Canned Ham (of the camper variety)

[BoPeep]

Couldn't find a thread of only vintage campers. Bartenders, merge if need be, but I thought this was a bit more than "Vintage Gear."

Purchased two years ago, my husband and I have finally redone our 1968 Serro Scotty Sportsman. At at mere 10feet long, it tracks beautifully behind the '50 Chevy and should meet our needs for the next few years (before the kids get too big). It still needs a coat of paint on the outside and a bit of decorating/finishing work on the inside. But the windows are sealed, the cracks patched, the walls and cupboards painted, the cushions upholstered, and the curtains hung. We really have a great time with it. Perfect for taking the vintage lifestyle on the road!

Any one else have a vintage Canned Ham in the driveway?

http://i736.photobucket.com/albums/xx5/BoPeep_photos/Household/Scotty.jpg

http://i736.photobucket.com/albums/xx5/BoPeep_photos/Household/awning.jpg

http://i736.photobucket.com/albums/xx5/BoPeep_photos/Household/interior1.jpg

http://i736.photobucket.com/albums/xx5/BoPeep_photos/Household/interior2.jpg

http://i736.photobucket.com/albums/xx5/BoPeep_photos/Household/interior3.jpg

http://i736.photobucket.com/albums/xx5/BoPeep_photos/Household/interior4.jpg

http://i736.photobucket.com/albums/xx5/BoPeep_photos/Household/interior5.jpg

[W4ASZ]

Exquisite !

[Smithy]

That is very old school.

But to be honest I'm more sold on your cat!

[Land-O-LakesGal]

You did a great job on your restoration! We have a 1969 Silver Streak in our back 40 just waiting for me to have time and money to get it going. Not a canned ham but still pretty cool vintage. I also think i have that same barkcloth to make my curtains that you used on your couch. Bopeep or anyone else have you ever gone to any of the vintage trailer rallies?

http://i911.photobucket.com/albums/ac315/Land-O-LakesGal/silverstreakclassicphoto.jpg

[BoPeep]

Land-O-LakesGal, you must try to get to your Silver Streak project! Originally we were looking for an AirStream, but availability and affordability kept them at a distance. Our little Can-O-Ham seemed to fit the bill! It's been a lot of work, and it's not done yet, but sooo much fun to take out. While we haven't camped at any vintage trailer shows, we've camped on the grounds at car shows amongst a few others of the era. I know of groups dedicated solely to Serro Scotty trailers. You may be able to find a local(-ish) group to camp with.

[Land-O-LakesGal]

Last year we used it at my In- Laws Cabin because they were gutting it. It was nice to have it there and have a fridge but we need to redo the plumbing and seal up so holes. Last year in the fall when we brought it home from the cabin we found we had hitch hikers. Mice.... We trapped them and it seemed mouse free now but as we kept checking it over the winter it was leaking. I feel like the leaking needs to be taken care of before we do much else. That and getting her some new wheels, then redo the plumbing. Its hard to make the inside look cute when your worried about leaks and mice damage. Like I said I have all this great Bark cloth I ordered for the curtains last summer as well as some vintage looking tile for the back bedroom area and bath (right now its just plywood). But I hate to put up curtains for Mice to check on or get moldy or have to redo the tiles after they get leaked on.

[dhermann1]

Sweeeeeeeet!!!!

[Foofoogal]

Scream... What a fab job you have done so far. I loved camping with the kids when they were small.

Didn't have as old one as you but had an orange 1972 Apache. The kind with chains you would roll up. Like a popup camper. One time we went real far and only one side would come up. Had to come home. lol

I may have to send you something Aqua to go in your camper. Or something travel related. lol

[Fletch]

Last year in the fall when we brought it home from the cabin we found we had hitch hikers. Mice...You know what you need for mice...
http://i736.photobucket.com/albums/xx5/BoPeep_photos/Household/interior2.jpg

[Tomasso]

Friends and I rented one of those in college (Chicago late 70's) to go play on the Wolf River (http://www.wolfrivertrips.com/wolfrivertrips/tubing++canoeing/default.asp) in Wisconsin. Lottsa fun! Though I must admit that on our subsequent trips up there we rented a decked out Winnebago (with a shower). :)

[Land-O-LakesGal]

http://i911.photobucket.com/albums/ac315/Land-O-LakesGal/002.jpg
http://i911.photobucket.com/albums/ac315/Land-O-LakesGal/003.jpg
http://i911.photobucket.com/albums/ac315/Land-O-LakesGal/005.jpg
http://i911.photobucket.com/albums/ac315/Land-O-LakesGal/006.jpg
http://i911.photobucket.com/albums/ac315/Land-O-LakesGal/008.jpg

We did hear of a guy who can do work on these that also works on airplane bodies but we haven't been inquiry as it has been a lean year for us financially.

[BoPeep]

Talk about luxury, Land-O-LakesGal!! You could bake apple pies while your hubby cleans the fish for dinner. Previously a tent camper, I'm just excited about having a sink! Makes sense about the leaks though. That needs attention first; cute decorating can wait (although that's the part I like best).

