old aluminum trailors

[swynx]

I always wanted one of those old aluminum camping trailors. Can't say that I've even seen one in person. Think they've been scrapped out.

Was just looking to know a bit more on them. How do they tow?

 

[brother rat]

Are you talking about Airstream?
They're still in production.

 

[swynx]

Air stream sounds right but honestly i have no clue.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

They were made out of aluminum to be able to be towed by the land yacht cars of the 50's-70's so I think a smaller lighter optioned modern one would still tow pretty decent for a compact truck.

 

[Hammermechanic]

In my experience,they are Crazy Heavy. I had a 14' 1947 Aircraft Products "Invader" travel trailer I used to pull with my 1949 Ford F1 pickup. Truck had a (built by me) Turbocharged 300 Six out of an F150 and a 5 speed manual trans,with a 3.55 9" rearend. It was fast. But that old trailer would knock the wind right out of it's sails. Trailer was an all Aluminum "I" beam frame,and an Aluminum skin as well. Everything inside was built quite heavy...cabinets,plywood walls and floor,a pull out couch/bed that must have been made of hardwood and a hundred pounds of springs (I had to remove it once!),etc,etc.It was still so heavy that I could not pick up the tongue by hand. I had to use it's built in jack. IMHO....todays trailers are MUCH lighter.

 

[racsan]

they still make them...crazy expensive, there was a boat/rv show not too far from me a couple of weeks back. (had motorcycles too) saw 1 airstream there, was about 26' id guess. they wanted 70K for it! outrageous! the most expensive thing there was a rv on a tour bus chassis...reg price 408,000, show price 300K. ive always wanted to have a slide-in truck camper, they had only one, and it was 20K. guess i'll just throw a sleeping bag in the bed of my ranger (with the cap on) i had a 24' travel trailer along time ago, but when you live in a mobile home, theres just not much thrill and excitement in going 30 miles up north to a campground to spend the weekend in a even smaller trailer.....but i still have my boat!
tent trailers are pretty reasonable though, light weight and dont take up alot of storage space.

 

[SenorNoob]

Sounds like an Airstream for sure.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e3/Airstream_1.jpg

I like the look of them myself.

 

[straycat]

Great trailers...just not cheap, new or old. My dad sold his 1963 16 ft Airstream the Bami model about 3 years ago. It was in really nice shape. He had it for over 25 years. Some guy at a vintage swap met my dad and they talked about the trailer. My dad told the guy he bought it from the original owner. The guy came over, saw it and wanted it. He paid my dad $20,000 for that trailer. My wife and I used it a few times and we towed it on a few 300 mile trips with my Ranger and with the Jeep. It towed great and it was an easy tow as well. A 16 ft travel trailer is the perfect size for smaller trucks.
You can also get a slide in camper for your truck. Easy to store if you have a place for it.