Series: What should I know before buying a vintage travel trailer? Part 2
In this second part of our series, we’ll discuss the decision of doing a restoration yourself or hiring out the job, who you might hire, whether you really need a vintage restoration specialist, and whether it’s possible to DIY.
If it’s not already restored – should I restore it myself?
This is probably the most important consideration of all. Before you do anything else, it’s time to take an honest assessment of your own mechanical and handy-man/woman skills. Assuming your trailer prospect has not been restored, you’ll need a wide variety of skills to do a proper restoration. You’ll probably want skills in woodworking, electrical, plumbing, automotive painting, sewing… and that’s just a start.
You can certainly hire out for at least some of these projects, but it’s important to know that traditional RV repair shops are very busy and very expensive, and many of them won’t even work on campers of a certain age. There are also only a handful of repair shops across the country currently that specialize vintage trailer restoration.
Some traditional RV repair shops won’t even work on a trailer of a certain age, or if you do find one, the cost may be high
It’s also possible to hire other (non-camper) specialists like a carpenter to complete certain projects, but as with any contractor, you’ll be at their whim as far as price and timing for project completion. You’ll also be working with someone who is likely not familiar with standard trailer construction. For example, are they choosing materials with weight in mind, to ensure your camper doesn’t become too heavy? Weight and balance can be important considerations that impact how your camper tows.
What’s it like to restore an old camper?
Understanding how much you want to do yourself, what it would take to hire out jobs, and what it’s really like to restore an old camper are all important parts of preparing for a restoration. In reality, it can be a pretty gross job, especially in the early stages. Quite often, they’ve had rodents living in them, water leaks due to lack of maintenance, and years and years of accumulated dust and grime. If you’re not afraid of cleaning up mouse poop and some very dirty and smelly environs, perhaps you can take on the task yourself.
This camper was definitely in the “it gets worse before it gets better” phase of restoration.
Another thing we’ve come to find with restorations is that it always seems to gets worse before it gets better. There is a certain point in a restoration where it seems that everything is torn apart, and it’s hard to see the vision you once had for the trailer. We’ve come across many, many campers for sale where the seller decided that they simply bit off more than they could chew, and just decided to give up on their restoration… leaving things for the next buyer to try to restore (or fix).
Do I really need a restoration professional to restore my camper?
Not necessarily. Some people have a wide variety of building and other skills (or they know how to find the contractors that do), and we’ve seen some beautiful and complete restorations done by non-professional restorers. We’ve also seen plenty of campers for sale that say they were “restored” but upon closer inspection, it’s clear that problems were covered rather than fixed (like original woodwork painted without a fix of the root problem that caused the original leak that damaged the woodwork). This is one of the reasons we never buy a camper that’s had its interior paneling painted. While surely some people do this the right way by fixing leaks and re-sealing prior to painting, it’s often hard to tell whether this was done the right way, depending on how long ago it was painted.
The beauty of using a professional restorer or buying a professional restoration is that the business owner has likely gained much knowledge and skill over the course of multiple restorations completed over time. An experienced restoration professional has learned things through trial and error, and is familiar with vintage construction standards and techniques. With a professional that specializes in older campers, you can usually be more assured that your camper is not only beautiful, but you’ve received a complete and thorough restoration as well.
If I’m new to the restorations, is this something I can learn about on my own?
Original manufacturer documentation can be very valuable for a restoration, and is sometimes available online.
Sure! If you are new the restoration process, you’ll want to get comfortable with researching and networking. There is so much to learn on the internet and from others that are interested in restoration. Whether it be how to properly seal your camper, or what the best products are to do your re-sealing, there is a wealth of information out there. However, with anything you can learn on the internet, you have to be careful where you get your information. Some sources are more credible than others.
The vintage trailer community is very friendly, and you will find many people willing to give you advice in the various online forums like Facebook groups. But, just be careful what advice you rely upon, as the giver may sound confident, but may be lacking experience or knowledge.
As lovers of vintage trailers, we often watch the conversations happening on the Tin Can Tourist Facebook page. It’s truly a great community (we’re members!), but we’ve also seen poor or novice advice given there on multiple occasions. While soliciting advice from fellow trailer owners is a great tool, it’s best to get multiple opinions or check multiple sources for information before choosing your course of action for a given restoration project.
Another thing to note with research is that every part of restoration might mean a new research project. Refinishing woodwork can be its own research project, and repairing and applying new flooring can be a whole other research project. Sourcing original, reproduction, or other appropriate parts can be yet another research project. And the list goes on. So, if you like research, a DIY (do it yourself) vintage trailer restoration might be for you.
How can networking help me with a restoration?
As you’ve probably already realized, talking to other vintage trailer owners or even restoration professionals can be very helpful in knowing how to properly restore a camper. There are many vintage trailer restoration groups on Facebook and other social networks. Some of them are even brand-specific; the vintage Shastas, Cardinals, and Spartan makes all have fan groups on Facebook.
Another way to network is at vintage trailer rallies. They are held all over the country, and even if you don’t own a vintage camper yet, they can be a great place to meet other vintage owners, learn about restoration tips, and actually see a variety of vintage campers. Most rallies have an open house day where you can tour campers. It’s not only great fun to see everyone’s different version of a restoration, it’s also a great way to learn about what type of trailer you’d like to have yourself.
More to come
The next article in our series will focus on things you should know about maintenance and towing. Click here for part 3