Visit our Popular Forums

NJtoNC · 03-31-2011, 09:37 AM

after completing our 62 GT (19') in sept 2010, and only 2 trips in (granted the first trip was a month long!) i knew i needed a bigger trailer to spend more time in. I had been looking for a 1954 - 1957, 26' whale tail ... ok, maybe i started looking long before the 62 was even finished.

well, don't get too excited - its not a whale tail. but the deposit arrived at the sellers, he seems to be an honest guy and is holding the trailer until we can pick it up in 2 weeks (next week we move to NC - see screen name

its gutted, will need floor replaced and frame repair (hopefully not replacement). but the skin looks awesome. I told myself i wouldnt pay more than 2k for the next trailer, and this one comes in well under that. Amazingly i found it on CL and it had been there for 10+ days. WTH are you guys doing that no one found it before me?! suddenly, your jobs and family have become more important than looking for craislist finds!?

I'm psyched. i already have the layout mocked up. Dare i add it to my profile yet? I won't, i don't want to curse it

the outside looks way better than the inside, so /...don't be too jealous

Melody Ranch · 03-31-2011, 09:50 AM

THATS NICE! You are taking on that big a project...and a move at the same time.
Let me know if it ever wants to move to Texas. (I doubt that will happen.)

Aviator · 03-31-2011, 09:50 AM

Looks like a great project.

pbearsailor · 03-31-2011, 09:53 AM

You don't need a whale tail--you've got 13 panels!

Skin looks great and it seems to have all the windows still there and that is a really important thing.

Good luck with it.

cheers,
steve

DougZ · 03-31-2011, 10:21 AM

Is it an optical illusion, or is that one long trailer for a single axle?

Someday'59 · 03-31-2011, 10:36 AM

So pretty! Congrats!

NJtoNC · 03-31-2011, 01:44 PM

sank you, sank you berry much.

yea, its 26' with a single axle. i believe its the last yr they did 26' with one axle. two axles were an upgrade in '57.

it is quite the project, i have a farmhouse to reno first, so this one will wait a bit til we tackle her. or, maybe ill work on it when i get bored of renovating the farmhouse.

i do have some concern though, my aluminitis has spread to my dad - when i told him about the trailer, he didn't say "congrats" or "what the heck were you thinking" - instead he offered to pay me twice what i am paying for it and i haven't even taken delivery yet!

i turned him down. HAHA.

constructor · 03-31-2011, 01:48 PM

VERY VERY COOL! Does the farm have a nice barn to house the restoration? Maybe you should stop and see Frank on your way down from NJ to NC?

What part of NC? Our family and friends have a place in Burnsville (45 mins. NE of Asheville almost in TN. B-E-A-UTIFUL!!!

nick6930 · 03-31-2011, 01:56 PM

NJ-NC, Congrats on your find. I think I contacted that guy right after you. He said he would contact me if your deal fell through. Good luck with your find.

Silverfoxrae · 03-31-2011, 02:30 PM

Wow. Awesome! Congratulations

Looks fabulous!
Rae

via~ AIR Forums App.

NJtoNC · 03-31-2011, 04:00 PM

Quote:

What part of NC? Our family and friends have a place in Burnsville

we looked at burnsville. we loved it, but got more acerage in rutherfordton - SE of asheville. i believe there are also a lot of organic farmers in burnsville, too. (thats what we are doing).

nick, ill trade ya for the 53 cruiser

rae, i have followed your thread before i knew about this trailer. maybe i can get in touch with you in the future if i have Q's ?

soldiermedic · 03-31-2011, 04:42 PM

Jealousy here for sure...I can't find a 13 panel worthy of restoration to save my life it seems. Looking for the better part of 8 months, and nothing so far.

Nice find.

Steve

Frank's Trailer Works · 03-31-2011, 05:35 PM

You are so lucky!!! Those long girls on a single axle are beyond sexy in my book and it has the good looking 13 panels instead of the corner cutting Dutchman's cap or Whale Tail some get stuck owning. Ohio 13 panel trailers are the the better end cap in my never humble opinion.
I am right between NJ and NC and my door is always open. Please do stop by if you get a chance. Very easy to 95 or 895 on the North side of the tunnels. I might even have some very hard to find 57 parts on the shelf.

