First picture is Stella inside for assessment. Second picture is doing some initial cleaning with an observer coming around the corner. Third is Stella with considerably less grime. Fourth is Stella in shop getting repairs. Finally a picture of Karyn, our Son Talon, me and in front Biscuit. Our travel partner.
Can you tell us about how you got into the vintage trailer hobby?
Well I’ve always appreciated the craftsmanship in trailers and boats with natural wood interiors.
Living in Alaska for the last 50 years has limited availability of vintage trailers on the local market. Any older trailers here that fell into neglect collapsed under snow load or been used for storage or a chicken coop.
What type of trailers have you owned and what do you have now?
I purchased a 23 foot ALJO in 1974 and dragged it up the Alcan to Fairbanks, and in 1974 the Alcan was about 85% dirt, mud and some gravel. It’s a paved highway today by comparison.
Next in 1987 we purchased a 1967 Ford1 Ton chassis cab camper which needed the roof skin peeled off and new insulation and some structural pieces. With that repair and a few others. We drove down and across Canada to Niagara Falls where we met my folks who had driven their class A Revcon from Southern California to have a little reunion. In 1989 we got into vessels for fishing business in Prince William Sound. For the next 23 years. Since then in 2014 we bought an older Class A which we stored in Washington and we started being snowbirds for 2 to 4 months at a time. In May of 2021 we acquired “Stella” a Forester model 17T which needed a fair amount of work. Stella has been on again off again project. In the meantime we sold our Class A. In November of 2023 we purchased a 2017 used 17 foot “Retro” sight unseen in Salt Lake City. We were planning a road trip from Alaska to Mountain Home, Arkansas to see the Great American Eclipse on April 8th. We picked up the trailer on our way down and that’s another story. But great road trip 12,195 miles. Our friend Dave gave me a 1962 Oasis that needs help, next project in May of 2021 as well.
What is your dream vintage trailer?
Well we want to attend TCT rallies and get some ideas.
What do you tow with?
A 2002 Toyota Tundra.
Do you attend rallies and what do you like the most about attending a rally?
Haven’t attended any rallies yet, but have watched videos which just look like a good time and meet a bunch of like minded folks.
Why did you decide to join the Tin Can Tourists?
I’ve been lurking without joining and finally decided I wanted to join up. Lot of good information and our plans for 2026 is to tow Stella down in the late spring and hit rallies starting in Washington, Oregon and the western states.
What are your camping plans for this year?
We still own the 2017 Retro which we will use for our Alaskan camping, and hopefully Stella will be finished enough to do some local camping road trips later this summer.
John Goodhand
Do you store you trailers in a roofed structure in the winter? Love to see the interior of the trailer..
Hi Nancy, yes our 1967 Forester has been inside since acquiring. As far as interior pictures we are currently working on it, just installing a Fantastic Fan and sealing the roof. We have completed renewing the AC wiring which includes an inverter with automatic switch from shore power to inverter power. Karyn has made all new cushions and curtains as well.
The front dinette area will be completed in the next couple weeks.
Priorities are to sort out the 12 volt wiring which at this point is about a dozen individual wires hanging under the trailer.
I don’t know how to post pictures here so once I figure that out I’ll post the “before” pictures which are interesting. This model 17T has a rear bath which is of interest to us as we’re older and have some medical issues.
John