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Post by nightsky on Dec 23, 2012 15:25:15 GMT -5
Greetings from TN! I've lurked here for some time but finally joined today. I am an SOB owner and appreciate all the incredible rebuilds that you folks have posted, they've really inspired me to tackle the major rebuild I'm undertaking. I have a 1970 American Leisure Time Industries Caboose trailer, basically the prototype of what would become the Semaphore Caboose which is itself a rare beast with about 800 or so made in the mid-70's. There were approximately 10 of the ALTI cabooses made and so far I have found no signs of any others still in existence.
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Post by paigenmarc on Dec 23, 2012 16:41:41 GMT -5
Welcome! I, too, am an SOB. I have a 1957Siesta brand trailer. I'd love to see pics of your trailer!
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dsadki
100 Post Member
1962 Shasta
Posts: 218
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Post by dsadki on Dec 23, 2012 16:52:44 GMT -5
Yes! Pictures please. I am from Tennessee also. Welcome to the board.
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Post by nightsky on Dec 23, 2012 18:29:46 GMT -5
Thanks for the welcome! Here's a shot of the caboose at the lake in KY. It took 6 weeks of making the 6 hour round trip up and back to get it somewhat road-worthy, and I only towed it about 5 miles to the marina. It had been sitting at a campground and had sunk into the ground so I was unable to get under it and see what shape the frame was in. After the move to the lake I've decided I'm VERY lucky it didn't all fly apart on the road and it will have to be moved on a flatbed to get it home. There are more photos and some shots of the interior on my blog: www.semaphorecaboose.blogspot.com
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Post by schweetcruisers on Dec 23, 2012 18:31:57 GMT -5
You weren't kidding about a caboose!
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Post by nightsky on Dec 23, 2012 18:43:12 GMT -5
You weren't kidding about a caboose! Nope I wasn't kidding, it's a caboose look-alike, right down to the cupola and the rear observation deck/platform. ;D
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dsadki
100 Post Member
1962 Shasta
Posts: 218
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Post by dsadki on Dec 23, 2012 21:02:00 GMT -5
I just read through your blog. What a find. We had some title issues when we got our camper here in TN. The people we had bought it from had not titled it in their name but had the Previous Owner's title. We got that plus a bill of sale from them. The TN DMV web site has a form for vehicles 25 years and over. If you can prove you are the owner of the camper they may be able to issue a title without having to get a security bond. We did have an old title (not current) for the camper so that probably helped us. Good luck with your fantastic find.
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Post by dragonfly on Dec 24, 2012 10:58:41 GMT -5
Wonderful, a lot of work but it will be so worth it. Nice blog too.
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Post by nightsky on Dec 24, 2012 12:15:40 GMT -5
I just read through your blog. What a find. We had some title issues when we got our camper here in TN. The people we had bought it from had not titled it in their name but had the Previous Owner's title. We got that plus a bill of sale from them. The TN DMV web site has a form for vehicles 25 years and over. If you can prove you are the owner of the camper they may be able to issue a title without having to get a security bond. We did have an old title (not current) for the camper so that probably helped us. Good luck with your fantastic find. Hi Dsadki, I'm actually domiciled in SD (full-timer) but I have a piece of land with a mobile home on it that I am spending the winter at, and probably until I get the Caboose restored since I've consigned my big camper with an RV dealer. I talked to the folks at the SD DMV before I came south and they said if all else fails I can title it as a home built. Obviously I'd prefer to not have to do that, but I have yet to find any sign of a VIN or serial number, and no title or previous registration to be found anywhere.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Dec 24, 2012 12:55:19 GMT -5
What a great find! That has such a neat feel! I just read thru the blog, and will be following along as you continue this project. I am pretty sure that when you get towards finished, this will be one of the coolest tings ever to ride on wheels.
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Post by paigenmarc on Dec 27, 2012 12:24:37 GMT -5
Wow! That looks like an awesome project! Good luck to you, and keep us posted on your progress.
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cowcharge
1K Post Member
I suffer from Shastasomiasis.
Posts: 1,471
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Post by cowcharge on Jan 5, 2013 9:28:44 GMT -5
That is one of the coolest campers ever. You a Wild Wild West fan? That would be an awesome decorating opportunity...
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soup
1K Post Member
Posts: 1,768
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Post by soup on Jan 5, 2013 13:12:18 GMT -5
My neighbors had one us kids would sleep in on the weekends when they weren't camping in it. I thought it was around 67-69 but my memory is not what it was back then. Did they make them before 1970 also? As a kid, it was freaking totally awesome to spend the night in that thing. We would always pretend we were on a train and even played with it on other days as well. Thanks for bringing back some great memories. Soup
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Post by bossfan on Feb 16, 2013 16:05:10 GMT -5
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Post by bossfan on Feb 16, 2013 16:06:21 GMT -5
credit to Juergen Eichermueller PhD Attachments:
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Post by bossfan on Feb 16, 2013 16:07:35 GMT -5
cedit to Juergen Eichermueller PhD Attachments:
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Post by bossfan on Feb 16, 2013 16:08:51 GMT -5
credit to Juergen Eichermueller PhD Attachments:
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Post by bossfan on Feb 16, 2013 16:10:11 GMT -5
credit to Juergen Eichermueller Phd Attachments:
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cowcharge
1K Post Member
I suffer from Shastasomiasis.
