We bought a 1972 boler for $1500! Amazing trailer transformation!

In this video we restore our 1972 boler 1300 (13 ft). We purchased the boler that was sitting abandoned in a field for $1500 (CAN) in the spring of 2015. We spent the next two years stripping it down to just a fiberglass shell and then building it back up to what it is now.
We originally bought the boler to extend our camping season. To get us out camping earlier in the Canadian spring time and our longer into the fall and winter season. Once the majority of the restoration was done, we got in two good years of camping with the boler.
In the summer of 2020 that all changed. We moved out of our apartment and put everything in storage to travel around and live in the boler for the summer. Well, we fell in love with the nomadic lifestyle and tiny living with the boler. So much so, that fast forward two years later and we are still at it. Travelling around and seeing where the road leads us to.
We hope you enjoy this video.
Please subscribe and select the notifications icon to follow along with us.
This video is not a how-to video, its more for enjoyment and possibly some inspiration. If two girls who have never owned an RV in their life can do this.... so can you!
A special thanks to those of you who help. From family and friends, to all the people that wrote blogs or took the time to answer questions on a forum or fb group. You all helped make this possible
How we get around:
Trailer : 1972 boler 13 ft.
Tow Vehicle : 2015 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport 4x4
Product Links and Referrals:
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, Lady Ferns may earn a small affiliate commission if you click the link provided below and finalize a purchase within 24 hours. These are all products that we use and love. We hope you do too.
Some of Our Equipment:
Iphone
GoPro Hero 11 amzn.to/492zD3n (Amazon)
Dashcam: Vantrue N2 Pro amzn.to/3OaGy2u (Amazon)
Canon 90D amzn.to/48A23lo (Amazon)
Sigma 150-600mm amzn.to/3vDFr51 (Amazon)
Drone: DJI Mini 3 Fly More Combo (DJI RC) amzn.to/48HXgP5 (Amazon)
#scamp #boler #boler1972 #bolertrailer #bolerrestoration #nomad #fulltimerv #nomadiclife
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Music:
All music comes from Epidemic Sounds!
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FAIR USE NOTICE
This video may contain copyrighted material; the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available for the purposes of criticism, comment, review and news reporting which constitute the fair use of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. Not withstanding the provisions of sections 106 and 106A, the fair use of a copyrighted work for purposes such as criticism, comment, review and news reporting is not an infringement of copyright.

[@janetmitchell1053]

WOW!...(Janet, from Quartzsite here)...you guys are rock stars! What a transformation! Incredible! So glad you told me about this video! Amazing about the water in the door! Great job! See you down the road! 😀

[@Lady_Ferns]

Thank you so much Janet! It was a pleasure meeting you in Quartzsite this year. Hope our paths cross again one day on the road again. Or perhaps next season in Quartzsite

[@Hadassah-KaquoliMReno]

You gave her a new life, she’s beautiful again!

[@Lady_Ferns]

Thank you very much 😄❤️

[@DanyRivard]

Very nice job ..., nice!!

[@Lady_Ferns]

Thank you very much 😃

[@TheOrganicYard]

Nice work

[@Lady_Ferns]

Thank you very much

[@Jan-pw4po]

Great restoration, I am on the west coast and camp all year in my restored 73 13 ft boler,

[@Lady_Ferns]

That’s awesome. The west coast is home for us as well. Spent the first 1 1/2 nomadically in the boler on the west coast. I hope your staying warm this winter ❤️

[@myavo]

nice work.. hope you're healed (healing) nicely..

[@Lady_Ferns]

Thank you very much 😄. Yes I have made a full recovery from my ankle injury. It’s amazing how much we take our legs for granted. I’m happy to be fully mobile again. Thank you for the well wishes.

[@richardhuffman58]

Great Job!!!!!

[@Lady_Ferns]

Thank you 😄

[@oldsalt8011]

Nice rework!

[@Lady_Ferns]

Thank you so much ❤️😄

[@doug2078]

Dam Good Job !!!

[@Lady_Ferns]

Thank you so much 😄

[@jeanmayfield1636]

WOW I MEAN WOW AMAZING BUILD. GOOD FOR YOU BOTH👍🙋‍♀️😊

[@Lady_Ferns]

Thank you sooo much ❤️❤️❤️😄😄

[@LaughingLife-54]

What a great adventure. Thank you for sharing this.

[@Lady_Ferns]

Thank you for watching and commenting. So happy you enjoyed it

[@notme3252]

You didn’t buy a boler, you bought a boler shell! Either way - great job bringing it back to life!

