Trailer Spotting
Whenever we are out driving in the countryside (or anywhere really), we keep our eyes peeled for vintage travel trailers that might be worth saving. We spotted this camper in a small town, sitting next to a business. John called the business owner to see if he might be interested in selling the Shasta and he said yes. We made him an offer and he basically just laughed - no counter or anything.
A year later, we heard a rumor that the trailer’s owner might be interested in selling. We called him up again and offered a little bit more this time, and he took the offer!
A Closer Look
Upon bringing the camper back home, we realized that it was very original, and in great condition. Aside from the completely unnecessary mop-on tar that had been applied to the roof, it was a really great candidate for restoration. Even the original flooring looked like it could be saved. Below are a few shots from before the restoration process started.
The Restoration Begins
Back in these days, we didn’t have a workshop to do our restoration work, so that meant doing a lot of the work right in the backyard. Painting happened in a makeshift paint booth that we built, connected to our house. It was a hassle keeping all the tools out of the elements, and the booth didn’t allow much for maneuvering around the camper but it got the job done.
A Rare Find
Many of these mid-century trailers were finished with real linoleum tile, but unfortunately it’s common for the flooring to deteriorate over time as the trailer is abandoned or the owner stops regular maintenance. Moisture gets into the trailer over time and the tiles start to peel up and break. This camper was a rare find though, and the flooring only needed a good cleaning and waxing, allowing us to save the original tile. We’ve had very few campers where this was possible. While it is possible to find new linoleum flooring now, we have yet to find anything that really approximates the type of tile that was available in the 50s and 60s, so it was a nice to have the option of saving the floor.
The Finished Product
This Shasta Airflyte was probably one of our favorite restorations. When we took her out camping, it wasn’t uncommon for people to ask if it was new, which is probably one of the best compliments you can get as a restorer.
