Transforming a 28-foot Boles Aero Estrellita into an ideal 20-foot trailer

Scott Burud, based in Bakersfield, CA, initially resisted buying a 1953 Boles Aero Estrellita trailer. The first time he checked it out, he expected to see a 20-foot-long trailer. After a three-and-a-half-hour drive, he arrived and quickly realized the trailer was much larger than he anticipated—28 feet, to be exact. The size was a dealbreaker for Scott, so he decided to pass on the purchase.

The trailer that wouldn’t let go

Six months later, while leaving the Pismo Rally after selling his 1948 Masterbuilt, Scott couldn’t shake the memory of that trailer out in the desert. He thought it would be cool to modify the Boles Aero, cutting it down and giving it the same swoop-like rear end as his Masterbuilt. But after about 10 minutes of driving and mulling it over, he convinced himself that the project would be too much work.

Yet, the Boles Aero Estrellita didn’t disappear. Three weeks later, it popped up again on the Internet, still for sale. This time, Scott took it as a sign from the trailer gods that he needed to act. He bought the trailer, this time with a bold and crazy plan in mind.

A custom transformation

Over the next year and a half, Scott took on the ambitious project of transforming the 28-foot trailer into something that fit his vision. He shortened it to 20 feet and designed an entirely new, custom rear end. The subfloor was replaced with 1.25-inch tongue-and-groove plywood, topped with Marmoleum flooring.

Inside, the trailer underwent a complete overhaul. Scott installed all-new birch paneling, a sizable seven-person booth, and custom cabinets. He also managed to fit a shower/toilet room and a full-size bed into the space, tailoring the trailer to perfectly suit his needs.

A new life for an old trailer

Scott’s 1953 Boles Aero Estrellita is now a completely reimagined version of its former self. What started as a trailer that was too big and seemingly too much work became a labor of love, resulting in a one-of-a-kind vintage trailer that reflects Scott’s creativity and craftsmanship.

More vintage trailers:

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• The stewardship of a rare 1937 Pierce-Arrow Travelodge
• Have you been bit by the vintage ‘Aluminitis’ bug?
• Restoring ‘Marilyn’: A Hollywood ‘glam’ masterpiece

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