purplepeep
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One is never enough:)
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1966 Serro ScottyTonga
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Post by purplepeep on Jul 8, 2014 19:48:56 GMT -8
I was wondering who made the highest quality campers, back in the 50's-early 60's. Any brands out there with better framing or structures that tended to hold up better, over time?
With our Scotty, the sides are plywood, no framing. Not much framing in the floor, back, front or top. When we did our rebuild, we beefed up everything.
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John Palmer
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Post by John Palmer on Jul 8, 2014 20:46:56 GMT -8
The "best built" trailer brands of the 1950's did not survive. The companies that sold the best were the one's that cut the selling price, and their quality suffered in order to gain market share. Shasta is a perfect example. But they have a very strong, and loyal following even today, because so many people have great memories, and grew up with a Shasta in the family.
Most small trailer's were cheaply built during this time to meet price competition. I had a 13' Aljoa that did not even have a steel frame past the axle to the rear. The trailer's rear was supported only by two 2 by 3's! Look at the small and weak 2" channel frames used on the small De villes. By the late 1960's to early 1970's the manufacturers stopped using real wood paneling, and substituted wood grained "photo paper" for paneling. The changes were all price based, IMO.
The "riveted skin" group of trailer's all have their own set of quality problems, they are just different.
The 1958 Mallard has been the best built trailer I have worked on yet. It's was built square, it measures the same on both sides, and the ceiling was by far the best built, having extra rafters and having a crown built into the roof. It has a steel door, and nice Hehr Clear View style windows which were new for the time.
Any trailer with a 3/4" thick "stick wall", or a solid plywood wall (like on small size Scottsman/Corvette) are cheaply constructed trailer's, again IMO. I'm sure the marketing team's promoted these trailer as having "more bed room space", and NOT as having low quality construction, LOL.
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Post by vikx on Jul 8, 2014 22:00:04 GMT -8
My best made trailer is the 54 Bellwood. Really a super well built little ham, 1 5/8 framing. That being said, I've seen another of the same year that wasn't quite the quality. (had thinner J rail and different cabinetry) For one thing, my cabinets are sturdier and it has a very nice wood bunk above the back bed. The edge trim (J rail) is 1"! wide. You don't rubber hammer this rail to seat the putty... It had been in a wreck of sorts (guessing it came off the ball) and the front was pretty dented, the dinette pushed back into the icebox framing but it wasn't as bad as a weaker trailer would have been. The aircraft aluminum is to die for:  I had to replace the front metal, here's the nasty dent:  And a view of the J rail:  |
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Hamlet
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Post by Hamlet on Jul 9, 2014 7:24:56 GMT -8
zYup, vikx, you could finance your next endeavor. Just open to the public and charge $7.50 a head for the tour of your beautiful trailers!
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Post by bigbill on Jul 9, 2014 7:53:04 GMT -8
To measure up to what they could have been if price was no object they are all junk but when you stop to think that they were made fast and cheap to meet a price point and 50 to 60 years of hard use and neglect later they are still around they are all fairly decent.
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purplepeep
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One is never enough:)
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1966 Serro ScottyTonga
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Post by purplepeep on Jul 9, 2014 8:07:50 GMT -8
(Bellwood) I love her roundness!
I'm still wondering about the old fridge in the Scotty. It was really heavy, and not bolted to anything. With very little framing/mostly rotten, I can't believe it didn't come flying right out the front during a stop LOL!
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John Palmer
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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 Jul 9, 2014 8:18:01 GMT -8
To measure up to what they could have been if price was no object they are all junk but when you stop to think that they were made fast and cheap to meet a price point and 50 to 60 years of hard use and neglect later they are still around they are all fairly decent. Exactly!
Well stated.
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kirkadie
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'69 Serro Scotty Hilander
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Post by kirkadie on Jul 9, 2014 11:28:39 GMT -8
I was given a 19' Barth single axle by Dad's 90 year old running buddy. Really nice 'L' shaped front galley, curved front side windows with a curved rock guard to boot. It's all aluminum framing and interior were in great shape except for the ceiling which was vinyl clad masonite and was sagging where the vent had leaked... easy fix.
But it looked beyond the ability of our T-100 to stop it safely, so I passed on it. A neighbor of o.r.b. ended up taking it to his river camp where it stayed till high water got it.
Although it was tough as nails, it lacked the Ham shape so I'm not sorry I passed on it but regret how it's long life ended.
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lakewoodgirl
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1954 Lakewood
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Post by lakewoodgirl on Jul 9, 2014 14:39:23 GMT -8
My best made trailer is the 54 Bellwood. Really a super well built little ham, 1 5/8 framing. That being said, I've seen another of the same year that wasn't quite the quality. (had thinner J rail and different cabinetry) For one thing, my cabinets are sturdier and it has a very nice wood bunk above the back bed. The edge trim (J rail) is 1"! wide. You don't rubber hammer this rail to seat the putty... It had been in a wreck of sorts (guessing it came off the ball) and the front was pretty dented, the dinette pushed back into the icebox framing but it wasn't as bad as a weaker trailer would have been. The aircraft aluminum is to die for: I had to replace the front metal, here's the nasty dent: And a view of the J rail: I really think that Bellwoods and Lakewood's must be related somehow. I have researched like crazy & know all there is to know about the owner/founder of Lakewood. He was a military guy who worked in metals. Not only do these two companies resemble each other but it sounds like they were built the same! Sturdy as hell! Quality materials absolutely! Beautiful maple veneer that I cannot afford to replace so I'm trying to restore as much of it as I can. And like yours, aircraft aluminum heaven! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
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Post by schweetcruisers on Jul 9, 2014 17:33:54 GMT -8
Kenskills had 2x framing but after 50+ years seals dry out, holes and cracks form in the skin and leaks happen, frames crack from the abuse and shock from bouncing down the road. The best built trailers eventually leaked and rotted, it just happens. Keep in mind no manufacturer built these to last more than 10-15 years, that still rings true today, with the plastic boxes on wheels.
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Post by vikx on Jul 9, 2014 21:26:26 GMT -8
At least we know our trailers have a chance to last another 50 years!!
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