[@Lady_Ferns]

Lol so true. We often joke around saying that same thing. The only original parts left after we were done was the shell and the fibreglass cabinets. 😄. Thank you so much for the compliment

[@bruceboone1232]

Have fun !

[@Lady_Ferns]

Thank you 😄

[@Bailey3333]

How cool!

[@Lady_Ferns]

Thank you so much . We really enjoyed the project.

[@Thomas63r2]

That Boler is fortunate that it found you. Wise move on the new frame - that is an often overlooked step in making a vintage trailer truly roadworthy.

[@Lady_Ferns]

Thank you so much 😄. We were very happy to of found the boler too. The frame was a must do for me, it had its issues already, and to have it stripped down to the bare bones, it would be way harder to do the frame later on. Plus I had seen so many photos of bolers with the frames snapped on side of the road. We wanted to avoid that.

[@duggydugg3937]

nice

[@johnmicalizzi126]

Good deal!

[@Lady_Ferns]

Thank you. I thought so too. Hard to find them as it is, let alone for that price 😄

[@abigailandino6251]

So cute ! ❤

[@Lady_Ferns]

Thank you so much 😊

[@pocketchange1951]

👍👌❤️🇨🇦, I got my dad's 1977 17' Boler back in 1997, very sweet restore

[@Lady_Ferns]

That’s so wonderful. What a great a trailer to acquire. Hope you have many adventures in your boler !

[@pocketchange1951]

@@Lady_Ferns they are true gems aren't they

[@pocketchange1951]

@@Lady_Ferns a ross Canada 6 times, and every state except Hawaii, gr8 fun

[@Lady_Ferns]

@@pocketchange1951 they sure are gems 💎

[@Lady_Ferns]

@@pocketchange1951 oh wow! That is wonderful. We so far have hit 32 states and two provinces with ours. And looking forward to crossing even more off next month. I hope to say the same as you one day! You are inspiring

[@scotthoughton7245]

That trailer was manufactured about 5 miles from where I was born and now live. Hey from Englehart, on. Canada

[@Lady_Ferns]

Awesome!! That is so neat! Is there a few bolers still in the area because of that? My particular boler was made in Peace River, AB. As in 1971 a location was opened up there for manufacturing as well.

[@cherylrogers9568]

Fantastic reno! My boyfriend and I have been living in a 6x12 cargo trailer for 2 1/2 years. We love it most of the time.

[@Lady_Ferns]

Wow good for you both! It’s not always an easy life living nomadically, but I would choose it over the 9-5 rat race any day. I wish you all the best in your adventures and journeys.

[@klebberbezerra1610]

your passion for the boiler is amazing.

[@Lady_Ferns]

Thank you so much for the compliment ❤️😊.

[@nateklein7342]

Great job! I wish I could find one for $1500. still looking!

[@Lady_Ferns]

Thank you so much!. I wish you the best of luck finding the right boler for you 😀

[@dolphinlover1691]

Lovely resto. I liked the appropriate use of the word "neglected" around 1.50 😳😂

[@Lady_Ferns]

Thank you. 😄. Ya, not sure how long it sat there or how long it’s been since those wheels touched a road. But it’s making up for all those years now.

[@dolphinlover1691]

@@Lady_Ferns "Neglected" was the understatement of the year 🤣

[@larryg.9187]

..... Excellent job on the renovation of the camper... ..... Excellent job on editing, filming, background music, voice, and an overall classy production of your film ... Thanks for sharing ..... Best regards .....

[@Lady_Ferns]

Thank you so much 😄😊. The renovation of the boler was a great joy for us. At times challenging but all worth it. Thank you as well for the compliments, we are very new to creating KZbin content, it’s a big learning curve for us, but we are enjoying learning as we go 😄

[@rebeccastratton4114]

Hands down the best restoration video I've ever watched. Great tracking of reno, music that us not overbearing and narrative that us informative but not silly or too personal.

[@Lady_Ferns]

Thank you so much for the comment and compliment. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. We are so glad you enjoyed the video. 😄

[@weeziepuff13]

Beautiful job on the restoration!

[@Lady_Ferns]

Thank you so much 😀

[@plantykathy7639]

What great adventure!

[@Lady_Ferns]

Yes it sure has been 😄. Excited for all the adventures yet to come as well

[@lancerevell5979]

A very nice restoration! It looks nearly brand new. An excellent job. 😎

[@Lady_Ferns]

Thank you so much

[@robertm6595]

its so cool to look at is it comfy to live in its absolutely stunning its got a new family that loves it!!!!!!!!

