Help needed identifying a trailer I found

[WanderingFrontier]

Hello all,

I stumbled across a little fiberglass sleeping camper for sale on Facebook and was wondering if anyone could help me identify it. I've attached pictures here - The person listing it said it was a 1973 "Lovo" trailer, but I can't seem to find anything about them. Anyone recognize it?

They are asking $2,000. I was looking for something more like a Burro or Hunter compact with an interior that is already set up/finished than this sleeping camper, but the price seems like a decent deal, and I can probably build out a little table conversion for the bed and a small countertop/storage space.

Thanks in advance!

-Kyle

[Jon in AZ]

Haven't seen this one before, but I like it. Nice clean lines. The name "Lovo" might be a shortened version used on a title, which could be why nothing shows up on searches. Hopefully one of the long-timers will recognize it.

Looks like it was more completely equipped at one time. It will take quite a bit of work and $$ to make it that way again, but it could be really nice.

This is where you take inventory of your time, budget, tools, skill set, shop space...

[John in Santa Cruz]

i don't see any provision for shore power or any sort of water, but it looks like it had a propane fridge, except i don't see any propane tanks but there's no clear picture of the front.

[John in Santa Cruz]

isn't there a VIN plate on it? that should state the manufacturer and year, as well as weight and stuff ?

it looks a lot like a Trails-West Campster to me.

[Dave Fish]

The shell sure is similar to the Compacts and the Campster, but yet different. From the outside pics, it looks like it may have had a fridge. From the inside pics, I would guess that it has been gutted with plans to rebuild but not finished.

If you have the skills and the time, and also assuming the frame and axle are sound, make an offer and see what happens. I paid about 50% more than that for my Campster already refurbished, so you'll need to figure out how much you're willing to spend total to get a complete camper (as defined by you).

We really like the rear entrance floor plan and sleep north to south on either side.

[thrifty bill]

If you want a full service camper with frig, stove, electrical, etc., then I would keep looking. Its really a fiberglass tent at this point, a nice one. Building it out will put you well over the cost of getting one that is already complete.

[Johnny M]

Could it be a Surf-Side or a Trails West? Not sure if they were making them in the early 70's though. The frame design/construction if original can tell you a lot about what brand it is as well as the axle.

[Dave Fish]

Don't think it is a Trails West. The windows are different (mine are more rectangular), it has a different kind of raised area below the pop up, and I think Trails West models ended with the 1971 or 72.

[thrifty bill]

There needs to be a vertical support on either side to support the roof. Maybe its just beyond the interior picture.

Given the vents on the sides, its been gutted and stripped.

[War Eagle]

Eye-catching novelty camper. Not sure how much weight one would want to put in that large roof rack given that all three walls supporting the frontal area include large windows with no obvious additional support for the potential weight.

[Dave Fish]

Originally Posted by War Eagle

Eye-catching novelty camper. Not sure how much weight one would want to put in that large roof rack given that all three walls supporting the frontal area include large windows with no obvious additional support for the potential weight.

Not a roof rack. That's the pop up area that allows standing inside. Ours is 6'6" when down and has 6'4" headroom inside when up.

I agree with needing some roof support. Ours has a floor to ceiling cabinets on the right side and a counter with no support on the left. We have a little sag on the left, but not enough that I have felt compelled to address it. The frame for the top helps provide rigidity to that area.

[Glenn Baglo]

Looks like a rack to me.

[War Eagle]

Originally Posted by Glenn Baglo

Looks like a rack to me.

The black steel tube roof rack can be seen in the second photo, as well. A rather large capacity rack with little to no visible support underneath. Imagine the added potential for downward pressure from frontal area headwind while under tow. I wonder what they stowed up there that couldn't have just as easily (perhaps) ridden inside the camper when on the road....

[Dave Fish]

Originally Posted by War Eagle

The black steel tube roof rack can be seen in the second photo, as well. A rather large capacity rack with little to no visible support underneath. Imagine the added potential for downward pressure from frontal area headwind while under tow. I wonder what they stowed up there that couldn't have just as easily (perhaps) ridden inside the camper when on the road....

My bad. I didn't notice that. Mine has a solar panel on that location, which is not light but has the weight well disbursed. I would hope the mounting spots are close to the edge where there is more support from the side walls.

Still don't know what it is.

[k corbin]

The roof rack will be just fine because the supports that hold it onto the roof are located out towards the edge of the roof where the roof starts to curve down towards the wall. That curved transitioned shape is one of the strongest areas of the shell, it functions like a beam at the top of the wall. The rounded corners on the shell at the four corners act like upright beams.

For mounting any kind of rack including solar panes you want to stay out there very close to that rounded over edge by the walls. It will take a fair amount of weight if the load is bearing along those edges.

The person who mounted that roof basket knew what they were doing they put it in the right place with the feet right where they needed to be for maximum load bearing support.

[Kai in Seattle]

"The person who mounted that roof basket knew what they were doing they put it in the right place with the feet right where they needed to be for maximum load bearing support.--k. corbin"

Or whoever mounted it just got lucky.


Paul and I are drooling over what all could be done with that interior--and shuddering as well at the amount of work. Once may be enough for a complete gut/redo.

To whoever gets it...add some 12V outlets as well as 110/120 while you're in the process...it's a lot harder later!

Kai

[UtahPete]

I don't see any pictures

Originally Posted by WanderingFrontier

Hello all,

I stumbled across a little fiberglass sleeping camper for sale on Facebook and was wondering if anyone could help me identify it. I've attached pictures here - The person listing it said it was a 1973 "Lovo" trailer, but I can't seem to find anything about them. Anyone recognize it?

They are asking $2,000. I was looking for something more like a Burro or Hunter compact with an interior that is already set up/finished than this sleeping camper, but the price seems like a decent deal, and I can probably build out a little table conversion for the bed and a small countertop/storage space.

Thanks in advance!

-Kyle

[K-line]

We have one.....made in Canada , it is called a K Line.....made in the early 70’s.
There would have been a table at the front, that made into a good size bed....a fridge, and a countertop with sink.

The pop up isn’t a storage rack, it is simply for head room....collapses when on the road.

Very similar to the Hunter , made in the USA

Love it!

[ben2go]

Originally Posted by K-line

We have one.....made in Canada , it is called a K Line.....made in the early 70’s.
There would have been a table at the front, that made into a good size bed....a fridge, and a countertop with sink.

The pop up isn’t a storage rack, it is simply for head room....collapses when on the road.

Very similar to the Hunter , made in the USA

Love it!

Yep You beat me to it.

[Island Claire]

This one has been posted for sale on "The Boler (Scamp, Casita, Burro, Big Foot, Trillium) Travel Trailer.. Facebook page.