Join us as we hit the road in our 1957 Dalton vintage trailer for a week-long family trip through Oregon’s northeastern corner, traveling the John Day Valley toward the Wallowas.
We’re preparing for a family road trip across northeastern Oregon. For a week we’ll camp in several locations in our little vintage trailer, which we discovered in 2004 and have been steadily restoring. We take it out whenever we can—there’s something special about traveling with a small, well-loved trailer.
The Trailer Story
We found this trailer around five years ago, right as we were leaving our old neighborhood. We’re drawn to vintage pieces for their craftsmanship, history, and unique style. Trailers in particular captured our imagination; I used to borrow books about vintage campers and daydream about owning one.
One day, driving to the grocery store, we noticed a “for sale” sign on a trailer. Many trailers sit neglected in fields, so finding one for sale felt like a rare chance. We went to see it that evening—and at first decided it wasn’t for us.
We were moving, it seemed too small, and the exterior sports a jarring red that we didn’t love. Inside it had old carpeting and covers, and most importantly it wouldn’t sleep our whole family.
But we kept seeing it listed for sale. It felt like fate.
The interior was all wood, although some of the walls were not original. The trailer had character, so we made a low offer—fully aware it was small for a family of four—and were surprised when the owner accepted. Before long, we were the proud owners of a 1957 Dalton.
It needed plenty of work inside and a new exterior paint job.
Look closely and you can still see roller marks from the previous owner’s house paint job. We haven’t gotten around to repainting yet, but we imagine a classic white exterior with silver trim and a bold red stripe—similar to other restored vintage trailers we admire.
The trailer measures about 12 feet and officially sleeps three. For family trips we make it work by using a small pup tent for the kids when needed.
The Dalton Vintage Trailer
The summer we bought it we tackled some interior remodeling. I recovered the cushions, sewed curtains from reproduction bark cloth, and made pillows from vintage bark cloth I had on hand. We removed the old carpet and installed Marmoleum remnants, added trim, and gave everything a thorough cleaning.
Despite its small size, the trailer meets our needs for week-long trips. There’s valuable storage beneath the seats where we keep the camp stove, lantern, and a collapsible water carrier.
The sink and counter area handle our cooking and food prep easily. After years of hauling bins for tent camping, having built-in storage has been a welcome change. The previous owners had removed the stove and oven—those appliances would have been on the right—so that space now serves as additional storage, though we may reinstall a stove at some point.
When we bought the trailer the closet had no door. I found matching plywood, stained and finished it, and added salvaged hardware and a mirror. It’s one of the small makeover details I’m proud of. I also love the towel racks on the side—such a smart use of space.
To suit our family’s needs we added shelves inside the closet. Each person has a dedicated shelf and a basket for small items, which lets us pack a week’s worth of clothes without suitcases. The cabinet’s lower section stores four rolled sleeping bags, a broom, a lantern, and small propane tanks.
The couch converts into a double bed. It’s cozy and comfortable for our needs, with more storage underneath for camp chairs and firewood.
Using the trailer as a family has been a joy—its compact exterior hides a surprisingly efficient and inviting interior. Now we’re off on another adventure.
This trip will take us through Oregon’s northeast corner: the John Day Fossil Beds, the Wallowa Mountains, and Hell’s Canyon. We’re excited to share this journey with our kids—Oregon’s varied landscapes offer plenty to discover, and traveling in our Dalton vintage trailer makes the experience all the richer.