Vintage Travel Trailers: Their True Beauty

As proven by this Shasta compact all dressed up for a photo shoot--there's nothing like a vintage travel trailer as the perfect vehicle for turning on the cute.

But deep down, the inner beauty of a vintage trailer is revealed when you take her out on the road and have an instant home away from home. She becomes your portable adventure cabin and personal sanctuary. If she's still got a working propane system, you don't need electricity to run your cooktop, oven or lights. You are independence on wheels.

The second trailer is also a Shasta compact, but with wings, and a few years older than the one above (and minus the brand new paint as well).

No matter the veneer, a vintage travel trailer is beautiful simply because her possibilities are endless. And because she'll reward you with the same.

The Concept of the Girlfriend Trailer

Meet Barbie, aka The Girlfriend Trailer. Barbie is a 1965 Shasta Compact. She got her name because she's blonde (inside) and can change her whole look with a swapout of "outfits" (curtains, pillows, and bedding).

Her main purpose in life is to be shared. She's been to Girl Camp with friends who don't have a trailer of their own, and she's been on some road trips elsewhere, too. She has her own tow vehicle and pulls like she's not even there--a real confidence builder for someone who's unfamiliar with towing.

If you're still on the hunt for a trailer of your own, the Shasta Compact is a model to keep your eye out for. In their day, they were the best-selling trailers in America, and they were manufactured in large numbers--so a lot of them are still out there. The kitchen is in the front, leaving roomy sleeping space. Some even came with a built-in toilet, though all have a small closet that'll fit a portable.

Everyone who's ever been treated to a weekend with Barbie has loved her!

Here's another 1965 Compact, owned by our camping friend Miss Pam. For little trailers, they live large.

Anyone else have one of these little gems? What year, and how did you find her?