TCT Event Participation and Guidelines

TCT Rally Participation Guidelines

  • Campgrounds wishing to have the Tin Can Tourists hold a rally at their campground should be part of the TCT Friendly Campground program.
  • TCT Rallies must be organized by a regional representative or TCT member. TCT Members wishing to host an official TCT Rally must work with their Regional or local area State TCT Representative.
  • TCT rallies will bring in many visitors to view the trailers both with newer trailers wanting to camp with them and visitors coming into the park for open houses. Campgrounds should provide a considerable discount for the TCT rally participant camping fees. Offering the discount on either side of the rally core dates is also preferred.
  • Campgrounds should provide gathering spots for TCT club meetings and food events. The gathering spot needs to provide shelter from the elements (sun and rain).
  • Campgrounds should consider providing entertainment to the club members – musical activities, local places of interest and tours, etc. Our members incur significant cost and risk in bringing beautifully restored trailers and tow vehicles long distances, providing them with a fun and educational experience will encourage large participation at your event.
  • Open house times should be a reasonable length of time. The owner is allowing guests into their trailer and they need time to setup and tear down their displays and decorations.
  • TCT Members should be grouped together for the enjoyment of the open house guests and the TCT members.
  • TCT Members must be allowed to stay over night in their campers. These are not display vehicles but our members use them. Participants must be allowed to stay over night.
  • Many TCT members travel with their pets. Campgrounds that allow campers to bring their pets are preferred by a large population in the club.
  • Many vintage trailers don’t have modern conveniences that newer trailers have. At a minimum, electric service and water access to the trailers is required. External shower and bathroom facilities are a must.
  • If this is purely a vintage trailer display, then the campground or event organizer must include security for the displayed vehicles.
  • Campground should advertise the rally both internally within the campground and externally with local papers and news to encourage visitors to the park.
  • Campgrounds should work with the rally organizer on clear refund policies and late registration processes.

If your campground is interested in hosting a Tin Can Tourists rally and is able to support the guidelines above. Please contact TCT club president at Terry Bone @ tct1919@gmail.com

TCT Participation at Commercial Event Guidelines

  • TCT involvement in commercial events must be organized by a regional representative.
  • The TCT representative will work with the event organizer on the number and selection of the trailers for the event.
  • TCT involvement will bring in many visitors to view the trailers. Our members are shouldering the cost of our own food and transportation costs, as well as the wear and tear our rigs are subjected to from all the foot traffic when showing the trailers at large commercial events. Therefore, some sort of incentive should be offered to the TCT members to attend any commercial events. It could be in the form of a voucher for food, goods, fuel, entertainment, gift bags, shirts etc. If the event is for a charity, then the TCT members may choose to support the charity by foregoing the incentives.
  • The event should provide gathering spots for TCT participants to meet and eat. The gathering spot needs to provide shelter from the elements (sun and rain).
  • At least 4 months lead time is need to provide adequate time to organize TCT participation.
  • The event must provide access to all entertainment and activities afforded to those paying to attend the event – musical activities, local places of interest and tours, etc. Our members incur significant cost and risk in bringing beautifully restored trailers and tow vehicles long distances, providing them with a fun and educational experience will encourage large participation at your event.
  • Open house times should be a reasonable length of time. The owner is allowing guests into their trailer and they need time to setup and tear down their displays and decorations.
  • TCT Members should be grouped together for the enjoyment of the open house guests and the TCT members.
  • TCT Members must be allowed to stay overnight in their campers. These are not display vehicles but our members use them. Participants must be allowed to stay over night.
  • Many vintage trailers don’t have modern conveniences that newer trailers have. At a minimum, electric service is required and water access is optional. External shower and bathroom facilities are a must.
  • If this is purely a vintage trailer display, then the event organizer must include security for the displayed vehicles.

Antique Malls and Vintage Trailer additions

We get many requests to have our members display their trailers at antique mall events and we’ve had both positive and negative experiences with this. Here are some best practices:

  • Vintage trailers owners are used to rally formats that allow them to camp in their trailers and have social activities with the others. Provide opportunities for campfires, potlucks, entertainment and time for the group to enjoy the antique shopping too.
  • Showing a trailer can be tedious work – lots of setup, answering many questions, lots of traffic into the trailer, etc. Don’t over load the weekend with open house time. A maximum of 4 hours/per day is about right. Give people time to eat lunch.
  • Vintage campers don’t have modern conveniences, so providing restrooms and showers is useful.
  • People attending antique malls might not understand many of the concepts of a vintage trailer open house. They might not know that these aren’t displays but these are being used. Educating them on this helps so that they respect the trailers and the owners property. Signage is useful.
  • Having people camp at the event is valuable. Asking people to camp at a nearby campground and relocate every day to the fair is difficult. Setting up and tearing down everyday is cumbersome.
  • One day events aren’t going to be that interesting to owners. They are used to multiple day events that allow them to camp and enjoy the benefits of travel and camping with others. It isn’t like owning vintage car that is likely stored in the owners garage and can be pulled out quickly and easily. If the event is for one day, allow camping the night before and night after the event. If that isn’t an option, exact that only those that live within an hour or two will consider attending.
  • These trailers are always an interesting component to any event and it is a lot of work and expense for the owners to come – provide them an incentive to attend your event. Many love to show their trailers and restorations but they have lots of choices as well. Give them a reason to choose your event. Free or low cost camping. Provide them food and entertainment options. Give them passes to your event.
  • If they have a good time the first time, they will be back and they will tell their friends in the community. Don’t think that you’ll get hundreds of trailers to come to an event the first time. You’ll probably draw 10-20 and then if the experience is a good one for them, this will increase at every subsequent event.

If your event is interested in having Tin Can Tourists trailers participate and is able to support the guidelines above. Please contact TCT club president at Terry Bone @ tct1919@gmail.com