By Cheri Sicard
The stunning 1952 Vagabond travel trailer in the video at the end of this post proves that a vintage rig can feel like a small, stylish home. The tour, from the team at BossaNova Life, follows a couple from Oregon who turned a gutted shell into a warm, roomy space for their family and friends.
The Vagabond travel trailer belongs to Stacy and her husband from Salem, Oregon. They bought the 35-foot trailer in 2018, then turned it into their 2020 stay-at-home project when travel shut down. This is far from their first rodeo. The couple owns six vintage trailers, so this big Vagabond joined an already growing fleet.
When they found it, the trailer was completely gutted inside. No cozy wood, no working systems, just a long, empty body. They rebuilt everything themselves, including woodwork, plumbing, and electrical. Working weekends and after their day jobs, they finished the main restoration in about a year and called it a nice distraction.
Outside, the trailer still wears primer, and people keep telling them it looks cool as-is. The flat gray has a tough, industrial vibe that visitors actually like. The plan, though, is a similar body color with a shiny finish and a cream top. Paired with black and white touches, it should look clean and classic when they finally get around to paint.
Sourcing parts
To bring back the original character, they hunted down another 1952 Vagabond in rough, probably unfixable condition. Instead of restoring it, they rescued its usable parts. They salvaged hinges, doors, windows, light fixtures, and lots of small accessories. After a deep clean, those pieces went straight into their trailer and helped keep the period look.
Inside, the curved ceiling did not come easy. They had to steam and bend new plywood to follow the original shape. Some ceiling panels and trim were still solid, so they kept those. Since two different woods were involved, they stained parts in a cherry tone to get the color to match across the coach.
The vintage curtains started life in someone’s house, not in a trailer. Stacy found the vintage panels on Facebook Marketplace, cut them down, and turned them into perfect mid-century style drapes.
The layout stays close to the original Vagabond floor plan, but they changed a few things for modern life. With a 14-year-old son, they added a TV, a clever Murphy bed, and little touches to make the space feel like his, too.
Warm wood glow
The first thing that stands out inside is the glow of the wood. It feels warm, but still light enough that the trailer doesn’t seem dark or cramped. Built-in shelves up front were mostly original, with a few new pieces made to match. The result is a long, open seating area that can handle several guests without anyone bumping elbows.
One of the best tricks in the living area is the TV. It is a flat-screen, but they framed it and added vintage knobs from another old set, so it looks like an old console instead of a modern box. Below and around it, there is a shelf for their son’s devices and plenty of outlets. A Murphy bed folds down for sleeping, and a sofa converts into another bed, even though it looks like a regular couch. Vintage metal chairs tuck into a custom spot, and huge closets line the side, which surprises everyone who walks in.
Originally, the trailer held an International Harvester refrigerator, but the handle was broken and hard to replace. The couple even tried another vintage unit, only to have it fail once they slid it into place. After enough frustration, they bought a standard apartment-size fridge at Home Depot. Stacy’s husband trimmed the opening so the new door fit perfectly, and now it looks right at home. The kitchen also has a working Dixie stove, double sinks, modern heat and air conditioning, and a pantry with plenty of storage for long trips.
In the back, twin beds sit side by side, just like something out of a Lucy and Desi setup. This bedroom has its own exterior door and feels as large as some small trailers all by itself.
Bathroom
The bathroom started out in awful shape, with the toilet having fallen through a rotten floor in a field on the way home. Now it has a rebuilt wet bath, a cute toilet paper holder with a Bluetooth speaker, and another closet that works well for dresses, coats, and shoes.
Stacy’s favorite thing about the trailer is how many people can gather up front. There is room for the three of them, plus friends for coffee in the morning or cocktails at night. The couple designed every part with real-use in mind, especially with a teenager in the mix. Along the way, they also found a community, since trailer people, as Stacy loves to say, are the best people.
This story shows what can happen with steady work and some know-how. With basic skills, a year of weekends, and patience for long primer phases, another family could bring a similar trailer back to life.
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RVDT2801
Thank you for the discussion of the renovation, Cheri! Yes, it is beautiful and inviting inside. Not sure their skill level before the renovation, but it certainly was an advanced level by the end. Have a great week, safe travels, and a merry Christmas!
I give respect to anyone m or f who can do their own restoration work. I certainly couldn’t. Sounds like it was a good family hobby.