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85MH325 · 11-07-2003, 04:31 PM

I have recently rekindled an interest in the tiny fiberglass trailers as well as Airstreams... I have a practical use for one, and have recently acquired a U-Haul 13' fiberglass camper. I don't have it yet, but I'll post a photo or two when I get it before the end of the month.

Interestingly tho, while doing research and after joining another forum regarding these fiberglass trailers, I ran across another BAMBI; this one a fiberglass model from the Netherlands made by BIOD from at least 1973 through 1980...

Without further ado... the OTHER Bambi:

john hd · 11-07-2003, 04:35 PM

tow it with one of them cushman scooters?

john

John · 11-07-2003, 04:48 PM

Good one John!!

Check out the little stabilizers!!

85MH325 · 11-07-2003, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by john hd
tow it with one of them cushman scooters?

john

John, John, John... THAT would be tacky... nope... gonna hitch the ol' pug-dog Cody up in harness and ride it like a Gypsy wagon...

Roger

john hd · 11-07-2003, 04:56 PM

couldn't help myself!

john

John · 11-07-2003, 05:01 PM

Roger,

While camphosting this summer out in northern NM, there were 2 manufactures that were heavily used. One was the Scamp and I can't remember the name of the other one, but the owners loved them. I check a couple out and they were well built and had everything you needed in a trailer.

They have their own rally's and most tow with small pickups or cars.

I wish I could remember the other manuf!!!

john hd · 11-07-2003, 05:04 PM

roger

can you even fit in that thing?

or is it gonna be cody's new home? dog house tag along behind the 34 footer?

john

85MH325 · 11-07-2003, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by John
Roger,

While camphosting this summer out in northern NM, there were 2 manufactures that were heavily used. One was the Scamp and I can't remember the name of the other one, but the owners loved them. I check a couple out and they were well built and had everything you needed in a trailer.

They have their own rally's and most tow with small pickups or cars.

I wish I could remember the other manuf!!!

There are a number of them, most based on the Canadian trailer Boler from the early '70s. Boler licensed two U.S. companies as Boler U.S. and both went bankrupt almost immediately. Eveland's in Minnesota bought one and began producing what eventually became the Scamp. (I had a '78 Scamp in '81-'82), and the other became Casita which is still being built in Texas.

Burro built a similar trailer, but instead of having a seam around the middle, with a top and bottom, they built them with a left and right side and the seam went around the top and through the belly.

U-Haul in '85-'86 bought a set of molds from Burro and produced their own version that used stock U-Haul trailer parts in the running gear. That's the one I just bought. U-Haul rented the trailers as part of their fleet until 1992 when they sold their fleet to the public. There were apparently about 2500 of the 13' trailers built and about 400 16' trailers.

Burro went out of business and then was re-started in Escondido CA a couple of years ago, but they've gone under again.

There was a trailer built similarly to the Scamp and Casita built for about ten years during the '80s in Perris CA called the Perris Pacer, but they're gone too.

Trilliums were built in Canada for years, and I understand that they have recently begun production again as well. There are a number of others that have been built over the years. They're all pretty interesting, and as much fun, in their own way as Airstreams... AND they have torsion axles too!

Roger

85MH325 · 11-07-2003, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by john hd
roger

can you even fit in that thing?

or is it gonna be cody's new home? dog house tag along behind the 34 footer?

john

If I fold up a little, I will fit! I'm gonna tow it with "Trusty-Rusty" the '87 Toyota pickup... to use it for overnighters while I'm working on our rental property across the state. It'll keep the expenses down. Cody is strictly an Aluminum dog... no fiberglass for him!

Roger

RickStream · 11-07-2003, 05:28 PM

Sounds like a guilt thing to me.

john hd · 11-07-2003, 05:30 PM

hey rick

way to go!!!!

john

85MH325 · 11-07-2003, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RickStream
Sounds like a guilt thing to me.

Hi Rick! You are SOOOOO in trouble!!! Not letting me dock the behemoth in your barn...!!!

I carry no guilt...

How's the Tradewind restoration going?

Gotcha!!!

Roger

overlander63 · 11-07-2003, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by john hd
tow it with one of them cushman scooters?

john

Roger, I have a heavy-duty golf cart you could borrow to pull it...

