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Mon May 12, 2008 1:50 pm

I picked up this 1968 Heilite Valiant a few weeks ago and having lots of fun with it. This weekend my two oldest boys did some urban camping in our drive-way. Of course they ran an extension cord into the trailer so they could hook up a TV and their x-box. Anyway I have been researching the line and the other cool items that came from this company in the 50's and 60's. Aaron with singlewheel.com has been great about sharing info. and contributing to a site ( www.heilitetrailers.com ). I put the site together so folks can share info. on these old trailers. Please drop me a line or send any scans, photos, literature, etc. that you would like to share and have posted on the site. Thanks, [email protected]

Mon May 12, 2008 2:58 pm

Awesome set up Jeff. Looks like a clean one.

Mon May 12, 2008 3:08 pm

I think that is just too cool 8)
What does it weigh? What year is that?
Thanks :)

Mon May 12, 2008 3:24 pm

MAYHEM wrote: I think that is just too cool 8)
What does it weigh? What year is that?
Thanks :)

Thanks, it is a 1968. It weighs about 600 lbs according to the sales literature but I think it is less even with all the camping gear in it.

I like it for the following reasons:

1. It expands out so it tows and stores small but sleeps big.
2. The storage compartments can be accessed from inside or out.
3. It fits in less than one parking slot no special parking needed.
4. The tent can be opened up while its still hitched to the tow vehicle.
5. It's vintage and ugly.
6. It's a cool design and doesn't have any plastic on it like modern tent trailers.

Here it is all folded up:

Tue May 13, 2008 6:46 am

Trailer tents have long been popular in Great Britain, Europe and beyond, of which there are several different brands (e.g. Cabanon, Conway, SunnCamp, Raclet, Starcraft, Transcamper, Trigano & Universal Canvas Products) and some people have even built their own on a DIY basis.

http://www.alibaba.com/showroom/Trailer_Tent.html

http://www.used-trailer-tents.co.uk/

http://www.uktradingpost.co.uk/forsale/tents.htm

http://www.justfolders.co.uk/

http://www.camperlands.co.uk/trailer_tents/sunncamp_trailer_tents.html

http://www.camperlands.co.uk/trailer_tents/trigano_trailer_tents.html

http://www.camperlands.co.uk/trailer_tents/jamet_trailer_tents.html

http://www.camperlands.co.uk/trailer_tents/sunncamp_trailer_tents.html

http://www.camperlands.co.uk/trailer_tents/campmaster.html

http://www.camping-intl.com/products/trailer-tents/cabanon

http://www.camping-intl.com/products/trailer-tents/sunncamp

http://www.discover.co.uk/folding-campers-trailer-tents/brands/comanche

http://www.discover.co.uk/folding-campers-trailer-tents/brands/conway

http://www.discover.co.uk/folding-campers-trailer-tents/brands/pennine

http://www.outriggers-camping.co.uk/camping/trailertent.htm

http://www.highbridgecaravans.co.uk/trailertents.php

http://www.kamparoo.com/index2.htm

http://www.countryrv.net/starcraft-tent-trailers.htm

http://www.curtistrailers.com/starcraft.html

http://www.universalcanvas.com.au/trailer_tent.htm

http://www.universalcanvas.com.au/designed_trailers.htm

Trailer-tent covers

http://sporting-goods.pricegrabber.com/camping-tents/champion/p/1636/

Here is a self-build, four-berth trailer tent, which was featured in the 1979/80 edition, of the Indespension Trailers & Equipment, Trailer Manual cum DIY Plans & Parts Catalogue.

Note the 50 mph, maximum speed-limit roundal; a limit which has since been increased to 60 mph, for dual carriageways and motorways.

Nowadays, rear fog lamps are are also obligatory, on trailers manufactured since October 1979.

The Trailer Tent and Folding Camper Group of the Camping and Caravanning Club

http://www.ttfcg.co.uk/

http://www.ttfcg.co.uk/picgallery/index.html

Tue May 13, 2008 8:12 pm

I had three Heilite single wheel camping trailers; a 58, and two 64's. I sold one of the 64's which was missing the canvas. The two that I kept are pristine.

Wed May 14, 2008 5:38 am

Envious wrote: I had three Heilite single wheel camping trailers; a 58, and two 64's. I sold one of the 64's which was missing the canvas. The two that I kept are pristine.

What sort of towing hitch and drawbar combination, allows a single-wheel trailer to articulate horizontally, without tilting sideways and falling over on its side? :?

Wed May 14, 2008 5:55 am

NASkeet wrote: What sort of towing hitch and drawbar combination, allows a single-wheel trailer to articulate horizontally, without tilting sideways and falling over on its side? :?
Two hitches allow the trailer to move up and down at the bumper. The trailer itself doesn't pivot from side to side. The wheel spins like a grocery cart. It's kind of like having 8' added to the length of your car.

I have three different manufactered sets of hitches but I made my own set, custom suited for my squareback, based on original instructions.

Wed May 14, 2008 6:12 am

Envious wrote: NASkeet wrote: What sort of towing hitch and drawbar combination, allows a single-wheel trailer to articulate horizontally, without tilting sideways and falling over on its side? :?
Two hitches allow the trailer to move up and down at the bumper. The trailer itself doesn't pivot from side to side. The wheel spins like a grocery cart. It's kind of like having 8' added to the length of your car.

