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StinkyDaddy · 05-12-2011, 09:54 AM

Hey Y'all,
I'm a new member, not an AS owner, but a Barth owner. Your long lost buck riveted cousin. Barth trailers were made in Milford IN from 1963 til 1969 when Barth shifted it's focus to motor coaches. Ours was built in Jan 1964. We know of maybe dozen of these trailers still around, I'm sure there are more, but not many.

In Sept of 2009 my wife's step dad told us that he had a 24' travel trailer on his sisters farm and needed it moved, if we would go get it we could have it. When we went to look at it there was a 15 yr old canopy of poison oak growing over it. After I chainsawed, yes chainsawed, the poison oak off I opened the door and where the ceiling panels had sagged I could see that it had an aluminum frame. At this point I didn't know much about trailers, but I did know an aluminum frame was going to be a good thing.

We've been working on the trailer as we get time and we've made several trips with it. We live just south of Roanoke, VA. The weekend after we brought it home the administrator of the Barthmobile website called us and asked if we could bring it to their get together in D.C. the following weekend. He said they would love to see it because none of them had ever seen one. So a week and a half after pulling this trailer out of the woods we made a 5 hour trip to the Barthmobile D.C. get together, and had a blast. We learned a great deal and met some great folks. In May of 2010 we took the Barth on a 13 hr trip to the Barth GTG in Milford IN where we met the man who helped Mr. Barth make the first trailer. He was a wealth of info. In Dec of 2010 we went to another GTG near Tampa, FL which was close to 14 hrs. Memorial Day weekend we're heading to GA for our next GTG.

Having towed this trailer quite a few miles I can tell you that it is very smooth and sometimes I forget it's back there. It's also very solid, I'm a 230 lb dude and I can walk around on the roof with no problem.

We're still working on the trailer and are no where near finished, but we're using it just the same.

I have more pictures at this link.
E-mail Address Required

and in this folder
Index of /assets/Barth

Y'all have fun,
Wm.

Mike Leary · 05-12-2011, 10:48 AM

I never knew Barth made a trailer, but if they're like the mo/ho's; built like tanks!

Lily&Me · 05-12-2011, 11:17 AM

Our first RV was a 24', 77 Barth motor home. We bought it in 2002 with 40,000 original miles and put another 20,000 on it before we sold it in 2008.

Ours had an aluminum exterior. We alternately called it the Beast, the Breadbox or the Tin Can on Wheels.

The interior was in excellent condition, very roomy and could sleep the two of us, a dog and 4 grandchildren quite comfortably. We had a great time in it, and the kiddies still talk about it.

Unfortunately, roadworthy it was not, and a new Interstate was our ticket to retirement travel.

Maggie

markdoane · 05-12-2011, 11:23 AM

It's interesting that the water heater door is the same as an Airstream.
I had thought that Airstream made the cover but it looks like Bowen made tham.

ScrapIrony-2 · 05-12-2011, 11:34 AM

StinkyDaddy

Welcome to the forums. Nice looking trailer! I love old trailers & motorhomes.

If you don’t already have this link: Welcome to Barthmobile.com - Dedicated to the Barth Custom Coach
I know it’s moho’s, but there is some good info. We stumbled across the forum, when we were looking for a part for our 345. Evidently they share the same chassis.

Tracy

StinkyDaddy · 05-12-2011, 12:15 PM

Thanks ScrpIrony-2, we found Barthmobile.com a few days after we went to look at the trailer. Granted, it took a bit of searching, but we found a link to one post about trailers on the site at the time. We didn't know about Barth coaches, so all of our initial search strings were "barth travel trailer". But we did find them and they have been a great help. Looking forward to picking up more trailer related info here.

xrvr · 05-12-2011, 12:30 PM

Parked near a Barth mh in n fl about a year ago. Fantastic, looked like something from a sci-fi movie. Really different. jim

SilverDragon · 05-12-2011, 12:49 PM

That is an awesome looking trailer....maybe one day we will get to see it. Been trying to plan a trip to Crabtree Falls.

SmokelessJoe · 05-12-2011, 01:28 PM

William,

Like some others, I'd come across or heard about the Bartmobile but didn't know about the trailers.

Thanks for joining and thanks for the post. Many here will enjoy hearing about the old trailer.

The motor homes struck me as square and clunky by your rounded corners boxy trailer has a cool and solid look about it.

Welcome.

Sergei

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f227...tml#post182701

Silver Otter · 05-12-2011, 01:31 PM

Wow, what a great restoration project. Love to see her some day. We're only about 2 hours north of you up the Blue Ridge. Good for you for 'rescuing' her.

**Stefrobrts** · 05-12-2011, 01:58 PM

What a great find! I'm so glad you saved it!

wahoonc · 05-12-2011, 07:34 PM

Sweet find!

I have seen some of the old Barth moho's but have never seen a trailer.

Aaron

StinkyDaddy · 05-13-2011, 08:08 AM

Thanks everyone, we really love the trailer and have enjoyed working on it. We're looking forward to getting it in better shape and hopefully we'll make some of the events listed here.

Crabtree Falls looks like it needs to be on my list.

Greg, my wife says she knows where Nellysford is, she went to Lynchburg College.

StinkyDaddy · 05-13-2011, 08:15 AM

Zigzaguzzi, you may have parked near DannyZ, he is in FL has a Barth Euro, which was one of the few models with a fiberglass nose. It kinda comes to a point and does look like something from a sci fi movie.

Silver Otter · 05-13-2011, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StinkyDaddy

Crabtree Falls looks like it needs to be on my list.

Greg, my wife says she knows where Nellysford is, she went to Lynchburg College.

Great, come on up. I'll buy the adult beverages at The Devil's Backbone.

DougZ · 05-13-2011, 06:32 PM

StinkyDaddy. Welcome to the forum. There is a ton of great aluminum information to check out here.

To everyone else - I got to see this trailer last December at Hillsborogh River State Park in central Florida. To say it is well constructed is a gross understatement. If you ever see it be sure to ask for the tour. You will be glad you did.

DougZ

StinkyDaddy · 05-13-2011, 07:26 PM

Thanks Doug! Looking forward to seeing you again at Hillsboro in Dec.

klattu · 05-13-2011, 09:33 PM

I see 1517 on the rear, must have been a club for them at one time.

Jim Foster · 05-13-2011, 09:46 PM

We came across this Barth motorhome in December of 2008 at Flying Flags RV in Buellton, CA. The couple had just purchased it two days earlier, and it was spotless and beautiful. They paid $28,000. Yes, it was that nice.