1952 Airfloat Skipper 16'

I'll probably be in and out more often now that I'm working on the project. Have you posted any resto shots of your Westerner? Thanks for the welcome back!

I haven't updated the thread on my trailer restoration for quite a while because I've been putting parts I'm working on in other threads, but I'm working on moving all my pictures from Photobucket to Flickr and once that's done I'll update my thread. Here's where I started it: vintagetrailertalk.freeforums.net/thread/6651/1957-westerner-deluxe-restoration?page=3

I'm excited to see yours because I saw one this week that really depressed me with all the changes they made, it looks nothing at all like the airfloat it was. I don't mind updates being done or anything, don't get me wrong, but when they change the shape of the trailer and add details that look like they belong in Arabian nights, that's another story. Anyway, looking forward to following your build.

Well, it's been 8 months since I've posted an update on our project. I'd love to say I've come a long way, but I'm just now getting back to it. We lived through my daughters wedding in July and I got my wife's little Boler pulled together enough to make a camping trip in September. I had a major job promotion in August that keeps me on my toes 24/7, but it's well worth it. Oh, and eye muscle surgery in October to correct double vision. It's so much easier to work on things without closing one eye! Enough excuses, now back to work.

I did have an amazing thing happen regarding the history of the trailer. The same fellow "Bob Gallagher" who helped me aquire the Skipper, also bumped into a gal who's mother ordered our trailer new from the factory! She's 91 years old and sharp as a tack. I've spoken with her on the phone and it's heart warming to hear her appreciation for us restoring her mothers trailer. She recalls going to the Airfloat factory several times as her mother finalized the interior layout. Including the little bathroom, it's the only Skipper ever built with one. She used the trailer well into her early 90's, mostly camping in the CA desert, and spent lots of time at the Salton Sea. I learned why the lower siding was replaced. Her mother was driving up a mountain pass and pulled her sun visor down rounding a curve, and sideswiped a guardrail. So very interesting to hear all of her stories. Anyway here's a pic of Marian Cosner the original owners daughter, and a link to the story Bob Gallager shared online. Thanks for letting me ramble.


tincantourists.com/blog/2016/08/16/reunited-at-the-bend-rally/



The original owners daughter Marian Cosner.

Oh! Please "ramble on" ! What a story! I hope there is more to come. It would be great to talk to anybody who was at the factory but the original owner? Priceless
I sure hope I get to meet you and Larry (another great story) someday and see your trailers.

I consider myself and bmxovich very lucky people. 

I finally got a couple of good weekends in working on the Airfloat. I was lucky enough to score an NOS Bargman H20 lockset with original keys and key code. I already had a nice one but I couldn't pass this one up. Spendy, but it's a beauty.





Another neat item I've been searching a long while for, a 1952 Washington State trailer plate. TLc identifies it as a trailer plate, the "c" denotes Spokane County where we live.




It felt pretty good to get the door finished up. Figuring out the mounting of the lockset had me scratching my head at times. It's nice to have that piece of the puzzle done.




Next step is pulling the rest of the cabinets and planning on a direction for the frame. Most likely start from scratch as the original is spindly.