rainbowchasers
New Member
Hello Vintage Trailer Lovers!!
Posts: 5
Likes: 1
1963 Rainbow
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Post by rainbowchasers on Feb 26, 2023 18:06:21 GMT -8
Hello VTT peeps! Member since Feb 2023. I have spent the past 10 years restoring a 1963 Rainbow Camper (completely restored twice long story). In all of those years I have searched the net high and low, visited the RV Museum in Ohio, and scoured the for sale markets only to come up mostly empty handed on information about Rainbow Campers. I had no idea they were so rare. If anyone could steer me toward learning more about them I would be grateful. Here is a link to flicker for pics of the rainbow as it is now properly restored: flic.kr/p/2oismqu |
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rainbowchasers
New Member
Hello Vintage Trailer Lovers!!
Posts: 5
Likes: 1
1963 Rainbow
Currently Offline
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Post by rainbowchasers on Feb 19, 2024 15:14:41 GMT -8
It's been a year almost and I still have not had much luck learning more about this Rainbow camper. I think this was a low production model in early 60's with hopes of reviving the Rainbow brand of the early 50's and compete with Shasta. I've only seen one other camper like this one that was sold on an RV website several years ago. I reached out to the owner and she didn't know anything more than the year and make. No brochures or owner's manuals.
I even visited the RV Museum in Northern Ohio/Indiana to go through their library collection and found nothing about these 60's models. The Rainbow RV company of the 50's looks like a completely different pull behind all together.
Last bit of info I have to give is that this Rainbow Camper is built WAY different than a Shasta or Scotty. It's the same size, but structurally it is built more like a tank than an RV. It's very heavy, solid and a bit more klunky than I would prefer, but after the years of restoring it I'm now attached for life.
But I still want to know more about it. Otherwise I just own a (one of two) Rainbow Campers.
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Post by vikx on Feb 20, 2024 12:35:17 GMT -8
There were so many manufacturers back in the day you may never find much about Rainbows. Also, some builders combined their efforts into a completely new brand and trailer.
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John Palmer
Senior Member
Hi, From a vintage trailer guy located in Santa Ana, CA. It's good to see lots of activity here.
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Post by John Palmer on Feb 20, 2024 16:44:14 GMT -8
I have a 1957 Rainbow that is currently torn down to the bare frame. I would agree that it's built nothing like a Shasta with 3/4" wall framing. It had a full 1 1/2" thick wall frame. My trailer was given to me because it was completely rotten and rodent infested. The good news, I was able to get a clear title, most of the hard-to-find parts, and an original door tag. It's a cast little fish, that says Rainbow and was made by Edwards Manufacturing Co.
So far, the frame has been lengthened, and also made wider. I have built "all new" wall framing with a more "canned ham" profile shape. It will become a 17' trailer and gained about 6" in width to increase the interior space. The frame is done with four corner stabilizers. The original hydraulic parking brake axle assembly was replaced with a more conventional electric brake "wider" axle.
It will likely be at least a year before I can get back to work at it due to other jobs.
John Palmer
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