A Little History

I caught the vintage trailer bug in the year of 2005.  At the time, my hubby and I owned a 1983 Komfort Lite 13' travel trailer.  I spruced it up with new curtains, flooring and a few doo dads...but it was just a plain Jane travel trailer and didn't seem to have much character.  One day I was reading an article in the Country Living magazine about the relatively new "Sisters on the Fly" group.  This was a group of women who would go on extended camping adventures in their vintage travel trailers, that were decked out in mostly western themes.  When I saw the birch interiors, canned ham and toaster shaped trailers with all the vintage decor, I went koo koo!  I told my hubby that restoring a vintage travel trailer would be a perfect hobby for me to undertake, since I love camping and the outdoors, decorating and have been an ardent vintage collector since I was about 11, when my Dad bought me an antique beaded purse at a car swap meet.  From then on, I had the eagle eye for cool vintage items at garage sales, estate sales and thrift stores. As I've aged, my tastes have changed.  I lean towards the funky, eclectic and kitschy collectibles but also love the feminine items from the 30's to 60's.

Fast forward to 2014, and we now have 6 trailer restorations behind us.  We've owned teardrops, canned hams, a very large Boles Aero, tent trailer, Apache trailer, Shastas, etc.   I currently own a 1968 Aristocrat Land Commander, done up in a vintage Hawaiian theme.  I named her "The Wicked Wahine."  My most current acquisition is a 1966 Aristocrat 16' Lo Liner, which I named "Lola, the Lo Liner."  Now some might say, why Aristocrats?  They are a common, low to mid value vintage trailer?  Irv Perch manufactured the Aristocrat line in Morgan Hill, California, just south of San Jose and San Francisco, not that far from where I grew up.  These Aristocrats are survivors, well made, comfortable and I have a fondness for them, as when I was a youngster in 4H, our rabbit group leader would load us kids in the old Chevy station wagon and drive us down highway 101 to Morgan Hill, to pick up rabbit feed at Gunter Brothers Feed.  The Aristocrat Trailer factory was not far from there.  So it's a personal memories that moves me towards the Aristocrats, which were very prevalent in my childhood and manufactured close to my home town.   To date, we've restored a 1969 Aristocrat Classic 24' trailer, a 1963 Aristocrat Little Loafer 13', a 1964 Aristocrat Lo Liner, the 1968 Aristocrat Land Commander and lastly, my 15' Lo Liner.  Here's a photo of Lola today:

Because the Lo Liners are short in height, my 6'2 hubby doesn't like to go inside of this trailer, because he bumps his head alot.  So, lucky for me, he said this is my trailer, to with as I wish.  My past decor themes have been Route 66, vintage western, 70's mod, Smokey Bear theme, vintage vacations, 1950's Bettie Page, and lastly, the Wicked Wahine and now.....Lola will be dressed in a shabby Paris/French Poodle theme.  And....she will be painted pink and soft gray.  Yes, my hubby is groaning, but a deal is a deal.  He swears he won't ever tow it....but hey, he has towed the Land Commander, and it has a decal in the back window that says "Old Gals Rule" and my license plate frame says "You're following a Trailerette."  No wonder people honked at him and gave him the thumbs up when he has towed the Wahine in the past.  I guess you've figured out that the vintage trailers are my hobby and interest, but he's a good sport and goes along with them.  Good thing he likes to camp too.  I share with the hook ups, towing and set ups, which is a plus for him.