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Old 12-15-2009, 10:29 PM   #1
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Boles-Aero, Anyone know about these?

Anyone know about Boles-Aero travel trailers? There is an abandoned one on some land that the property owner is going to dispose of. It's an aluminum skinned tanden axle unit, circa 1968, that looks like it was pretty primo in it's day. The label says it's a "Non-Pareil" model 240-X.

Anyone?
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Old 12-15-2009, 10:37 PM   #2
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My wife's parents full timed in a Boles Aero for several years in the 70s. I believe they were "top of the line".
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Old 12-16-2009, 05:25 AM   #3
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Here's a link for some history of the B-A brand from the TCT website.

boles-aero [DokuWiki]

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Old 12-16-2009, 12:23 PM   #4
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While living in the desert outside Tucson for several years we had neighbors who had developed a beautiful little compound on about 3 acres. They lived in a 50's vintage Boles Aero and a 60's vintage Caravelle, had an outdoor kitchen and outdoor shower. The Boles-Aero was beautiful. I don't know much about them, but always lusted after this one. I think there is a Boles-Aero cult out there. And like many feel about Airstreams - the older, the better.
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Old 12-16-2009, 01:22 PM   #5
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I have a '53 Boles Aero in my backyard that I'm storing for a friend. It's a great little trailer, appears well built and is high on the cute scale. It just so happens to be for sale but still needs a little work on the plumbing and electrical.

Brad
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Old 12-16-2009, 01:37 PM   #6
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I own a 1949 12 foot Boles and have almost completed a complete rebuild on it. I rebuilt and sold a 1948 14 footer. Both of them were very well-built (aluminum skin riveted to aluminum ribs). The frame is stout and does not rely on the body for support. I don't know much about the larger ones or the "newer" ones --- the later 50's and 60's.
Having rebuilt both a Boles and an Airstream I believe that the Boles is at least as well-built.
I would not hesitate to acquire another!
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Old 12-17-2009, 01:11 PM   #7
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There's a fairly active yahoo group.

boles_aero : Boles Aero Vintage Travel Trailers

I plan on adding a Boles Aero to my fleet in the next year. There's a 1958 Mira Mar single axle around here that's begging me to take it home.

There's actually a very nice one on ebay right now.

The Zenith models from the late '50's are wood framed. This was a lower priced offering. As far as I know all the others were aluminum framed and rivited. The late '40's through the mid '50's models were smooth sided canned hams and are really gaining popularity with collectors and enthusiasts. Very well built trailers.
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Old 12-17-2009, 06:47 PM   #8
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If it's restorable you should save it from the crusher. Someone will want it if you don't.

Around here, junkyards won't even take trailers or motorhomes for free. They have too much wood and plastic, at today's low scrap metal prices they aren't worth bothering with.

So you should be able to get it for practically nothing.
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Old 12-17-2009, 09:18 PM   #9
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We have a '72 B-A that the person that owns it is trying to sell. He is asking $15K for it. It's pretty clean, and very complete. Time will tell how much it really sells for.
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Old 12-17-2009, 09:30 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tetstream View Post
The label says it's a "Non-Pareil" model 240-X.
Interesting model name. "non-pareil" = incomparable (unequalled)
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Old 12-17-2009, 09:36 PM   #11
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We have a '72 B-A that the person that owns it is trying to sell. He is asking $15K for it. It's pretty clean, and very complete. Time will tell how much it really sells for.
You "have" it, Terry? Would you be so kind as to perhaps post some photos, or a link to where we can see it?

thanks,
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Old 12-17-2009, 09:42 PM   #12
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You "have" it, Terry? Would you be so kind as to perhaps post some photos, or a link to where we can see it?

thanks,
Aage
By a coincidence, I snapped a few photos yesterday:
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Old 12-18-2009, 06:44 AM   #13
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Wow, that looks great, Terry, thanks!

Apparently, that one has has some serious clean-up/updating done to it. A Fantastic fan, is an obvious example.

Is the interior real wood, by the way?
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Old 01-18-2010, 11:49 AM   #14
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Hi I'm trying to finish up my restoration of a 65' Boles.(Freezing weather and snow). The interior wood panels are a faux oak finish on1/8" luan. But all the cabinet framing is solid wood mahogany.I guess they used the faux finish for ease of cleaning and for uniformity.Unfortunately it's hard to repair surface damage. I've used pieces of unexposed paneling and paint matches to for my repairs.The ceiling panels(again faux finished) was totally destroyed to water damage so I used luan with a nice uniform grain and color to replace.
I love the square design of the Boles which gives it that cozy, warm interior.
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Old 01-18-2010, 12:38 PM   #15
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We were jealous in 1975 when friends of ours bought a "non pariel" Boles 5th wheel. It was heavy, I think, but first rate.

I do not remember what it cost but it was out of our price range

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Old 01-18-2010, 01:10 PM   #16
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Is the interior real wood, by the way?
It's real, in that it is real paneling, such as you would find in a mobile home of the period.
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Old 05-31-2011, 07:25 PM   #17
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Another Found Classic...

Our Uncle is in his 90's, and restores old Ford's in his backyard 4 stall garage.. Alongside the house, he's had a Boles Areo trailer for years, which he bought new from a neighbor who used it for trips to Quartzite in the winters in the 1970's and 1980's..

He's finally had it, and is ready to sell.. I'm listing it in Classifieds, but any of you Diesel Truck owners looking for projects should be advised.. It's a 1976 Boles Aero NonPareil XL, and I believe it is 29' model, with rear bath, front dinette, and twin beds on sides behind kitchen.. Double Axle, 8,000# GVWR and Aluminum with gold/black stripes on sides and louvered windows.. I'd rate as "good" condition, needs work.. It's in SF Bay Area, has never been in high humidity area, and he is trying to get $5K for it...
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Old 06-01-2011, 08:22 AM   #18
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Some good pics of another Boles Aero. These trailers were built by the same family-run corporation for 35-years.
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Old 02-17-2014, 03:29 PM   #19
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We just bought a 30' 1970 Boles Aero trailer ($4700) to live in. It has two doors, couch in front, kitchen and fold out table in the middle, followed by bathroom & closets, with bedroom in back. The back bedroom was twins, which we've taken out to fit our queen bed. It seemed to be in great condition, but of course there is work to do.

So far we have torn out the 44 year old shag carpeting and pad (will replace with bamboo click-lock flooring this week), removed the old water tank (under one of the beds, and cracked), and removed the old Dometic M70b 2-way fridge (which wasn't working). Since we'll be parked, we'll have water and electrical hook ups.

I'd love to find more resources for working on the 1970 era Boles Aeros, but there seems to be very little online... Any tips?
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Old 02-18-2014, 03:25 PM   #20
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The best online resource is the Yahoo "Boles Aero group" referenced earlier... You can post questions or messages and someone will answer, though not as reliably as this Forum site.. You need a Yahoo-compatible e-mail address to join and then join their "group"...
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