By Cheri Sicard
Mig’s 1972 Hunter Compact Jr. is the kind of camper that stops people in their tracks. It’s tiny, old, and full of character, yet it still works as a practical home on the road.
After a silent heart attack pushed him into early retirement, Mig chose a different pace of life. What he ended up with is a compact vintage trailer, a 1999 Ford Ranger, a cat named Tabitha, and a setup that shows how much can fit into a small space.
That experience changed the timeline. Instead of waiting and working longer because that was the expected path, he decided to take the earliest retirement possible and live on Social Security. His story gives the trailer more meaning, because this isn’t only a neat old camper. It’s part of a life that got re-centered after a health scare.
In the video at the end of this post, Mig invites Bob Wells of Cheap RV Living in for a tour of his unique vintage rig.
The Hunter Compact Jr. was built between 1968 and 1975, and Mig’s came from 1972. It weighs about 900 pounds in factory form, though some reach around 1,300 pounds loaded. That low weight makes it easy to tow, and the fiberglass shell gives it the kind of durability that keeps old campers alive long after many newer rigs are gone.
Mig also likes the fact that vintage rigs tend to hold their value. RV parks seem to welcome it, too. People respond to the classic look, and that old-school shape gives the trailer a warmth that many modern boxes don’t have.
How the little rig handles daily life
Mig tows the camper with a 1999 Ford Ranger, a six-cylinder with a manual transmission. He says the truck has no trouble pulling the trailer, and the sway bar keeps it steady enough that he barely feels it behind him. On a good day, the Ranger gets about 25 miles per gallon.
Inside, the layout makes the most of every inch. Each end works as a couch or a single bed, and together they form one large bed. The trailer also has a full kitchen, including the original three-burner propane stove, a sink, and a smart sink insert that keeps storage from taking over the basin.
Storage stays organized because Mig uses small containers inside the drawers instead of one messy junk drawer. He even added an old candlestick phone for the right vintage touch.
Power, pets, and the secret room
The camper has 60 watts of solar, enough to keep the battery charged, run lights briefly, and charge a phone. For heavier use, Mig carries a 2,000-watt generator. That matters because the trailer has an air conditioner, a microwave hookup, and an electric heater for colder nights. The catalytic propane heater works well in mild cold temperatures.
The pop-top raises with the original manual hardware, not gas shocks, and the canvas gets tucked in by hand before latching the roof for travel. There’s also a 13-gallon water tank with an electric pump and a gray water drain hose setup outside.
Tabitha the cat has her own place in the routine, including a habitat tent for pets that folds down small enough to stash away. The bathroom setup is compact, with a small toilet and a Luggable Loo as backup. In true tiny-camper fashion, Tabitha shares the bathroom area. Mig even built in a hidden compartment, a tiny secret room for stashing things out of sight.
Mig’s Hunter Compact Jr. works because it matches the life he wants, not because it has the newest gear. It’s light, simple, and full of clever touches that make a 1972 trailer feel personal instead of cramped.
The strongest part of this setup isn’t the fiberglass shell or the pop-top roof. It’s the fact that Mig built a small home around freedom, comfort, and time that he decided not to put off.
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