What is the make and model?

Thank you!

Hi Friends,

Well, this is a very interesting and unique trailer. The picture was taken in 2007. Is it still looking as nice? It looks like it was in remarkable condition. Not sure how it could look so nice after all these years without being under cover. Perhaps it was just well made. The running gear might be in good shape if the camp wasn't in a 3 season area with snow. Just a guess.

Might be a late 40's Zimmer, but I don't think the tail end is quite the same.

More pix available here www.viewrvs.com/travel-trailer/zimmer/1947/1947-zimmer-30-a.php 

I would guess that the V lines in the back of the trailer were a trend at the time.  I found other trailers of a similar vintage with those V shaped lines in the rear.

Definately worth pursuing. Don't assume you will find one like it. Not in this kind of shape and with the swept tail end, you have something special, not to mention you have family ties/memories to it, which trumps everything.

Please keep us informed of your decision and please continue to ask questions to seek advice.

Cheers,

Rod

Ahhh, That's the spirit!

Realistically, a flatbed would be your ticket with not knowing the condition of the running gear, but you will need tires on the wheels, however, I have a friend who dabbles in recovery of vintage trailers and he claims the old rubber on those old tires can be remarkable. That doesn't mean that you can tow it back on the freeway thousands of miles, it means maybe a few miles on secondary country roads or getting the trailer pulled up onto a flatbed. Perhaps try www.uship.com/ I found out about it when I was looking to move my Rod and Reel from Oregon to Southern California and I was researching. Might be worth looking into.

Those old trailers can be really heavy. Your concern about your F150 might be valid.

Cheers,

Rod

Hi Matt,

The wheel bearings are probably fine and the equivalent to modern day, but the grease in there may have turned to a stiff peanut butter like consistency, but could still be cleaned. With the three trailers I have recovered, one had runny grease, almost like water, one had stiff molasses like grease, one had molasses like grease that was like a putty. In that case I opened up the end cap on the axles and then sprayed some degreaser on the grease on around the castle nut. Then I replaced the bearing end caps and let it sit for a few days. Came back and it had softened up enough where I could clean out the grease using conventional methods. 

I think the bearings will be fine because for so much of the trailers life, it sat.  It's probably a park model, so it was designed for trailer parks and not camping.  That would mean that it didn't get towed a lot.  Just a guess. My experience is with trailers built in the early 50's and forward, but I am making the assumption that the bearings were the same in the 40's when this trailer appears to have been built.

Getting the lug nuts off if the wheels are still on it, might be a problem. If they rusted, you would need to start pre spraying with PB blaster or similar. Same thing, spray and let it sit. Maybe spray a few more times over a few days maybe even a week. You should have an impact wrench or a breaker bar to loosen those. I haven't sheared a stud, but maybe others can chime in on what works best for removing the lugnuts.

Have you looked under the trailer at the running gear, yet? That area looks protected under the trailer, so you might get lucky. If you haven't, yet, take pix and come back and share.


Just my two cents.

Cheers,

Rod

Looks a lot like an Anderson... Maybe 1950. Great trailers. They tow very well although for cross country I would flat bed it. Either that or make darn sure the springs, their perches, mounts and everything are good. Wheel bearings of course. You can take the old ones out and take them to NAPA for replacement. Neat trailer...

Just FYI

I don't have much more information, but my mother seems to think that this particular make/model was built to house military men after WWII when there was a housing shortage when they came home after the war was over.