My Vintage Trailer ReImagined

“If you guys want this trailer, it’s yours-just need to move it outta here this month”... the words of my friend Oonagh, the week she and her family were moving from Gardnerville, NV to the Olympic Peninsula, WA, in the summer of 2016. It was a dusty, sad looking trailer with BB-gunned out windows, flat tires, dented exterior, smelly and shabby interior.
I couldn’t refuse.

I had been dreaming of a vintage trailer project for years and here was a rare & coveted 1953 Montecito Boles Aero trailer (there were less than 18,000 built). My boyfriend Stephen, on the other hand, was a little more reluctant, as he did a quick walk-around evaluation of the sad state of this abandoned hulk of dented aluminum. Most would have walked away but I couldn’t. So the decision was made. We’d find a way to tow it from that spot in Nevada to Altadena, CA.

And so we did. I hired a guy to drive it down the 395 along the Eastern Sierras and deliver it to The Zane Grey Estate in Altadena–a long, hot drive of over 350 miles. I was out $800, but there was my vintage trailer parked and ready to be transformed. We had officially embarked on a vintage trailer project.

We wasted no time. We gutted it the first week. Marveled at it’s fine "bone” structure the second week. Drafted a plan the third week. Researched it’s history the fourth week. This enthusiasm and buzzy-activity continued for weeks. Friends and family knew that we had a trailer project underway. The plan was to have it done in 6 months and ready to share. Fun. Right?

Cut to 2 years later. Finally. Done. No easy task! Let me not forget the many $$$ + mistakes + delays + disagreements+ headaches + redos + even more $$$. You know this going into it. You read about all the trailer projects that were put on hold. Blogs warn you about all-the-above but you are not deterred. You are told that the scope of such projects is not for the faint of heart. It’ll beat you up some, empty your savings, challenge you at every turn and even defy your good sense and reason. But you keep going. Determined to finish. Hell bent to see it through to the end. The stories you will have to share. The lessons learned and tips to pass on. The reward of praise and a sense of true gritty and cool accomplishment. The private club of vintage-trailer-lovers-restorers-and-fanatics that you now are part of. And then of course the trailer that you resurrected with love. Was it worth it all? Many would say no. Many wouldn't even attempt such a project.

So now I have my very own trailer and office. Trailer-Office!
A trailer that we salvaged. We gutted and Reimagined. And decorated. And now occupy as a wonderful, quiet creative space. The before and after pictures tells it’s own wonderful story and then there are the many more stories that go with them. All worth sharing for the next brave, determined fool that takes on their own vintage trailer project. Hats off to you. Whoever you may be. I whisper to you..."It IS worth it”.

For a little history about these amazing and rare trailers, visit:
tincantourists.com/wik...