Grand Prismatic, Yellowstone
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Yellowstone, Wyoming
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Tag Archives: vintage travel trailer
We sold our cute little vintage Play Mor travel trailer last month, so here’s a repost from last year
When we got this beat-up little trailer, we didn’t know how much work it’d be — or how much fun! Every project seemed to lead to another project, and so on. We had to leave the trailer behind for now, but we’re by no means finished with it.
Here’s a quick roundup of the work we’ve done on it so far:
- Painted interior
- Painted exterior, bondo’d and filled holes and imperfections
- Changed tires
- Repacked / greased bearings
- Replaced screen in door
- Lubricated leaf springs
- Upholstered cushions
- Caulked and sealed exterior seams
- Replaced exterior trim screws
- Changed taillights
- Replaced exterior outlet access
- Installed bottle opener (probably among the more important upgrades)
- Replaced wood under rear skin
- Removed carpeting
- Installed LED interior lights
- Replaced exterior cord housing
- Replaced fresh-water hose
- Replaced drain on water tank
- Replaced supply line on water tank
- Installed flanges on exterior water supply / drain
- Replaced all interior hardware
- Replaced ice box with storage shelves
- Made curtains
- Installed interior trim / moulding
- Shortened bunk bed for storage needs
- Installed Ikea bathroom shelf and toilet paper holder
- Purchased a portable toilet
I know a lot of you all out there are restoring and fixing up your old Play-Mors (and others). How’s it going?
Here she is on one of her very first trips — to Deckers.
And here she is on her final trip, somewhere in Wyoming.
A work in progress. We used Clark & Kensington exterior paint we picked up at Ace Hardware, and despite my reservations about its durability, it went on well and has held up so far.
The interior as it was when we bought it. Dark and panelly.
Cushions fresh from the upholsterer.
After some sprucing up, and with the cushions in place. Much lighter.
Now, with curtains and the bedding. Downright livable!
The best part of any project is napping in the middle of it.
The dining room, complete with chandelier.
In the dark of night, Blair Witch-style.
Getting the bearings out and lubed up.
After pulling up the nasty carpet, we find the original floor in excellent shape. Score.
When I said earlier that the best part of the project is napping in it, I was wrong. The best part is enjoying a beer in it beside the creek.
When it came time for the tedious interior painting, Adrienne got in and worked the tight spots.
Hard to believe this thing ended up looking as good as it did.
Some paint, some shelves, and it’s so much nicer.
Adrienne’s bedroom. Cozy.
This is typical of what the exterior looked like: Skin peeling off the edges, stripped screws, weird wires attached to the seams for no reason at all.
Part of what makes the whole thing work so well are the details, like this candle thing. This is Adrienne’s doing.
New paint, new reflectors, new screen door, and this old gal’s ready for travel.
So we’ve packed her away for a while till we figure out what we’re doing with our lives, and I can’t wait to get back to camping. There is beer to drink and fish to catch.
Arkansas Headwaters-Rincon Campground, Colorado
I love camping now that we have the trailer. It’s really easy because just about everything is already packed up and ready to go. I also like not having to put up a tent or be cooped up in the tent, or have to take down the tent in a huff when it rains.
Much better than a tent.
Much better than sleeping on the ground.
I finally gave in to the sleeping bags instead of regular bedding- after the one time we used regular bedding and practically froze to death. These sleeping bags are super warm and cozy.
I can cook all sorts of things on our fancy camper stove.
But I still have a few other requirements.
I like to be by the water. Like right by the water. I want a campsite right on the water, ok?
So looking around online I found Rincon Campground, on the Arkansas River. Sure, it was by a road, but it’s probably a small campground type road, right?
Rincon Campground is RIGHT ON THE ROAD- a big, busy road!
Wrong, Highway 50 is a big, busy road! And this campground is like 30 feet from the actual road. Not good.
When we got there, I needed to make a phone call and there was no cell service. I was also cranky about the road sitch, so I drove up to Salida, just a few miles away to a cafe I like, Cafe Dawn and had a cafe mocha and made my phone call. No whipped cream, but whatever. Also, all the locals, who looked like the belonged in The Highwaymen, kept giving me weird looks. Still, it’s a cute little place and the service is very friendly.
Cafe Mocha from Cafe Dawn, Salida, Colorado
When I got back, Mike had gotten us all situated and was doing some fishing.
Camping at Rincon Campground, Colorado
Mike fishing in The Arkansas River at Rincon Campground, Colorado
It's very pretty up there and would be awesome if not for the stupid road. Couldn't they have put the campground on the other side of the river at least?
The other side of the river would make a fine spot for a campground.
Anyhow, since I was majorly vexed by the road, I decided to start Happy Hour early.
And since Mike wasn't catching anything, he decided to join me.
There's not much better than a campfire, a bottle of wine, and some snacks.
Nighty Night!
Have I mentioned that a trailer is way better than a tent?
In the morning Mike decided to try his luck at fishing again.
While I had some coffee by the river.
Morning on The Arkansas River at Rincon Campground, Colorado
Later we went into Salida and had breakfast.
Ahhhhh, pancakes.
On our way home we saw this funny truck.
Many LOLs.
I will leave you with this video that reminds me of Rincon Campground.
Camping at Spruce Grove, Colorado
Camping season is almost over! We’re hoping to go one more time this year. We recently went to Spruce Grove, near Tarryall, CO.
It was a Thursday and we were the only ones there except for one other woman and her dog.
Since we were going with our friends Shawn and Chenelle, we wanted to bring something festive to drink. I made Oprah's favorite sangria. It was only ok.
We got a site on the stream.
When we got there the guys went fishing.
Chenelle, Bert, and I watched.
Bert!
Wildflowers at Spruce Grove, Colorado.
I think this was a tent site but since our trailer is so small and no one else was there, we used it anyway.
Afternoon espresso.
Snacks!
Good morning!
Vintage Travel Trailer
Summer is almost over, oh no! We’re going to try to go camping a couple more times, then put the trailer to sleep over the winter. My parents were in town last week and my dad helped Mike build a gate in our fence so the trailer can live with us in our yard. Classy! We’ve done a lot of work on it but it still needs more. Like paint, for one! And some leak repair. It will be a lot easier to get that stuff done if it’s here instead of at the storage place.
So, here are some pics of what we’ve done so far.
The back couch area "before" and "after". This couch converts to a bed.
This is the side by the bathroom. We took out the useless icebox and replaced it with drawers.
This is the front area where the table is. It also converts to a bed.
The stove area.
Afternoon espresso.
Back couch and storage shelf.
Drawers where the icebox used to be. We secure it with bungee cords when we're driving.
Front table setup.
Front area as a bed.
Back couch area with new curtains. Gonna have to redo those.
My $1 flower hook on the bathroom door.
More trailer projects to come!