1964 Northwest Coach - Lil Dipper ...any info???

[JSTOTT]

Looks like it is in great shape. Good find.
Russ

[patis]

Finally got around to taking some shots.

Here she is at Refugio State Beach in Goleta, CA. Enjoy!




"

[JZellerhoff]

I bought a '65 NW coach this previous summer. I believe it's a little dipper but the emblem is gone. I can see the screw holes about where it should have been. There's probably no hope in finding a replacement. It was in poor shape but I am restoring it to the best of my ability at the moment. I'm thinking these trailers are hard to come by. Mine did not come with the propane lamp, but besides that it is exactly the same as yours, at least what I can see from the picture. It's good to see pictures of what mine should look like completed. Thanks for all the great pics.

[jcoole74]

hi, i just bought a lil dipper and got it home yesterday. but mine is a mess. i to dont know anything about it. so was looking for some information too. i would love to see some more pictures of yours, maybe seeing what one looks like fixed up, will help me get over this dreadfull feeling that i got my self into a can of worms. ive got broken windows and a stoped up toilet, dont even know if theres a holding tank? it sure is low to the ground. i have restored several trailers , and almost have the interier done on my canned ham. . but this is just more than may be able to handle. it is so small its really cute that way. i was thinking of the club "" teardrop and tiney trailers"" . a group i really like , when i say it. love to hear from you Joyce desertlizards@q.com

[patis]

Hi Joyce:

sorry for the delayed response. how's your build going? Please post pics or send me some. The windows are very cheap to fix. I replaced 50% of my glass for ~$20.

My next project is to install a replacement propane lamp...great for boondocking...light and warmth without needing to light the propane heater. Just got the moon hub caps installed and it's looking great now.

[JZellerhoff]

I was talking with my dad and he said that if I couldn't find a replacement "Little Dipper" emblem maybe I could get an etching of an existing one and make a replacement. If either of you fellow NW coach owners would be interested in helping me out it would be greatly appreciated. I tried to find replacement lenses for the tail lights to no avail, so I figured the emblem was definitely a lost cause. Cheers.

[Doug Duncan]

Hi everybody,

I just bought a 1965 Little Dipper. The title says the make is "LDPR", model is "11 FT" and vehicle body is "TT".

I bought it sight unseen and still have not seen it, but my friend who picked it up for me shot the following video. He apologizes for the washed out exterior pictures but it was his smart phone and a first attempt.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmHxDhKpCbU

The previous two owners redid the interior and didn't quite finish it, but it looks quite serviceable. Bearings were repacked and other systems upgraded or redone. The roof sealant is in good shape and caulking around the windows is good. My friend has towed it close to 100 miles already and it tows as described by others on this thread, beautifully, and you can see through the trailer with your rear view mirror.

I have a question that I am hoping someone can answer. It rides on 12" wheels, which seem a little undersized to me. I would like to be able to tow at 65 mph or so. The spare is on a 14" rim and the extra wheels and tires are 15", I think in anticipation of a spring-over axle conversion. The wheel wells show minor signs of tire rubbing, apparently from an experiment with larger tires. So my question is whether any of you have tried to install larger tires/wheels, and if so, what worked? Has anyone done a spring-over conversion? Clearance is not an issue for me as this will not be an off-road trailer. I am thinking that an upgrade to 13" tires/wheels may be all I need.

Thanks for any thoughts or advice.

Doug

[Avion C-11]

Originally Posted by patis

Finally got around to taking some shots.

Here she is at Refugio State Beach in Goleta, CA. Enjoy!




"

Cool trailer! Almost looks chopped and lowered! Very neat find!

[patis]

Originally Posted by Avion C-11

Cool trailer! Almost looks chopped and lowered! Very neat find!

Thanks...it does sit low. Haven't had any clearance issues so far. I've logged 2000 miles on it since I bought it. Finally decided to re-schellac the interior....should have done it long ago because the wood looks so warm and new. Bought a new Paulin/Humphrey lamp that I am going to have installed.

Next plan is to reupholster and add black out curtains.

My friend Andrew has the same trailer and his sits 6" higher than mine. It's nice to meet up and compare notes. Will post a pic of our trailers soon. Anyone else in SoCal have one?

regards,
Mel

[joyce cooley]

hi,Patis, good to read you post. i am just going to start on my Little Dipper in anouther month.finished a shasta and got it sold, so on to this next one. i always get the coment from everyone who sees it "" it sure is low!!'' i wonder how andrew raised his? ive had one person look and he said it couldnt be done. so aparently he was wrong. do you have a toilet in yours? i have never had one like this one with a built in holding tank. but it looks like a portapoty, couldnt hold much and you pull a lever inside and it draines out a pipe outside. a sewer hose can be hooked up. interesting! you'r is so cute. Joyce

[patis]

Originally Posted by joyce cooley

hi,Patis, good to read you post. i am just going to start on my Little Dipper in anouther month.finished a shasta and got it sold, so on to this next one. i always get the coment from everyone who sees it "" it sure is low!!'' i wonder how andrew raised his? ive had one person look and he said it couldnt be done. so aparently he was wrong. do you have a toilet in yours? i have never had one like this one with a built in holding tank. but it looks like a portapoty, couldnt hold much and you pull a lever inside and it draines out a pipe outside. a sewer hose can be hooked up. interesting! you'r is so cute. Joyce

Joyce,

Please post pics of your project....i'd love to see it. Andrew had to modify the frame by adding a "C" channel. Originally, the axle sits above the frame. It's a simple welding job but I am happy with the height of mine so far....it's not broke so why fix it? He is going to paint the exterior next.

I do not have a toilet in mine. Portapotty only. Just refinished the majority of the original interior with amber shellac and it is looking great. Cleaned up and painted all of the original hardware, added a 50mile ClearStream HDTV antenna inside the closet and added a 12v fan and Humphrey 4T gas lamp for lighting when off the grid. Solar panel added to trickle charge the Yellow Top. I also added a AC-DC converter so I can run the 12 volt system when I am plugged in. Bought a 70's Honda ER400 generator for back-up. Refinished the table top but can't find the 1/2" trim inserts for the metal trim. Anybody know where I can find this?

Hope to see pics of your rig. Thanks.

Regards,
Mel

[joyce cooley]

]





thanks, that sounds like more work than i want to do, ill use it as is . im probably fixing it up to sell in the end anyway, as i have a 1955 canned ham ive done for myself. i only have pictures of the exterior. i notice that your wheel wells are different. the rest inside looks the same. i have turquoise appliances. i had been using it to store parts from my Shasta i restored so just got it cleaned out. will send pictures of ext. and one of my canned ham.. Joyce

[joyce cooley]

well i forgot to insert pictures of my 1955 STAFF, canned ham so heres 4 pictures of it. ive had alot of fun where ever ive gone. Joyce