Ok so yesterday I got a lead on an old Montgomery Wards pop top camper. I think it would be great to tow behind my '51 Chevy to go to rod runs with. It has been in climate controlled storage for the last ten years. I believe most of it's life it has been stored inside but the building it is in now has had seen a lot of mouse damage and I'm afraid of what might have happened to this camper in its long hibernation. Right now it is surrounded by a bunch of junk so I really can't see it too well. I've been surfing the internet today looking for more information but I'm not having much luck finding anything. I was told it is supposed to be a '63 model. Does anybody know of any web sides dedicated to old campers? I found this picture while surfing and I believe this is the model of camper. Doc
So that's what that was! Right around the corner from my Mother-in-law was one of those chained to a tree for well over 30 years. I decided ona whim last year to stop and ask about it... it had disappeared, though the chain was stuck in the tree trunk.
I have a '68 Apache tent trailer and love it! These are light weight and can be pulled by just about anything. There is a company that makes replacement canvas for them too. Even if it's damaged some, anything can be replaced on it. Check out this site; http://www.popupcamperhistory.com/ Tons of info on the different makes. Look at the left that shows the years and maybe yours is listed in there. If you can get it...GET IT!! They are great!!!
I have a 63 Heilite and a 64 California Teardrop. (humm how long will this thread last before it disappears?) Sad that popular threads die.
I have a 1967 Montgomery Ward Western Field Folding Tent Trailer that my husband and I restored. I also have the original owners manual and catalog/advertisement. I am happy to share any of it with you if you're interested. There are quite a few websites out there (sadly, not many that focus on Montgomery Ward). Most of them are for Apache, Nimrod or other tent trailers but here is a good place to start: www.popupcamperhistory.com
http://richardscamping.blogspot.com/2012/08/trailer-renovations.html Here is our blog from fixing ours up.
Well, I brought my new acquisition home a few days ago. Along with my trailer I received a packet of original paperwork to go along with it. The best part of the whole deal is that I got the trailer from an older woman that we helped clean out an old auto parts store. When we finished cleaning out the building we checked to see how much she wanted for the camper and I was told that she would think about it and let me know. My friend that knows this lady better than I do told me not to expect to hear from her again. He told me that I should just consider it as payment for my time spent helping clean out her building. Here are a couple of scans from the original sales brochure. Doc
Those units tow pretty easily behind hot rods and older cars. You can probably find a tent and awning place close to you that can redo the tent part if you have enough of it for a pattern. It probably won't be inexpensive but you will end up with a nice little camper rig.
I towed it home behind my '97 Dakota 4X4 and I couldn't even tell it was back there. I haven't had the chance to open up the tent yet. The past set of license plates installed on the trailer are '94. I'm the third owner. It was bought new in '61 by a friends father and at some point it was passed to his son. The son (who I knew) passed away in 2004. I've been told that this trailer has never been stored outside and it really looks like it. I'm hoping that the tent is in as good of shape as the rest of the trailer. Maybe I won't need to replace the canvas. I plan on towing it behind my '51 Chevy project someday. Doc
The Jalopy Journal
