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A virtual vintage travel trailer rally

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What is a vintage travel trailer and who are these people anyway?

Vintage trailer folks are those who camp in vintage trailers. They forgo the obvious luxury of the newer trailers in favor of the warm wood tones and style that made trailer travel popular at the end of World War 1. The lure of the vintage trailer is unmistakable and once bitten by the bug, the search for the perfect trailer becomes paramount to anything else in life. Each vintage trailer owner has a story to tell and will pull out their album. If you don't want to listen, don't ask because once they have captured you, you are in for the long haul.

The current definition of vintage trailer is that it is older than 25 years old. For motorhome, they must be 20 years or older. Teardrops, new or old are considered vintage since they are all built on the original plans.

Taken in 2004, this is my husband and child at a rally at the Bluegrass Festival in Pioneer, AZ. The trailer is a bit messy and this was just before the boy decided to use my camera as a pull toy. You can see a little of the ice box on the left and the counter on the right. The trailer is a Dalton and was built in 1959.

Table of Contents

  1. Vintage Trailer Rallies
  3. Gail's "Big Red" Kenskill
  4. Wayne and Kathy's Arrow
  5. Mostly we sit around in the shade and and look at trailer pictures
  6. Craig and Jill's Travelo
  7. 2005 Southwest Rally renamed the "Mud Fest"
  8. Vintage Trailer Rally Rule
  9. Anatomy of a Teardrop Trailer
  10. Bob and Cindy's ?
  11. Books by Doug Keister
  12. It's not a vintage trailer event if eating in not part of the adventure
  13. Isn't this a beauty. It's a Bowlus and one of the first trailers.
  14. Gage and Tayna's '56 Dalton
  15. A non-scientific poll
  16. My favorite Dalton Trailer Picture
  17. Do you have a soft spot for Vintage Trailers?
  18. 2005 Southwest Rally
  19. If you haven't seen enough, here is a link to other rallies and pictures
  20. About Me

Vintage Trailer Rallies

Snooze Box, International Teardrop RallyAll over the country there are Vintage Trailer Rallies. The first International Teardrop Gathering was held in Minden, Neb. June 23rd through 26th 2005. Teardroppers traveled from all over the country to meet at the Pioneer Village Museum and campground. BTW, the museum is spectacular and a must see if you are in the area.

In October, there is the Spooktacular in Tucson, AZ. A mix or vintage trailers and teardrops, trailers are decorated for Halloween.

There are too many to list but type in vintage trailer rally and an incredible amount of rallies will pop-up.

This is my 1989 Homebuilt Teardrop named the "Snooze Box" at the 1st International Teardrop Gathering.

“Come along with me as we visit a Vintage Travel Trailer Rally”

Gail's "Big Red" Kenskill

2004 Pioneer Rally

Wayne and Kathy's Arrow

Henry Cowell Redwood State Park

Mostly we sit around in the shade and and look at trailer pictures 

Craig and Jill's Travelo

2005 Southwest Rally at Pioneer, Az

2005 Southwest Rally renamed the "Mud Fest"

Pioneer, AZ

This was three days of massive rain and spectacular lightening and thunder. Our group event on Sunday was to pull the 27 trailers out of the mud. This has become legendary.

Vintage Trailer Rally Rule

Vintage trailer folks love to show their trailers. If you attend a rally, you are more than welcome to enter any trailer that has the door open. Feel free to go in and look around. Ask questions, we love to talk about our trailers. If the door is closed, well.. you get it.

Anatomy of a Teardrop Trailer

My teardrop - the one-of-a-kind homebuilt trailer

The Snooze Box is unique and here are all the the features you would not expect to find in a small trailer. At rallies, we always do what we call the "10 cent tour" and have recreated it here.
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Bob and Cindy's ?

The Mud Fest

Not sure what this trailer is. I know it's vintage but it is a little hard to tell with all the tarps. Did I mention that many of the older trailers leak?

Books by Doug Keister

Some of the trailers pictured here are also in these books. Great coffee table books for those of us who, when not camping in our trailers, are looking a pictures.
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It's not a vintage trailer event if eating in not part of the adventure

Arizona Roundup, Cottonwood, AZ

Isn't this a beauty. It's a Bowlus and one of the first trailers. 

Gage and Tayna's '56 Dalton

Spamboree 2007

Yes, there is a "Spam" cookoff!

