Welcome to My Vintage Travel Trailer. Join us in celebrating the vintage camper culture. Compare popular vintage travel trailers with our comparison guides.
Welcome to My Vintage Travel Trailer
Vintage travel trailers are an iconic piece of modern history and their popularity continues among travelers and collectors today. They not only provide the freedom to travel in comfort, but do so with their own unique style that has endeared themselves to people the world over.
Vintage travel trailers first appeared in North America in the early 1920’s and quickly rose to fame as more and more people were taking to the roads. They allowed travellers to explore the great outdoors while maintaining the safety and luxury of a cozy home on wheels wherever their journeys took them. By the 1950’s, travel trailers were the most recognizable shape on the road and their popularity still holds strong today.
MyVintageTravelTrailer.com is a celebration of the rich vintage travel trailer culture and the “tin-can tourists” who seek out and restore these vintage RV treasures. With proper care, travel trailers can survive harsh environments and provide many years of travel and exploration.
Most Popular Vintage Travel Trailers
There have been many manufacturers and models of vintage travel trailers, so selecting the camper that is right for you can seem like a daunting task. We are compiling a guide of the most popular vintage travel trailers to assist in comparison. Here are some of the most popular vintage travel trailer brands with model specifications from manufacturer listings and ads. Compare specifications on popular vintage travel trailer models.
Keep in mind that although the numbers listed in these guides are taken from original manufacturer specification sheets and advertisements, they are approximate and weights can vary greatly depending on many circumstances such as where the trailer was manufactured, its layout, equipment, modifications, and overall load. Be careful never to pull a trailer that is too heavy for your vehicle as it can cause damage to your vehicle and an unsafe situation on the road. Be sure to get your trailer weighed to know it’s exact weight.
Vintage Airstream Trailers
Vintage Airstream travel trailer
Airstream trailers can be identified by their rounded aluminum tops and bodies. The seemless rounded top offers better aerodynamics and protection from the rain, preventing water damage that affects many of the flat-top trailers.
In 1936, a lawyer and magazine operator named Wally Byum introduced the Airstream Clipper, the first of the silver, sausage-shaped trailers that went on be such a huge success. Airstream’s success continues to this day, making it the oldest trailer manufacturer in the industry. Their site can be found here.
Vintage Shasta Trailers
Vintage Shasta travel trailer
One of the most popular lines of trailers is the Shasta. Easily recognized by its distinctive wings and “canned-ham” shape, the Shasta trailer was the best selling travel trailer brand from the 1950’s to the 1980’s. They quickly became a favorite of campers all over the United States due to their low price and high quality. They remain very popular with vintage travel trailer restorers and collectors. Shasta travel trailers were manufactured from 1941 until 2004, then again since 2010.
Vintage Aristocrat Trailers
Vintage Aristocrat travel trailer
Manufactured from 1956 to 1974, the Aristocrat travel trailers advertised garage storage with their Lo-Liner series. Aristocrat vintage travel trailers were able to be equipped with optional metal wheels which lowered the overall height, allowing them to be stored in a garage.
Vintage Avion Trailers
Vintage Avion travel trailer
Avion travel trailers were first introduced in 1957 and are some of the highest quality trailers built. The body is two complete aluminum riveted shells with treated fiberglass insulation between them. Avion’s high standard for quality can also be found in its hardwood floors and dovetail cabinetry.
Pre-1963 Avion trailers have an aluminum skin that can be polished to a mirror finish. Shells made after 1963 have a satin finish and are more durable.
Vintage Aloha Trailers
Vintage Aloha travel trailer
Aloha manufactured economic travel trailers from 1954 to 1970. They were a smaller comapany but quite popular.
Vintage Kenskill Trailers
Vintage Kenskill travel trailer
Kenskill manufactured travel trailers from 1946 to the mid 70’s. A larger company, Kenskill had made 18,000 travel trailers by 1959. These trailers were designed to be stood up in and offer plenty of head room.
Vintage Airfloat Trailers
Vintage Airfloat travel trailer
Airfloat travel trailers were built from 1930 to 1957 and featured an aluminum body with round port-hole windows which are unable to be opened. Later models included openable square windows to improve air flow.
Vintage Spartan Trailers
Vintage Spartan travel trailer
Spartan travel trailers were manufactured from 1945 to 1961 by the Spartan Aircraft Company. Owned by one of the richest men in America at the time, J. Paul Getty, no expense was spared in the creation of these high quality travel trailers. They were built with the same techniques used in the manufacturing of their airplanes. The result was some of the highest quality travel trailers available, and their price reflected that.
Vintage Forester Trailers
Vintage Forester travel trailer
Forester travel trailers were built from 1958 to 1979 by Forest City Industries in Forest City, IA.
Hopefully this list can help provide some help in choosing your own vintage travel trailer. You can find vintage travel trailers for sale locally or on eBay. We will continue to add more manufacturers and models as time progresses so be sure to come back for future posts.
For more information, check out some other great resources like the Tin Can Tourists wiki or their extensive photo collection.