More photos of the Boles

Some of you followers have requested that I add more photos to our blog of the trailer.  We are still attending rallies and just got back from the Trailer fest rally in Lodi, CA.  The trailer is amazing, as no matter how long it sits between uses, all systems fire right up, no Marvel fridge issues, electrical or plumbing issues ever pop up.  Still a beauty.

Still enjoying our Boles

Well, it has been a few years since I have posted a blog on the Boles, and don't want anyone to think we are not around and using it.  We have taken it three times down to Outdoor Resorts, Palm Springs and stayed for a month at a time, been to the big Pismo rally each year, and will be at Trailer Fest this month in Lodi.  Paul L. at Vintage Trailer magazine included our trailer in the issue this past summer on "barn finds".  (thanks for the great photos, Paul)   We have found living in it is comfortable and we so enjoy talking to the folks that walk by and give it a second and third look.  We have not had to do any work on it at all after towing it up and down I-5, so this post is a bit boring I guess.  I have been up to my eyeballs trying to keep the ball rolling on the restoration of the 1947 Aero Flite (see an earlier post with the trailer in the barn where it was stored when I bought it).  I ended up doing much of the work up to now by myself with friend who has a lot more mileage in restoration than I have.  It turned out to be way more work than I had anticipated.  But, that is a story for a new blog site.

If any of you reading these posts on our Boles need more information or photos from me, just get in touch.  I'd love to talk to you.

Heat? We need heat in Palm Springs?

The vintage trailers came equipped with various heating units.  Ours has a Duo-Therm diesel (yes, you read that correctly) heater.  I had taken ours apart when we first got the trailer home due to severe mouse infestation.  I cleaned it and reassembled it and since I have the original paperwork, stating that I have a LIFETIME WARRANTY for the unit, I got online and sure enough, Duo Therm is still in business.  I really could not figure out how to operate it, and in talking to Dick, the original owner when we first saw the trailer, he said he had used it and it worked great.  I just didn't ask him HOW to operate it.  So, when I called Duo Therm and stated I owned one of their units, ahem, from the 50's, and I had a lifetime warranty, I needed some information.  There was dead silence on the other end of the phone.  I'm sure the 20-something receptionist hadn't fielded a call like that before.  So, discouraged that there was no help from the company (I'm sure if I pressed it, someone with grey hair there must have known about an archive for old manuals) I just played around with the unit in my shop before putting it back in the trailer.   Sure enough, a piece of paper, a match and some diesel in the tank and voila….heat.  But, I had not tried it out in the trailer once it was back in.
So, down south here, it is cold at night….in the 40's actually.  Brrr.  Our little electric space heater was okay, but you can't keep it on all night, nor can you operate it with the water heater on or the microwave (too much juice for the old wiring and breaker box)  So, I got some diesel, and fired it up.  Wow, what a great heater.  It has high, medium and low settings and a fan that circulates the heat in different directions near the floor.  It is the cat's meow.  So, now we are warm at night and no, the vent from the roof does NOT belch black smoke (thank goodness).  If anyone has one of these heaters and needs some instructions, just let me know.

100 square feet, 2 people, 15 pairs of shoes

Now you would think that would be a recipe for divorce, but thanks to the fellas that designed this great trailer back in '55, I'm not going to file.  My wife's shoe collection, which she absolutely, positively must have along, is safely out of sight and yet handy to get to.  We are amazed at the amount of storage in this aluminum box.   Here are some rules for living small over an extended time:
1.  Close every single door as soon as you are done getting out what you need (saves a crack to the head)
2.  Put each and every thing back in its spot immediately after use.
3.  Only replace an item when it is totally run out (paper towels, milk, soap, etc)
4.  Spend as much time outside as possible.
5.  Move much slower and more deliberately in a small space.  The trailer shakes too much otherwise.
6.  Have patience.  Enjoy.

We are living in the Boles

It has been a while since I posted anything.  We have had it at the Pismo rally and the Lodi Towerfest rally last August and had a blast.  We took it down to the Ride the Wild Surf Vintage Trailer rally in Newport Dunes on October 11th, 2013 and then found indoor storage in Mission Viejo for the winter so we would not have to trailer it home.  We plan to pull it back to Newport Dunes for a few weeks then head to Palm Springs and stay in for the month of February and be in P.S for all the mid century events planned.  There are home tours of some of the finest 50's and early 60's homes, car shows, vintage clothing shows, and a trailer show downtown.  We had to get permission from the management of the RV resort in Cathedral City to bring our 59 year old trailer in, as no "rigs" over 15 years old are allowed.  We sent in pictures of the exterior and interior and after a high level meeting, we got the okay.  
It will be interesting to see what the snow birds who are there all winter think of us in our 24 ft. aluminum "rig".  We look like a teardrop trailer next to the huge motorhomes.  The other unknown is can the two of us live in such close quarters for 6 weeks?  I guess it is the same as living aboard a boat or trawler, folks do it all the time.   Our expectations are high, we will post about our adventures down south.

Aluminum addiction

Is there a 12 step program for folks like us, who can't stop at one, two or even three vintage trailers?  If you scroll down to my post of Aug. 19, 2011, you will see a 1947 Aero Flite 19 ft. trailer.  It is now in my possession.  That makes 3 vintage trailers.
Unlike the Boles, it was stripped inside (although all the original parts are stacked up in there) and the stainless steel kitchen is all intact, including an electric fridge.  But, the very, very best part of this cool trailer is that NOT ONE MOUSE ever made its home in it.  And, I do not have to break my back (just my bank account) restoring this baby,  because I will have one of the great trailer restorers do the heavy lifting for me.  Look for this trailer at next year's Pismo rally.

The Mousemobile delivers again

After sinking lower and lower on our 2 settees, which are still upholstered in the original fabric, we decided to call in an expert.  I had gone underneath and pulled out what was left of the original cotton batting, whacked the upholstery with an antique rug beater, blown out with a air compressor every nook and corner, used upholstery cleaner on the fabric and restuffed them with poly batting, but that is what a rookie does.  Obviously, I couldn't do what needed to be done.  I had been reluctant to pull off the 57 yr. old fabric and do it right, but necessity dictated this approach.  I called Guy Bowen, owner of Don's Upholstery in Sonora, CA.  This man knows vintage fabric, and vintage construction.  He rebuilt the settees and, of course, took pix of the ridiculous amount of mouse poop and junk that all my cleaning out and vacuuming couldn't get to.  This man went over and above for us, and the settees are now firm, comfy and best of all, mouse poop free.  The fabric held up nicely, and with care, he put them all back together.  Way to go, Guy.  You are my man!