[@cat3crazy]

I'm looking for a van but a cute little trailer like yours might do. I've no means of doing any restoration so I won't be buying anything for only $1500. I'm not in any rush. I've got a lot of decisions to make and possessions I have sell before I can move out of where I'm living now. I subscribed so I will be watching future videos.

[@Lady_Ferns]

That’s so exciting! I am sure you will choose the right thing for you and future adventures. There are many pros and cons to towing a small little trailer vs a van. Honestly sometimes I don’t know which I would choose if I were to do it all over again. But we are very happy with our little trailer.

[@thebenefactor6744]

I thought that was one of our family photos, with that green one in the first shot. I was looking for family members. Good times in a Boler.

[@Lady_Ferns]

That so wonderful that you can look back at family memories and your time in your family boler. We never had a boler growing up, but camping is some of my most favourite childhood memories

[@thebenefactor6744]

Check that.

[@lynnlynn5583]

What an awesome find! 👍

[@Lady_Ferns]

Thank you. I was so excited when I found it. We raced out there right away. Bolers don’t stay “for sale” very long.

[@GwenMotoGirl]

What a wonderful restoration and new life!

[@Lady_Ferns]

Thank you so much 😄.

[@frankmckinley1254]

An amazing amount of work, don't know if I would have tackled that. Thanks for posting.

[@Lady_Ferns]

Thank you so much. It was a huge project, and I had zero experience with this sort of thing. I know many had their doubts if I would finish it. So happy I did.

[@tamaracockroft2517]

beautiful! 🤠

[@Lady_Ferns]

Thank you so much ☺️

[@soniadowney7427]

So glad this popped up ..here's my thing that may not bother other people. I just don't like music attached to a video. You have such a nice soothing voice ..music can be annoying if not to someone's taste. Anyways, i subscribed 😊

[@Lady_Ferns]

Thank you for the feedback. Yes music can be a tricky thing. It can make or break a video. And that can vary a lot from opinion to opinion. We are still new to making videos and plan to play around with various styles and see what is uniquely our best way to express ourselves and share our adventures. Thank you for subscribing, we hope you will enjoy the content as it comes out. And also, thank you for the compliment on my soothing voice 😄😊😄 that is very kind of you to say! ❤️

[@odorono5216]

amazing ❤

[@Lady_Ferns]

Thank you so much ❤️

[@JL-dj5ek]

Very nice camper build and rescue. The boler shell sold by the seller might only cost 500 dollars... lol

[@Lady_Ferns]

Thank you so much. 😄

[@peachcathy]

Would like to see more inside, cute home, can't wait for more videos.

[@Lady_Ferns]

Thank you so much. We are so pleased you are enjoying the videos so far. We have been spending some time in areas with poor reception lately. But there is more videos coming, and lot more content to share :). We are hoping the film an up to date tour of the boler and post it soon. Been doing lots of upgrades and repairs, before the new tour.

[@marielaboissiere2292]

Beautiful home!

[@Lady_Ferns]

Thank you so much ❤️😄

[@savannahstories846]

Not bad good investment 🧐

[@Lady_Ferns]

Thank you very much.

[@helened6896]

The transformation is incredible. So impressed. Best wishes to you from Texas. Stay safe and God bless you always.

[@Lady_Ferns]

Thank you so much ❤️😄. Best wishes to you as well!

[@artblomquist]

My bolere was called the Batwing Boler. Same awning! And weirdly enough, I lived in the same town with that mountain as a back drop!

[@Lady_Ferns]

That’s is so neat! Do you still have batwing the boler? I remember seeing two other bolers in that “town with the Mountian”. I wonder if perhaps one of them was yours 🤔. That would be interesting if that was the case. It’s a beautiful area in those mountains. We have been travelling in the USA for the last year in the boler. How I do miss those mountains. Looking forward to seeing them again one day.

[@ellisa6382]

I remember this! Such a good job!

[@Lady_Ferns]

Thank you. I remember people thinking I was crazy to take on the task… lol but all I saw was potential. Now looking back, I can see why people thought that.. lol but I also have zero regrets for doing it.

[@leighjohnson1001]

WOW WOW WOW!,What a great job you have done,thank you for sharing gives me and others encouragement to do more,enjoy your Boler,oh have you named it yet,safe travels from Melbourne Australia......

[@Lady_Ferns]

Thank you soooo much ❤️❤️❤️. We appreciate your comment and compliment. The boler was originally called “Blue” (blue the boler). Sometimes I refer to it as our turtle shell, as we drag our home with us. But we haven’t found a name that really clicks, like “yes that is it”.

