Trailers are incredibly versatile items, offering many possibilities worth considering. Hooking one up means an owner can head off on a spur-of-the-moment vacation wherever their heart desires, secure in the knowledge that their accommodation needs will be met. Parked in a driveway, they make excellent temporary guest quarters when the family home is packed to the rafters. Alternatively, heading off once retirement kicks in to travel the country and spend the kids’ inheritance could prove impossible to resist. This 1965 Holiday Trav’ler isn’t perfect, but it’s a bit of a gem. It has no immediate needs but would respond positively to an exterior refresh. The Trav’ler is listed here on eBay in Holland, Michigan. The price has reached a mere $1,850, but it has done so off the back of intense bidding.
This Trav’ler is the product of the Holiday Rambler Company, which Richard Klingler founded in his hometown of Wakarusa, Indiana. It introduced its first model in 1953. The company had an innovative approach, introducing in-built refrigerators, holding tanks, and aerodynamic radiused outer corners ahead of the opposition. However, 1961 provided its most significant breakthrough with the introduction of the aluminum body frame. It shaved precious pounds off the trailer’s weight while providing improved strength and rot protection. This Trav’ler emerged in 1965 and appears to be a robust survivor. The aluminum cladding sports bumps and bruises, while the paint shows its age. There are no signs of metal penetration, with the seller indicating it is leak-free. It would benefit from a cosmetic restoration but has enough character and charm to attract smiles if preserved as a survivor.
Considering it has an overall length of sixteen feet, it is no surprise that the interior accommodation is cozy. The seller indicates there is room to sleep four, although, with no separate bedroom, they must all fit into the area currently configured as the dining area. The interior timber is in good order, and the upholstered surfaces are excellent. That end of the trailer also features some nice little nooks and shelves, which would be perfect spots to place a good book before the lights go out. Trailers can often feel claustrophobic, but the large, crack-free windows in this Trav’ler admit plenty of light and fresh air.
Although it might not be as luxurious as some modern trailers, the interior of this Trav’ler will never be mistaken for a cave! The kitchen features a stove with four burners, an oven, and an extractor fan. There are plenty of cupboards, a stainless steel sink, and a small refrigerator. Once again, the timber looks nice and mellow, adding a classy touch. The angled door beyond the kitchen houses the shower, a sink, and a real porcelain toilet. There is a furnace to provide adequate hot water for bathing or kitchen needs and a water tank for a ready supply of that precious H2O. The seller states that the electricity works, but there are tasks for the buyer to tackle. None of the appliances are tested, and the water and propane are disconnected. Most of those items could be addressed in a home workshop, although I would hand the propane to a specialist for safety’s sake.
Treating this 1965 Holiday Trav’ler to some TLC during the remaining colder months could prove an excellent and rewarding way to occupy some time. That would mean it will be ready for summer adventures in comfort and style. It seems I am not alone in my thoughts because it has already attracted thirty bids with time remaining on the auction. Is it the vacation option you’ve been seeking?
Affordable housing! This might be something that some
struggling person could buy & live in.I you paid cash for it,
you could brag that you own your own home.
I lived in a 20 foot Ideal trailer for about a year.I think
it was a good experience for me.
Bottom collapsing on these too. For a spell, any camper that rolled was snapped up. I think the steam has fizzled on these too. With snooty campground owners that might let you stay in the “overflow lot” down the road, for fear of losing their “good” customers that never leave, and they are just a PITA to get around with. They snarl traffic, lose lawn chairs,,okay, a bit dramatic, but like all these “projects”, fewer and fewer are going this route. Apparently, with the CHEAPEST Airstream ( not much more than a Teardrop) going for $40grand, these were an alternative to that, or so they thought.
Holiday was more the upper end of non-Airstream campers. Campers like this then were pretty much the same. It looks nice, but guarantee, it smells funky, they all leak somewhere, and repair to “systems” is costly, if you could even find someone to repair it. RV mechanics START at $100/hour. I had thought of buying a vintage camper to pull behind the squarebody, but I just don’t want to travel anymore, and selling the truck and getting the Jeep, pretty much put the kabosh on that anyway, and just as well. I have to renew my DL this week, I had thought of not even doing that, but once more( good for 5 years), but this may be the last time. Pulling something like this, will get you plenty of “middle finger salutes”. People are just do impatient, and this is a hazard today, even though, you are doing nothing wrong. I HATE DRIVING,,,,sorry,,,it is a nice find.
The only wheels i own is my 74 Shovelhead. Ain’t fast! love to ride it. cars hate it! had to scoop a dead Chihuahua off the street this summer. coulda been us splattered. taxes in chicago have me glimpsing at RVs lately?
