Trailer with built-in boat as roof

**Jon** · Mar 21, 2017, 02:20 PM

I'm not certain why the trailer-plus-boat-in-one concept never really took off. There isn't even a small Western European country where these are commonplace. They were manufactured a couple of times by American companies in the '50s and '60s, and a small new company in Oregon produces them today.

The general configuration is sleeping space for two, plus a small galley in the rear. Depending on the manufacturer, either the trailer has an independent roof, or the boat is the roof, and when it's removed, a canvas top is used in its place.

The first of its breed was the Kom-Pak Sportsman, manufactured in the 1950s. These are rare, with only a handful of originals thought to be still existing today. When the boat is removed from the top of the trailer, a canvas top is rolled into place as the roof. Hotrodders like these, especially when the trailer is painted to match the tow vehicle. Some examples of Kom-Paks:

Some original Kom-Pak sales literature:

Then came the Trailorboat, manufactured from 1961-1963, by Trailorboat Engineering of San Rafael, California. Around 200-400 built, with maybe 1/2 or 1/4 of that number remaining, although some reproductions exist. A nice example:

And the beautiful logo, complete with period-correct script font, vintage (?) spelling of trailer with an "o", and a star dotting the "i":

Nice Trailorboat restoration video:

Yes, there is a modern version, from the American Dream Trailer Company. It's retro-styled ('50s-style windows plus stunningly ugly mid-century modern upholstery), but includes tech creature comforts like a power inverter and a bluetooth stereo.