HOTRODPRIMER
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Post by HOTRODPRIMER on Oct 20, 2017 9:20:00 GMT -8
Honestly,I am not trying to open a can of worms but I have seen campers as new as 2008 advertised on CL and other periodicals as Vintage this or vintage that.
I have a long history with restoring and hot rodding old cars and in some groups the cut off year is 1948,but in recent years the 30 year slid has be instituted to signify antique.
Is there a date when a camper/trailer is not considered vintage? or are all the campers that have a few years on them considered vintage? Danny
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aslmx
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Post by aslmx on Oct 20, 2017 14:08:11 GMT -8
Many opinions will be coming
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turbodaddy
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Post by turbodaddy on Oct 20, 2017 16:07:52 GMT -8
For what it's worth:
My personal criteria is a camper with birch or ash interior,a shape other than just a box, gas lamps, an unpainted aluminum skin (or a skin painted with something other than "Clorox bottle" white), matching colored appliances, and a date of manufacture no later than the 1960s.
If you spend time quietly sitting in one that isn't full of mold, mouse poop,and years of junk...you will experience a feeling of being transported to the past. A time that in many ways was a simpler time. Not necessarily a better time, but unhurried and with less (mental and physical) clutter.
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Post by vikx on Oct 20, 2017 21:51:29 GMT -8
At VTT, a true vintage trailer is usually a 50s canned ham or older. However, some of the 'newer' trailers (up until 1969) are very cool and can be considered Vintage/Retro. Vintage "camp" trailers are small, usually 15 feet or less and don't have a bathroom. There are some larger vintage trailers with full facilities and many are older than you would think, often from the 1940s.
By the 70s, many trailers were including MDF in construction, a real pain when rebuilding. More corners were cut in that era as well. (weak framing, poor appliances, cookie cutter design) Metal bellies were popular and we all know that causes extra rot. There are still some good rebuild candidates out there because so many trailers were made in the 70s. Also, there are some really great 70s decor items out there. If you like Avocado, LOL.
The newer you get and the bigger, the less vintage a trailer is. A 30 foot tandem axle trailer was meant to LIVE in, not camp. For one thing, many campgrounds restrict length and/or can not accommodate a rig that big. While some of our vintage trailers are self contained, most are not. When you start moving up to a fully self contained trailer, the cool factor is seldom there.
The above being said, ALL trailers are welcome here. We are all about helping others but want to keep VINTAGE in the mix. Because we are VINTAGE Trailer Talk, some posts are restricted if they veer too far away from vintage discussion. For instance, most of our members are not interested in an elaborate motor home inverter system. Just sayin'...
So, 50s canned hams are my favorites. I appreciate the newer 60s Retro trailers, especially with real wood inside. The smaller 70s camp trailers are fun to work on. It's kind of in the eye of the beholder. If you love your trailer, does it really matter what year it is?
I love VINTAGE charm. Let's enjoy together.
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aslmx
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Post by aslmx on Oct 21, 2017 7:14:19 GMT -8
I've heard it said that any above a 69 model won't have a spirit or soul. I can't remember how it was quoted. At first I thought they were smoking pot but it's true. You won't have the same feeling with a "vintage" 1991 model as you do with 60s model. I've never been in a real old one from 40s and 50s but I can imagine that they have an excellent vibe in them.
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HOTRODPRIMER
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Post by HOTRODPRIMER on Oct 21, 2017 9:33:46 GMT -8
For what it's worth: My personal criteria is a camper with birch or ash interior,a shape other than just a box, gas lamps, an unpainted aluminum skin (or a skin painted with something other than "Clorox bottle" white), matching colored appliances, and a date of manufacture no later than the 1960s. If you spend time quietly sitting in one that isn't full of mold, mouse poop,and years of junk...you will experience a feeling of being transported to the past. A time that in many ways was a simpler time. Not necessarily a better time, but unhurried and with less (mental and physical) clutter. My very first camping experience was with my grandparents and they had a 1956 Shasta, I was 12 years old at that time and vividly remember the scents & all the wood and the soft glow of the gas light. After 50 years and I will admit a certain amount of nostalgia I decided I wanted to share the simple pleasure of camping in a vintage camper with my youngest granddaughter and what would make it even better would to recreate a camper similar to that of my grandparents. I looked for a few years before I found a good candidate (my 1956 Shasta) although it needed a total restoration,long story short the road to hell is paved with good intentions and a accident forced me to abandon the project and I started looking at newer campers,the ones I looked at just didn't have the look or feel of the 50's which I really wanted. I received a call from the man who sold me my project and he was going to sell his '57 Shasta to finance a new project and my wife & daughter convinced me to buy it,I actually cost less that what I had set back to restore the one I had. The '57 is basically the same and I have fulfilled my desire to introduce the simple pleasures of camping to my 9 year old granddaughter,she had fun but Brenda & I were the real winners and I wish we had gotten involved with vintage camping sooner. We recently attended our first rally and we are hooked. Danny
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Post by vikx on Oct 21, 2017 9:36:28 GMT -8
Ah, if only our trailers could talk....
