In my RV travels the past five years, I’ve come across some very interesting old RVs. I have tried to research the different units on the internet but find very little about them. I’m wondering if any of RVT.com/blog readers know anything about these particular makes and models.
We would love to hear from you if you know anything about any of these vintage RVs.
If you want to share your old gem with us, you can upload a story and a photo on our guest post form.
Thanks and Happy Travels!
Author Levonne Gaddy’s book “This Restless Life: A dream chased through California parks in an RV” chronicles her relocation adventures from the Southwest to Central Coast California during the Great Recession of 2008-2009. They encounter many twists and turns including a dead body found near their camp hosting camp site, problems finding work and multiple threats of floods. @Levonnegaddy
Share this article:
#1=A late 60′s or very early 70′s “Travel Queen.”
Was in business for a number of years. This is built on a Ford Econoline van that they cut off right behind the driver / passenger seats so you could come and go from the cab into the camper portion. They usually installed a Ford 1 ton pick up rear axle and suspension on to handle the extra weight. If you look close, you can see the rear wheel is different from the front one. This was a very early model of today’s Class “C” motor home. You did not want to drive it on a real windy day.
#2=The Boler, was made in Canada if my memory serves me. It was actually partially self contained. An early light weight if you wish. All molded fiberglass in 2 pieces. The top half and the bottom half and had an inner shell and an outer shell with spray in foam adhesive / insulation in between the two pieces. Actually, a great little trailer.
#3=The Sportscoach. A higher end semi luxury class a motor home that actually came in different lengths, mostly powered by the Dodge 440 cubic inch v-8 engine and in later models the Chevy 454 v-8 engine. Stayed in business up thru the the late 1990′s.
#4=The VW. A german suplied conversion called “Westphalia.” very basic. Had a stove, most with an ice box, some with a refer and a very few with a heater. A dinette that made a small bed and a larger bed conversion in the rear. Very unstable in cross winds and very slow pushing a head wind.
#5=A Komfort. Made in Clackamas Oregon. When that one was built, it was made in Milwaukie, Oregon. Komfort today is owned by “Thor” industries and now considered a very high line towable. Trailers and fifth wheels is all they make and they are no longer built in Oregon I think.
#6=the Shasta. Looks like a late 50′s or very early 60′s model. Shasta is still is in business, but owned by Coachmen industries, which is owned by another company that slips my mind right now. Anyway, still being made and I think they go back into the very late 40′s or very early 50′s.
#7=Looks like a Winnebago “kit” trailer. Winny made kits of small trailers and canopies that dealers could put together at their dealerships. Looks like a mid to late 60′s model.This one does not have the standard running gear, the wheels and tires on this are way oversized as you can see if you look closely.
I hope this all helps you. I have logged officially 49 years in the RV industry not counting the 7 years camping, fishing, hunting with my grand pa from age 5 to 17 who was an RV fanatic that taught me everything he could about them. I could build one from scratch by the time i was 15. We worked on them, repaired them, serviced them and you name it. In those 12 years I spent with him he owned 4 trailers. The very last one he bought “boles arrow.” Very top drawer.
Thanks for sharing this walk through your RVing journey! Perhaps you’d be interested in writing a guest post for us some time? I’ll email you. 🙂
I got your mail on July 31, and responded, but have not heard from you since.
Perhaps you could touch bases with me and let me know if you are still interested. I tried to email you, but it failed.
Thank you and hope to hear from you.
Just purchased a 1969 Travel Queen Motorhome. Having a blast cleaning it up and renovating. It only has 20,000 miles and seems to be in very good shape. A few places the veneer needs to be repaired, but over all is solid. Hard to find info online.
Sincere thanks for sharing Craig.
If you ever want to blog about it and share some photos, we’d be glad to receive a post from you. If so, you can fill out the form at http://www.rvt.com/blog/write-for-rvt/ with some info to start a discussion. 🙂