TCT Meet…..Sertoma Youth Ranch, Brooksville, FL 2.18.15 – 2.21.15

TCT….Tin Can Tourists…

Snowballs …in Florida….who’d believe it!  

Actually…a couple of members from Michigan and Indiana brought them down. Guess it’s Indiana snow.

They were put out this morning….and they are still there. Gives you an idea how cold it is down her. Someone said 28* this morning…Welcome to sunny Florida!!

Our campsite…the new generator cover and spare tire cover look great.

Thanks to my friend Regina for this great storage idea. During “open house” I always ask if the people looking at our Scamp are campers ..if they are…I show them this.

Here’s the map Jim made of our travels. Last year is in blue and this year’s in red. Folks are surprised to see we use the Hudson for the tow vehicle.

Sure would like to see a bunch of red lines running west.

A few of the campers…

This is our neighbor….what a nice job he did on the inside. They are new members of the TCT but have been campers for awhile. He is making scrambled eggs and sausage. On the Coleman by the camper, he has biscuits in the oven. If I had checked earlier…I’d have been standing there …plate in hand.  Hope to see them at a few other meets.

If you take the time to talk with some of the campers you find all kinds of neat ways to “make do”. His awning poles are made from extendable poles for paint rollers… and for the top with a post to put through the awning he took paint rollers and removed the bend and roller …then slid the handle over the end of the pole. They are adjustable so the awning can be low in the front for rain drainage.

We met this couple at the swap meet at Bushnell, FL. I spotted the camper…had to go over and see if they were members of the TCT…yup…they were…and not only that..they are from VT and he drag raced. So we had lots to talk about. Love this little Scotty. Jim can stand up in it and it only weighs 500 lbs. more than our Scamp.

His awning tie downs are solid with loops that are interlocked. A spring allows some stretch when there is a breeze. They can be folded up for storing.

I want it!!!  Isn’t this the cutest little thing?

Look at that face….you can bet I’ll be other there checking that out tomorrow in “open house”.

I hauled a lot of horse trailers…but never one like this. Here is his work area.

Inside….I took several pictures but there is no way I could get everything,

 

You don’t even have to have a little camper to be a member of the TCT.

This is a Boler……... Scamp, Boler, U-Haul, Burro, Casita and a few others look similar.

This Boler is the same size as our Scamp.

She did a great job on the inside.

Her sleeping area and kitchen are similar to ours….but instead of a bathroom she has a small table and seating in the front.

Instead of a roof AC she has a heat / AC unit on her hitch. First one I’ve seen like this. Good idea if you don’t need the space for propane and batteries.

This neat car is set up for towing but I don’t know which trailer was theirs.

Although the Tin Can Tourists are mainly vintage campers…it is not a requirement to join. You can have any type of camper…just enjoy camping and getting together around the country.

This couple were just setting up but were kind enough to let me get a picture. This is another Scotty.

These folks were our neighbors at the Micanopy meet last year.

This camper was also at Micanopy, FL last year. I spent some time looking over his awning and made mine similar to his. Even used his idea for the poles. These three good looking models posed for me.

The gentleman sitting down on the L is the owner. Gave me some more good ideas. This lamp base is made of PVC pipe….it slides up and down the pole for position and the spoon protects the awning from the door corner.                                   

 

He makes parts for campers.. like this lens below…..here is his card…

 

Another unique camper…a Teardrop…built by the owner. This extension is normally storage..but he uses it for the interior. This way they can have a full bed and a bench seat that converts to bunks for the grandkids.

Cooking facilities and fridge.

You don’t have to have a vintage camper to be a member of the TCT….just love camping.

Another unique paint job……you don’t have to be like everyone else….be yourself.

If you are interested in vintage campers or just any camper you see here…check out Tin Can Tourists on the internet and find a meet nearby. They always have “open house” so you can see what each one is like and what might work for you if you are thinking of getting a camper or motorhome.

We bought our Scamp before we knew about TCT….now I find myself looking in backyards when we travel….to see if there are any neat little trailers sitting there waiting for someone to save them.

This will be part 1.   still working on the rest.

Sumter County Fairgrounds Swap Meet 2.12.15 - 2.15.15

Now that we have the ‘49 Hudson and the Scamp, we no longer need this car/hauler camper. This is the way we used to go to NY, VT. Had a ‘28 Buick in the back.

We decided to gather up some stuff to sell ….loaded it in the car area and headed out. We spent 3 nights in it. It turned cold but the propane heater kept us warm. Had to use the generator to charge the batteries before going to bed and first thing in the morning to make coffee and top them off for the day.

