In March of 1955, a young couple from Compton, California, made what was, at the time, an extravagant purchase—a brand-new 16-foot Aljoa travel trailer for $1,600. With three small children, including a newborn on the way, they set the stage for a lifetime of adventure.
Their first camping trip came that Labor Day, just a few months after their son was born. The family towed their shiny new trailer up to Barton Flats in the San Bernardino Mountains. Their daughter, just two years old at the time, would later reflect on how brave her mother must have been to pack up three little ones, including a newborn, for a weekend of camping. But that weekend marked the beginning of a lifelong love affair with the outdoors for the entire family.
Throughout the years, the little Aljoa accompanied the family on countless trips—weekend getaways, school breaks, and the grand summer tradition of traveling across the country. Every year, they would head from California to Tennessee to visit mom’s family, then continue on to Pittsburgh to see dad’s side. Along the way, they discovered beautiful sights and hidden corners of America, often thanks to dad’s fondness for detours down the unbeaten path—sometimes to mom’s dismay.
In 1969, that little girl, now a high school junior, met her future husband. He hadn’t camped much growing up, but he quickly fell in love with the pastime. When their first daughter was 18 months old, they borrowed the trusty Aljoa and hit the road, camping in Northern California with their young family. That trip sparked the second generation of family camping adventures.
For many years, camping often meant tents and tow vehicles loaded with gear and water skis. The little Aljoa faded into the background, used by a family friend as a guest house. But in the fall of 2007, as the friend prepared to move to Colorado, thoughts of the trailer resurfaced. It was more than just a trailer—it was a tangible piece of childhood, a rolling time capsule filled with memories.
After several months, the family reclaimed the Aljoa and began a two-year restoration project. The interior was remarkably well-preserved, with beautiful original birch paneling brought back to life with Howard’s Restor-A-Finish. The sticky yellow Naugahyde dinette cushions were replaced with new marine vinyl, the original Marvel refrigerator was refurbished, and new curtains and sconce shades were sewn by hand. With the exception of a few chromed details, the inside remained largely original—including the Marmoleum floor and the warm, honey-colored birch interior.
The exterior was another story. Years of layered latex paint had to be painstakingly stripped away, along with countless rusty screws. The windows were sent to a polisher, while the trailer itself underwent extensive bodywork and was repainted in its original Gypsy Red and India Ivory colors—found hiding beneath the old paint. The restoration was finished with gleaming automotive paint, polished aluminum, and classic whitewall tires. By fall of 2010, the little trailer looked better than ever.
The restoration brought joy not only to the family but to the original owners as well. Her parents enjoyed watching the project unfold, and her father, whose health was declining, was able to see the Aljoa fully restored before his passing in 2012. Her mother, now 93, may have retired from camping, but she still enjoys hearing about their travels and adventures.
The tradition of camping has now passed to the third generation. All three of their children grew up exploring the outdoors, and the family’s son recently purchased a 1978 Boles Aero, starting new camping traditions with his own family.
Today, that little 1955 Aljoa is more than just a trailer—it’s a cherished piece of family history. Its walls have witnessed decades of laughter, adventure, and love. And if those walls could talk, they’d surely echo with the giggles of two sisters sharing the dinette-turned-bed, the playful teasing of a brother from his rear bunk, and the gentle reminders from mom telling everyone to settle down and go to sleep.
The Aljoa may be vintage, but the memories—and the adventures—are still very much alive.
