This is my first post on here and I seem to have a dinosaur compared to some of the pop-ups I have seen on here. But I do have a rather neat story to tell.
(http://www.chargerfever.com/teepee/IM000205.jpg)
Back around 1960-1962 (family cant all decide on an exact date) my grand parents bought a Bethany Traveling TeePee brand new. They took my mom and uncle all over the USA camping. In the 1970's my parents got the old TeePee and as a Kid I got to go camping to many places in it. About 1984 it got sold due to a divorce and that was the end of the TeePee.
Recently I have been wanting to do some camping again and started thinking about the old TeePee again. My dad was the one who sold the TeePee and has since passed on. I started trying to remember who he sold it to as it was an old family friend. Sure enough I remembered who it was and looked them up. They still had it and it was tucked away in a storage unit. A deal was worked and I got the TeePee back making it owned by 3 generations of family. It was like opening a time capsule as I had not been in it since about 1980 as a kid. My grandpa had built a wood box with special places inside to hold dishes and cooking stuff. It was there along with all the pots and pans and cooking stuff. I even found an old ballcap I used to wear as a kid when camping still stored away! Overall it appears to be good shape for its age. The canvas seems to still be good except for a small tear that I hope can get patched. It needs a good cleaning and the pink paint buffed and shined up. Also the frame areas need to be repainted. I am wanting to keep it as original as possible but it needs to be protected from rust. The underneath looks to be in great shape with solid floors.
(http://www.chargerfever.com/teepee/IM000207.jpg)
A few questions I have are how many were built and how many are left. Looking for history of the company that I have since learned is no longer around. I have a serial # and was wondering where I could determine the exact year of the TeePee using the #. What can I use to clean the canvas and perhaps put a treatment on it to help protect and waterproof it.
More pictures can been seen here.........
http://www.chargerfever.com/teepee/index.html
Thanks!
Todd
Wow! What a story. Thanks for sharing it and thanks for the pics.
It goes to show you what an impact camping can have on a family.
Very cool story! (and camper too) It should be a fun project to restore it.
Maybe Bear Creek Canvas can give you an idea of the year. http://www.bearcreekcanvas.com/
By the way welcome to the board.
Wow what a great story. I think it is great you found the old one and plan to still use it. What wonderful memories it has and many more and just around the corner.
What a cool story! The ball cap part put a lump in my throat.
Larry
That is really cool. I hope you have many new happy camping times in the trailer.:)
Great story and a great old pop up!! What a great rehab job that would be!! Try this link for canvas...I saw replacement canvas specifically for the Bethany Tee Pee towards the bottom of the page. Enjoy!! http://www.snapfastener.com/popuppri.htm (//%22http://www.snapfastener.com/popuppri.htm%22)
That is VERY cool!
If it's true canvas for the tenting, the easiest repair may be to just hand stitch it with waxed thread ... old tent canvas (especially the old Army-type tent canvas) is pretty forgiving and keeps out water no problem. Worst case is stitch it with waxed thread then put a seal tape over it.
One of the most awesome stories I've heard recently. Makes me wish I could find the old canvas Army tent and camping box our family used to camp with back in the 60's and 70's.
Quote from: JohnowolfThat is VERY cool!
If it's true canvas for the tenting, the easiest repair may be to just hand stitch it with waxed thread ... old tent canvas (especially the old Army-type tent canvas) is pretty forgiving and keeps out water no problem. Worst case is stitch it with waxed thread then put a seal tape over it.
One of the most awesome stories I've heard recently. Makes me wish I could find the old canvas Army tent and camping box our family used to camp with back in the 60's and 70's.
There is a piece of canvas in the teepee not being used. I wonder where I could find some wax thread at and hand stitch it myself.
There is not anything I need to do to the old canvas as far as treating it to be water proof?
Todd
With most canvas, as long as you don't TOUCH it while it's raining, you won't have a problem. We learned early on that if you touch the canvas while it's wet, that will cause it to start leaking wherever you touch it.