A non-scientific poll

My 1959 Dalton

My Dalton

Just curious how many people have a vintage trailer

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My favorite Dalton Trailer Picture

Brand new Dalton's right off the assembly line - Probably taken in around 1956 since they are still rounded

Do you have a soft spot for Vintage Trailers?

Leave a comment

Yes, it has been confirmed that Vintage Trailer Folk are crazy and that if they have one, they probably have more. Care to join us?

  • brad williams May 11, 2012 @ 12:03 am | delete
    my name is brad i have a 1955 bubble airstream i am restoring love tha old ones
  • Darlene Zeien May 7, 2012 @ 2:26 pm | delete
    We have a 1977 13 foot Scamp My husband and boys have went many of hundreds of miles in it. We love it we have a motor home too but we love our Scamp more!!!!!
  • GrammaLinda Mar 30, 2012 @ 11:25 am | delete
    I do! Wish I had one.Blessings!
  • Bob Dewhurst Mar 21, 2012 @ 11:06 pm | delete
    I get 'em so old I just fix 'em up my own way, usually with a woodstove & new floorplan...just finishing up a '56 (or '57 } Corvette trailer.Next I want to build a teardrop from (my own) plans. I built a teardrop (sort of) out of a Dodge colt...sawed off the front end & put in a mattress...lived in horsetrailers & campers all my life but now am lodged in a semi-trailer with stainedd glass windows, marble floors & (of course) a big woodstove
  • glockr Mar 19, 2012 @ 12:12 pm | delete
    My dad is giving me a 62 Ford F100 to fix up this summer. Hope to get a small vintage trailer to go behind it so I can take my family on lots of camping trips. Very nicely done lens.
  • glockr Mar 19, 2012 @ 12:12 pm | delete
    My dad is giving me a 62 Ford F100 to fix up this summer. Hope to get a small vintage trailer to go behind it so I can take my family on lots of camping trips. Very nicely done lens.
  • CrazyIM Feb 13, 2012 @ 10:51 pm | delete
    Excellent lens. And you know what? I dreamed about travel around North America with a travel trailer.
  • Chey1997 Feb 7, 2012 @ 7:09 am | delete
    My father built Fleetwood travel trailers for many many years love them!
  • Annamadagan Jan 27, 2012 @ 9:10 am | delete
    Looks like fun. Nice lens.
  • hntrssthmpsn Jan 22, 2012 @ 6:13 pm | delete
    I love your vintage trailer lenses... you have a knack for including your readers as if we were right there with you!
  • Tipi Jan 6, 2012 @ 3:44 pm | delete
    I love how you include us all in your vintage trailer travels....I always end up smiling...blessed!
  • Jon Walder Nov 12, 2011 @ 6:58 pm | delete
    Love them! Just got our first canned ham! A 60s Arrow
  • A_D_Solutions Sep 26, 2011 @ 10:45 am | delete
    Very awesome lens! We loved it!
  • Frischy Aug 31, 2011 @ 12:50 pm | delete
    Would LOVE to join you! If I ever find one in my price range, we will be there!
  • JennySui Aug 22, 2011 @ 7:19 pm | delete
    These are fantastic. Amazing collection.
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2005 Southwest Rally

Bud's teardrop and Bob and Mary's Boler

If you haven't seen enough, here is a link to other rallies and pictures

Many thanks to Gage and Tanya for the years of photo's and friendship.
Gage's 56
Most of the pictures here are mine and then there are the ones from Gage's website. If you haven't had enough, there are years of pictures here. Best site of all for vintage trailer and teardrop pictures.

About Me

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Vintage trailer people love to show off their vintage trailers and teardrops so on a Saturday afternoon, many will be outside their trailers, waiting... more »

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This is a great book on Vintage Trailers 

Mobile America with Huell Howser History of the Vintage Trailer

Mobile America with Huell Howser History of the Vintage Trailer

Amazon Price: $33.00 (as of 05/27/2012)Buy Now

The favored movie for Vintage Trailer Folks 

The Long, Long Trailer

The Long, Long Trailer

Amazon Price: $6.87 (as of 05/27/2012)Buy Now

Vintage trailer table weights 

I must have these

Rome's #2034 Set of 4 2.5 Inch x 1 Inch Vintage RV Tablecloth Weights

Rome's #2034 Set of 4 2.5 Inch x 1 Inch Vintage RV Tablecloth Weights

Amazon Price: $19.46 (as of 05/27/2012)Buy Now

Super cute and functional, the best sort of camping equipment with a vintage trailer. Table weights are overlooked as a camping necessity but when you don't want the table cloth to blow away, these are really important.

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