Recently I pulled into the Vail Lake Resort near Temecula, California and was transported back many decades to when people camped in 'canned hams,' 'bread loafs,' 'streamliners' and 'teardrops.' That's because the Vintage Trailer Rally was being heldin this nicely restored trailer park with lots of old oak trees. Of course, these terms aptly described vintage travel trailers like Airstreams, Shastas, West Coasts, Spartans and so forth because of their distinctive shapes.

They don't come much more noticeable than this bright yellow 1937 Ford towing a yellow teardrop trailer.

The event brought back memories of the 'trailer trash' camping sites used by 'tin can tourists.' Back then, campers cooked on Coleman stoves rather than in microwave ovens, sat around campfires rather than in front of 32-inch flat screen feed by a satellite dish and slept in sleeping bags rather than on king-sized beds in their megabuck motor coaches.

Now many RVers cannot get along without air conditioning and email, others are into vintage camping and travel trailers of the 1970s, 1960s, 1950s, 1940s and even the 1930s. Most of the trailers have been restored to new, sometimes better than new condition. Some owners 'rough it,' keeping their vintage rigs just like when they were used decades ago complete with turquoise and pink interiors. This includes equipping them with appliances, camping gear and memorabilia of the period. Others like trailers that 'look like old ones, but camp like new ones' with the latest RV amenities inside like air conditioning, generators, microwaves and flat screen TVs.

Pink Ford pickup pulling matching pink and white trailer.

Some even hook up their trailers to equally vintage tow vehicles. For more pulling power, they might have a modern Chevrolet or Ford small-block V8 installed under the hood and of course, air conditioning.

The way they camped back then.

If you want to get into this growing hobby, you better hurry. Old trailers that have sat behind barns, in fields and in junkyards for decades are being gobbled up and restored by collectors and investors. While there are several professional trailer restorers to do the work, many are being 'brought back' by individuals in their garages and backyards. Simple, and made largely of wood and aluminum, restoring one can be done by even pretty novice do-it-yourselfers. Anyone having owned a modern motor coach with all the goodies, especially one that is a few years old will appreciate these vintage RVs. There is little to go wrong, and if something goes awry, it usually can easily be fixed with a hammer, screwdriver and a pair of pliers.

How you might decorate a trailer in the 1950s.

Because of the popularity of these old rigs, there are many vintage trailer rallies held around the country every year. However, most owners use them for their vacations and camping adventures. Pull into a RV park with one and you will get more attention, and make friends faster, than if you showed up with a $250,000 pusher motor home.

For more information on vintage trailers and camping:

www.vintagetrailercrazy.com
www.tincantourists.com
www.vintage-vacations.com/home.html
www.airstreamtrailers.com