Same was true for our '83 Coleman Jamestown's canvas. As long as we didn't touch it during the rain, never had a problem with leaking ... but when DD ran her hand across it, it started to leak (she just had to test it, because she didn't believe me LOL).
I can attest to the canvas/rain item. Growing up my family camped in an old pop-up and to this day when it rains while camping I tend to shrink into a smaller ball to keep from touching the canvas! I was the youngest & smallest so I usually ended up on the bunk end. I don't recall my parents doing anything to the canvas to water-proof it, just staying away from it when it rained.
Enjoy, that's a great story! My grandfather made a similar box for my parents, it fit the dishes, pots & pans, all that stuff and would sit on a table just outside the PU, near the door.
Sharon
Got a card in the mail today from my Grandma. She sent me 4 pictures of various trips with the TeePee in about 1965. Wyoming,Nebraska and California. In the one picture you see the stickers on the back of the door. Most of those stickers have not done well over time but some of them are still there. I want to preserve this part of it if I can.
(http://www.chargerfever.com/teepee/teepee1.jpg)
(http://www.chargerfever.com/teepee/teepee2.jpg)
(http://www.chargerfever.com/teepee/teepee3.jpg)
(http://www.chargerfever.com/teepee/teepee4.jpg)
These are all pictures of my grandparents and mom and uncle in the TeePee! This treasure keeps getting better since I found it!
Todd
What a great story! :) The personal history that you have will make restoring it a labor of love. Very cool! :D
Super cool. I work for the Illinois Tollway and a saw someone towing one of those the other day. So wierd to see it then this post. Glad you got the trailer back. I love the old trailers. :tent:
Worked on the old TeePee this weekend Had to get it some new wheels and tires. Got out the buffer and got the old pink paint to shine again. Has a reflection now! Welded some new safety chains to it and and working out the wiring bugs for the rear lights. Took it for a test drive down the highway today and it pulled straight as an arrow. Next week it goes to the canvas shop for repairs. Then a good clean inside and it should be ready for camping again!
(http://www.chargerfever.com/teepee/IM000001.jpg)
I had to get it some new hip white spoke wheels as I could not find another old style rim that could accept a hubcap. If anyone knows where I can get an old style rim and a new set of chrome moon hubcaps for it please let me know!
Todd
I just recieved my Bethany Traveling Teepee from my neighbor, she is an older lady and gave it to me along with her old Sears Row Boat 12 foot. Its in pretty good condition being bought in 1962.
I was planning on refurbishing it, new paint, new trailer tires (anyone know were I can buy 4.8 x 4.0 -12"? tires and/or tires/wheels?) Canvas is in pretty good condition despite two spots that need repair near the fiberglass top. A few snap buttons and a good airing out and heck not bad for FREE !
If anyone is interested I will post pics of it soon; the before and after shots.
Has anyone ever used fabric paint to paint canvas?
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Alright! 2 of us out there! Post pictures as soon as you can!!!!!!!!!
You can get wheels and tires at Walmart or any of the farm stores. WalMart had the best price. I paid 40$ a piece for a new rim and tire combo. When I priced stuff a few weeks ago it was about 30$ a piece to put new tires on the old rims and I needed to get a spare so I figured it was cheaper for me to buy 2 new wheel and tire combo's for 80$ instead of spending 60$ for 2 new tires and then 40$ for a wheel/tire as a spare. This way I saved 20$ and have 2 spares now.
Problem is these are the white spoke wheels and not a wheel that can take a hubcap like the TeePee originally had to hold its chrome hubcap. I am still wanting to find an old rim that can take a hubcap.
Cant wait to see your pictures!!!!!!
Todd
Well My digital camera is not set up for night photos I tried to snap some pictures now and well they was a little dark, LOL. I will take some as soon as I am off during the day to post them.
Walmart sweet! Thanks for the info I was looking for them and most of them were 4.8 x 8.0 will those fit? Will I have enough clearence not to rub the tires? And you did a great job on yours, WOW, what a difference!! I was thinking of trying to get new canvas but that is pretty expensive ain't it?
I guess its a Chief model it has the pop out of both sides of the camper with a cool table that folds out in the middle and 6-8 storage bins, room to sleep 4.
