Vagabond Vintage Travel Trailers

Vagabond Coach Mfg Company in New Hudson, Michigan started producing aluminum-clad trailers since 1931.

Vagabonds had a great run from their introduction until the 60’s with their big size home on wheels which were promoted as highly liveable, towable and durable products.

Company’s adds also highlighted the product’s suitability for family vacation.

Vagabond coaches featured an elegant interior thanks to natural birch wood panels 1/8” (3mm). 3/4' Plywood floor was covered with linoleum tiles. Shades of red and grey colors were common for Vagabond coaches.

Vagabond had also experimented with bringing out a single wheel trailer, but the design did not get "traction" among campers.

Vagabond Model 19

This single axle model introduced in the post war atmosphere of 1949 was primarily targeted at servicemen with some money to spare on vacation trailers. The inaugural price was fixed at $ 2250 - significantly lower than prices of other Vagabond trailers. The 19 model trailer had no bathroom, and its occupant had to use the camp site facilities. The trailer had all aluminum exterior and was built on a steel truss like frame with welded steel chassis and body frame. Electric brakes enhanced the trailer’s safety features while powered exhaust ventilation added extra freshness to the interiors.

 The model 19 had a single circuit breaker and #14 wire was used from the circuit breaker to the fixtures. The other features like gas stove with oven, electric refrigerator and screen doors and windows made the life inside the trailer comfortable. The kitchen was located on the side and beds occupied the front and back. The trailer strived to strike a fine balance between roominess, livability and aesthetic aspects.

Old Vagabond Travel Trailer- for now a "work-in-progress"

Vagabond 16 ft Model

In 1936 Vagabond introduced a 16 ft coach trailer with full aluminum exterior. The trailer came with many new trappings like little awnings on all the windows to compensate for the smallness. The trailer had one door and six windows. Kitchen was on the side opposite to the door. Kitchen was fitted with gas stove with burner, sink and cabinet. The front of the trailer was fitted with a sofa convertible to a good sized bed. The dinette at the back also provided for convertible sleeping space. The overhead cabinets and closets added storage space available to the users. This was a single axle model. 

Walking inside of the 1951 Vagabond trailer will really open your eyes on how much of living space was available there for campers! It really deserves the name "Home Away from Home"....

Vagabond 10-Wide and 8-Wide

In 1957 Vagabond rolled out its sensational 10-Wide model (a standard 8-Wide model was also introduced in the same year). The two models came in lengths of 35ft, 41ft and 46ft. Thanks to their stupendous size, these models were fitted with all kinds of extravagant comforts which made the trailers real living homes on wheels. The body was made from tubular steel frame welded into one unit. The tubes were 1” thick and lined with 13/16 wood to insulate the outside metal with the wood panels on the inside.

These models had either two bedrooms or one bedroom. Three bedrooms were not built as the units would have been prohibitively expensive for the buyers.

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