Vintage travel trailers, from canned hams
to teardrops to Airstreams, evoke a travel history that includes summer
vacations by the lake and cross-country trips pulling a little piece of home
behind the family auto. Restoring vintage trailers can be an expensive
undertaking if you stay true to the original design and if significant changes
have been made to the trailer. Many companies specialize in restoration, but if
you do it yourself, you can keep the costs down
1 Thoroughly inspect the trailer for
structural damage. Repair or replace rotted wood. Test the plumbing and
electrical systems if they're present in the trailer. Have them
replaced or repaired by a professional if you lack the skills to do it
yourself.
2 Remove any visible parts that have been
added to the trailer that aren't consistent with its vintage. Look for
replacements at salvage yards, in vintage trailer magazines and on online
marketplaces. Place advertisements for parts you can't find.
3 Clean wood veneers and replace them if
they're damaged. Match the wood grains when replacing them. Polish
stainless steel, and repair pits and scratches. Replace carpeting.
4 Furnish the trailer with the appropriate
window and cushion coverings. Vintage Airstream trailers, for instance, usually
had wide-slatted wooden venetian blinds. Research colors for your particular
trailer's era, and reupholster damaged cushion coverings. Use vintage
hardware for replacements.
5 Refurbish the exterior of the trailer.
Repaint in the original colors. Polish and repair stainless steel. Replace
missing trim. Patch rusty spots. Fix doors and door locks, window seals and
entry steps.
6 Update the trailer with electricity,
propane and a furnace if the trailer didn't originally come with them
and if you are not absolutely dedicated to maintaining the original design.
Updated systems will improve your camping experience without taking away from
the trailer's appearance.
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