First Trailer/Project - 1963 Delux Custom Camper

Hey everyone,

I'm Bryan and I just picked up a, what I'm now figuring out, 1963 Delux Custom Camper. Found it listed for a few hundred bucks on marketplace a few hours from my house. The guy selling it had it listed as a 1974.

Went to check it out, needs some work, but it's in decent shape all in all. Someone over the years re-did some of the interior, did a really bad exterior paint job and did some other slightly janky work.

Managed to tow it home about 400km and now just trying to figure out where to start with it.

The main issues I've found so far are that the exterior walls on the upper half need some new wood in them. The passenger side/door side looks like it's failed and is causing the entire side to sag a decent amount. I also need to get the lifting mechanism spinning, as it's fairly rust and has clearly been sitting for a few years.

The Camper:




Interior:


It's missing the ice box and stove currently.

I wasn't given the lift mechanism handle, they had a piece of pipe that was slotted to go over the T-spline, but no handle to turn it with. They were trying to use a pipe-wrench. I managed to make my own tool using some cast iron pipes, but the mechanism is pretty rusty and doesn't want to move.



I don't know if the mechanism doesn't want to move due to the rust, or due to the wall mis-alignment. Any insight about the best way to remove the top would be greatly appreciated.

My goal is I want to get the top up, and figure out if it'll work for my family. It's currently my wife and 2 young kids. I know this model is only supposed to sleep 2, but they did list in their brouchure that they had optional bunk's you hang between the walls which could work for us. I'm debating making a new set using the original idea, OR building some bunk beds where the current galley is located. We mostly just want a warm dry place to sleep and possibly enjoy a meal, while cooking and spending most of our time outside while camping.

Looking forward to getting some feedback and hopefully documenting the rebuild on the trailer (if it works).

Welcome to the forum.

Looks like you got your self a project trailer for sure. Others on the forum have restored a trailer of this vintage. You could always eliminate the cooking area. Then cook over a propane stove in a clam shell dinning set up. This would give you room for the children to sleep. How old are your children.

sam said:

Looks like you got your self a project trailer for sure. Others on the forum have restored a trailer of this vintage. You could always eliminate the cooking area. Then cook over a propane stove in a clam shell dinning set up. This would give you room for the children to sleep. How old are your children.

Click to expand...

Yea, that's what we were thinking about too. I don't really like the idea of cooking inside too with all the smells and being that most of our camping is going to be in bear country too.

Kids are 3 and 7, perfect ages to start getting them enjoying the outdoors.

I did some digging around on some of the other members builds and I think I'm going to start working on the disassembly and rebuilding in a couple weeks time, just need to clear some space in my shop otherwise I'll have to leave the trailer open to the elements, which this time of year here in Calgary means either lots of heat, or lots of heat with afternoon thunderstorms/hail storms.

First plan is going to be removing the roof skin and checking the condition of the cross beams to see if they need replacing, then I'll start tackling the damaged/failing wall components.

Repairs

I am back from vacation. Your plan sounds good. If you need any advice just ask.