Blue Bird Travel Trailer

[Dieselbird01]

Since our buddy Richard (YESMAR) has mentioned his rare Jayco “Blue Bird travel trailer” a couple of times, I thought this might be a good time to mention that it appears “Blue Bird travel trailers” did actually exist.

On our way to Nova Scotia in 2011, we stopped to visit our friends John and Sue Schmieder (91 WB) in Pennsylvania. While we were there talking Blue Birds (what else) John happened to mention that their friends Keith and Marlene Bradley used to own a “Blue Bird Travel Trailer”.

John contacted Keith and Marlene and they sent us some information about their trailer. At the time I didn’t feel like I had enough information to post anything on the Forum but a few weeks ago I had a chance to meet and talk with Keith and Marlene in person about their Blue Bird travel trailer.

Keith and Marlene purchased their 21 foot 1969 Blue Bird Travel Trailer in 1969 for about $4000 from Capital Coach in Ottawa Canada. They recall that there were about five “Blue Bird Travel Trailers” on the dealer’s lot at the time – a few single axle 21 foot models and a few 24 foot tandem axle models. They think that the Blue Bird trailers may have only been built for about three years.

As Keith recalls, his Blue Bird Travel trailer had 5 inch steel frame rails and MOR/ryde suspension - the rest of the construction was aluminum, including the ribs and the skin.

Keith and Marlene’s 21 foot Trailer was a rear bath model with the main bed in the front. There was a fold down bunk bed over the main bed and the sofa table converted into another bed giving the trailer a sleeping capacity of 6.

Keith said that the 1969 Blue Bird Travel Trailers had full body paint and solid wood cabinets – no veneers or particle board.

Keith and Marlene said they sold (gave away) their Blue Bird Travel Trailer years ago but that it was still on the road five years ago and that it might still be out there rolling along.

Anyone else have any information about them?

[KCSS]

Me tinks we should refer to Richard and Sue's TT as a "JAYBIRD"

[Ed Wimberley]

John
Back between 1976__1979 there was several Wanderlodge trailers custom made for Wanderlodge buyers the ones I remember were painted to match the coaches.
Very few were made that I'm aware of if memory serves correctly I saw about 4 in 3 years.

[yesmar]

KC, that will bring new meaning to the phrase:"Naked as a Jaybird".

And Everyone thought I was Lying. Thanks John for setting the record straight.

[Randy Dupree]

Thanks John W. for bringing this up.
Interesting stuff..

[Dieselbird01]

Here are a couple more pictures of Keith and Marlene Bradley’s 1969 Blue Bird Travel Trailer.

I enlarged and sharpen them a little but otherwise they are unchanged from the originals that Keith sent.

[birds_first]

From time to time I will find a Bluebird Caravan toy on ebay which was a British made recreation vehicle, but this is what I found this morning and it was built on a Morris body & chassis. Even though this one is said to be made by the Bluebird Coach Company, I don't think it is our US company as we all know. The photos John Wyatt posted are way too cool and makes me want to search it out, it belongs in the Blue Bird Hall of Fame along with the Blue Bird Inn.

[birds_first]

Originally Posted by Ed Wimberley

John
Back between 1976__1979 there was several Wanderlodge trailers custom made for Wanderlodge buyers the ones I remember were painted to match the coaches.
Very few were made that I'm aware of if memory serves correctly I saw about 4 in 3 years.

Ed were these custom trailers of the same body style as the old Doughnut Wagon?

[Ed Wimberley]

John
I've not seen the donut wagon in person therefore I can't completely answer the question. The matching Wanderlodge trailers were built exactly like the Coaches same external shell mounted on a full trailer frame. Same windows and trim outside.
I never got to see the inside of one,was told they were bedroom/living room for kids/company/guests.

[birds_first]

Originally Posted by Ed Wimberley

John
I've not seen the donut wagon in person therefore I can't completely answer the question. The matching Wanderlodge trailers were built exactly like the Coaches same external shell mounted on a full trailer frame. Same windows and trim outside.
I never got to see the inside of one,was told they were bedroom/living room for kids/company/guests.

Here it is behind Jason Warner's SP.