1952 or so Trotwood Travel Trailer

[Ariz-Pacer]

I hope this is the right place to post this ( Related to Airstreams as a real distant cousin on the uncle's stepfathers side) I have very little knowledge of Trotwoods......I have the windows and porthole entry door from this unit and the stove and all of the aluminum skin. It was damaged both physically and from water rot and was disassembled and turned into a flatbed . ( I swear I wasn't there)

Does anybody have any info on Trotwoods? The only thing I can find on Trotwoods is that they mostly made larger mobile homes. TIA

[azflycaster]

They were made in Trotwood, OH. I found this on ebay....

[Ariz-Pacer]

Thanks...That helps...It looks like most of the trailers of that era.
I was wondering if there was any interest in them.
$375.00 was a lot of money based on the age of that ad.

Then I found this.....
trotwood trailers

[Mikethefixit]

Those trailers were built 3 miles from me. Most of the buildings exist yet today.One day when I get time I will go by the histroic society and see it there is anything there on thier existance.
Roger

[Fiamma]

I'd be very interested to hear if you turn up any more info on Trotwoods. I lived in a 28' 1950's Trotwood park model one summer a couple of years ago, my parents still have it. It's solid, no leaks, full wood interior, and I love every inch of it. Definitely a well-built trailer. I tried doing some quick searches but couldn't find much.

This isn't it, but it looks identical except in paint job. It's a 1957 model:



Here is a site that might be useful:
Atlas Mobile Home Museum

[p0rtia]

Hi Ariz-Pacer,

I have what I take to be a Trotwood 1949, 17 foot (guessing from the pix on the Atlas Mobile Home Museum that Flamma mentions). It is mostly all there, with rust and missing bolts on the seams, plenty of water damage and a couple of buckled walls (the mice love that). Most of the original cabinetry is there, very cute scalloped trim on the overhead cabinets. I use it as a weekend/summer cabin. :-)

I've put a few hours of research into looking for info, and come up without much more than a few ads. Generally the only mention is when someone falls heir to one and then posts on a board asking about it. :-) Don't think there's much interest (would be happy to sell mine but haven't tried yet). Would be happy to share info.

[Ariz-Pacer]

If it's a 17 ft it seems to be the same size as the one I got. It was really rotted out and I wasn't into restoration then, I just wanted to salvage what I could get out of it. It turned out to be a pretty nice furniture mover, as it was low enough to the ground.
The tires were completely rotted out and the split rims were rusted beyond repair. I matched the hole pattern with a 1985 Suzuki 15" rim and it has been running ever since.


I still have the doors, windows and gas stove. Why? I don't know.

Got a picture?

[fiftysixhick]

If you are still looking for Info on Trotwood I suggest contacting the president (Forrest Bone, Royal Exalted Tin Can Opener
Email: f23bone@earthlink.net) of The Tin Can Tourist, He has a 1956? 13'? Trotwood! Looks Great totally restored, I do belive there is also one in the Classified section of the Tin Can Tourists.
Tim Heintz
Panama City Beach, Fl.
Tin Can Tourists Southeastern Representative
Tin Can Tourists
Vintagetrailersandmobilehomes : Vintage Trailers and Mobile Homes

[Ariz-Pacer]

Thanks for the tip. I'll go take a look.

Ariz-Pacer

[Trotwood]

If anyone cares, I have much info on this trailer style.

The original company still operates, but now makes robotics instead of trailers, and their largest division is called Stryver Manufacturing (www.stryver.com). Actual trailer manufacturing ceased in the early 1980's after a fire burned the original manufacturing building down, and as the oil crisis continued to take a lasting toll on the industry.

The company was started in 1932 at its current location in Trotwood, Ohio (just west of Dayton), at the site of a former lumberyard with good rail access. The company grew to the largest trailer manufacturer of its time in the 1950's, when it held over half of the consumer trailer market and could produce a dozen trailers in one day.

However, the company began to lose status as the Travel Trailer market expanded greatly in the 1960's, and it lost much ground to the iconic names of today like Airstream, all of which had vast resources due to ties to large corporations that started into the market like Thor Industries, parent of Airstream.

Models are still on display, on occasion, at Trotwood's Hara Arena, which owns three or four models. Parts and assisstance for Trotwood Trailers are no longer available from its manufacturer.


Feel free to PM me or post here with more questions about this brand of trailers!!!!!

[Ariz-Pacer]

Thank you for that information, it was most helpful and an interesting read.
Nice to know they're still in business even though manufacturing different products.

My trailers interior was interesting to say the least. I liked the layout, especially the undersized rear bedroom escape door. I still have the stove/oven, the sink,
some windows, all of the aluminum skin and the main entrance door.

It's a quality product as my trailer is still operational in it's present form. It was a basket case, damaged beyond repair, as it stood.

Thanks, again
AZP

[toastie]

Google Image Result for http://www.vintage-vacations.com/trotwood52-1.gif

http://www.tincantourists.com/wiki/d...rotwood#models

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TrotwoodTrailers/

http://trotwoodlark.blogspot.com/

toastie

[Mikethefixit]

Welcome to the Forums TROTWOOD
There are also pictures of a concept vehicle in the Broadway Diner in Trotwood. I cannot get them to scan so I cannot show them here. The concept vehicle was a truck and trailer if I remember correctly.
Trotwood feel free to drop by anytime.
Roger

[Trotwood]

Thanks for the warm welcome and additional links, everyone!!!!!

Yeah, there are some very interesting reads out there on Trotwood Trailers. It's nice to see that people still care about this brand of trailer and continue to own and use these trailers on a regular basis.

[Trotwood]

Originally Posted by Ariz-Pacer

Thank you for that information, it was most helpful and an interesting read.
Nice to know they're still in business even though manufacturing different products.

My trailers interior was interesting to say the least. I liked the layout, especially the undersized rear bedroom escape door. I still have the stove/oven, the sink,
some windows, all of the aluminum skin and the main entrance door.

It's a quality product as my trailer is still operational in it's present form. It was a basket case, damaged beyond repair, as it stood.

Thanks, again
AZP

Very interesting. I currently have a Trotwood on hand in similar condition. I might be PM'ing you every once in a while for fix-up tips, if you don't mind

[Uncle Bob]

Hello Trotwood,
Just joined the forum to contact you about a recent 1958 Trotwood Trailer I purchased. I have absolutely no information on this trailer including what model it is. It's 16.5' long and 19' with the trailer hitch portion. Wold there be any way for you to identify it.
Thank You in Advance for any help,
Bob
PS. Photo included.

[bredlo]

There are a couple for sale on Craigslist right now, FYI.

This aluminum canned ham style for $650 in northern Michigan:
Vintage Trotwood Trailer

and this 16' model in Indiana for $750. It's listed as a Trotwood "by Sunchaser".
TROTWOOD 16' CAMPING TRAILER

Photos attached for posterity.

[gatorboy]

I bought this 1970 Trotwood "Lark" nine years ago as an alternative to sleeping on the ground. 1500 lbs. fully loaded. I had alot of fun bringing it back to life and learned quite alot. I think I was less afraid of making a mistake on a $700 trailer. These pics are from our vacation to the Pacific Northwest last summer. This summer's trip will be in our recently aquired 1977 Argosy 26.

[ndonalds22]

I know this post is old, but thought it worth a try. Just purchased a 1949 Trotwood "Special Economy" and it is missing some original parts, I'm a newbie in the restore attempt. Any info or pointing me in the right direction would be appreciated.