For more than a decade, my husband and I have been traveling around the Western U.S. in a bright yellow teardrop trailer. While we love the teardrop and have had many adventures in it, last year we started looking around for a lightweight camper where we could cook and eat inside. We tend to camp in locations with a lot of wind and a teardrop galley kitchen is a challenge when said wind picks up.
“Wonky Donkey” is a 1982 fiberglass Burro trailer.
While we loved the idea of other small, lightweight campers such as the nüCamp T@B, the design and amenities just didn’t fit us. We decided to focus on molded fiberglass campers. Preferably a vintage trailer we could take on as a fixer-upper.
These types of vintage trailers get snagged quickly from forums and Craigslist.
Their small size and light weight make them fun restoration projects.
We actually found a coveted Burro trailer in our home town and bought the 1982 trailer for $4,800. A Burro trailer is a double wall molded fiberglass trailer that was manufactured from the late 1970s until the early 2000s. They came in 13-foot and 17-foot lengths and were delivered as kits. Even though it comes in at only 1,100 lb. We were both able to stand up inside and even walk around inside together.
The trailer still had the original cushions, carpet and curtains.
The Burro, had not been cleaned or fixed up in decades. It still had the original 1980s cushions, carpet, curtains, appliances and lighting. However, it was in pretty good shape with no damage to the fiberglass. We opted to give it a simple makeover while keeping the same wiring and propane lines.
Some funny ’80s details include a tape deck wired to a large, wooden speaker.
We turned the original dinette into a full-time bed, replaced the sink faucet, added a new floor, and turned the couch into a small dining table. We kept the original cabinet and closet doors, turned the ice box into a food storage cabinet, added additional storage, and had the trailer’s exterior painted. In all the project took about six months.
The Burro now has a separate dinette and bed and a tiny indoor kitchen.
Watch the tour on YouTube.
Because this type of trailer is put together vertically in two pieces, it is a little off kilter. We decided to name it “Wonky Donkey” because installing the floor and doing measurements never really worked perfectly. This trailer is just a little wonky.
By Christina Nellemann for the [Tiny House Blog]
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