Trails West Campster - Fiberglass RV
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Old 03-19-2007, 09:14 AM   #1
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I thought it might be interesting to find out something more about the Campster, so I emailed Trails West (the ones that make the horse trailers.) They did NOT make the Campster, they started manufacturing trailers in 1987.

So now I wonder who did? Any ideas on how to research this? (Obviously it will require going beyond the internet.) I thought maybe old magazines like Sunset from around 1970 might have some ads.

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Old 03-19-2007, 09:29 AM   #2
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If anyone has a picture of the rear door with the script logo, you'll see they are identical.

The Trails West info I found when considering buying the one in the albums had the Campster manufacturered in California.

Perhaps the company was sold, and the "new" owners have lost the history.
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Old 03-19-2007, 09:49 AM   #3
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Quote:
If anyone has a picture of the rear door with the script logo, you'll see they are identical.

The Trails West info I found when considering buying the one in the albums had the Campster manufacturered in California.

Perhaps the company was sold, and the "new" owners have lost the history.
I wondered about that, but they state here they started manufacturing in 1987.

Quote:
About Trails West…
Trails West was founded in 1987 for the sole purpose of manufacturing horse and livestock trailers.
Where did you find info on them?

Bobbie
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Old 03-19-2007, 09:50 AM   #4
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Maybe they bought the name/logo or just took it from a defunct company?
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Old 03-19-2007, 10:54 AM   #5
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Here's some support for what you said, Gina, from the eBay ad. (Price shooting up quickly, btw.)

Quote:
These cool compact fiberglass trailers were only manufactured for a year or two by TrailsWest out in Chatsworth, CA in the early 70's. This "Campster" model had two sister models known as the Compact Jr. and Compact 2.
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Old 03-19-2007, 12:25 PM   #6
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The Compacts were made in Chatsworth for sure.

The similarities are so close, maybe Compact was the original manufacturer, but I have no idea.

Don't remember the location exactly, I found this stuff on a google search 4 years ago.. all info has been buried or lost to personal page take downs and Craigs list ads expiring.
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Old 03-19-2007, 10:35 PM   #7
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Bobbie, The Compacts were made by Hunter. By your pictures both interior and outside look just like my Hunter I. (but mine is red fiberglass).

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Old 03-19-2007, 11:04 PM   #8
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Linda, what does your bed measure?

It seems like a definite that Compacts were made by Hunter. The question seems to be whether TW really were, too.

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Old 03-19-2007, 11:52 PM   #9
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Hey Guys,
Im a Compact owner also, with a Compact II in my driveway. So how many different variations of our little trailers are there? So far I've now seen/heard of:
Compact Junior
Compact II
Hunter I
Trails West Campster

Its amazing how many different mantles these little trailers have worn, and yet are still so rare...
Linda, do you find that your Hunter I is drastically different from either a Compact Jr or a II? What's your model year? Just curious...
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Old 03-20-2007, 12:03 AM   #10
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I don't know if this is a real difference, but the TW on Ebay supposedly has a bed measuring 72 x 77. The fellow selling the Compact II on Los Osos says the bed measures 60x75.

-Bed 60x75, you sleep transversely, i.e. bed long dimension is across trailer, not down centerline.
-Kitchen area with Closet is 56
-Potty/Closet 31x24
-Height, inside, with pop-top DOWN is 64 and thus my wife can walk around without top up.
-Height, inside, pop-top up 76
-Width, external 78

(Measurements are for the Compact II.)

The outside isn't identical, either (lines are different.)

Not to say they were not made by the same company.

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Old 03-20-2007, 12:09 AM   #11
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Bobbie,
My bed measures from front wall to edge of the table, 75" front to back and 73 across. When I replaced the cushions I purchased 2 each 12"x 72" and 24" x 72".

Joe,
Mine is a 1974, and I beleive it is more like the Compact II, rear entry, pop-up over 3/4 of the trailer in the rear, 2' x 4'.
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Old 03-20-2007, 12:18 AM   #12
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Well, you guys are both in California, after I get mine down here we can have a little mini-Pop-Up rally and compare notes!

Is there a picture of yours somewhere, Linda? Red sounds great. (I have a red Forester so if I paint I might do red.)


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Old 03-20-2007, 12:21 AM   #13
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Bobbie,
I was just thinking the same idea for a mini rally. No pictures of mine yet, but I just got a new camera, so I will have some up soon. If you look in the Albums under compact there is a red one, but mine did not have the cool looing stripe.

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Old 03-20-2007, 12:22 AM   #14
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Sorry, Cool Looking stripe, aka Starsky & Hutch.
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Old 03-20-2007, 12:23 AM   #15
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Linda, is yours factory red or painted red? And did you order stock cushions somwhere or have them made?


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Old 03-20-2007, 08:23 PM   #16
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Bobbie,
Mine is factory red with the white diamond tuck padding on the inside. White paint in the kitchen around the stove and sink. The inside was originaly done in a southwestern theme, all oranges and browns. But the curtins and cushions were falling apart. My mom made me new curtins and I bought 4" foam down at UFO. I have not gotten them covered yet I am just using sheets. I want to do them in blue denim.

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Old 03-20-2007, 08:29 PM   #17
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It sounds really cute, the denim will go very nicely with the outside color (unlike oranges!)

I might use denim to cover the cushions in mine, too. The only trouble with it is that it is a pain to sew, but so is any upholstery fabric.

On the subject of Hunter/Compact/Trailswest, somewhere on this site is a photo of an old ad that says Hunter Structures of Dallas, with a picture of your Compact II (the red one.)

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Old 03-20-2007, 08:50 PM   #18
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Hunter Structures of Chatsworth, California made Compact trailers in a least 6 colors. These were not painted; the fiberglass was the same color through and through. I have seen photos of Compacts (or Hunters) that were white, beige, red, lime green, canary yellow and robin's egg blue. I don't know of any other manufacturer that ever produced trailers in such a rainbow of colors.

On the topic of Trails West Campsters, I would think that the title for these trailers would state who the manufacturer was. My Compact Jr. title lists "Hunter" as the maker and "Compact Jr." as the model. I've not heard of anyone claiming that their Campster title said anything but Trails West. Also, I think it's unlikely that any company would have made three different 13' trailers at the same time. I've always thought that it was odd that Hunter made two similar but different 13' trailers at once.

The Compact Jr., Compact II, and the Trails West Campster may all have been copies of the Havasu. We'll never know.

http://www.fiberglassrv.com/board/index.ph...havasu&st=0

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Old 03-20-2007, 08:58 PM   #19
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Hunter must have been in Dallas at some time (or this could be an error by the magazine writer, which is certainly also possible.)


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I sure wish we could see the gas price on that gas station behind the car!

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Old 03-20-2007, 10:01 PM   #20
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red trailer

must have

red trailer....

hmnnnnnnnn

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