| Can you tell us about how you got into the vintage trailer hobby? My journey into vintage trailer obsession began in 2017. I am a long-distance hiker and my husband is an avid disc golfer. I thought wouldn’t it be great if we could do both but instead of always sleeping on the ground in a tent, why not have our base camp in a cozy tin can on wheels? Since I love all things antique and vintage, I wasn’t about to buy a new camper so I found an old one. Besides, I love tinkering, building and getting my hands dirty so restoring vintage trailers was a new hobby I fell in love with immediately! What type of trailers have you owned and what do you have now? What is your dream vintage trailer? We have owned three vintage trailers, restored 2 of them. The first one was a very beat up 1967 Shasta Loflyte that we sold as is. The second was also a Loflyte named The Land Shark, that we restored. Loved that trailer but the bug bit me hard when I found a 1957 Westerner Pony Express. We sold the Shasta and bought the Westerner, which was named The Bum Shelter at that point. Poor thing. It took about 9 months to restore the Westerner down to the frame, interior, mechanicals, skin, you name it. We salvaged only what the rats, mice, honey bees and “bums” didn’t destroy. Her maiden voyage was 10,000 miles all across the USA and she did great! She is a beauty and we love her to pieces! Our dream trailer? We love the old Spartans, the Owosso trailers are amazing too but I kind of love em all! What do you tow with? We tow with a 2015 Chevy Silverado 1500 4×4 Crew Cab. Do you attend rallies and what do you like the most about attending a rally? Our first rally ever will be this weekend at the Mingle and Jingle 2021. Looking forward to all the sweet trailers! Meeting other trailer obsessed people will be fun too! Why did you decide to join the Tin Can Tourists? We joined so I can better find other rallies to attend and to stalk the classifieds. Always looking for another trailer to rescue! What are your camping plans for this year? We may be camping for half the year since we are trying our hands at becoming snowbirds for the first time. The problem is we only have our winter home here in Florida! So, nowhere to go for the summer…yet. Good thing we have our little trailer! Adventure awaits!! Thanks! KERRY AND JOHN ILIFF |
New Member Interview with Kerry and John Iliff
Kerry,
Nicole here from Duck Cove Road in Roque Bluffs, Sharon found this article, I am so hoping you and John are still doing restoration, now I understand your interest in camper you spotted here.
Keep on doing what you love, hoping to see you someday here on the Cove.