Rare 1962 BROOKSIDER Boat House CAMPER TRAILER

[charliesgarage]

Rare 1962 BROOKSIDER BOAT CAMPER TRAILER

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I found this in an estate sale. I thought it was a unique shed. Upon closer examination I noticed the trailer frame underneath. The axle and leaf springs were taken off and it sat on cinder blocks. The people running the sale said the owner had alzheimers and owned a local construction company and built these in the 60s. They had found a flyer advertising it.
The Brooksider was an answer to the expensive covered boatdock problem and how to trailer the boat and the camper at the same time.
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Imagine launching the boat and setting up your private camper in the same trip. A new lake every weekend! When you get home, just park it and forget it. Until next weekend!

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Steel Frame with cutout for outboard, Aluminum conduit frame inside, corrugated Aluminum siding, Greenhouse fiberglass side panels for improved light. Notice the hail damaged roof.

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Camper version had birch paneling, insulation, Stove and cabinets. Cool Aluminum folding bunkbeds. Sidedoor and garage door for boat. Overall size is 19' long, 7' wide & 6' inside height. One mans million dollar idea!

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This is barebones inside with no sidedoor and no garage door. It has spent it's life as a garden shed. Albeit the coolest garden shed I've ever seen. Our neighborhood in Tulsa is called Brookside. That's where the name is from.

Sad fact, it's penned in on all sides by neighbor's fences. No axles, no wheels, tongue cut off. Family is including it with property in real estate sale. So, Not for Sale.

I stopped by the last day of this Estate Sale and found this brochure of another 60s "Boat/Camper/Trailer" called the "BOTE-HOME"

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Basically the Same Design and execution of the Brooksider. Improvements over the Brooksider are All-Aluminum Frame, Riveted Aircraft Construction, Aerodynamic Shape, lightweight (985 lbs.) 54" tall inside(18" less than Brooksider). 22' long.


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Notice the hand-written note on the back of the brochure. First is the Price $1350 - $2250 Then it says

"REASONS BROOKSIDER DIDN'T SELL;"
1. No Floor Caused Vacuum on Highway
2. When passing a Truck-Nearly Whips off the Road
3. Shook Apart after Pulling it Awhile

A Bitter-Sweet story at best. One Man's Million Dollar Idea dies and another picks up the gauntlet. I was unable to locate a patent on either one. Forgive me for posting this on another site, too. I just wanted to share this amazing story.
Charlie

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[Miriam C.]

Looks like a good ole fashioned toy hauler to me. Too bad the bugs couldn't be worked out.

[packerz4]

WOW.

[48Rob]

Great bit of history!

Thank you for taking the time to put it together and sharing it with us

Rob

[Lazybones]

This just goes to show that every idea is recycled. This is the original toy hauler.
The manufactures act like they invented the toy hauler.
Thanks for the post!

[fireaunt]

about the same time in Tulsa there was a guy making fiberglass replicas of the Cord car. Lots of inventive folks in OK.