Three Vintage Travel Trailers - A Desert Adventure

 I've been looking for a vintage travel trailer to fix up and put on my property as a guest house. No paperwork and not roadworthy is no problem . I don't plan on trailering it once on my property.

Well I didn't realize these little canned hams are commanding an arm and a leg these days, even just a beat up shell.

The adventure started a couple months ago when I saw these two trailers posted for sale.





The seller said they had been on his aunt's property for many years. I figured they would sell quick at the price listed. But after 3 weeks they were still there so I figured they were probably completely trashed. But I was intrigued so I asked if they were available. He said yes they were still available and if I took them both he would make me a good deal. They were in North Palm Springs about a 50 minute drive from my place. We agreed to meet between 10 and 10:30 the next day. He gave me his phone number and told me to call when I was at a gas station and he would
lead me into the ranch.

Got there at 10, I called and left a text. No answer no reply. 10:30 rolls around still no reply. So I thought I would cruise around the neighborhood which was pretty run down on the outskirts of Palm Springs. But back in the day there were some real nice ranches up against the mountain, most of the area in disrepair now.

About 10:40 I get a text from him very apologetic, said his aunt died last night and he's been very busy. He says if we can make it tomorrow he'll make me a deal I can't refuse. Now I'm really interested, however there should have been enough red flags for me to run the other way by now. Tomorrow comes I wait till noon don't hear, send him a text telling him I'm still interested. Hear nothing. The next day I had completely given up on the deal when he says can you meet tomorrow at 10, he would sell both for 800. Out of curiosity I went on Google Earth and checked out the neighborhood he led me to , and sure enough I found the trailers up against a hill which was visible in the ad. The two trailers are in the lower middle of this picture along the row of trees below Pioneer Trail, and the only way out is Janes lane.




He told me he would give me directions into the ranch, which he did in the morning.

I was greeted by this well weathered Roadrunner Ranch sign, telling me to have a nice day.




After about two blocks on straight dirt roads with a 90-degree bend and a block wall on one side, I knew getting these trailers out could be a problem. Shortly before entrance to the 12-acre property, I was greeted by another sign, this one not as welcoming.



I arrived at the property and it was immediately apparent why the trailers were still there. It was a hoarder situation and the trailers were wedged way back in a corner of the property inaccessible to vehicles. The first picture below I am standing at a dead end at the base of the hill. The second picture is the way they need to come out, problem is the one farthest in and the biggest one is facing the wrong way, and there is about a 2 foot deep culvert filled with boulders between the trailers.



I already knew I would be calling my friend Dave in Yucca Valley, who specializes in placing and retrieving 20 and 40 foot containers in hard to reach locations. I had him on the phone at the property and sent him some pictures and he said no problem we can do it. Which I knew he would say.

We knew his trailer would never make it back to the property so we left it on the pavement and he dragged the trailers backwards two blocks with his bobcat skid steer. Which I'm convinced was about the only way these things would have come out of that location. Dave is well prepared, careful and methodical.  He placed wheels up under the frames while he pulled them two blocks to his trailer. 











There was a third trailer on the property, probably older than the other two. I asked him how much for that one he says 300 I say okay. That will be another project for another day.


We ran out of daylight so the next morning Dave delivered them at my property, and the next day we went back for the 3rd.










I ended up paying the man a grand for the three trailers, and I gave Dave a little more than that for his time, use of his toys, and expertise. 
I'm real happy with the deal, and looking forward to working on these things, which I've already started. And the experience was priceless.
They really are in better condition than they look. The Palm Springs climate is kind on things. The trailers are 1963 and 1970 Cardinals, and a 1958 or 59 Santa Fe. The Cardinals both had old registration cards and license plates, which may or may not help getting them registered. The 63 was missing the door which they re-purposed elsewhere on the property and retrieved, thank goodness.
I will post threads on each trailer, I'm concentrating on weatherproofing and wood rot replacement. On the two Cardinals I think I can do this without removing the skins.
The Santa Fe has the original Marvel fridge and Princess stove, but unfortunately has suffered from an interior whitewash and green shag carpet treatment, (which matched the lime green cabinet doors and drawers) probably done in the 70s. I pulled up the carpet, only to reveal the original linoleum tiles in remarkably good condition. With a liberal dose of white spray paint. The window bars suggest it may have been a guard shack in the ghetto in a previous life. The bars have already been removed.
As I mentioned these will be guest houses on the property, so I'm not going crazy getting them road worthy, but I plan on keeping them as original as possible so if my son decides to take them on the road that will be his project.
If you made it this far thanks for following along,
John