Vintage Trailer Photo Slideshow and Video

Every year, a gathering of campers and their vintage trailers and motor coaches takes place in Michigan and Florida and rallies take place across the United States. The group of owners and their friends are known as the Tin Can Tourists in reference to the soldered tin can made popular on radiator caps in the twenties and thirties. The group, which was originally founded in 1919, ceased operating as a cohesive organization in 1985 until 1998, when Forrest Bone and his wife, Jeri, renewed the club. Since its first renewal gathering in May of 1998 when 21 rigs showed up, the club has grown steadily to more than 1,000 members who meet annually to celebrate and exchange information about vintage trailers and motor coaches. I spoke to Forrest Bone who gave me a little bit more history and current events of this organization.

Just hearing about it isn’t enough. The point of the meet was for owners to collaborate on maintenance and history of each others pieces, but on top of that, each trailer was open to the public to explore each corner inside and out. Vintage trailers were not the only item on display. In some trailers the interior was the original or remodeled, old toys and calendars could be found as well and few owners set up shop with antique license plates, and other amusing trinkets. See for yourself in the 31 images in the following slideshow.

See a few more photos and detailed explanations of what there is to be seen at a Tin Can Tourists annual gathering.

Agnieszka Spieszny

Everyday I try to exercise my brain and body, and find something new to learn about. I read extensively, write gainfully, and drink massive amounts of tea, seriously. I love many things, especially spending time in nature. I love learning outdoor survival skills and outdoor tips as I write about the topics for OutdoorHub.com. I slowly preparing for two separate extreme outdoor adventures - one to the tip of the earth in Nunavut, Canada where the earth begins to split into glaciers and the other into the wilderness in New Zealand; where cliffs meet the coast. I love traveling and have been to Europe, North America and Asia. My first trip abroad was when I was 5 years-old and my parents brought me from my home country of Poland to New Jersey, USA. We moved to Michigan not long after and I've moved around the state a bit. I spent four years in East Lansing, studying Journalism at Michigan State University all the while photographing and writing for spartanedge.com. In 2010 I moved to Detroit then traveled again to Europe and Asia at the end of that year which sucked me dry of all my money. Currently, I'm working on getting back in the city and establishing my homebase there. The shortlist of what I do: Recycle Play cards Dance Travel Procrastinate Love music What I don't do: Watch TV Eat junk food Walk to work Wash my hair everyday Spend money senselessly