I have three different manufactered sets of hitches but I made my own set, custom suited for my squareback, based on original instructions.

I have never seen a single-wheeled trailer, in either Great Britain or Europe. Perhaps they are illegal over here!?!

Mon May 19, 2008 8:52 am

Hey Envious,

I just bought a single wheel to go along with the Valiant. It will be at my home today and will post up pics later.

For your custom made hitches, how do you keep it tight on the bumper? Do the clamps tighten down as you tighten the ball? Did you reinforce the bumper brackets?

Mon May 19, 2008 9:51 am

Anchovy wrote: Hey Envious,

I just bought a single wheel to go along with the Valiant. It will be at my home today and will post up pics later.

For your custom made hitches, how do you keep it tight on the bumper? Do the clamps tighten down as you tighten the ball? Did you reinforce the bumper brackets? Very cool. I have tonnes of literature if you need anything.

What options does it have? Crank down wheels, spare tire, road cover, awning, kitchette???

My 64 with all of it's options was a little over $650 back in it's day. Pretty expensive toys when you think about it.

What year is it?

The bumper brackets I made contour the bumper perfectly are tightened by the ball. They sit very close to the bumper brackets which are quite substantial on a type 3 so I didn't feel the need to reinfoce it.

I can lend you some generic hitches if you're desparate to get on the road quickly.

Mon May 19, 2008 9:58 am

I have not seen the trailer in person (only photos) but it is due to arrive late this afternoon. It does have the portable kitchen which is one of the main reasons I bought it. It has all the hitch parts as far as I can tell and the PO made up a conversion deal to fit in a standard reciever. I plan to make mounts similar to your custom ones for my bus.

I think it is early 60's but the title was transfered from Oregon to Arizona so year of manufacture may not be correct on the paperwork. Do you know how to ID the year?

Mon May 19, 2008 10:48 am

Anchovy wrote: Do you know how to ID the year? No. I haven't spent a lot of time looking into it either though. I've compared the three that I've owned to the photos in the brochures and everything seemed to match up with the dates on the ownerships. Differences throughout the years seem to include the tail lights abnd the design of the Heilite sticker on the back. Certain options were only available in later years.

The kitchette, if it's original, is a very cool and rare option. I'm not sure if it was just too expensive back then but I've only ever seen one proper kitchenette.

I've got an adapter for a class 3 receiver as well. It's really handy for pulling the Heilite behind my Touareg. Pulls great. My buddy also borrows the trailer and adapter to take his family camping when we all head out in our Westfalias

Mon May 19, 2008 11:09 am

I search litterally for years to find my Camp Kitchen" it came with a bunch of extras missing only the water can cap....

It will go into my 2 wheeled Viscount. Not sure of the year, bt maybe a shot of the body tag posted in here can help me with that.

Mon May 19, 2008 12:32 pm

Greg,

I post up some photos of my kitchen as soon as I can so we can compare. Will a VW gas cap fit on the water tank? ;)

Here is a cool image from the patent.

Mon May 19, 2008 2:20 pm

Anchovy wrote: Greg,

I post up some photos of my kitchen as soon as I can so we can compare. Will a VW gas cap fit on the water tank? ;)

Here is a cool image from the patent.

Cool pics from the patent. Is that the one you emailed me?

The water cap looks like an old school metal gas can cap would do the trick. It's threaded on the ourside.

Mon May 19, 2008 2:55 pm

mr. warehouse wrote: I search litterally for years to find my Camp Kitchen" it came with a bunch of extras missing only the water can cap....

It will go into my 2 wheeled Viscount. Not sure of the year, bt maybe a shot of the body tag posted in here can help me with that.

the first 2 single wheel heilites i bought had those kitchenettes in them :P bob from freemont has 1 of them now and a friend has the other one.

Mon May 19, 2008 3:29 pm

tubdub wrote: mr. warehouse wrote: I search litterally for years to find my Camp Kitchen" it came with a bunch of extras missing only the water can cap....

It will go into my 2 wheeled Viscount. Not sure of the year, bt maybe a shot of the body tag posted in here can help me with that.

the first 2 single wheel heilites i bought had those kitchenettes in them :P bob from freemont has 1 of them now and a friend has the other one.

Bob was checking out mine at Bus Fest.

Mon May 19, 2008 3:32 pm

mr. warehouse wrote: tubdub wrote: mr. warehouse wrote: I search litterally for years to find my Camp Kitchen" it came with a bunch of extras missing only the water can cap....

It will go into my 2 wheeled Viscount. Not sure of the year, bt maybe a shot of the body tag posted in here can help me with that.

the first 2 single wheel heilites i bought had those kitchenettes in them :P bob from freemont has 1 of them now and a friend has the other one.

Bob was checking out mine at Bus Fest.

looks good all set up greg. You should have seen it hanging out the back of the trunk of my BMW on the way to greyhound station :lol: I got some funny looks

Mon May 19, 2008 3:53 pm

THanks again for taking care of the pick up and shipping for me Thornton. Without your help I'd still be "on the hunt"

Here's my trailers badge....