Silverfoxrae · 04-01-2011, 04:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NJtoNC

we looked at burnsville. we loved it, but got more acerage in rutherfordton - SE of asheville. i believe there are also a lot of organic farmers in burnsville, too. (thats what we are doing).

nick, ill trade ya for the 53 cruiser

rae, i have followed your thread before i knew about this trailer. maybe i can get in touch with you in the future if i have Q's ?

I'm just getting started

But I'll definitely try to help, if I can, when that time comes! This summer I will be working full time on mine, so should be some good stuff happening. Right now I've just got her down to the shell, waiting to get inside for liftoff. Your body looks to be in great condition. And you've got a few extra parts that I don't have!! Lucky you on the door handle and the stove vent. Did you day that you didn't have an interior? Are you thinking of a custom layout or do you need the traditional layout measurements? I can provide approx. dimensions (every shell is a tad bit unique) if you want them. I love the Asheville area, lucky you to be moving there. What kind of organic farming?
Rae

via~ AIR Forums App.

DougZ · 04-01-2011, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NJtoNC

sank you, sank you berry much.

yea, its 26' with a single axle. i believe its the last yr they did 26' with one axle. two axles were an upgrade in '57.

it is quite the project, i have a farmhouse to reno first, so this one will wait a bit til we tackle her. or, maybe ill work on it when i get bored of renovating the farmhouse.

i do have some concern though, my aluminitis has spread to my dad - when i told him about the trailer, he didn't say "congrats" or "what the heck were you thinking" - instead he offered to pay me twice what i am paying for it and i haven't even taken delivery yet!

i turned him down. HAHA.

Let your dad buy it and fix it and then you just borrow it when you want to go camping. That's what my kids would do.

NJtoNC · 04-01-2011, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Did you day that you didn't have an interior? Are you thinking of a custom layout or do you need the traditional layout measurements? I can provide approx. dimensions (every shell is a tad bit unique) if you want them. I love the Asheville area, lucky you to be moving there. What kind of organic farming?

no interior, its gutted. it will be a frame off - the frame needs repair, hopefully not to be replaced. we are doing a custom layout - we have a rear bath in the 62 GT and want to do a side bath here. we will do a queen bed in the rear. i did a quickie sketch in photoshop - it also includes space for birdie cages, as they don't really have a "home" in the current little As.

my husband was an investment banker on Wall st and hated every minute of the last 5 years. so he quit and is going to farm just about everything - be a 'truck farmer' - plant and sell whats in season at farmers markets; berries, fruit, nuts, vegetables, etc. and i plan to keep bees and make honey. we will have chickens and goats and my long term plan is to learn how to make cheese and make goat cheeses and goat milk soaps.

my "real" job is to do internet marketing for attorneys - that will "pay the bills". since i can work from anywhere we plan to travel in winter in the bigger AS.

in the layout - its a rear bed - the back half of the bed will be storage accessible from outside. the front half are cages for the birds - the bed will be raised, BTW - maybe 2.5 ft? the kitchen will be almost original location. the front gaucho will not pull out and instead wrap around. across from kitchen is shower , wardrobe and pantry. between bed and kitchen on streetside is toilet / sink. i dont actually know this will work yet, we'll lay it out in real life first and see. thoughts on it?

Quote:

Let your dad buy it and fix it and then you just borrow it when you want to go camping. That's what my kids would do.

hm, good strategy. if i stayed in NJ id take your advice! unfortunately we'd have to drive 10 hrs now to borrow it. Sob. gonna miss my pops. and his tools.

NJtoNC · 04-01-2011, 02:25 PM

NJtoNC · 04-01-2011, 02:27 PM

yep, thats the ground you see under there. now is the whole frame rotten, or just under the bathroom ? not so jealous anymore huh?

pbearsailor · 04-01-2011, 02:52 PM

From what I can see, it doesn't look too bad. Mine was similar back there. If you're going to be adding tanks in the frame, you wind up moving crossmembers usually anyway.

I added both fresh and gray tanks to the frame and I used 2x4 tubing, like the main frame rails, for the replacement crossmembers. It's much stronger now.

cheers,
steve

nick6930 · 04-01-2011, 02:54 PM

My 53 was the same way. I just finished rewelding the frame, well I still have a few little things left to weld.

BTW: I would be willing to trade but you would need a uhaul to collect all the parts spread about the yard in different sheds :-)

The dismantling part has been very scary and sometimes overwhelming. Good luck to you on your project. Keep us up to date on your progress.