Posts: 1,471
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Post by cowcharge on Feb 17, 2013 10:34:37 GMT -5
Wow, 5600 pounds and they towed it with a Delta 88? No wonder their oil got hot.
Being a prototype, is yours the stick-built and fiberglass construction like in the article?
On the plus side, it says it has a lifetime guarantee against roof leaks, so you oughta be able to get THEM to fix it, right?
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Post by ModernMe on Feb 17, 2013 11:29:34 GMT -5
LOVE this Caboose. You have an awesome trailer, nightsky. Thank you for sharing and thanks to bossfan for posting the original info. Fun to see.
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Post by nightsky on Feb 18, 2013 0:29:36 GMT -5
Bossfan, THANK YOU!!! That's a great find! There is so little info out there about the Caboose that finding anything is a thrill. I'm pretty much resigned to not finding much more about the ALTI version since the company had such a short life and only 10 or so built, but even with 800 or so produced over several years it's very difficult to find photos or info on the Semaphore. Nice that the review was so favorable.
The floor plan in mine is different, it has the closet on the left side, the fridge is right inside the door on the right, the kitchen and dinette are reversed in mine with the kitchen being on the curb side. Past the cupola area there's a hallway with drawers and closet on the right, the bathroom is on the left with the bedroom in the front of the trailer. I've toyed with the idea of moving the bathroom to the rear as in the Semaphore, that way I can get a double or queen bed in the front.
Were there any other TT's that had the entry door on the back of the camper? I'd love to see floor plans for them if there were.
Cowcharge, I'm not sure how my TT is put together. It's got aluminum siding, beyond that I won't know until I get it home and start dismantling it. Interesting that the roof has a lifetime warranty. I know there has been water leaking in around the windows, but I'm not sure that the roof has actually failed. Not bad for a 43-year-old trailer.
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Post by harrison429 on Feb 18, 2013 8:34:31 GMT -5
Wow that is awesome!! I love how different it is. It'll be a fun rebuild to watch. Lucky you as I think you now have more info on your SOB than lots of others have on theirs.
Yes nightsky there were plenty of trailers with rear entry doors and the shasta has one too. I don't recall which model it is but I'm sure someone will chime in and tell or if you can't wait just start looking through our Model Specification section.
Congrat's and welcome to the board.
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Post by bossfan on Feb 21, 2013 23:31:47 GMT -5
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Post by nightsky on Feb 25, 2013 15:04:49 GMT -5
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Post by harrison429 on Feb 25, 2013 15:34:15 GMT -5
Whew! and Congrat's but the link doesn't work
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Post by nightsky on Feb 25, 2013 15:47:34 GMT -5
Darn fat fingers! lol
Try now, I think I fixed it.
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offspringin
1K Post Member
Never question the engineer's judgement!
Posts: 1,424
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Post by offspringin on Feb 25, 2013 16:06:16 GMT -5
that..... may be....... the coolest...... trailer........ever! its got to be in the top 3 at least. I love the old holiday houses alot too but this little guy is giving it a run for its money. Somehow just now saw this thread.....
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Post by nightsky on Feb 25, 2013 16:29:18 GMT -5
Thanks Offspringin, I think it's pretty cool too! This thread just got moved from the introduction area, may be why you missed it earlier.
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offspringin
1K Post Member
Never question the engineer's judgement!
Posts: 1,424
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Post by offspringin on Feb 25, 2013 16:37:46 GMT -5
Your only in TN, i hope to see your bad boy trailer in person at a eastern rally one day (we are south of Atlanta). If i were to build a trailer from the ground up, I'm 99.9% sure it would have to be a caboose at this point. I love old trains and obviously love old trailers and you my friend have the best of both worlds. Love it love it love it
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Post by nightsky on Feb 25, 2013 16:57:14 GMT -5
I'm sort of stuck here in TN until the Caboose is restored. I full-time in my RV, but consigned the 2012 KZ after I bought my little train wreck. LOL I've got property here and in MN, so mainly go back and forth between them seasonally with lots of side trips to points that catch my interest. I can't wait until this thing is back on the road, it's going to be a TON of fun meeting people and explaining it's history.
I was following the hauler yesterday evening on the 4 hour trip home, slow going at about 55 average speed in the dark, so we both had flashers running. I was grinning like an idiot the whole time just to see the Caboose going down the road, and was really surprised by how many people slowed down a little when overtaking me but then slowed WAY down when they got up level with the Caboose on the trailer. Some even put on their brakes as they came up beside it.
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