Timmy and Nita Bowersox are lifelong residents of Phoenix, New York, and have been married for 34 years. With five children and only one still in school, they are looking forward to more adventures together with their vintage trailer, “Ruthie.”
They have already enjoyed camping around New York, with Black Lake ranking among their favorite destinations.
Restoring Ruthie was no small project. One of the biggest challenges was rebuilding the trailer’s curved sidewalls. Years of water leaks had caused some of the original wood to deteriorate so badly that it crumbled almost like soil.
To recreate the original shape, Timmy and Nita used the trailer’s aluminum skin as a template for the new sidewalls.
One of the best pieces of advice they received came during their first visit to a vintage trailer rally: “Do something on it every day.”
That simple advice helped keep the project moving forward. When a restoration is spread out in pieces all over the garage or shop, even a little progress each day can make a big difference.
Then came an unexpected deadline.
Shortly after the New Year, their oldest son called and announced, “I’ve booked you guys into a campsite next to us in Old Forge for July 4th weekend!”
There was just one problem—they hadn’t even put the first wall back on Ruthie yet.
Instead of backing out, Timmy and Nita buckled down and accepted the challenge. By July 4th weekend, Ruthie was ready for her maiden voyage.
They towed her about two hours from home, and she handled the trip beautifully. Even better, they spent a full day camping in the rain without a single leak.
After everything they had put into the rebuild, that successful first trip was a proud moment.
For Timmy and Nita, Ruthie is more than a restored vintage trailer. She is a reward for years of hard work and the beginning of many more adventures together.