Once the camper is sold we will sell the truck or let it go as a package deal.

While wandering around checking stuff out…I spotted this old car. Really pretty neat.

While chatting with the gentleman who built it .. Vermont was mentioned by another person sitting there. I asked where he was from in VT and he said “Brattleboro”.  No Kidding!  I lived there for several years. He’s in the L side of the picture. Younger than me so I don’t remember seeing him in school. But it was kind of neat talking to him.

It’s amazing how much stuff he has on this old car.

I think he tried to copy the original Beverly Hillbillies car. He said at one time he was a member of the Tin Can Tourists. I told him they were having a meet in Brooksville, FL…..and that he should come over and drive around. This reminds me of the pictures that we saw of some of the original Tin Can Tourists back in the 1920’s.

In my travels around the fairgrounds I spotted this little 5th wheel camper.

I spent a few minutes talking with him. I asked what make….he said he built it himself. Wanted something lightweight he could haul with this little truck and a car he is restoring.

There was a bigger selection of stuff to look through than at the monthly swap meet. I met a lot of nice people.

Might have to come back next year….even if we’ve already sold the car/hauler camper.

We could set up in the Scamp and peddle a few things.

Tire Cover and Generator Cover 2.8.15

Our spare tire cover was falling apart so I started looking online for a new one. They had some for around $20…  not bad but then I kept looking and found this one….I fell in love with the “attitude” on this Eagle’s face and was willing to fork over another $40.( says a lot since I hate to spend a penny more than necessary).  I found it on www.Tirecovercentral.com . Boy do they ever have a big selection. You can definitely find one to fit your style.

Our generator cover was actually a life jacket bag. We needed something and were not using it, stuff gets double duty around here… That was falling apart also.

You have to remember this camper must have at least 10,000 miles on it since we got it. 4700 miles to MI, NY,VT and back last summer, and then had to make the NY trip again a few weeks later. There was already 2000 on it just getting the Scamp and the Hudson set up for towing  and testing here in FL.

I ordered some Sunbrella to match the awning that I made and put together a generator cover. It looks a whole lot better than that life jacket bag.

So….if you see this combo going down the road in front of you….be sure to give us a toot as you fly by.

I think that is about it for changes on the Scamp….unless Jim figures we need 2 house batteries…then he’ll weld a bracket on the front to fit one more.

Cant wait to do the TCT meet in a few weeks.

Scamp’s new AC shroud 2.6.15

Last summer we had to go back to NY to take care of my Dad’s estate after he passed away.

We stopped in VA and picked up my sister, Joanne. She rode in the back seat of the truck and had a good view of the camper. She mentioned that the AC shroud was bobbing up and down and asked if that was normal. I looked…sure enough…if she had not seen it when she did it would have been lying along side the road like so many others we have seen. As over the road truck drivers….we saw a lot of road and you’d be surprised how many AC shrouds sitting in the median or on the shoulder. You don’t hear any noise because they are so far behind you…and then they are gone. Thanks again Joanne!

Jim did a good job of tying it down. The black bungee cord kept everything tight.

We finished our trip and have put several more miles on it and it held. This is the worst crack.

and another….gradually spreading.

 

Finally decided it was time for a new one so I did some internet research. I found the replacement at www.Hannarv.com. They had the best price and free shipping….and believe me when I say I searched.

Jim put a rubber backed piece of carpet on the camper to keep from sliding off.

It took a few minutes to get all the ties off.

Good thing we always have extra rope , bungees and all manor of tools with us.

Today he has his “AC Repairman” hat on. Yesterday if was “fridge installer” and “cabinet maker”.

He has sooooo many hats.

A good clean up with the air compressor to remove any debris that may have collected.

Old and new….we think the foam strips keep the cover from rattling. No instructions with it but it had sticky tape on one side. The ones on the old one had come loose and may have been the reason the cover was cracking. Nothing under it to cushion it. We could see where one had gotten into the fan and was chewed up a bit.

It was a perfect match for the one we replaced. The cover is not very heavy and was not a problem for me to hand it up to him.

Jim is tightening the lock nuts on the top.

Checking it over before calling the job finished.

We now have an AC cover without a bunch of ropes around it.

The fridge seems to be working well….I think we are really going to enjoy it.

We have a Tin Can Tourist meet later this month.

There is a new spare tire cover on the way and I ordered material to make a new generator cover. You’ll see those in the next post.

Can’t wait to go camping!!!