Vans with retro trailer!

Hey Ben's us, thanks for posting all those pictures. Really great! And never expected to see a mini version, too funny!

That's it! I'm getting one too...

http://happiercamper.com/
go get one!! These are New retro''s, but pretty dang cool

A bit too small for me. Fortunatly, I hail from the part of Europe where there's campers a plenty

Here's a picture of that 1St one that has not gone through photoshop...



And another one from the Web.

How about a Boler? Shouldn't be hard to find in Canada

What is everyone using for a tow hitch? I have a 61 econoline and would like to add a hitch to tow something small behind it for camping. Does anyone make a kit that mounts to the frame rails? Are these vans actually considered uni body? Looks like frame rails underneath but not exactly sure. I'm very new to these old vans and old Fords.

I'm really wanting to fix up a vintage camper to tow behind my van when it's done. Working on a lead right now to get one but was wondering about the towing experience from people who have them. I'll be putting a dual master on my van and rebuilding the brakes and if the trailer doesn't come with brakes those can be added. I'd like to add a front sway bar but I'm just running a 200 motor with the three speed and the small rear end on my Falcon. Are you all only towing if you've got the 9" rear and larger engine? I'm not even sure what those 12'+- canned ham type campers weigh. Any advice welcome!

Hip E van wrote:I'm really wanting to fix up a vintage camper to tow behind my van when it's done.  Working on a lead right now to get one but was wondering about the towing experience from people who have them.  I'll be putting a dual master on my van and rebuilding the brakes and if the trailer doesn't come with brakes those can be added.  I'd like to add a front sway bar but I'm just running a 200 motor with the three speed and the small rear end on my Falcon.  Are you all only towing if you've got the 9" rear and larger engine?  I'm not even sure what those 12'+- canned ham type campers weigh.  Any advice welcome!

I don't know how much power you get out of your stock Ford setup...200 with three speed. My Corvairs are 110 hp and 95 hp with 4 speed transmissions and often have about enough power just to get out of their own way. The air cooling does not help, either. Still, I have towed a vintage 13' Scotty with both of them with success (see earlier post in this thread).

The old canned hams weigh about 1000-2000 pounds. Don't forget gear and passengers. All in all, a vintage van should be able to do the job (often original literature, even with small Airstreams, showed people towing stuff with stock 36 hp VW Bugs), but safety is key. Your idea to add trailer brakes is a great one! (I should have them on the Scotty, but never did).

How is it when a semi goes blasting by?  Seems like these vans weigh hardly anything.  Ive had sway control on more modern campers but don't think I've seen them used on the vintage stuff.

Hip E van wrote:How is it when a semi goes blasting by?  Seems like these vans weigh hardly anything.  Ive had sway control on more modern campers but don't think I've seen them used on the vintage stuff.

Semis "suck" you in just as you'd expect driving with a square brick shaped tow vehicle...but I have never used a sway controller with my small trailers. As long as you pay attention to those oncoming trucks best you can, normal driving does not present a sway problem.

Thanks for your input bensbus, nice collection you got there!

Great thread guys. Love the pics of the combos.
Keep 'em coming.
Although...some may say,"why have a camper, when you already have a VAN to stay in."

Nightmoves wrote:Great thread guys. Love the pics of the combos.
Keep 'em coming.
Although...some may say,"why have a camper, when you already have a VAN to stay in."

Back in the early 80's when someone towed a trailer with them, they were referred to as a "Puppy-Trucker"...Funny, but after the first person in our club brought one, everyone started bringing bigger campers with more conveniences...hee, hee, hee! By the late 80's our van club turned into a camping club because we were all raising kids at the time. Fun times. We would always try to get a "Safari" area at the campgrounds so that we could park in a circle and play volleyball and such.

I have had a few trailers over the years and found this old thread.
I built this one a few years ago to haul my Bike in.




Later I built a smaller version.



In '09 it was in the San Diego international auto show behind my VW truck


I have a '62 Santa fe "cub" I have been working on




This weekend I started working on a early "Cyclecamp" trailer I've had for years, I use it to haul parts to the swap meet or like last weekend, firewood to the beach.


I did some work on it, cleaned it out, fixed lights and built a table for it, new carpet etc.
I am going to take it camping next weekend to haul all my camping stuff. If I put my tent cooler, tables chairs etc. in the trailer I can leave the bed set up in the Van for sleeping without working around all my stuff? Then again............I'm thinking my Motorcycle could go in the Van and I'll sleep in the tent.

LiveWire64 wrote:Here is a picture of Monica's 65 GMC and Scamp trailer.

I love it!

Jacke, why do I get the feeling that there will be a Gold trailer in your future???

Russell, Nice job on those trailers, looks like you had different purposes in mind when you built them and you seem to have a knack for making small spaces suit your needs! I think Jacke might be eyeballing the "cub"!

I hadn't seen this thread. These are great! I'd like to have one to tow behind my Epup. (Although maybe I should get it on the road first.)

Nice work, Russell.

I used to have a 13' Shasta from the 1960's that I sold before I got my early, wish I still had it now so I could put it behind the van

My wife and I like camping and the trailers suit me better than a Motor home, I can leave the trailer at a site and drive the Van while sight seeing, In Ca. they have permanent registration plates, 1 time fee and no smog cert. required.

Russell,
I really like your "bike hauler". Is it make of Oak planks? That was ingenious. Did you have some plans or just build it off the top your head? I'd be afraid that Oak planks wouldn't stand up to the humidity in Oklahoma.
Jim

jrdunn96 wrote:Russell,
I really like your "bike hauler".  Is it make of Oak planks?  That was ingenious.  Did you have some plans or just build it off the top your head?  I'd be afraid that Oak planks wouldn't stand up to the humidity in Oklahoma.
Jim

I can never follow plans, I decide as I build. Too many choice's in my head.

My new Bke hauler,

I'm going camping this weekend, taking the Bike.