When we first brought home our 1964 Shasta Airflyte, we figured we’d scored a trailer in pretty decent shape. A closer look told a different story. She had good bones—solid frame, solid floor—but the interior had definitely seen better days. Previous owners had covered the original walls with plywood and painted over the cabinetry. It all felt a little tired, and we were ready to bring her back to life.
Stripping It Down and Starting Fresh
The big project started with the front and back walls. We pulled everything out and replaced those surfaces with flexible wood panels that would follow the iconic Shasta curve. Once they were in, we gave them a warm amber shellac that instantly brought back that vintage glow.
Since the cabinets had already been painted, we kept with that route but chose a softer palette—pale yellow paired with a light turquoise that matched the original stove and icebox. We wrapped everything together with pops of red in the curtains and accents. Considering she arrived in bold blue and red, the new tones feel much more at home in a mid-’60s trailer.
A Fresh, Functional Kitchen
The kitchen needed a full refresh, so we rebuilt the counter from scratch using half-inch plywood topped with retro boomerang laminate and trimmed with metal banding from Heffrons. The sink was replaced, though we happily kept the original faucet. The hand-pump faucet got an upgrade as well—one of those small projects that feels great to finish yourself.
The dinette also got a major improvement. The original table was too small to properly convert into a bed, so we built a new one using the same materials as the counter. Now it drops down perfectly between the benches to make an extra sleeping space. We rebuilt the dinette boxes but kept the wonderfully springy original seat cushions. Recovering those is our ongoing side project.
Beds, Lamps, and All the Little Fixes
The back gaucho bed needed attention, so we rebuilt the frame and treated ourselves to a new futon mattress. No one needs to sacrifice a good night’s sleep in the name of “authenticity,” especially when the original mattress was from 1964.
We were thrilled to discover that the original lamps—one red, one amber—were still intact. The propane hurricane lamp works beautifully too. Lighting it for the first time was definitely an adventure, but it feels right at home now. We updated the propane tank, regulator, and hose, which all connected smoothly to the existing copper lines.
We also replaced the flooring and swapped out the exterior electrical box. The exterior paint will get its makeover this winter, but overall she looks surprisingly good for her age.
All told, the remodel took around two months. Not a full frame-up restoration, but definitely a solid, thoughtful refresh.
Taking Her on the Road
We typically keep our trips within a two-hour radius of home—more due to time than any concern about her roadworthiness. She turns heads wherever she goes. People of all ages stop to admire her or share memories of their own camping days. On our very first trip, it poured nonstop the entire weekend, but she didn’t leak a drop. The jalousie windows even stayed open without letting in the rain, which made for a cozy weekend of cards, games, and wine at the dinette.
I’ve done everything from tent camping to rolling in a massive 40-foot diesel pusher, and honestly, this little Airflyte is my favorite way to camp. She’s light, simple, and reliable. No complicated systems to fail, no fuss. We can pull into a site and be fully set up in ten minutes.
There’s just something special about traveling in a vintage trailer—especially one you’ve restored with your own hands. This Shasta may not be big or fancy, but she’s full of charm, and she’s become our favorite little escape.
