My Very Own Vintage Camper

I don’t sit still easily, so of course I had to find something else to do in the car on the drive home from Nova Scotia, so I decided to search Craigslist for a vintage travel trailer. I’ve been doing it for months! Generally i I find overpriced, totally demolished, too far away listings. Or the trailer will be sold already. Or it will be a scam. Never wire money people! Or use paypal for Craigslist purchases. Anyway… I found a really promising listing for a 17′ 1971 Shasta right near our house, so I sent the guy a text message right away. He had someone coming to look at that night, but said we were next in line. Typical.

To my surprise, the guy text me back a few hours later saying the buyer never showed. We bought it the next morning!! Say hello to my “new” camper!

The men figuring out how to attach it to the hitch.

The condition is pretty good. The guy we bought it from had replaced the paneling, sealed the windows, removed the stove to add a new refrigerator, and painted the outside. So basically it looks ready to go. Except, you know I will end up gutting the whole darn thing, so really we might have been just as well off with something that was already stripped down. 🙂

The kids are in love!! They love just going in the camper to play. It was like Christmas for them this morning, when I busted out this Lego Duplo set I had purchased a long time ago but never gave the kids. Well, I’m glad I waited, because they totally understand it so much better now. It’s the LEGO DUPLO® LEGOVille Caravan 5655.

In my opinion, Shasta is the second most well-know travel trailer brand after Airstream, and they tend to be way more affordable. Mine is missing the signature Shasta Wings, seen here, but I plan to get some.

via www.vintageshasta.net

History Lesson: Shasta trailers were originally built in 1941 as mobile homes for US Armed Forces in Los Angeles. From the late 50’s into the 80’s Shasta was the best selling brand of travel trailer in the US. Guess that’s why you can still find so many of them. Sort of.

Apparently the Coachman RV Group brought a vintage-looking Shasta back to market in 2009, but production didn’t last long. Read about it here and here.

Check out my Shasta to-do list and my Shasta Renovation Inspiration.

Update: Two years later and I still have not gotten around to working on the Shasta. One of these days!

Comments

Sharla says

September 8, 2013 at 7:51 pm

Great find! I’m starting my research on finding a vintage Shasta myself. Ideally, I’d like to find one like this – that needs a few upgrades but nothing major. These are really rare – most I come across are fully restored (and $$$$$) or they’re essentially scrap for a couple hundred bucks.

Good luck on getting this one ready for camping. I’m sure it is going to look great. 🙂

- Smart Girl says
  
  September 9, 2013 at 12:57 am
  
  Thanks Sharla! I was really stoked to find this one. You just have to keep looking and looking and looking. I had a few snagged right out from under me before I got this one. Your Shasta is out there waiting for your. I can’t wait to start working on mine. Be sure to check back for an update. ~Liz

Check out my Shasta to-do list and my Shasta Renovation Inspiration.

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