Vintage Trailer Christmas Tree

There are lots and lots of things to go on this tree. It's not just about the trailers or motorhomes, it's about the journey in our vintage trailers. So lets start with a story.

For twenty years we tent camped all over the country with our trusty tent. One day, when we were setting up the tent in rain and sleet, a truck and camper pulled in across from us. The couple got out, climbed into the camper and 20 minutes later climbed back out with steaming cups of hot coffee. We looked at each other and had a camper the next week.

The camper was vintage but we didn't know about the vintage stuff. Not long after that, we found a 1959 Dalton. It was small, 15' from hitch to bumper. While not better than the camper, it was a different experience. Soon we were hooked. We finally ended up with a 1974 fiberglass trailer called the Perris Pacer and our one-of-a-kind teardrop trailer. It's sort of addicting.

So what goes on a vintage trailer Christmas tree? The journey of course. Every vintage trailer camper has a story but it always starts at the beginning.

The journey started in a tent. For 20 years, the tent went everywhere from Yellowstone to the Grand Canyon. We still use this tent today when the trailers just don't seem to be appropriate for the journey. We have to pay tribute to that time with camping items on our tree.

Everyone needs a lantern. Two ornaments are shown here because you either prefer a lantern with mantles (which are brighter) or the propane lantern. There must be a tent and a sleeping bag.

For the record, vintage is 25 years or older for a trailer and 20 years for a motorhome. Campers are considered in the trailer group. Teardrops are always considered vintage regardless of age as they as built on the old plans. Oh, and by the way, a truck camper, also called a slide-in, is still called a camper.

The road trip in the camper took us from California to Maine. It was a three week trip and an amazing journey.

OK, so I just had to have this. You can see it on my tree.

From the camper we moved up to the Dalton. This is a comfortable trailer with a stove and an ice box. Not a lot of amenities but comfortable.

Every time we leave town and head out on Hwy 10, we pass the dinosaurs at Cabazon, Ca. It is now a family tradition to stop and eat at the Wheel Inn and then take a picture of whatever trailer we have at the time being threatened by the dinosaurs.

For whatever reason, probably has to do with trailer parks, no self-respecting vintage trailerite is without a flamingo. They may not display it but I will bet they have one somewhere. So let's look at Flamingo ornaments.

I have several on the tree, this is my favorite.

Vintage trailer folks would not overlook the palm tree. After all, what does the flamingo stand under? If you find palm tree ornaments and lights, it's not necessary to overdo it but come on, you need at least one.

Notice a theme here. We are at the Wheel Inn eating breakfast while the dinosaur threatens our teardrop. This teardrop is a one of a kind and took us to Nebraska to the International Teardrop Gathering. We don't always take the Dalton. The teardrop is just as comfortable and completely self-contained.

Traveling in a trailer means that you are heading to some sort of destination. There are ornaments for those too. Pictured here is Mount Rushmore. We traveled there in the teardrop.

Collect them as you go. Anytime you see a destination ornament at a place you have been, add it to the collection. We have been to a lot of places. My luggage always seems to have a carefully wrapped glass ornament to bring back.