintage trailers are being used. If you are knowledgeable with all areas of RV repair/restoration and have experience managing other workers, this may be the opportunity you have been looking for.

Vintage Campers is a full-service vintage camper and vintage trailer dealer specializing in SPARTAN and other riveted trailers.  They mainly deal in trailers from the 40s’, 50s’ and 60s’ with riveted construction because they are more durable trailers and will last a lifetime.  Offering vintage trailer sales, restoration services (major and minor), as well as, new, salvaged and reproduction vintage trailer parts, Vintage Campers is a respected go-to in among trailer restorers and a longtime supporter/advertiser in the Vintage Camper Trailers Magazine.  Other trailers in their stock include Airstreams, Avions, Silver Streaks, Boles Aeros, Vagabonds, Curtis Wrights, Streamlines and others.  Wood framed vintage campers like Shastas, Scottys, Yellowstones, Fans, Trotwoods and Palace trailers also find their way in to Vintage Campers yard.

Centrally located in the Midwest in the small town of Peru, Indiana.  Whether you are applying for a position or looking for your next vintage trailer, Dan and his crew are there to serve you with the honesty and integrity that you deserve.  Thanks for visiting VintageCampers.com.  They hope to hear from you soon. Email your resume: dan@vintagecampers.com