Taxes everywhere, my friend. Before I moved to Colorado, I entertained the prospect of being a “gypsy”. Lot of folks doing that. In the end, I was lucky to get a gov. assisted apt for seniors, and am glad that happened, to say the least. Being a stranger all the time wasn’t for me( cue the Doors “When you’re strange”) Best thing for this, would be find a small piece of land, drag this to that spot, and shore it up and pull the wheels. These “tiny” houses that are all the rage now, aren’t much more than this, really.
Shovel an awesome bike!
Shovelfest rules!
Three years ago we bought a 17 foot 1971 Timberline that had leaked around the roof vent, leaving rotted wood inside ceiling and walls. Electrical was a mess and upholstery shot. Spent six months restoring to near new (in some cases better than) condition. It was a fun project and created that get-away opportunity and guest space you describe, Adam. It’s easy to pull with my ’92 Chevy 3/4 ton, takes 15 minutes to set up at the campground, and is that perfect balance between roughing it and glamping.
You don’t quit because you get old, you get old because you quit. My small investment in $ returned the fun of a unique restoration challenge and a cool little trailer with a variety of upsides. Sorry, Howard, but you’re wrong. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
The interior appears nicer than most trailers of this vintage, which have often been lived in. The kitchen pegboard looks out of place, though. That isn’t something you would want on a trailer that’s moving.
“The paint shows its age”? It looks like a do-it-yourself repaint to me.
Usually love reading Howard’s comments and to each their own but respectfully disagree totally
RV’s and old campers are easy to repair and all systems and appliances can be easily replaced at reasonable costs I pull a 35 foot fifth wheel with a ram 2500 4×4 with 6.4 hemi it keeps up just fine and I get no harassment this is the 5 th camper we have owned started with old pop ups and campers when the kids were small and we had no money but what great fun and family memories I am 67 and still do and always have done all repair and maintenance on my campers and vehicles myself couldn’t afford otherwise when younger now just get satisfaction out of it. this is a good Lille camper that with a Lille updating could be a great little camper wish it were closer or I would buy it for my daughter who is looking for something small and reasonably priced
Why does my 1 “like” show as 3 “likes?”
Larry,
The other 2 ‘Likes’ probably happened around the same time your ‘Like’ appeared, basically 3 people clicked on the red hand at about the same time.
Sure is priced right. Let’s see what it finally sells for.
Beware, these things weigh over 4,000 lbs! Have a sturdy tow vehicle.
If this was anywhere in Florida I’d jump at the opportunity to buy it. This is one of the nicer campers, reasonably priced I have seen This would be great for me and the wife to take off for a long weekend!!!!!!!!
Vintage is cool…as I was born in ‘58 these units are still great. Yep do your own repairs hit the road life is an ADVENTURE! I’m thinking of buying a ‘51 Plymouth Suburban wagon perfect to slow crawl to the great outdoors with this camp trailer. Yes the other drivers would hate me percolating impatience but whatever….I’ve been walking on God’s green Earth for 65 years so I’m doing it my way.
I have a 49 Ply. Suburban. if interested let me know.
Yes I’m interested. Can you Fill me in on the pertinent details condition restoration etc? Also send any pics and of course what you’re asking for as well as location. Thank you
Please send me an e mail address and I will get some together. may take a day or two as my wife is in the Hospital. Thanks
Frog my address is: ct90192@outlook.com
No rush amigo…Hope the best for your wife.
Jeff
I tried your e mail, but it didn’t go through. Said it was not responding. Shoot me an e mail at harleycharley@suddenlink.net will see if that works.
Looks great, the main cause of irritation to other roads users is mismatched rigs & inexperienced drivers either those in RV’s etc or those in the following vehicles.
I tow all sorts from campers to transporters & it only needs simple thought/planning to make good progress.
Yeah – there should be a requirement to have a special
license to tow a trailer over a certain length/weight,or drive
an RV.They’d need to have a special book too (with pictures)
about things like moving out of the fast lane after passing,
using turnouts,etc.
I used to drive Highway 101 all the time.On the two lane
parts (in the Redwoods) you could follow an RV for miles,
as they passed turnout after turnout.
I disagree with Howard too! This is in great shape for its age and are the rage in CA getting 4 x the current price! Growing up we had a 13 ft Santa Fe for a family of 5. Yes it was tight, but lots of fun outings! My father modified the dining area so it would carry our 3 Honda Mini Trail 50 minibikes with tie downs and it was great fun, Sequoia, Yosemite, Mojave etc… In high school it became my bedroom for peace and quiet. My Dad put the inside back together when I graduated from college and with new drapes and upolstery by my Mom sold it for 5x what they paid for it!!😂
If you had the space, you could set-up your own campground in your back yard. Build a fire pit, put an awning on it and kick back. No towing to the campground.
This sold cheap. Great deal ifvyou want to have a retro camper. They’re getting popular and it’s not easy to find one that isn’t a leaking mess.
A restored one can go for $75-100k.