Vintage Trailers in the Desert Sunlight
Vintage trailers cast a golden glow in the early sunlight.
Campers love to share.
Could not pass on the chance to photograph a vintage trailer collection.
Early morning arrival was vital to photographing the trailers. The weather forecast was HOT, so time was limited. The game plan was to take quick photos of the collection before the sun's heat took over the desert landscape.
There are many reasons why a trailer gets lost, but finding them still standing against time is magical.
Through the camera lens, the defiant stance of each trailer was clear; they each had a story to tell through fragmented windows and abandoned interiors. I wanted to stay all day, capturing the splendor, but knowing time was limited, I hurried through the whispers.
The photo shoot was for documentation. Going through the photos, I knew I wanted to
showcase a few of the trailers for the website but one thing kept happening.
A Watercolor Vision
Letting each photo take shape the watercolor images became a play on past and present.
A few favorites caught the watercolor vision best.
The Skipper
This 1957 Airfloat trailer sat quietly in the morning sun; the door was locked, so looking inside was held for another day. Born in Los Angeles around the 1930s, the Airfloat Trailer company was one of the oldest trailer manufacturers to create state-of-the-art trailers, known for the porthole windows; this exceptional beauty is rare for its size.
There was a quiet splendor photographing history out in the middle of nowhere.
Aloha
1956 was the year for this sweet little trailer. Like most of the others, no keys to open the trailer door, but through the windows, you could almost imagine a fantastic camping life.
Created in, Aloha and Beaverton, Oregon from 1954-1970 The Aloha was know as the perfect travel trailer.
Ready for a renaissance.
Vintage trailer restoration has become a booming trend in recent years. More and more individuals are drawn to these old trailers' charm and character. Finding these hidden beauties is usually a one off so seeing a collection of vintage in one space was special.
Spartan History
1928 Tulsa, Oklahoma
Around 1935 the company was acquired by J.P. Getty. After World War II, the country needed housing, and with a vision, Getty created the Spartan as homes on wheels. Prototypes started around 1945, with production continuing through the ’60s. The design was exceptional, with aircraft manufacturing as a key to construction. The trailers were huge because the hope was they would become homes with a modern touch. Art deco, lacquered wood, galley windows, kitchenettes, and bedrooms streamlined with up-to-date appliances and lighting made the Spartan trailer a desirable alternative to the classic home. The factory closed in 1962 because of cheaper trailer production for the marketplace.
Due to the exceptional build of the Spartan trailer, they are still a desirable find.
Inside the 1948 Aero Flite Falcon
This rare trailer find had a key, so once the doors were open, the interior showcased wear and tear but still a vision of what these historical trailers looked like when created. Finding a restoration with its original potential is historically pleasing.
Vintage trailers, some of them rare,
held a party for the camera.
The Westcraft Tahoe
Westcraft Trailer Company 1946-1948
Los Angeles, California and Burbank, California,
was known for their painted exteriors, cabin-like feel, and Coach and Pullman style tops design features.
This ‘47 is perfection.
Catching Wind
1948 Airstream Wee Wind
catching the morning rays.
The Airstream is one of the original trailer manufacturers still building trailers today. Wally Byam created his first known trailer in 1929 because his wife didn’t want to camp in a tent. In 1931 his imagination in Culver City, California, built the Torpedo, but the first Airstream was not produced until 1936 with the Clipper, which went down the road like “a stream of air.”
Finding Vintage is a great way to start the day!
I want to thank the collector for allowing the opportunity to photograph the collection-it was inspiring; the sun, shade, and shadows playing with the camera's lens provided a quiet silence—vintage trailers' dream, dancing in the morning sun. Poetry!
Book Shelf
If you are looking for a camping book that starts with packing up and ends with heading home, the Let's Go Camping Guide is the perfect camp journal. Every illustrated page focuses on moving into the campground, setting up, enjoying the moments, and returning home with memories. In addition, the guidebook works with the Let's Go Camping Guide website, where chapters and checklists tell a story.
No matter your camp home,
The Let Go Camping Guide loves a campground.