I been working on my neighbors yard cause she is older and her family really doesn't help her much even after her husband recently passing away this last winter. Sad she still tears up talking about him which almost tears me up. 50 years of marriage is something to talk about and will be happy to refurbish it for her . Hopefully I will have extra money to do so and so she can see the finished product.
Any pointers and info you have for me would be great, but as it is now thank you so much for the info you already supplied me I always wanted a camper and well I finally have one just need to work on it and get out there so I can lite my FIRE !!
Thank you
My nickname is my squad name on my other websites //www.soldiersofbattlefield.com, //www.bf2squad.com, //www.sobracing.net and //www.zomputer.com we are a gaming website we play NASCAR online and Battlefield 1942/Desert Combat mod and soon Battlefield 2 this weekend when the demo releases. Anyone want to game we got a game server and voice server you are more then welcome to come play our members pay for the servers. We run Teamspeak and Ventrilo voice communication systems as well as a Game server that runs Battlefield 1942/Desert Combat, NASCAR and Counterstrike Source.
But anyway it is not to be nasty (Autococker By Worr) it is after my favorite paintball marker I used when I use to paintball and all our members have nicknames. Just so the fine webmaster and moderator knows. Thanks for this informative website.
But all is welcome to come check us out.
Camper pics soon to come.
Michael
aka Autococker
Founder/Webmaster/Owner
//www.soldiersofbattlefield.com
//www.zomputer.com
(http://www.soldiersofbattlefield.com/sigpics/auto2.gif)
My Walmart had the wheel and tire listed with a price but did not have any out on the rack. They had to go to the back and get 2 of them for me. The farm stores have them as well and averaged 6-8$ more then walmart did.
I am interested in your pictures. Sounds like you have a different model. I just got done restoring an old car and had some buffing compound left over and used the buffer on the TeePee and it shined up. IN previous messages others have posted links to possible places to get a new canvas. I dont know how much it will cost but it could be up around 800$ for it.
You might try and find a tent and awning shop in your town. They may be able to patch yours or make a new one for you for less. They should also be able to snap some new snaps on for you also. I am on vacation next week and will take the TeePee down and let them look at it and decide how to fix it and how much it will cost.
Sometime soon I am going to POR 15 the black steel frame and then paint it with chassis black to help preserve and protect the steel. It has some slight serface rust on some of it so I want to POR15 it as soon as possible.
I can host your pictures for you if you dont have a place. Send me an email with them if you like
71charger@chargerfever.com
Todd
Ok I took some pics. Keep in mind I did not start redoing the camper yet so the thing is a little rough.
picture 1 (http://www.zomputer.com/camper/IM000271.JPG)
picture 2 (http://www.zomputer.com/camper/IM000272.JPG)
picture 3 (http://www.zomputer.com/camper/IM000273.JPG)
picture 4 (http://www.zomputer.com/camper/IM000274.JPG)
picture 5 (http://www.zomputer.com/camper/IM000275.JPG)
picture 6 (http://www.zomputer.com/camper/IM000276.JPG)
picture 7 (http://www.zomputer.com/camper/IM000277.JPG)
picture 8 (http://www.zomputer.com/camper/IM000278.JPG)
picture 9 (http://www.zomputer.com/camper/IM000279.JPG)
picture 10 (http://www.zomputer.com/camper/IM000280.JPG)
picture 11 (http://www.zomputer.com/camper/IM000281.JPG)
picture 12 (http://www.zomputer.com/camper/IM000282.JPG)
Hope these are not to big of size were they will show.
If not just copy and past the link in your address bar they will come up then
Cool pictures! The Chief model is kinda slick looking. Looks yours has not aged as well as mine. Mine is all original still. Good to see some of these old units still around.
Looks like they used a common frame/side wall and the top and then designed different tent options and frame work for keeping it all opened up.
I would not go to a different sized wheel and tire from your previous post. I would be worried about ground clearance and of course the wheel wells.
Todd
Thanks for the pictures! I enjoy seeing "progressive" pictures during a restoration, so please do post pictures of during the restoration too!
Larry