Got a little traveling companion for the Plymouth

[47heaven]

Last week, I purchased a 1948-49 Crown travel trailer so I could do some highway traveling and camping. It's in poor shape, but restoreable, just as the Plymouth was when I bought it. Fortunately, the person I bought it from rebuilds and restores these little gems to whatever condition I want it. I chose the "all original, like when it was new" condition. I noticed some of the trailers he was working on from the 50's era were getting the 50's malt shop makeover (made me want to hurl), but to each his own, I guess. I'm going to have the exterior aluminum replaced and whatever wood damage inside will be replaced as well. New electrical wiring, tires, rebuilt axel and she should be ready for me to do the rest of it inside (painting and detail work). I'm just having him do the professional stuff that I have no knowledge in. It still even has the original stove and ice box, as well as light fixtures. He will have the new floor put in (original 9" composite linoleum squares) and I will have the seat reupholstered and the formice cabinets replaced...etc. Should be pretty sweet when it's done, and how many of these kind of trailers do you actually see pulled by a car of the same vintage? Should be a rare site on the highway. BTW...it's pretty light to pull, so thats good.

Anyone else on here have a trailer similar to this or had one? Would be great to hear some of your experiences with it.

Darin

[normanpitkin]

Lovely,this is exactly what i am looking for!! How much (if its not a rude question)is he charging ? Does he have a website ? I would need to get it shipped to England so buying from someone with a proven track record would be really useful to me.Great buy!!!

[busycoupe]

I noticed the propane lamp fixture in your 4th picture. Until a couple of years ago we owned a summer cottage on an island in Maine. It didn't have electricity, but it did have 2 of those propane lights, a Servel gas refrigerator and a gas stove. Those lamps throw a lot of light, and heat! We used to go to a local RV supply place to get mantles and globes for the lamps. I think they were made in England. It looks like great fun, and the lamp really takes me back.

Dave

[old rat 49]

Looks perfect behind it. Plan on building another Teardrop (#6) to pull behind mine until I can find the the right old trailer; maybe a 10 foot Shasta or similar. Keep us posted on progress.

[moose]

This is my friend Eli's. He tows it behind his '55 Ford.

[Powerhouse]

Wow! Congrats man! Love those.

[Oldguy48]

Last week, I purchased a 1948-49 Crown travel trailer so I could do some highway traveling and camping. It's in poor shape, but restoreable, just as the Plymouth was when I bought it. Fortunately, the person I bought it from rebuilds and restores these little gems to whatever condition I want it. I chose the "all original, like when it was new" condition. I noticed some of the trailers he was working on from the 50's era were getting the 50's malt shop makeover (made me want to hurl), but to each his own, I guess. I'm going to have the exterior aluminum replaced and whatever wood damage inside will be replaced as well. New electrical wiring, tires, rebuilt axel and she should be ready for me to do the rest of it inside (painting and detail work). I'm just having him do the professional stuff that I have no knowledge in. It still even has the original stove and ice box, as well as light fixtures. He will have the new floor put in (original 9" composite linoleum squares) and I will have the seat reupholstered and the formice cabinets replaced...etc. Should be pretty sweet when it's done, and how many of these kind of trailers do you actually see pulled by a car of the same vintage? Should be a rare site on the highway. BTW...it's pretty light to pull, so thats good.

Anyone else on here have a trailer similar to this or had one? Would be great to hear some of your experiences with it.

Darin

A friend had a Scotty travel trailer similar to yours. Fixed it all up. Looked great. Tried pulling it with a Jeep Wrangler. Pulled onto the local interstate, and when he got rolling about 60 mph, the trailer started swaying violently from side to side, to the point where he nearly lost control of the jeep. The trailer finally broke loose, rolled about three times, and ended up as a scattered pile of debris. He did not have a sway bar on it, and that was probably a contributing factor. Fortunately, no one was injured, but the trailer was a total loss.

My wife and I also had one, and never had any issue towing it, but our tow vehicle was a 74 Chevy Impala wagon. The problem with ours was it was so tiny. I woke up one night in it, and had a bit of claustrophobia. We got rid of it soon after.

[greg g]

Gotta remember that springs shackles and bushings need to be in good shape for proper towing. And a thing that most people forget, air up those rear tires. Also it is imperative the there be at least 10 to 15% of the trailers weight on the tongue.