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chickenfarmer
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Post by chickenfarmer on Oct 21, 2017 10:19:31 GMT -8
The trailer I am working on isn't a classic or even vintage, in fact it is going to be new birtch filled 70s lookalike. Anyhow this forum is helpful and nice to everyone. I appriciate all the help I have received here.
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Post by bigbill on Oct 21, 2017 12:40:49 GMT -8
Vintage is definitely before foam vinyl laminate. I have listened to people argue Vintage in cars for well over sixty years. I remember when "fat fender cars" were ok but cool was a T, A, or 32 style car. Then all of a sudden when early cars became hard to find Fat Fenders (36 to 48) became the thing, then they started to get hard to find so now anything older than 1987 is acceptable at National meets. Me being the young man that I am those seem to be late models to me but to a guy who is now 50 many of them were his dream car. I would be willing to bet trailer collecting/ restoring will follow the same path. Some day that 2017 fifth wheel 33 feet long will be found in a barn and a family will think it is cool and even primitive to the standards at that time they will restore it to remember the great times they had with their grand parents when they were kids. AND THAT IS WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT...
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HOTRODPRIMER
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Post by HOTRODPRIMER on Oct 21, 2017 20:02:15 GMT -8
I really like the look and sound the wooden screen door makes when it opens & closes. Danny
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/151845322@N07/37587577910/in/dateposted/" title="22448674_10213828509328255_7449899069558184589_n"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4468/37587577910_d4ff689460_b.jpg" width="720" height="960" alt="22448674_10213828509328255_7449899069558184589_n"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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aslmx
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Post by aslmx on Oct 22, 2017 16:19:49 GMT -8
Vintage is definitely before foam vinyl laminate. I have listened to people argue Vintage in cars for well over sixty years. I remember when "fat fender cars" were ok but cool was a T, A, or 32 style car. Then all of a sudden when early cars became hard to find Fat Fenders (36 to 48) became the thing, then they started to get hard to find so now anything older than 1987 is acceptable at National meets. Me being the young man that I am those seem to be late models to me but to a guy who is now 50 many of them were his dream car. I would be willing to bet trailer collecting/ restoring will follow the same path. Some day that 2017 fifth wheel 33 feet long will be found in a barn and a family will think it is cool and even primitive to the standards at that time they will restore it to remember the great times they had with their grand parents when they were kids. AND THAT IS WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT... one day our grandchildren will be looking for windows for a FEMA trailer.
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mrmarty51
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Post by mrmarty51 on Oct 23, 2017 7:55:32 GMT -8
I can remember when I was very young. My Grandfather lived in a little camper parked close to Our house, it was heated with fuel oil. I can still remember the smell of the oil, also on the door was this flip over latch, that when the door was opened or closed that little flip over with its roller would make a snap sound. Also hanging towards the back was a KitKat clock. I remember its tail swinging and its eyes rolling from side to side. After grandad departed, My dad sold that camper to some people for 25 dollars, boy was My mom unhappy with that, created a great friction for many years. I know where that camper had gone to, but, the people that had it were not clean people, their soninlaw, after they died told Me that they just drug it to the dumps with all of its contents. I asked them about the KitKat clock, they said it was not in the camper. I know not what year the camper was but be My guess it would have been from the early forties.
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cowcharge
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Post by cowcharge on Oct 24, 2017 16:57:07 GMT -8
'Vintage' is a completely subjective term when applied to campers. In wine (where it came from), it just means the year the grapes were grown. Any year. So we should be saying a "50s-vintage camper". Or a "70s-vintage camper". I'm sure there are plenty of people who remember camping in their grandfather's '75 with the avocado fridge, and remember it as fondly as some remember the 50s models. But if Vikx decides to boot anybody who calls 70s vintage, I guess we won't call the 70s vintage.
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HOTRODPRIMER
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Post by HOTRODPRIMER on Oct 24, 2017 17:23:59 GMT -8
Heck,the 70's campers are 40 years old,that sounds like vintage to me. Danny
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turbodaddy
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Post by turbodaddy on Oct 24, 2017 18:23:00 GMT -8
Very well put Cow. Never really thought about it that way. You are correct! My wine comes in a box, vintage 2016 or 2017.
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