Who wants to think about the pitfalls of fixing up a vintage trailer when you pass by a cute little number like this?
These old trailers are as charming and functional as a pair of hand-knit wool socks.
Cute old trailers look easy to fix up – but are they?
April Wantiez
Don’t let their back-to-basics nature fool you: a vintage trailer project can be a financial and emotional nightmare if you overestimate your budget and skills.
Don’t buy a cute old trailer that needs lovin’ until you read this vintage trailer project inspection advice from April Wantiez, a long-time member of the RVing enthusiasts group of women Sisters on the Fly and a vintage trailer restoration authority in Fort Collins, Colorado.
She restores vintage trailers for fun and profit.
April Wantiez
April is a real estate agent by day but during after hours she loves buying and selling vintage trailers.
It all started in 2010 after developing a condition she calls “Aluminitis” – an addiction to restoring vintage trailers with aluminum skins.
If she’s driving down the road and spots an old trailer that needs some love, she’ll slam on the brakes to give the rig a once-over.
And while her heart may scream “Buy it!,” the school of hard knocks has taught her to keep calm and inspect them carefully first.
Keep calm and inspect on.
April Wantiez
In the last six years she’s owned two dozen vintage trailers. Most have been restored, are ‘in waiting’ or were sold after the safety features were repaired. “I used to think they all could and need saving,” she explains.
“However, now I’ve slowed down purchasing. I have five in my boneyard backyard I’ve not had much time to touch.”
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Loved the article! Just wondering…have you ever considered buying a trailer to get the frame and starting over from scratch to make it how you would want? It wouldn’t be vintage…but would that matter…if you wanted to have a place to live in or for camping part-time?
great, great article! we helped a lady friend look for a small “canned ham” to repair/remodel for her retirement-3 years from now…she ended up a with a 1970 forrester “barn find.” before this one was found, we saw lots and lots of trailers that people actually wanted money for! even flyte camp wouldn’t have touched some of the junk we saw for sale…
firs timers may even want to consider a partially re-done camper to put their touches on the first time around; that’s what we did-after the first mistake!!