Small RV trailers of 1950s, 1960s make comeback

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By Jeff Johnston MOTOR MATTERS

Many of us had parents or grandparents who enjoyed RVing in Serro Scotty trailers. The iconic brand started in 1956 and went out of business in 1997 after a devastating factory fire.

Today's re-emergence of the brand is good news for those with nostalgic connections or a desire for a small trailer. Serro Scotty Worldwide Ltd. (724-962-4040, www.scottytrailers. com) is the work of company president Bill Kerola. He licensed the Scotty name and visuals, including the well-known Scotty dog graphic, from Gary Pirschl, the grandson of John Serro, the brand's originator.

The company's new 13-foot Sportsman and 15-foot Hilander models are as true to the line's original products as possible. Kerola had no original blueprints, patterns or other aids to start manufacturing the trailers, so he purchased two original Scottys and used them as patterns for reverse-engineered new models. Kerola's plan has been to stick as close to the original design as possible while employing state-of-the-art materials and components.

Scotty builds the trailers with contemporary materials, including aluminum framing and polystyrene insulation and all-aluminum exterior skin and roofing.

Both models have body styling and color schemes lifted from the originals. From the teardrop-shaped wheel well openings to the retro-style rolled-aluminum siding, the Scottys are a visual blast from the past.

Contemporary window and door components, plus tread metal lower-front body guards don't detract from the trailers' nostalgic appeal.

Besides hitching on to the RV nostalgia wave that seems to be building, the Scotty products are also timed well as far as fuel costs and recreation are concerned.

The 13-footer weighs about 2,245 pounds dry and the larger 15-foot model is about 2,700 pounds, so both trailers are easily towable by midsize family-style vehicles. There may be no need to buy a new tow rig when choosing a Scotty model.

Both models would be a bit of a stretch for a small vehicle rated to tow 3,500 pounds by the time you add options, personal cargo and passenger weight to the package.

Something like a midsize SUV or a half-ton pickup in the 5,000-pound towing range, however, might be just right.

Inside, both Scotty trailers feature floorplans based on the original models. The Sportsman isn't self-contained in that it doesn't have toilet or shower facilities, but it does have a freshwater tank and sink.

A two-person dinette up front and a large U-shaped lounge that makes into a 52 x 82-inch bed out back, plus the streetside kitchen and a curbside refrigerator cabinet, complete the interior arrangement.

For a more self-contained camping experience, there's the Hilander, with its distinct and historically accurate humped-up roof section. It features a small forward dinette, a streetside wet bath, curbside kitchen and a choice of a large fixed dinette/bed or sofa/bed out back. In addition to its 30-gallon fresh tank it has a 12-gallon gray tank and an 8-gallon black tank.

Both trailers can be optioned with a 4,000-Btu air conditioner, FanTastic roof vent and other amenities. The Scottys include 30-amp electric service, and that's more than adequate for the type of electrical loads such units might create.

Both trailers feature a significant convenience item missing from the 1950s-vintage RV from my family's past. The Sportsman and Hilander include, respectively, 2- or 3-cubic-foot three-way refrigerators.

They may not seem large, but they're a big step up from the galvanized-metal icebox that came standard on many early-vintage trailers.

Also missing is the propane-fired lamp above the front dinette table. And although thinking about its distinct smell and sound bring back fond camping memories, the 12-volt lights in the new Scottys are far more convenient and safer.

Unlike some smaller RVs, the Sportsman is built to relatively full interior dimensions. It has a 6-foot, 1-inch ceiling height, which is enough for the average user, and 6-foot, 10-inch inside width. That means even the somewhat taller users can stretch out, side to side, in comfort on the fold-down beds. On the other hand, climbing into the dinette at the forward end of either trailer can be a bit of a squeeze due to the proximity of the streetside cabinetry in both trailers.

Shoppers looking for a small trailer that delivers classy style and nostalgic appeal may find the new Serro Scotty an interesting alternative.

The Sportsman is listed at $13,695, and the Hilander is $14,995.