The Beginning
September 1, 2017 - I needed a trailer to take to trailer rallies. It needed to be something I was drawn to and would not need a restoration until I was finished restoring my '57 Westerner.
My Rod and Reel was purchased from a seller in Burns, Oregon in October, 2016. After seeing an ad placed on Facebook, and some lengthy phone calls, sharing photos and emails with the seller, we made a deal. I drove over 1,800 miles round trip in 5 days to retrieve my Rod and Reel which I named Woody. The trailer needed new brake assemblies, new rims, tires, safety chains, a 7 way connector cord, the repair and welding of a missing outrigger end, and working running lights. I only had a very stressful 24 hours to make the trailer tow ready. Luckily, the seller had cleaned and regreased the bearings.
I bought this trailer to be used as trailer specifically to go to 2 or 3 vintage trailer rallies per year while I worked on restoring my other trailer, a '57 Westerner. Large windows, rounded cabinets, and very unique fender skirts lured me in.
The street side of the trailer was sagging. I would later find out it was due to worn springs.
As far as I know, the trailer sat for many years as seen below. One of the front windows was broken as was the door window. It was last registered decades ago.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5945e6_347d8cc96f2447b492fa9c68eedafb37~mv2_d_2560_1920_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_110,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/5945e6_347d8cc96f2447b492fa9c68eedafb37~mv2_d_2560_1920_s_2.jpg)
I bought it from the seller who moved it from this location after this picture was taken. He found it and sold it to me.
Below is how I first saw it at the sellers home on the driveway. Pictures don't show that the color is almost a mint green. My first thoughts were, "Ewe!"
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5945e6_764587a45489499ba509ff123b34a482~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_144,h_96,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/5945e6_764587a45489499ba509ff123b34a482~mv2.jpg)
The wheels were his. I had to order new tires and rims and have them drop shipped to the seller's home in Oregon before I arrived. I lived in southern California. I had to swap the brake assemblies with new ones. Only one of the new brake assemblies was operational, so I was forced to use one of the original brake assemblies which hadn't been used in decades. I drove away hoping it would work. It did and continues to do so.
Work began to prep the trailer for the drive home. I had to get the running lights and brakes working. New tires were mounted at the local tire store. I had to seek a temporary travel permit from Oregon DMV for a small fee before the close of the workday.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5945e6_f8d062eb2a6944739a4f7de019f68f13~mv2_d_5312_2988_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_83,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/5945e6_f8d062eb2a6944739a4f7de019f68f13~mv2_d_5312_2988_s_4_2.jpg)
Cardboard was taped over the broken front window. The road guard from a 60's trailer had been added at some point in it's history. This was a good thing. It protected the front window from wind force when driving and most likely allowed that large sheet of cardboard to stay in place during the journey home.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5945e6_78506608c96d49fb9444d5138c89127f~mv2_d_5312_2988_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_83,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/5945e6_78506608c96d49fb9444d5138c89127f~mv2_d_5312_2988_s_4_2.jpg)
An outrigger near the curbside wheel well had been ripped out during a previous blow out and needed to be welded on. Fortunately, a welder was a few blocks away. New safety chains were welded to the tongue.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5945e6_09b938370d3b4412bbe5055f38f595b4~mv2_d_5312_2988_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_83,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/5945e6_09b938370d3b4412bbe5055f38f595b4~mv2_d_5312_2988_s_4_2.jpg)
Below is the last stop before leaving Burns Oregon and heading to Klamath Falls, Oregon, my first stop. It was early evening and rain was due the next day. I dodged the rain.
![Below is the my rig before heading out back home.](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5945e6_f23bc1e6d6ac4d0f88e32445bff83406~mv2_d_5312_2988_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_83,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/5945e6_f23bc1e6d6ac4d0f88e32445bff83406~mv2_d_5312_2988_s_4_2.jpg)
I drove for many hours and arrived at nearly midnight at the local KOA to park and slept for only 5 hours before I went on my way to the San Francisco Bay Area to stay with family.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5945e6_6aea6c7136f844b384335399913ce616~mv2_d_5312_2988_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_83,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/5945e6_6aea6c7136f844b384335399913ce616~mv2_d_5312_2988_s_4_2.jpg)
The next day put me in rest stops along the way. Despite my small minivan with only 185 horses and a 3,500 lbs tow capacity. Woody towed rather well. I did have trouble driving up to 65 mph, but kept the driving to 55 mph most of the way, with overdrive off. Trailer brakes were working. I was following a pre-planned route that was the most level I could find. I still had been in the trees as I left Bend and headed south west and then south along Interstate 5.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5945e6_cb124622a7ba41a880523becc00c453d~mv2_d_5312_2988_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_83,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/5945e6_cb124622a7ba41a880523becc00c453d~mv2_d_5312_2988_s_4_2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5945e6_72d8f7a08dc64b8892b46503ecaad586~mv2_d_5312_2988_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_83,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/5945e6_72d8f7a08dc64b8892b46503ecaad586~mv2_d_5312_2988_s_4_2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5945e6_30a9a45a48fd481a8c38cc4b3e97b710~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_83,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/5945e6_30a9a45a48fd481a8c38cc4b3e97b710~mv2.jpg)
On the way down in Buelton, California, I stopped for a rest and made a short video. As seen here.
Over 1,000 miles later, the trailer would finally be at home. I would later move it to my mother-in-law's driveway.
Here Woody sat for most of the next 8 months.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5945e6_8511af5fe2444091aa74625f81be5e26~mv2_d_5312_2988_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_83,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/5945e6_8511af5fe2444091aa74625f81be5e26~mv2_d_5312_2988_s_4_2.jpg)
He would be tarped for much of that time, but he did make it to his first trailer rally in Hemet, California in spring 2017. Here is a video showing some quick decorating.