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D_E_Bishop's avatar
D_E_Bishop
Explorer
Dec 04, 2016

Looking at a 1961 Boles Aero

I'm really looking a piece of land and the '61 BA is sitting there. I know that they were made in Burbank and the factory was on San Fernando Rd. The land is worth pretty much what they are asking for it and the trailer is a throw away to the owners. I kind of like the idea of leaving it there and restoring as it has some water damage to the ceiling.

The problem is I can't find any printed info on floor plans, features and costs. I Googled a lot of different items to find out about clubs, factory address, fact sheets, owners, anything that would help identify the trailer and find out if this is still one with riveted aluminum framing. I can see that the stove has been replaced, or at least I assumed it came with a propane stove and not electric. Everything else seems to be original.

I'm prepared to face the problems of replacing some of the old with new and making stuff fit, I am a sawdust maker so the ceiling and cabinet work is no big deal for me but if the framing is wood, I think I just haul it out here to CA and sell it for cheap to a collector or junk yard back there if it is not repairable.

I'm not going to be able to view it again until Feb but the owners know that and may just wait for me to return. You know how that goes though.

Any help on those items I listed above or any other stuff will be appreciated. Thanks.
  • dodge_guy's avatar
    dodge_guy
    Explorer II
    Dec 08, 2016
    Passin Thru wrote:
    I'm not a pessimist, I'm a realist. I tried to sell min and one guy looked at it, offered me $100 and never came to get it. No one wants them.


    Probably because yours sounds like it is heading back into mother earth! people want them if they are in decent restorable shape!
  • CavemanCharlie's avatar
    CavemanCharlie
    Explorer III
    Dec 08, 2016
    Passin Thru wrote:
    I'm not a pessimist, I'm a realist. I tried to sell min and one guy looked at it, offered me $100 and never came to get it. No one wants them.


    Bring it to me . I'll take it.

    Heck , if nothing else I will use the axle and frame for something else and junk the rest out.

    Done that a few times.

    I realize that I don't live close to the OP. But, there has to be someone resourceful around there somewhere.
  • Passin_Thru's avatar
    Passin_Thru
    Explorer
    Dec 07, 2016
    I'm not a pessimist, I'm a realist. I tried to sell min and one guy looked at it, offered me $100 and never came to get it. No one wants them.
  • Vintage465's avatar
    Vintage465
    Nomad
    Dec 07, 2016
    Generally you can present a statement of facts to the DMV to establish some history that the DMV can do a search. They will find that there is no liens on the trailer and that it hasn't been stolen and then you just need to follow their instructions to establish a title. Whether or not it's worth it is a whole nuther story. Boles were awesome trailers. We sold them at our RV Shop in Paso Robles CA for a stint. If there is/was a roof leak, the whole thing may not be worth it.
  • CavemanCharlie's avatar
    CavemanCharlie
    Explorer III
    Dec 07, 2016
    Wow, what a bunch of pessimist.

    Still, see if you can figure out how to get the original title. Or, how to get a new one before you begin any sort of work on it. I agree don't dive in until you have a good plan of how you, or someone else, can legally use it.

    From what I remember these were a cool old trailer. If you can't use it someone else might want it for parts.
  • Passin_Thru's avatar
    Passin_Thru
    Explorer
    Dec 04, 2016
    CAlifornia had Titles for Boles Aeros. I have one now titled in AZ. Don't buy it if it is not salvageable because you have to dismantle it and haul it away piece by piece and pay hazmat fees. Mine sits with a hole in the roof and sinking into the ground. Refurbishing one is expensive. They are a bear to tow weighing in at 8500 lb for a 30 ft.
  • DownTheAvenue's avatar
    DownTheAvenue
    Explorer
    Dec 04, 2016
    DutchmenSport wrote:
    Regardless if it's a 'throw in' completely free or if you're paying a price for it ... DO NOT ACCEPT the camper unless you have a proper title for it! Even if it just sits on your property doing nothing but falling down to dust ... you want the title for the RV. And ... especially ... if investing anything into a restore of the RV, nothing is to keep the "true" titled owner to come back and claim it. Now you've invested your money and time in a restore, and legally, it's theirs. The roads paved with good intentions usually end in leading to hell. You don't want heartbreak and legal ramifications in the future. Get the title or tell them to take the camper and get it off the property. For your own legal and financial benefit! It's REALLY NOT a good deal without a signed over title to YOU! REALLY!


    This is not necessarily true. Laws vary by state and some states don't issue titles for certain vehicles, especially one over 50 years old. That is like asking for a title for a "throw away" old car sitting in a field somewhere.
  • hohenwald48's avatar
    hohenwald48
    Explorer
    Dec 04, 2016
    DutchmenSport wrote:
    Regardless if it's a 'throw in' completely free or if you're paying a price for it ... DO NOT ACCEPT the camper unless you have a proper title for it! Even if it just sits on your property doing nothing but falling down to dust ... you want the title for the RV. And ... especially ... if investing anything into a restore of the RV, nothing is to keep the "true" titled owner to come back and claim it. Now you've invested your money and time in a restore, and legally, it's theirs. The roads paved with good intentions usually end in leading to hell. You don't want heartbreak and legal ramifications in the future. Get the title or tell them to take the camper and get it off the property. For your own legal and financial benefit! It's REALLY NOT a good deal without a signed over title to YOU! REALLY!


    In most states you can go thru an "abandoned vehicle" process and obtain title. The method varies with the particular state.
  • DutchmenSport's avatar
    DutchmenSport
    Explorer
    Dec 04, 2016
    Regardless if it's a 'throw in' completely free or if you're paying a price for it ... DO NOT ACCEPT the camper unless you have a proper title for it! Even if it just sits on your property doing nothing but falling down to dust ... you want the title for the RV. And ... especially ... if investing anything into a restore of the RV, nothing is to keep the "true" titled owner to come back and claim it. Now you've invested your money and time in a restore, and legally, it's theirs. The roads paved with good intentions usually end in leading to hell. You don't want heartbreak and legal ramifications in the future. Get the title or tell them to take the camper and get it off the property. For your own legal and financial benefit! It's REALLY NOT a good deal without a signed over title to YOU! REALLY!

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