Having been a huge fan of the British OG version of Top Gear since Jeremy Clarkson was just a skinny lad, I could never understand their vehement disdain for campers, or, as the British call them, caravans. This little Burro was manufactured in the late 70s, and the seller doesn’t have a year because his state doesn’t require title/registration for small trailers. To me, at around 1,000 pounds, this seems like a camper most vehicles could tow, is easy to maneuver at campsites, and, unlike a tent, lets you avoid getting eaten by a bear. This Burro camper is now available here on Facebook Marketplace for $6,500. It is in DePere, Wisconsin. Thank you, Lothar, of the Hill People, for getting me to look at this tiny Burro!
Once I got into this story about the company Burro Campers, I found some interesting information. Since it is all from the internet, it may or may not be correct. But what I see is that the company made trailers in Iowa from 1978 to 1986. Then it came back in 1998 for 3 years. Apparently, management issues led investors to seize the molds and production equipment, and that was the end of it.
That story notwithstanding, this small Burro for sale here is in good condition for being almost 50 years old. The seller replaced the entire subfloor, used fiberglass to seal it, and then installed Luxury Vinyl Plank flooring on top. The front window was resealed because it was leaking, and all the windows are original. They may need to be replaced, but they are said to open and keep water and bugs out when closed! There is a new maple countertop and cabinet doors, as well as a new 12v, 6-speed ceiling fan. The fan and charging ports can be powered by a small power station, which is not included in the sale.
It seems this could easily be towed by an SUV or a mid-size pickup truck. Although most RV websites don’t list prices for vintage Burro trailers, they are said to be in demand. This one looks to have enough interior space for a couple of people, and it seems the owner has done a good job of modernizing it. They do say it is ready to go as is, or you may want to paint it and replace the windows first. Either way, it seems like a great little camper, but is the price right for the camper in you?
This reminds me a lot of the 13′ Scamp, which is still in business. These fiberglass trailers hold up a lot longer and better than the “Stick and Tin” built ones as long as the fiberglass is in good shape and not damaged. You could really do something with this for the right price.
Lots of various versions of this out there. I think the first was called a “Boler”, and the inspiration came from a fiberglass septic tank (believe it or not!). I have had several of the earlier trailers that had the split horizontally rather than the vertical join of the “Burro”. U-Haul rented their own version for a while. All these little trailers seem to have a similar interior layout dictated by the tiny dimensions. My last one had the optimistic name of “El Macho” and that name was even printed on the title. I used to use it every year when I went to Monterey for the Laguna Seca Historics as hotel rooms are scarce and $$$ during that event. I sold it back in 2010. Here is the old ad with photos: https://www.fiberglassrv.com/threads/sold-75-el-macho-13-fiberglass-boler-clone-in-california.1142415/
Perfect for a couple who want to get away for a bit!!
Well I did spend like 3 nights with a buddy at Carlisle in the U Haul version. Was cramped but the worst was the condensation on the walls and ceiling in the morning. Yep they are light but poorly insulated. I did experience something I will remember and that was many moons ago.
Looks like a lot of fun. I remember the kits came out as a viable option for a four cylinder car to pull, but I remember also thinking that you wouldn’t want to have anything in a water tank or black water tank as that could make it untowable.