Boler Fiberglass Trailers: "The Egg"
Rainydaz has learned a lot from her vintage 1973 13-foot Boler trailer.
Photo by author
The Original Lightweight Trailer
Boler camper trailers are the original lightweight trailers. The trailer was made of fiberglass and was the lightest trailer on the road at that time. Even today, there are only a few trailers available that are as light as the Boler.
Bolers were manufactured primarily in Canada for over 20 years. The first trailer was produced in 1968 and the last one, apparently, in 1988.
In spite of their age, you can still find Boler trailers for sale. They are a highly sought-after collectors item as Boler enthusiasts are restoring them to their former glory. The owners even organize an annual meeting to show off their trailers.
The Boler's rounded shape led to them being affectionately referred to as an "egg." The space inside the Boler is small, but well-utilized. As teardrop trailers and tiny trailers are becoming popular again, people are once more finding value in a Boler trailer.
The History of the Fiberglass Boler Travel Trailer
The Boler was designed and manufactured by Ray Olecko. He based the design on his own family needs—a lightweight trailer that could be pulled with a car and accommodate two adults and two children. He was fascinated with fiberglass and had designed a fiberglass septic tank before he started producing the Boler travel trailer.
Ray Olecko named the small trailer Boler because he thought it looked much like a bowler hat. The lightweight trailer became a fast selling item because smaller cars were coming into vogue at that time.
Buyers of the trailer nicknamed it "the egg." It's believed that around 10,000 of them were produced and some of them are still going strong. There was a 17' Boler but it wasn't as popular as the 13' Boler.
Bunk beds convert to couch
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The Design of the Boler Trailer
The Boler Floorplan
The Boler camper trailer sleeps four people. There are two single bunk beds on one side and a double bed on the other. The beauty of the design is that the bunk beds convert into a couch and the double bed area converts into a table with seats for dining. The kitchen has a stove, fridge, sink with overhead shelves. There is even a closet worked into the floorplan.
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The Boler furnace runs on propane and the trailer can be hooked up to electricity. There is a 12-gallon holding tank for water. Since the body of the trailer is made of fiberglass it is corrosion-proof. The interior of the Boler is lined with insulation. It weighs 850-900 lbs depending on the model.
There is even an awning that goes over the door of the trailer. It slips easily into the slot just above the door. Our trailer still has the the original awning and is in perfect shape. I love my vintage camper.
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Our Boler Trailer
It Was Love at First Sight
We bought our 13-foot Boler trailer eight years ago and haven't looked back. It's a perfect trailer for young families with kids. Traveling with the trailer is easy because it's so small and light. You hardly know you're towing anything.
The only updating we did to our trailer was replacing all the foam on the cushions and covering them with new fabric. We also replaced the drapes. The trailer was in very good shape, the electrical worked, and the furnace worked.
Our vintage camper still had the original specifications attached to the closet door. It was manufactured in Peace River, Alberta in 1973. As far as we know the trailer had about four previous owners.
The Dining Area
The Dining Area
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Looking for Parts for Your Boler Trailer?
- My article on Boler Trailer Parts and Repair has information on how to fix up your Boler.
- Vintage Trailer Supply, Inc. sells some hard-to find-parts for old trailers. Check them out.
- Fibreglass RV Parts, Repairs, and Service by Paul Neumeister is a site with lots of Boler parts.
- Bolerlife.com chronicles the restoration of a Boler trailer. The site has lots of tips for fixing up a Boler.
Looking to Buy a Boler or Meet Other Boler Owners?
- Fiberglass RV - Boler Trailers
An online community on molded fiberglass travel trailers. - Boler ama
Another great forum for connecting with other Boler owners, sourcing parts, and selling or buying a Boler. - Boler Forum
A forum dedicated to Boler trailers. A great place to ask questions or to buy and sell Bolers.
This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. Content is for informational or entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in business, financial, legal, or technical matters.
