Accidentally purchase of a Trail Fearther

[Rafael]

Hi:
Well I always liked teardrop trailers, didn't have plans to buy one as I was planing in making one...one of these day. While working I took the wrong turn in a bad part of LA and covered in for sale signs I saw this little trailer in a drive way of a house for rent. No price, no number on the trailer but I took the number on the for rent sign.
It took 3 phone calls to get a response and the response was that they didn't have a trailer for sale and have no idea what I was talking about. The next day I went back and sure enough there was the little trailer and the number was right so I called again.
I had to send them a pic to prove them that I was in front of their house and sure enough there was a little trailer in the driveway. Long story short it belonged to the neighbor across the street who pushed it there with out permission.
After tracking the guy down I found out that it belonged to his father in law (104) who bought it new and they didnt have the space, time or desire to fix it back up. So after getting a price that I could not resit as he kept insisting on selling it to me.
Went back to get it with a proper vehicle and the owner kept telling me hat I look familiar (never seen this guy before) and eventually asked me if I was a prison guard or ever was in prison!!!. Noooooooo. Well two new tires later (you could break old one with your hand) and a careful retreat on the road we were.
After lots of research I found out that is a 1963 Trail Feather made here, about 20 miles from my house. I was only able to track 2 other Trail feathers so far.
So it has no table, lots of termite damage, water damage, no cushions, needs lights but outside siding is good.
Does anyone know of any other Trail Feathers? Does anyone know of a source for the birth plywood in the Los Angeles area?
Thanks!
Rafael

[captbobh2o2004]

Ugh! I thought I was the only one that did stuff like that! We had a look at what your rig looks like. "Way Cool" Have Fun. Capt. Bob

[Rafael]

First time on the road since 1975 just getting to its new home. New fabric to make the missing cushions. Galley complete but with termite damage. Needs a complete restoration but looks piece of cake to do.

[mezmo]

Hi Rafael,

Welcome to the forum. After all that you went through, it must have
been destiny for you to get the Trail feather ! It is similar to the Serro
Scotty from back East. In the pics you posted, I noticed that it
had a very low-to-the-ground drop floor - too low for towing, so that
got me curious, and I did a little Googling and such, so here are some
links that I came across that may be helpful for you.

This is the first thing I ran into:
http://www.tincantourists.com/classifie ... IADzzHF-So
Which isn't that current anymore but it lead me to:
http://www.nationalserroscotty.org/rebuilds/
And in that I found:
A 1960 "Trial Feathers" rebuild thread:
http://www.nationalserroscotty.org/rebu ... index.html
[The other rebuilds have helpful rebuilding info in them as well.]

And here are some other links you may find useful:
A TnTTT thread on it: This even has some pics from an ad or brochure on it:
viewtopic.php?t=26017&p=381728

Related Info:
From forum member Angib's album, showing a probably ownerbuilt
TTT with a metal drop floor:
The TTT:
gallery/image_page.php?album_id=2323&image_id=86835
The dropable floor:
gallery/image_page.php?album_id=2323&image_id=86836

Also, somewhat related : Forum member emiller has an old Covered Wagon
brand breadloaf style vintage TT with a rear dropable floor that he is restoring.
Perhaps that dropable floor could be helpful somehow. Here's his thread:
http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=53&t=41752
And his online photo album on it:
http://oldietrailer.shutterfly.com/

Good luck with your restoration. And why not do a 'rebuild' thread in the Canned
Ham section on here, to track your progress for yourself and the rest of us. It'll
make a nice archive/history of your efforts for you. Remember to keep it, and thus
us all, supplied with pics of your progress . We all love pics!

Cheers,
Norm/mezmo

[Rafael]

Thanks Norm for all your time and help. The problem is that "my destiny" keep putting me in troubles with stories all like these rescuing airplanes, old cars and scooters and now this little trailer lol. Well of those links that you sent me belong to the same unit witch is now in FL and I am in contact with the owner. So far I know of only 3 accounted for. The one in FL, one in Northern CA and mine is Los Angeles. I am new at this world so I am learning as I go. I am restoring a wooden airplane built in 1938 so fixing this little guy will be easy, just need a source of the birch plywood around here as it seems that the rest of the wood is Home Depot quality.
My wheels are Ford wheel and the hubcaps are old Chevy ones, Not sure how the hubs are as I haven taken them apart. I will look for that restoration page here and see what I can do.
Thanks again for taking the time to find those links
Rafael

[mezmo]

You're Welcome Rafael. Here's another website, [TnTTT forum member 48Rob's],
that also has some good info on restorations: "Repairing Yesterday's Trailers"
http://repairingyesterdaystrailers.yuku.com/

Cheers,
Norm/mezmo

P.S. If you can't find a specialty plywood supplier in your area, try a cabinet
maker shop, or a cabinet maker supplier. Those are always suggestions you see
listed as sources for quality hardwood plywood. Also, this company uses a
non-formaldehyde glue and has some interesting looking products. http://www.columbiaforestproducts.com/

[bobhenry]

Make that 4 spammers in 6 minutes.

Get this guy gone !!!!!!