RV LIFE Podcast Episode #31
Dan and Patti Hunt here, bringing you yet another riveting chapter from the vibrant tapestry of the RV lifestyle. Ever watched an old movie and wondered just how much of that depicted life rings true today? Yes we are talking about Vintage Campers. Well, we’re diving into those waters of yesteryears, trailing behind the memories of the enchanting 50s and 60s!
Today, we’re turning the lens towards a classic that holds a special place in the heart of every RV enthusiast – the iconic film “The Long Long Trailer.” Hitched to our conversation wagon today are our wonderful guests, P Aul And Caroline, pioneers in the art of breathing new life into vintage trailers. Together, we’re set to dissect this reel-life representation of our beloved RV lifestyle, comparing it with the ground realities of vintage trailer living.
Hold on to your seats as we wind back the clock and set off on this nostalgic journey, all from the comfort of your current trailer, or maybe even your living room couch! It’s time to hit the road and head back to the golden era of trailer living. Fasten your seatbelts, grab your snacks, and get ready for an entertaining ride through time!
The Vintage Trailer Boom!
The swinging 50s and 60s, folks, was a time of poodle skirts, Elvis Presley, the birth of Rock ‘n’ Roll, and, you guessed it, the golden age of vintage campers. Picture it: our country’s brave men returning from the chaos of World War II, the ladies gracefully stepping back into the hearth and home, the burgeoning job market spread across the map.
But, oh boy, finding work was a cross-country treasure hunt. Enter, the shining knights in aluminum armor – the vintage trailers. Crafted with materials left over from wartime aircraft production, these mobile homes offered flexibility that was just the ticket in these uncertain times. Can’t find a job in your hometown? No problemo! Pack up your life in your handy trailer and hit the road.
Trailer designs, like the New Moon featured in “The Long Long Trailer,” were large enough to be called homes. Not just campers, mind you, but actual homes! They were spaces where families could live for months while the breadwinners found work. Vintage trailers, despite their old-world charm, had the potential to accommodate the necessities of a modern-day lifestyle.
So, how did our forebears tow these homes-on-wheels? They made do with what they had – the cars of the era. Sure, they had to go slow, maybe 35, 40 mph, but hey, they got the job done.
The interesting fact of the day: contrary to popular belief, these vintage campers weren’t any heavier than modern trailers. Shocked? We were too! It seems old isn’t always hefty.
Before we move onto the next bit of our retro exploration, we’d suggest adding a nostalgic touch to this section with a classic black and white photograph. Picture a 1954 Redman New Moon trailer hitched to a vintage Ford or Mercury, parked in a bustling trailer park of the 50s, complete with laundry lines, kids playing outside, and men off to work. This image would capture the spirit of the era, invoking the sense of community and simplicity of vintage trailer living.
Trailers as Homes: More than Just Vacation Vehicles
Have you ever thought of a trailer as more than just a vacation vehicle? Well, buckle up, folks, as we dive into the fascinating era of the post-World War II boom, where trailers were not just about road trips and campfires, but they were homes on wheels!
In our chat with Paul and Caroline, they took us back in time, painting a vivid picture of the 1950s. Post-war America was bustling with opportunities, but finding employment often required families to hit the road. The solution? Portable homes, of course!
As Paul and Caroline explained, the surplus materials from aircraft manufacturing began to be used for building trailers, leading to a rise in vintage trailering. Men coming back from the war and women transitioning back into homes set the stage for trailers to become more than just vacationing vessels.
Remember the scene from the 1954 classic, ‘The Long Long Trailer’, where Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz are unpacking their wedding gifts in a trailer? Yes, the one where they’re handling beautiful China and crystal. Paul and Caroline say that wouldn’t have been unheard of back in the day. People often had to pack up their personal belongings, including their fancy wedding gifts, and move to wherever work was available.
These trailers were not just for short vacations – they were proper homes! They were sizable, fully equipped, and designed to support long-term living. Just imagine, a house that could move around, enabling families to pick up and relocate as needed. We’re talking about trailers like the 1955 Spartan Manor that Paul and Caroline own. Despite adding modern amenities for comfort, the couple has maintained the vintage camper charm of their 28-foot trailer, keeping the 1955 aesthetic alive.
Stay tuned for more insights as we continue our journey into the world of vintage campers!
Dissecting 'The Long Long Trailer': Reel vs. Real
Our riveting conversation with Paul and Caroline wouldn’t be complete without discussing one of the most iconic films related to RV life – ‘The Long Long Trailer’. Starring the inimitable Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, the 1954 classic holds a special place in our hearts, despite a few Hollywood-created inaccuracies. Let’s dissect some of them!
First off, let’s address the elephant in the room, or should we say, the trailer on the road? The title of the film is often misquoted. From ‘The Long, Long Honeymoon’ to ‘The Long Moon’, the movie has been called all sorts of things, but the official title is ‘The Long Long Trailer’.
Now, let’s take a closer look at the trailer itself. This was no ordinary vacation vehicle – it was more like a mobile home, mirroring the trailer lifestyle of the 1950s that Paul and Caroline described. In the film, it’s a 36-foot beast – possibly longer. Why so long, you may ask? Well, the length added depth to the shots, allowing the filming of interior scenes inside the actual trailer instead of in a studio.
However, not everything in the movie holds up to reality. Remember the scene where Lucy cooks dinner inside the trailer while they’re driving up Yosemite? As thrilling as it sounds, Paul assures us that’s not happening in real life! And Ricky’s trip and fall stunt in the trailer? That step down from the kitchen into the living room doesn’t exist in New Moon trailers, it was fabricated just for the film. Oh, Hollywood!
And the movie’s comedic climax, where Lucy stashes her rock collection in the trailer, creating an overload of weight? As Paul and Caroline explain, while vintage trailers could indeed handle a lot of personal possessions, they still had their limits. You certainly wouldn’t want to load wheelbarrows full of rocks into your trailer – it’s a mobile home, not a quarry truck!
Grab your popcorn as we continue to delve deeper into the reel and real aspects of vintage camper life!
The Unending Road of RV Life
We have truly relished this jaunt down memory lane, right into the golden era of vintage trailers, guided by our delightful guests, Paul and Caroline. Their insights into the history and functionality of these mobile homes have opened up a new dimension to our understanding of the RV lifestyle.
Whether it was the nuances of the vintage trailer boom, the reasons behind their use as long-term homes, or the humorous yet thought-provoking discussion around ‘The Long Long Trailer,’ we trust you’ve found this exploration as entertaining as it was enlightening.
If our chat has sparked your curiosity and you want to dive deeper into our conversation, we invite you to tune into the full podcast episode. There, you’ll get to hear all the laughs, the trivia, and the unique perspectives straight from the horse’s mouth. Here’s the [link to the podcast](insert link here), make sure you don’t miss it!
A massive thank you once again to Paul and Caroline for joining us and enriching our understanding of the vintage trailer lifestyle. As we sign off, remember folks, life is a journey best enjoyed on the road – full of twists, turns, and yes, a trailer full of rocks!
We are Dan and Patti Hunt, and we look forward to guiding you through more RV adventures in our upcoming episodes. So, strap in, rev your engines, and stay tuned for more exciting tales from the RV Life Podcast. Happy RVing!
