Making my '65 Shasta Compact road worthy

[sleepersprings]

Hi. I am new to this forum but am very excited to find it. I have what I believe is a 1965 Shasta Compact. I'm not positive of the year, 65-67, but I think it's a '65. It has been off road since I bought it about 12 years ago, and before that was off the road for a long time. I would like to look into getting it road worthy. I am in the Northeastern Pa region. Any ideas of someone who does renovations in that area? I'm not looking to spend a fortune...don't have one! But I can't do the needed work myself. As far as I know it's sound and there is no reason to think it can't travel. I also have no title or any papers of any kind. Any advice out there?

Also, how can identify the year for sure?

[Hamlet]

Welcome, and congrats on your new acquisition! The best way to determine the year is by the VIN. Look at the board about VINs to help find yours. The other way is through pictures, and we all LOVE pictures. Also look carefully at the abundant information about what happens to these guys when they have been exposed to the elements and not maintained for any length of time. It will help you know what you are in store for. Also note that many, many women have done a lot, if not all, of the work themselves. Don't sell yourself short!

[sleepersprings]

Ha! Thanks for that encouragement! I DO sell myself short, no doubt. My little trailer is actually in very good shape as far as can be seen. It has no leaking problems and is very tight and snug. I am mostly concerned with the integrity of the frame and all that. And I will definitely get a picture up here. It's a tiny guy, about a 10 footer. As far as I can tell from photos it looks like the '65's. 

[Deleted]

Hi. I was trying to find my illustration of where to look for your VIN, but I think it may have gone away with my last hard drive in my laptop.

NEPA huh? Near to the Binghamton area by chance? I come from there and live near Roch now...my daughter and family live there still. Welcome on to the board, and have fun finding your answers here.

Your VIN should be stamped in the side of the tongue, on the same side as the door side of the trailer. It'll be somewhere near to where the propane tank rack is mounted if there is one....The VIN was stamped fairly shallow into the metal on the side of the tongue, and years of rust and coats of paint can obscure the numbers from view. The best approach is to use some paint remover first, undoing the paint that may exist, and then perhaps some light oil or penetrating oil, along with a brass wire brush or some fine steel wool, to lift the rust. You can sorta narrow down the year it was built by cross referencing the numbers. The number should be prefixed with a letter (representing the manufacturing plant), and a 4- or 5-digit number. Here is mine:



Where you are located it was probably made in the Pennsylvania plant, and the letter prefix would be "P".

One other thing, check the bottom of the sink. If it has the ceramic sink, which I believe they did, it may have a date stamp on the bottom, indicating the date the sink was manufactured. That would PROBABLY be the earliest the camper was manufactured also. It isn't 100% but it does narrow it down a lot.

Look forward to seeing what ya got! We are a bunch of crazed voyeurs friendly folks here, and love to see and to help out!

[sleepersprings]

Yes! Actually about 30 south of Binghamton.

Thanks for the tips on identifying my Shasta. I did find the VIN# on the tongue and had done exactly what you suggested...penetrating oil and a brush. Still not completely revealed but definitely made at the PA plant. Still working on the rest.

Thanks for that tip on the sink! I'll walk over to where it's parked tomorrow and check that out. I'll try to post a picture too.

[Deleted]

Hello and welcome to the forum.


Chris, I just happened to have saved the illustration.
Here it is:

[Deleted]

Jun 16, 2013 19:05:36 GMT -5 @nomadicme said:

Hello and welcome to the forum.


Chris, I just happened to have saved the illustration.
Here it is:

THAT"S IT!! I swore I was it in my stuff the other day, but maybe it was just posted somewhere else...I am a bit disorganized yet.

[Deleted]

Jun 16, 2013 18:06:47 GMT -5 sleepersprings said:

Yes! Actually about 30 south of Binghamton.

Thanks for the tips on identifying my Shasta. I did find the VIN# on the tongue and had done exactly what you suggested...penetrating oil and a brush. Still not completely revealed but definitely made at the PA plant. Still working on the rest.

Thanks for that tip on the sink! I'll walk over to where it's parked tomorrow and check that out. I'll try to post a picture too.

Lessee that would still be north of Scranton then, I have forgotten most of the geography that way now...Hallstead, Great Bend, Montrose, Eynon, Scranton/Avoca/Wilkes Barre....Hey maybe we'll get a chance to shake hands someday...nice to meet a neighbor!

My family is spread out along the Triple Cities, my daughter and son-in-law and grandson are in Vestal. My father's side of my family hailed from Colesville, norht of 5-Mile Point and Kirkwood. My Airflyte came out of the woods in Kirkwood last fall to come and live here with us. (Between you and me, I don't think it was expecting to come here and get its skin ripped off ... for repairs...!)

[sleepersprings]

Hey, thanks for that illustration. That's exactly where I found both numbers. Of course the plate is totally rusted over but I'm working on clearing the other.

Yes, north of Scranton.

[sleepersprings]

Wow! I'm realizing how fortunate I am that my 60's Shasta Compact has never had leaks! They are what really do it in aren't they. Mine is not perfect in any way but water damage is not an issue. The inside is completely tight and dry. I just have NO CLUE how to go about making sure the undercarriage can be taken on the road. Any help would be appreciated. Do I take it to an RV place? Help!