Tomasso - latest trip took us to the Symco Shakedown Car Show on the Little Wolf River (just outside of Manawa). The river's been way over its banks this summer. Luckily the campsites dried out the week before the show, but most folks stuck to the high ground.

Foofoogal - Looking at my photos, I may need to hold off on the aqua decor a bit! lol Although it's been my favorite color this summer. On our subsequent travels we plan to collect postcards, the really touristy, cheesy ones, to tack on the wall. Too much white space in the camper right now. I feel a need to fill it up, but the husband says it has to grow into its own.

[Foofoogal]

Love it.
http://airstreamtrailers.com/

Not sure if yours is the same but may be a good reference or something. [huh]

BoPeep. I could probably dig around and find something. lol

[Edward]

I grew up on family caravan trips; if you're comfortable towing one, they certainly are more convenient than tents. Also when you stop somewhere for a few days, it's nice to be able to not have to pack everything away to drive into town...

[nobodyspecial]

I am more of a tent camper, though I love old-school campers like yours. I once read an article about people who collect canned ham trailers, for these folks owning 30-50 campers was no big deal. Nice job on the restoration.

[shortbow]

Always wanted one of those small vintage-type teardrop trailers, they would be perfect for one guy or a couple to get off up into the woods for the weekend hunting or fishing, and I think they look just fantastic, as well as being small, light and aero-dynamic. I finally turned up a company that makes them in a very small size that would work great behind my Cherokee, but they want 7K for one in it's most basic livery. Isn't that a bit nuts for a price? What justifies that kind of money? Is there something about their construction that I'm not getting?

[Tomasso]

What justifies that kind of money? Is there something about their construction that I'm not getting?Men and women put their time into making them and they must be remunerated. [huh]

[Foofoogal]

Actually if you are talking vintage I think that is a very low price.

Supply and demand is the reason I am sure and condition as with most vintage.


The more I look at this thread it is about killing me. I so long for those days (as an empty nester) when our children were small and we went camping.
Every family should make it mandatory to go camping, fishing etc.
Where did time go? I enjoy this period of my life but still miss it.

[shortbow]

No, currently made. Very simple looking, quite small.

[Land-O-LakesGal]

I think their are some web sites devoted to making your own tear drop that might be more economical. Otherwise look for a vintage one it might be cheaper to restore than buy new. I know my inlaw were looking at getting a shasta canned ham style trailer while they were redoing their lake cabin. The shasta looked like they had back in the sixites very cute. I think the could have gotten a used one from the time period for half the price they would have paid for the new one. They finally opted out and used a small bunk house on their property to sleep in and we brought up our Silver Streak so we had a fridge and microwave etc....

[shortbow]

Yes, I think you're probably right about finding a vintage one for a lot less money, it's just finding one. Not something you see very often. Could probably count on one hand the number of originals I've ever seen anywhere. At any rate, I guess I have all winter to find one now. Getting hold of an original would be very cool.

[Land-O-LakesGal]

Heres some place to look at.

http://www.teardrops.net/classads01.html

http://www.teardrops.net/plans01.html

What I have found is that people love their vintage style trailers and like to get others involved with their hobby and are happy to help out others. I am sure there are some other sites like teardrops.net if you look around you will find what you are looking for.

[shortbow]

:eusa_clap Wow, those are great sites! Ta very much. I see the one I was looking at is certainly not of line on the price. Starting to get rather enthused about these.

[FountainPenGirl]

The Canned ham is cool. In the last couple of years I've noticed more of them out on the road than I've noticed for some time before. And I mean good looking ones in nice condition. Not just old beat up things that people pulled out. This year at the Iola Old Car Show I noticed people using some.

It's not a canned ham but my Ma and Dad still have the 1976 NUWA trailer that we've had since new. That's what we camped with at Iola this year although my husband and I used the 1963 Wenzel green canvas tent that my folks have had since new.

Talking about teardrop campers, It's interesting to note that in 1937 Outdoor Life magazine printed plans to build one. I'm not sure what month but a friend built one from the plans. It was all wood and worked out nice. He drives a '50 Chevy four door and a '37 DeSoto. He pulled the camper quite a few miles. Then sold it in favor of moving to another idea. He got a pretty good price for it too. In the neighborhood of what news go for. Now he's building wooden canoes now.

[BoPeep]

My husband seriously considered building a teardrop trailer before we bought this one. There are a lot of plans, and possibly even kits, available. A teardrop seems like luxury when you're used to strictly tent camping. Can't say that we've seen many trailers for sale (sorry ShortBow) but I agree with FountainPenGirl, they are making it out to the campgrounds (sorry we didn't run into you at Iola, btw). The last car show that we camped at had a handful of 60s vintage trailers. Though it seems everyone else's is just slightly bigger than ours. What a difference 2 feet makes! lol But this is a good size for one or two people. You could get back into it, Foofoogal! Here's to winter projects!!