So if you load the trailer with a lot of stuff it needs to be in front of the of the trailer's axle. Especially with single axle trailers. And even though you may be adding 250 to 300 lbs on the rear springs of the car, which is less than two mediumsized adults in the back seat, the weight is behind the rear wheels at the end of the frame not supported between the axles like passenger weight would be.

Trailering is usually a safe and un eventful process if you do the required stuff.

[tinlizzy]

IF you guys like these old trailers check out the web site tin can tourist for one that are for sale.

[P-12 Tommy]

Good score!! Looks pretty much original. Keep us posted.

Tom

[fedoragent]

D,

Great pics! I can't wait to see her in person.

FG.

[JIPJOBXX]

A friend of mine painted up two of these neat logo's for my little trailer and they will go up on the wings in back.

Since this picture was taken I have added a set of spring helpers and they really help with bringing up my old Dodge's rear end. Still have a problem with weight issue with the tong weighing in at 360 lbs and should be no more that 250 lbs.

[JIPJOBXX]

I'm going to try and load a little sand in bags back on the rear of my rig and hope it will help up front. Love the look but kind of nervous about the wieght issue on the car.

[greg g]

I would try to relocate the stuff thats in there rather than add more weight. what is located in front of the axle??? Propane tanks, water, storage uder the banquet??

anything not nailed down in the front I would move to over the trailer axle.

[JIPJOBXX]

Well there is not that much stuff up front and certainly not a 100 lbs. Anyway here's my lattest trailer idea and as you notice its one of those big box store trailers with a real tough box installed on it. A friend gave me a flat bottom boat to fit on top and with that I have a starter for an interesting trailer. I plan on making those opening a bit smaller and install some type of windows. Just wasting time and who knows maybe my idea might just turn out. This trailer only weight about 250 lbs or so. But I will not give up on my old trailer I will just try to load some weight in the back and see what happens.

\

Edited September 10, 2010 by JIPJOBXX

[dezeldoc]

Gotta remember that springs shackles and bushings need to be in good shape for proper towing. And a thing that most people forget, air up those rear tires. Also it is imperative the there be at least 10 to 15% of the trailers weight on the tongue.

So if you load the trailer with a lot of stuff it needs to be in front of the of the trailer's axle. Especially with single axle trailers. And even though you may be adding 250 to 300 lbs on the rear springs of the car, which is less than two mediumsized adults in the back seat, the weight is behind the rear wheels at the end of the frame not supported between the axles like passenger weight would be.

Trailering is usually a safe and un eventful process if you do the required stuff.

Or 1 of me!

[47heaven]

Gotta remember that springs shackles and bushings need to be in good shape for proper towing. And a thing that most people forget, air up those rear tires. Also it is imperative the there be at least 10 to 15% of the trailers weight on the tongue.

So if you load the trailer with a lot of stuff it needs to be in front of the of the trailer's axle. Especially with single axle trailers. And even though you may be adding 250 to 300 lbs on the rear springs of the car, which is less than two mediumsized adults in the back seat, the weight is behind the rear wheels at the end of the frame not supported between the axles like passenger weight would be.

Trailering is usually a safe and un eventful process if you do the required stuff.

Thanks, Greg! That will be very useful when I have the trailer.

[moose]

Here is the picture I was looking for earlier. Eli's stuff:

[claybill]

i pull my ;little guy' a few times a summer with the g-kids. really small and tight. but i like it. just a sleeper with a mess/kitchen behind..for sale!!!'looking at someting bigger..

bill in ilinois.

[Mark D]

Some excellent looking campers in this thread. Great inspiration gents. I've got an old utility trailer in back of the shed just dying for a new life. Maybe the start for a nice little tear drop.

[randroid]

JIPJOBXX,

A little inspiration from Chuck Barris and a lot of black paint could easily make that trailer into a mobile hearse. Guaranteed to be the only one in the campground and who knows, you might make a few bucks on the side.

You might be a red neck if ...

-Randy

[bearheart]

There are 2 "scotty" forums: NSSO (national serro scotty organization) and SSCE (serro scotty camping enthusiasts). I've bought 2 scottys this winter, gonna sell one for profit and fix the other, smaller one to go with my '49 coronet. There is a lot of interest in these vintage style campers which can nicely complement a vintage car. Good deals are there to be found.