June 12th, 2016: Travel Trailer

[xoxoxoBruce]

Actually travel/camping trailer. In the early 1950s more people had the urge to travel around the country for
a number of reasons. They had a little extra money, some vacation time to burn, wanted to hook up with old
Army buddies, or at least see the part of the country those buddies raved about. People became more aware
of National Parks and the scenic wonders on travel posters.
Air travel was prop driven, arduous and very expensive. So travel trailers of all stripes became popular.
Some were barely more than wood and metal tents on wheels. But for the people with a little(read lot)
bigger budget there were the high end rigs.



As near as I can figure out, this one is a Vagabond, built in MI, probably 1950 to '53, and 29' or 35' feet long.
But there were a couple of companies making high end units. The bedroom had two full sized beds, Birch
paneling on walls well insulated against noise and weather throughout, furniture and rugs.
The floor was heated by blowing hot air between the top and two lower plys, before it exited to the interior
at each end of the trailer



A bathroom with tub and shower. A kitchen with double sink, stove, refrigerator, and a broom closet.
Certainly a far cry from roughing it, but you'd need a big car to haul this baby, it was heavy. That limits your
choice of towing vehicles to big heavy expensive ones, and it will need a lot more maintenance, so that ups
the cost of going first class. Traveling wouldn't be a quick zip cross country either, this is pre-interstates and
a heavy rig, but it sure would be comfortable.