1951 Vagabond Trailer – Model 232

Here is my second Vagabond trailer. Again, it was found in a barn in upstate New York. This one was found by my friend Stuart in Florida. Used very little, it was put in storage for years. Stuart cleaned it up, replaced a ceiling panel and here it is.

This involved another unique method of locating a trailer. The day after I sold my 1953 35ft. Vagabond, (life’s biggest mistake!) Jenay said, “you know what? That thing was too big. Why don’t you find another perfect one– a little smaller– with a bathroom?” My response, “are you nuts? Another one as perfect as that one, smaller, and with a bathroom?” Number one, they didn’t make smaller Vagabonds with bathrooms. Number two, I don’t think we will find another perfect one.

The following day I got to thinking. The guy who I bought the 53 from about 7 or 8 years before, had sold two Vagabonds that year. I dug out his number…. it had been years. He remembered me and told me that yes, indeed, he had sold another perfect Vagabond which was smaller, a model 232 WITH A BATHROOM!

His name was Stuart. A couple day’s later he called me. Stuart took the time to go through his old paperwork and found the last name of the people he sold it to. They lived in Rochester Hills, Michigan. He lost the phone number.

Not one to give up, I called information and got the number of everyone with the same last name Stuart gave me. BINGO! THIRD CALL! Yes, they had purchased the green trailer from Stuart about a week before I bought the yellow one. It had been about 7 or 8 years back. I asked if it was still in good shape. “Of course. We have only used it to take it to shows. It just sits outside covered up” Meekly I said, “is it for sale?” Yep, they were just getting ready to sell it. I flew out the next day and with Jenay’s blessing, bought the trailer that we currently use to travel in. Our personal favorite.
One of the things that makes this Vagabond unique is the factory bathroom. I’ve never seen a model 232 with a factory bathroom. Here is how it happened: It seems that the original owner bought the trailer new off the lot. It wasn’t offered with a bathroom. He called the factory in New Hudson, Michigan and they said “not a problem”. They would simply manufacture one for him and he could pick it up in Michigan. They did some simple modifications all with factory panels etc, and poof, (or poop) it created the only 232 I know of with a factory bathroom.

There is a very funny story about how I got the trailer from Florida to California. Let me know if you want to hear it.

Enjoy the photos. Vagabonds have the most incredible interiors.

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