• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Smart Girls DIY

You're a smart girl... you can figure it out

  • Home
    • Archive
  • About
    • Policies
    • Get to Know Me Posts
    • My Home
    • Old House Tour
  • Renovations
    • Kitchen Reno
    • Guest Bathroom Reno
    • Family Room Reno
    • Stairway + Hall Renovations
    • Office Reno
    • Laundry Room Reno
  • Projects
    • Tutorials
    • Crafts
    • Outdoor Projects
    • Landscape Tour
    • Girl Scouts
    • Christmas
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
You are here: Home / Vintage Trailer / My Very Own Vintage Camper

My Very Own Vintage Camper

August 12, 2013 by SmartGirl 2 Comments

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!
Smart Girls DIY

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

Smart Girls DIY
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.
LEGO DUPLO® LEGOVille Caravan 5655.
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.Shasta_Airflyte
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.
 Shasta Polaroid

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!

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Email
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Google
  • Tumblr
  • Reddit

Filed Under: Vintage Trailer Tagged With: craigslist, shasta

« Week 19 – The Garden Did Well While We Were Gone
The Shasta Camper To Do List »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. 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. 🙂

    Reply
    • 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

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
Smart Girls DIY Blogs about using Barker Cabinets in her kitchen renovation
How to build and make stuff with Smart Girls DIY
Smart Girls DIY blogs about all her crazy adventures as a Girl Scout troop leader
Christmas crafts and projects by Smart Girls DIY
Visit Smart Girl's profile on Pinterest.

Never miss a post again

* indicates required

Sponsors

Let’s Stay Connected

  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

How To

How to make santa logs
How to make a Jake and the Neverland Pirates costume for any age
How to tile a herringbone floor
How to hang a heavy mirror
How to install carpet yourself
How to build an arbor
How to Build Custom Ikea Shelves
How to install hardwood flooring
How to install a hex tile floor
How to seal an asphalt driveway
How to build a custom shower pan
How to hang ukuleles on your wall
21 Free Nativity Printables

Copyright © 2022 · Foodie Pro Theme by Shay Bocks · Built on the Genesis Framework · Powered by WordPress

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.