Hello all - Travelux in Canada

[Pinecone]

Hello everyone

I've finally registered on this forum after lurking for some time. First, a confession: I don't own an Airstream, but do own an odd Canadian knock-off called a "Travelux". From all indications, it is of identical construction to an Airstream from the aluminum skin to the happily rotting plywood floor. But here is an interesting thing: the trailer mimics a 1950's AS, but was built in 1974. From the 13 panel end caps to the leaf spring axle it looks exta vintagel!

This forum has been both inspirational and educational. I can't wait 'till warmer weather to really tear into the thing. It requires the typical resto-rebuild things that which you Airstreamers are so familiar, like a body-off floor replacement and frame reconditioning. It'll be fun....right?

I hope my lack of Airstream purity isn't a hinderance to acceptance to the Aluminum Brother/Sisterhood.

Cheers!

[Janet H]

Looks cool - a lot like a Silver Streak. Welcome to the forums. We love aluminum!

[myboyburt]

Originally Posted by Janet

Looks cool - a lot like a Silver Streak. Welcome to the forums. We love aluminum!

Ditto, welcome!

[ArtStream]

Gee, looks fine...
Welcome to the club.
Your secret decoder ring will take about 3-4 weeks to arrive.

Michael

[Pinecone]

Thanks!

I'll have to play around with the site to figure out how to upload images. Mostly, my pics show the aftermath of my de-construction. Lots of wood splinters, vinyl flooring, and crud.

[BIGED52]

Welcome to the Forums and do post your experiences during the rebuild/restore. We just can't get enough of that kind of stuff. Even if the trailer is a knock-off....heh heh heh!!! Ed

[NorCal Bambi]

Knock, Knock, who's there. A real cool "Travellux"!
Welcome abord.

[gryphon]

Pinecone,
It would be real interesting for you to tell us a little history of the "Travelux" and how you came about to acquire one.
Welcome to the forum!

gryphon

[lewster]

Pinecone,

I don't believe that you'll find any predjudices around here. It's aluminum! Old or new, Welcome!!

Share the forum.......share the love

[cosmotini]

WOW! I just did a google search on travelux trailers and couldn't find anything trailer related!

If GOOGLE doesn't know about you, do you really exist?

Welcome aboard. I am looking forward to reading about your trailer. It really looks cool.

Dennis

[SmokelessJoe]

Pinecone, Cosmotini, others interested:

I can contribute a little bit of information on the TRAVELUX.

In 2002 I saw a 24’ model that a man living near Wellington, Prince Edward County, Ontario owned and I corresponded with another man up in North Bay, Ontario who had a 1978 31” President model.

Glenn in Prince Edward County thought his was a 1971.

One man told me that they were built in Bradford, Ontario just north of Newmarket. The other said in Aurora. All the places are close together, just north of Toronto.

I was told the last trailers were built in 1979.

They were aimed at the Airstream market and were well made.

The Canadian dollar slipped about that time and that, coupled with a very large order from the South African Government which was not fully paid for, apparently led to the demise of the company.

Gilbert Waite of Bellville, Ontario was a former Travelux dealer who bought all the remaining parts stock when the company went under.

I have his number and contacts for the other two mentioned here if you need them, Pinecone.

I was also in the Can Am showroom last September when an evangelical preacher from Manitoulin Island came in.

He had just bought a Travelux which he though until then was an Airstream. Can Am Andy hadn’t heard of TRAVELUX and confused it with an Avion.

These would be an interesting, rare collectable for those with the vintage aluminum habit.

Sergei

[Janet H]

Rooted around on the net and found this brochure - the resolution is bad and the file is big - but still interesting.....

ANd there is a mention of a travelux in this thread.

[61Bambi]

I believe you have a trailer made by Avion, either in total or at least the running gear, frame and body. There was another brand of trailer called Avalair that was also an Avion in disguise. Its a marketing tool similiar to Goodyear making radial tires for Towmaster and others. Its very much like my 1963 Avion 20' Tourist. (They are very nice, very well built trailers).
Jim

[Happycampers]

Hello Sergei.. I agree with you on this one..We are from Peterborough and have seen a few on our travels around Ontario.. have seen a couple for sale and checked them out.. may go back and see if one is still for sale.. they were made in Newmarket.. that is what the emblem on it said.. Nice trailers.. Annie

[Boondocker]

cool coach you have there, welcome to the forums

[05ModPod]

http://www.airforums.com/forum...light=Travelux

Sorry folks - this is definitly a Canadian Made product - built from the early 70's-to around 1985 out of a Small Factory located in Newmarket (not Aurora which is 10 minutes south of Newmarket.)

We had found this one in the Eastern Region on our way to a WBCCI dinner. Never heard of them - but then looked on various sites and funny - they all came out of the wood work and at the time there was about 6 for sale - latest was 85.

I did find a write up about the factory in some canadian/Ontario history site - but for the life of me I can not find it again.

Smokeless Joe is right in that the company fell due to the falling dollar. - dropping over 20c's which would have cut the companys profit to 0! hmm pretty hard to stay in business with a small market.

Canadian made stuff is great - and has higher electrical and plumbing, safety standards than some other manufacutrers.

No Avion here folks...

Although Avion, Streamline, Travelux and a few others all look very similar. And any of them would look great on my driveway - but for now we will stick with the Airstream

[Pinecone]

Thanks for the great background info. I too hit a google brick wall with this one. There is one of those plastic punch-labels in the closet that says "Custom Coach, London, Ont". On the curb side is the dealer sticker for a local Edmonton dealership that disappeared in the 1980's.

I don't think it has any Avion connection, as the overall shape is quite different. The Travelux is more rounded in shape, versus the more boxy Avion profile.

The only other one I've seen was a 21'-ish in High Level, Alberta.

[Road Ruler]

Good day Pinecone

Good looking Travelux! About a KLM from here there was one just like yours parked beside a house for many years. It sat there for about 15 years and really got run down as time passed. I noticed it had gone a few years ago. Very rare to see a good one still running the roads. Think you got a keeper.

[Pinecone]

Janet, thanks for that great brochure. Do you know from what year that comes? It is interesting that it doesn't list a 16' like mine in there. They sure make it sound like a sturdy beast, though. I had to chuckle at the "All joints vinyl-sealed, tight as an egg.": mine leaks like a sieve.

[silverbeauty]

Hi
I recently saw two Travelux Trailers on PEI. I don't have digital images of the first one, but here are a few pictures of the second one. It is a 30', 1978.