mattp
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Post by mattp on Jul 27, 2017 17:48:19 GMT -8
Hello all, ***NOT A SALES AD*** Below are some pictures of a trailer that has been sitting at my grandfather's camp for as long as I can remember (I am 31 years old), probably longer. With his declining health and passing last fall, the camp has been sold and the camper must go. Long story short. I am on the opposite side of the country and would like to procure the same or similar camper someday. Problem is, I have no idea what the make and model is. I have searched and looked at hundreds of pictures of classic campers and nothing really matches up. The color is obviously not original. It was painted green when I was a kid. I am assuming that it might originally have been bare, but I don't really know. Any help in identifying this beauty would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time.
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Hamlet
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Post by Hamlet on Jul 27, 2017 18:27:05 GMT -8
These were called bread loaf trailers and were built from the mid-late 1930s through the very early 1950s. Some were quite elegant inside. I think the shortest one I've seen was about 16 feet plus tongue. You might want to do a search for vintage bread loaf trailers. You might find something that looks like yours. Good luck!
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mattp
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Post by mattp on Jul 27, 2017 19:00:37 GMT -8
Thank you!
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Post by vikx on Jul 27, 2017 21:29:47 GMT -8
Welcome Mattp,
If I were you, I would GO GET THAT TRAILER. It is very special and I've never seen another like it...
I don't have any idea what brand it is, but certainly cool.
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Post by Teachndad on Jul 27, 2017 22:39:56 GMT -8
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
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mattp
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Post by mattp on Jul 28, 2017 9:44:54 GMT -8
Thanks for the replies. The trailer has been sitting in upstate New York off of lake Ontario. I highly doubt it can be moved without being loaded onto a flat bed. Otherwise, it would be at my mom's place by now. Maybe, I can throw some money her way and see if she can figure it out.
Side note. The pics do say 2007, but the camera date wasn't set correctly, this is actually from 2011.
I have considered going back there with my truck (F-150) and trying to get it out of there, but even if I could find the time and the trailer could be made road worthy, I am not sure my truck could handle getting it back to Washington state.
I definitely want to get it out of there now, even if it just sits at another family member's place for awhile.
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Post by Teachndad on Jul 28, 2017 14:44:38 GMT -8
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
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mattp
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Post by mattp on Jul 30, 2017 19:14:29 GMT -8
Any idea if modern wheel bearings that need to be packed were common back in this things era? I am hoping I can jack it up and service the wheel bearings and haul it 50 miles to my mother's place next year.
I have also seen something like a car dolly but for trailers on tv, but can't seem to find one in real life. It basically has 4 wheels, 2 on each side that the trailer wheels sit between...
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Post by Teachndad on Jul 31, 2017 5:15:15 GMT -8
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
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mattp
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Post by mattp on Jul 31, 2017 7:53:55 GMT -8
Thanks Rod!
I have not looked under the trailer. My mother is planning on going up there near the end of summer or early fall. I will ask her to take more pictures. I am hoping I can get my own small camper by next Memorial Day and do a road trip out there and attempt a recovery.
The current owner of the camp owns the neighboring camp and has been nice enough to allow us to leave the camper there this long. I am hoping it can stay awhile longer.
I am just trying to plan this out right so I can actually get it done in the time I spend out there. I have a good assortment of tools that I will be bringing with me, including a compressor and impact wrench. I am also thinking I should plan on installing the trailer end equipment of a weight distributing hitch for towing.
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mobiltec
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Post by mobiltec on Jul 31, 2017 15:41:59 GMT -8
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...
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Post by Teachndad on Jul 31, 2017 23:29:20 GMT -8
Thanks Rod! I have not looked under the trailer. My mother is planning on going up there near the end of summer or early fall. I will ask her to take more pictures. I am hoping I can get my own small camper by next Memorial Day and do a road trip out there and attempt a recovery. Hi Matt, Besides having her take pix, send her a free can of PB blaster to take with her and have her spray the tar out of the lugs with the PB blaster. It won't hurt and might buy you some help later down the road, even if it's 6 months later. Send her a rubber glove if she doesn't like getting her spray finger all covered in liquid. A WDH is probably a good idea. Cheers, Rod
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mattp
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Post by mattp on Aug 4, 2017 14:01:31 GMT -8
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.
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Ten
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Post by Ten on Aug 4, 2017 16:45:02 GMT -8
Could be...
I am curious if you would be willing to disclose the location, (even if not publicly on here), because I live in upstate NY near Lake Ontario. But, I am near to Rochester, and Lake Ontario is a BIG lake. It could be quite a trip away.
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Post by Teachndad on Sept 9, 2017 21:03:49 GMT -8
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