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Bowlus trailers were the first all aluminum travel trailer and were designed by Hawley Bowlus.

Bowlus trailers are made of riveted aluminum panels attached to welded steel tubing, similar to aircraft construction methods of the 1930's, and so are extremely lightweight.

The Bowlus design and construction methods were later used by Airstream trailers.

What's New

- June 7, 2010
There was a pair of Bowlus trailers at Alumapalooza which was a big aluminum trailer festival held on the property of Airstream in Jackson Center, Ohio. Lots of fun and lots of people to meet and talk to. Even the European Aluminum trailer enthusiast showed up. I gave a presentation on the history of the aluminum trailer entitled Bowlus, Origin of the Species. Lots of visits to the Bowlus by the participants and Airstream employees. The other Bowlus trailer #140 belongs to Airstream and they are planning to restore it over the next few years. Thanks to Rich Luhr for organizing a great meeting, it is planned for next year so I hope more Bowlus can show up.



- May 27, 2010
Bowlus was be the feature trailer at the Tin Can Tourist 13th Annual Gathering in Milford, Michigan May 20-23, 2010. Three Bowlus Road Chief's were there, the largest gathering of Bowlus trailers since 1935! There was a presentation on Hawley Bowlus and his revolutionary trailer design on Friday evening which was great fun with lots of questions. Lots of Bowlus talk between the three trailer owners, myself John Long, Gar Williams and Diane Flis-Schneider and the two other owners Con Oamek and Mark Conforzi. Mark owns #111 which beats Con's (113) to make it the oldest rivetted aluminum trailer in the world! All in all the Tin Can Tourist Gathering was a lot of fun. I don't have time to write a full report right now but here are some photos.




- April 1, 2010
I have finally finished the Bowlus book, it is titled, Bowlus Trailers - The Origin of the Species. It has about all the photos I have sourced on Bowlus from the California trip I took in February. There is a 21 page preview to get an idea of what is inside. You can buy a copy of the book on the blurb site, they print them one at a time and so are a little more expensive than normal books but as this has limited interested I am not sure it will be a big seller:) If you do buy a book please send me an email as I do not think blurb tells me if anyone has bought one. I will have a few copies of the new book at the Tin Can Tourist Gathering and the Alumapalooza meetings, it anyone wants to take a look at the real thing.
John

The Origin of the ...
By John Long


- March 31, 2010
I have been writing an article titled "Bowlus - Origin of the Species" for Airstream Life magazine. I recently returned from a fact-finding trip to California and have a lot of new information on the history of Bowlus that I plan to post on this website. I interviewed a number of Bowlus owners and family members to find the facts behind the story of the manufacture of the Bowlus trailers. The Airstream Life article is being published in two parts for the Airstream Life magazine summer and fall issues. It is a long article of over 6500 words and has lots of original Bowlus pictures so please buy a subscription or you can order single issues from the Airstream Life website.

With this new information, I am giving a presentation on the history of Bowlus at the 13th Annual Tin Can Tourist Gathering on Friday, May 21 at 8pm.

Also I am attending the Alumpalooza on June 1-6th, 2010 with my Bowlus (#149) and will be also giving the presentation and a "show and tell" with the "Airstream" Bowlus #140, hope to see you there. The presentation is on Thursday, June 3rd at 3pm.

- March 20, 2010
New photo of Leo Keoshian beautiful Papoose with his Bugatti in the Register section. Thanks Leo for sending that along.

- March 15, 2010
The Wyoming Bowlus #140 was purchased by Airstream and now is at their factory read to be restored back to it's former glory so a number of Airstream owners will be able to easily see it.

- February 17, 2010
Added a new Bowlus Road Chief to the Register , number 140, it's in Wyoming.

- January 28, 2010
Added a new Bowlus brochure to the Brochures section.
This is the famous 8 page brochure with the poem by S.W. Sensiba on it. I just have the front cover but the rest will come.

- January 25, 2010
Found an old movie with a Bowlus in it. Made in 1935, and it is on Utube, it is called Red Salute. Go to 1:53 on of the movie to see a "Just Married" Bowlus!

Or for more fun go to the other section of Red Salute where "Cliff Edwards (the voice of Jiminy Cricket in Pinochio) says... That new trailer... oh, it's wonderful..."Barbara Stanwyck" ...it sure is! WOW!

- January 8, 2010
Added a new Bowlus picture to the Register.
I found another pictures of the Red and White De Luxe Road Chief... the extended one.

- January 4, 2010
Added a new Bowlus to the Register.
I found these pictures in my files of a Packard pulling a Bowlus, I think it is in California. If you are the owner please email and tell me your name and serial number.

- December 20, 2009
Added a new Bowlus to the Register.
It is Con Oamek's Bowlus #113. It's an unusual as it has a toilet room and extra small sink. Keep those photos coming in and I will post them.

- December 19, 2009
Bowlus will be the feature trailer at the Tin Can Tourist 13th Annual Gathering in Milford, Michigan May 20-23, 2010. Currently we are hoping four Bowlus Road Cheif's will be there, the largest gathering of Bowlus trailers since 1935!

- December 12, 2009
Added some new pictures of a differently kind of Papoose in register section. Thanks Gar

- December 11, 2009
Added a graphic treatment of a photo sent by Craig Dorsey of Vintage Vacation fame of a Road Chief and Boeing 247 in 1935. It's in the brochures section.

- December 10, 2009
Added a new pictures of Gar Williams' Bowlus trailer in the register section. Keep those pictures coming in.

- December 8, 2009
The site is live and open to the world.

Bowlus Book Published!
Available at blurb.com

I have finally published the Bowlus book, titled, Bowlus Trailers - The Origin of the Species. It has 80 pages of photos and a story of the building and models of Bowlus trailers. There is a 21 page preview if you click on the graphic below to get an idea of what is inside. You can buy a copy of the book on the blurb site, they print them one at a time. If you do buy a book please send me an email. I will have a few copies of the new book at the Alumapalooza meetings, it anyone wants to take a look at the real thing.

The Origin of the ...
By John Long


Links on the site with more information. Please browse around.

Bowlus Trailer Models - Models

Restoration of my Bowlus - Restoration.

Information on Hawley Bowlus - Biography

Bowlus Brochures - Brochures

Registery of Known Bowlus - Register

Frequently Asked Questions - FAQ

Contact and Links - Contacts

To my Bowlus Road Chief

Poem by S.W.Sensiba, 1935

Fervent wish was mine to see
Spingtime bloom of desert sand,
Viewing all of Nature's lore
In her glorious wonderland


Highways lure to peaks of snow,
Ragged pines, and trouting stream;
And the roar of breaking wave
Stencils out another dream.


Now I have a graceful tube
Wrought of steel and light dural
Groomed to pierce reristant air
With an ease no words can tell.


Comfort makes a happy home
As we travel here and there
Pull the gang plan, wave adeiu"
Road Chief, "Bowlus" anywhere"


From the 1935 Bowlus Road Chief Brochure

"A check of the gasoline consumption on 'The Bowlus Road Chief' for 10,000 miles of travel revealed one startling fact. At speed of 45 miles per hour and over, due to the streamlining and light weight, the entire assemblage had a reduced air resistance that actually increased the mileage per gallon. At low speed and on grades this did not hold true, but the increased gasoline consumption was in no way abnormal or excessive. We believe that no other two cabin trailers can show the economy per miles of travel as 'The Bowlus Road Chief."