Terry

desertgirl · 11-07-2003, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 85MH325
I have recently rekindled an interest in the tiny fiberglass trailers as well as Airstreams... I have a practical use for one, and have recently acquired a U-Haul 13' fiberglass camper. I don't have it yet, but I'll post a photo or two when I get it before the end of the month.

Interestingly tho, while doing research and after joining another forum regarding these fiberglass trailers, I ran across another BAMBI; this one a fiberglass model from the Netherlands made by BIOD from at least 1973 through 1980...

Without further ado... the OTHER Bambi:

This is way too cute and is best pulled by a matched team of Basenjiis with hats and boots.

85MH325 · 11-07-2003, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by argosy20

Roger, I have a heavy-duty golf cart you could borrow to pull it...
Terry

Thanks for the offer, Terry! Does the golf-cart have a 7-pin round wiring harness adapter?

Actually, now that I think about it, I've got a Honda RT5000 garden tractor that would do just a marvy job of hauling the little bugger around!

Roger

85MH325 · 11-07-2003, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by desertgirl

This is way too cute and is best pulled by a matched team of Basenjiis with hats and boots.

Desertgirl, welcome to the Forums!

I am SO pleased that there is now another Forums member with good taste!

Do you think that the new passenger seat over the propane tank should be wicker or something in a more modern nylon/aluminum configuration?

Roger

overlander63 · 11-07-2003, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 85MH325
I have recently rekindled an interest in the tiny fiberglass trailers as well as Airstreams... I have a practical use for one, and have recently acquired a U-Haul 13' fiberglass camper. I don't have it yet, but I'll post a photo or two when I get it before the end of the month.

Interestingly tho, while doing research and after joining another forum regarding these fiberglass trailers, I ran across another BAMBI; this one a fiberglass model from the Netherlands made by BIOD from at least 1973 through 1980...

Without further ado... the OTHER Bambi:

IIRC, one of the selling features of this trailer was the weight was 990 lbs, almost any car could pull it, and since it was under 1000lbs, no trailer brakes were required.
There is one "down the road" for sale that is a lower-profile unit than yours, with a canvas pop-up down the center of the trailer, about 2 feet tall, for you guys in the over 6 foot club. I think interior height is around 6'5" with the top up.
Terry.
And yes, the cart has a trailer light connector, although it is one of the flat 4 pin types.

85MH325 · 11-08-2003, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by argosy20

IIRC, one of the selling features of this trailer was the weight was 990 lbs, almost any car could pull it, and since it was under 1000lbs, no trailer brakes were required.
There is one "down the road" for sale that is a lower-profile unit than yours, with a canvas pop-up down the center of the trailer, about 2 feet tall, for you guys in the over 6 foot club. I think interior height is around 6'5" with the top up.
Terry.
And yes, the cart has a trailer light connector, although it is one of the flat 4 pin types.

Terry,

Got a photo of the one "down the road"?

I seem to remember that my original Scamp had a dry weight of around 950lbs too, way back when... the new ones (including my U-Haul have a dry weight of 1250 and GVWR of 2000lbs. What do you s'pose they did to increase the weight that extra couple of hundred pounds?

Roger

overlander63 · 11-09-2003, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 85MH325

Terry,

Got a photo of the one "down the road"?

I seem to remember that my original Scamp had a dry weight of around 950lbs too, way back when... the new ones (including my U-Haul have a dry weight of 1250 and GVWR of 2000lbs. What do you s'pose they did to increase the weight that extra couple of hundred pounds?

Roger

Roger, it's in Sarasota, a city about 60 miles North of me. I get up there about two or three times a month, I will take my digital camera with me next trip, and post a photo of it here, if it is still available.
Just think, with my golf cart, how much reserve power you would have to run lights and other 12v things in that little trailer.

Terry

85MH325 · 11-09-2003, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by argosy20

Roger, it's in Sarasota, a city about 60 miles North of me. I get up there about two or three times a month, I will take my digital camera with me next trip, and post a photo of it here, if it is still available.
Just think, with my golf cart, how much reserve power you would have to run lights and other 12v things in that little trailer.
Terry

Wow... six batteries... with the one in the trailer and the solar charger on the trailer, I could stay out for MONTHS!!!

Thanks Terry!

Roger