Not so suddenly, trailer lingo is on everyone’s tongue. There’s been a revival of vintage camping that shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, old-school trailers have become the new focal points at weddings and parties—serving as everything from dressing rooms to cupcake carts.
Vintage trailers make great guesthouses, too. My sister-in-law uses her collection of twelve Shastas, Airstreams, and Teardrops on her Northern California property. I have to admit that Fifi—a large Airstream done up in “meow décor”—is surprisingly comfortable for a day or two, although it leans heavily pink.
The last time travel trailering was all the rage was after World War II, when highways were expanding across the nation and middle-class families were finally finding a few extra bucks in their pockets. America hit the road to see Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon—and all the comforts of home were theirs along Route 66.
More than simply finding a vintage trailer to restore, today’s enthusiasts are joining vibrant communities of like-minded travelers. These aren’t gated communities but friendly groups that welcome all comers and caravan together—if only to see what the other guy has going on. And, of course, for the cocktail parties.
Sisters on the Fly is one example of a happy-camper group that loves rivets as much as river fishing, in the spirit of the Wally Byam Caravan Club International—trailering as far away as Africa back in the 1950s.
More than anything, vintage trailers are fun. They’re small-scale decorating opportunities that take you to faraway places where you’ll meet new friends.
Here’s our 1969 Airstream Caravel, all polished up and on the road again.