Our first outing in the little Aladdin

[Bruce]

"So, how did your camping trip go in your little trailer?"

<"The propane doesn't work, the water doesn't work, the drain leaks, and it worked perfect!!"

Just a quick tour, at 15 feet there isn't too much to show. The seller made sure that the trailer was in a usable condition and they painted the inside, which we just love how they matched the paint to the appliances. My wife has made new curtains since these pics were taken. Dad and I rebuilt the area around the door and braced the floor by the entrance, made a couple little mistakes but we feel a lot better about using the trailer.

Haven't been able to get the stove to work properly, tried an RV regulator but didn't do the job. Probably need to clear the lines and the burners. That's OK for now since we can cook outside. The morning before we left I finally hooked up water - that didn't go so well. The water pressure blew the input line out of the faucet. That's OK, we can take water jugs and carry water from a spigot. Final test was to pour some water down the drain, and it leaks. That's OK, we just use a dishpan and find a spot to dump the water. Yup, it's perfect!

First night we went to Riverfront Park in Sedro Woolley, WA. Only an hour from home but close enough to anything we need if something goes dreadfully wrong or we forgot something. Stopped at Popeye's for some chicken then set up camp for our first night. Here is our setup in the Popeye's parking lot. The big diesel F-250 is definitely over kill for the job. The boat is a rowboat that my dad and I built over the last year from Pygmy Boats. Hoping to finally have a chance to use it some.

We left Sedro Woolley onto Washington SR20, also known as the North Cascades Highway, which takes us to our destination near Winthrop, WA. Ninety miles that takes around 2 1/2 hours with no stops. SR20 is part of what is probably one of the top drives/rides in the U.S., often called the Cascades Loop. Here is a picture that my wife took at a pullout.

Not very long after this stop, we saw a black bear along the side of the road. "I was hoping to see a deer, I was happy with the chipmunk, but I just saw a BEAR!!" says my wife. But no pic since the bear took off into the woods when it saw us coming down the road.

We got to the campground hours before the rest of our party. We set up the trailer but not the awning since we didn't know how the other rigs and tent would be placed.

Eventually everyone showed up. Then wife started getting sick. See had a fever from Saturday night through Monday morning and still wasn't quite right Tuesday when we headed home. I had hoped to take her on an early morning row, but that didn't work out. My wife, one sister-in-law, and myself tended to get up an hour or two before everyone else so after making a couple pots of coffee and filing thermos bottles I did take my sister-in-law out for a tour of the little lake.

If you look past the boat you can see the rings from a jumping fish. All the larger fish managed to avoid me but my wife did catch a 15 to 18 inch trout Monday morning. If you are a fan of fly-fishing this little lake is worth a visit. They keep the lake stocked, barbless hooks only, one fish keep limit. Earlier this year someone caught a 5 pound trout of this little lake. Big Twin Lakes Resort in Winthop, WA. OK camping on a fun little lake.

The town of Winthrop is basically a tourist town, witness the pic below of me and the wife.

This was Monday afternoon, the last of the clear skies. By the time we got to the campground the rain had started. It continued to rain though the rest of the day, night and through most of the drive home on Tuesday. Here is the Uno game being played under our awning before we went into the parent-in-laws RV for movie night.

We kept our large Craftsmen awning up until everyone had packed and left - provided a dry area for dealing with items to be packed. This awning originally came with some aluminum extrusions to use on a camper, the tarp itself has a plastic bolt-rope build into it; we are hoping to try this out sometime with the extrusion on the trailer.

All good things come to an end sometime, but we did stretch our time out as much as possible by stopping to make some sandwiches on the way home. We stopped at a look out over Lake Diablo. Highway 20 is a great drive and there are a lot of small campgrounds over the entire drive. Here are a couple parting shots of Lake Diablo from the look out just to whet your appetite for this drive.

[Wendy Reavill]

How surprised I was to see my Aladdin on this blog.  I bought her last year and am just starting to do some work.  She is beautiful.

Our kids were doing some weed eating and through a rock into the door window and broke it.  Im so sad.  Is there anywhere I can get new windows?  How do the windows come out?  Or is there anywhere I can find a new old door. 

I really enjoyed seeing pictures and hearing how enjoyed she has been.  Thank you!

[Bruce]

Robin & Tim,

I don't know the specific model, I imagine it is a Magic Carpet.  We recently sold the trailer to a neighbor.  Turns out to have some significant structure problems, after much debate we accepted that we would not give the trailer the care and repair it needed.  We bought an 1985 Kit trailer, which has worked out better for us since we wanted camping more than a vintage trailer.  Did my best to make the little Aladdin seem like a basket case, but the more I talked the more excited my neighbor became.  It is in good hands, he previously worked as a carpenter and needed a project to fill his spare time.

Once you get your trailer rolling, you will love it.  We had a terrible time making the decision to sell it.  Oh, if your trailer is like mine, it will tow like a dream.  The size is nice, some of the more 'rustic' campgrounds have smaller sites but should still hold the Aladdin.  

Diablo is still on my list, maybe this year?

[Robin & Tom]

Hi Bruce, looks like you have a Magic Carpet, is that right?  We have a 1966 Magic Carpet. I have wanted to visit Ross Lake/Diablo Lake for YEARS and once we get roadworthy it is on our list. Thanks for the great post!          -Robin

[Bruce]

Lindsay, our trailer has a spigot for park water (this one leaks badly) and the other is a pump faucet from an internal tank which has long been missing.

[Lindsay Kunert]

Love how the fronts of the drawers match the appliances! I think I will steal that idea when I paint my alladin next year! What is the other silver faucet by the sink? Mine just has the one for the water. I have found that the best place for me to find parts is wrecking yards. They are not Alladin specific but vintage none the less.

[Jessica Snell]

Great photos - thanks for sharing! Looks like a beautiful place, husband and I need to visit the Cascades for sure.

[Bruce]

Collin,
Haven't needed too many parts. We have been just using 'as is'. Vintage Trailer Supply has some parts I will be ordering.