[@corywadedavis]

Great job restoring that old Boiler! $1500 for that thing was a criminal price. Should've been free to maybe $300 max.

[@Lady_Ferns]

Thank you for the compliment on our restoration 😄

[@trishamckeown7245]

Living the dream after so much hard work and Learning as you go. So inspiring ladies. Keep the videos coming😁

[@Lady_Ferns]

Thank you so much!!! Who could of known it would all come together the way it has. It was like the Camino. I just felt I had to do this restoration but at the time I could not tell you why. I just felt it in my bones

[@marcoss.herrera2714]

Amazing work. Congratulations.

[@Lady_Ferns]

Thank you so much 😄

[@Silkytoaster]

It’s heartwarming to see something old being given a new life . Whether it’s an old house or an old caravan . Just found your Chanel and subscribed . Looking forward to more vids about your adventures . Greetings from grimsby ontario .

[@Lady_Ferns]

Thank you so much for the lovely words and for following us on our journey. With the boler being the age it is, we can’t help wonder, what other adventures the boler might of seen before it was parked in a field and long forgotten. It was a true joy to restore the boler and make it road worthy 😄

[@dbcooper4037]

Wonderful job slightly itchy from watching the video but still wonderful job

[@Lady_Ferns]

Lol itchy from how gross it was or all the fiberglassing that was needed to repair it ?

[@dbcooper4037]

@@Lady_Ferns I can deal with the mess mold even hand to Paw combat with critters but fiberglass is absolutely miserable makes me itch for days and longer

[@Lady_Ferns]

Lol I totally agree. The Fiberglass got the better of me at least once. I learned that baby powder helps just a little bit to take away that itch. But it’s still not fun.

[@rwrootbeer]

Amazing passion 👍

[@suzannemarie5718]

Thanks for sharing the process of restoring your trailer! I would love to see how you organize the inside! Great video

[@Lady_Ferns]

Thank you so much. We are hoping to film a “tour of the boler” soon. Keep your eyes open for it to come out.

[@gottathinkupanewone]

Now all you need is a restored 1972 Volkswagon bus to tow it with -- color matched, of course!

[@Lady_Ferns]

That would be amazing! Something perhaps in the future one day :).

[@lisashelton3241]

Beautiful job! Absolutely love it! It actually looks pretty spacious!😊

[@Lady_Ferns]

Thank you so much 😄. It is actually more spacious feeling once your inside. We joke that it’s kinda like a clown car. Looks so tiny but the inside is larger than one would think.

[@rrain3375]

Covid 19 changed the world. Grandkids moved home because of job loss and no longer able to pay rent. Slowly in 2022 things are again turning around. But, it gave them time to rethink careers and return for additional schooling. It was touch for them as well as myself on a pension trying to make ends meet. Happy you have had the travel experience too.

[@oldemacdonlad9516]

Great video, full of inspiration. We just picked up a 74 that’s also in rough shape. It needs a lot of love, but we’re looking forward to the journey. Thanks and keep up the good work.

[@Lady_Ferns]

Thank you so much! I’m so excited for you, a 74!!! That’s amazing. Enjoy the journey of bringing it back. Don’t forget to take lots of photos

[@unwired1281]

Ton of work but you should be very proud. It is beautiful!

[@Lady_Ferns]

Thank you so much 😄

[@jennyleef1775]

Even though you may have done things a little differently if you redid them now, you still did a nice job of this gorgeous little van. Keep enjoying your travels. Maybe one day my hubby and I will get over to see Canada and the USA. Now he is retired we need to get out in our little van and see parts of Australia we haven't seen yet first. Take care.

[@Lady_Ferns]

Thank you very much ❤️. Australia is a beautiful country to explore as well, I am excited for you and your hubby to do some exploring. I hope one day you both will make it to North America one day as well. Thank you for taking time to comment. Take care 😄

[@jackiep691]

You have done a beautiful renovation , we are from the uk and bought an eriba , not sure if you have them but it’s small like yours so I’m looking forward to following your journey x

[@Lady_Ferns]

Hello! Glad you enjoy our restoration. I had never heard of a Eriba before, had to look it up on the internet. Very cool! Happy to have you follow along our journey :)

[@jackiep691]

@@Lady_Ferns thanks , yes we love him , his name is rudi 😆 his sister Ethel Ada (vw camper ) takes him everywhere with her . X

[@Elizabeth-rq1vi]

You really did a good job restoring it! I do believe you overpaid by $1000! It was in worse shape than the tent trailer we bought for $500, and we overpaid by about $300.

[@conniehoyle2669]

Yay

[@anthonydavid5121]

I wish you had shown us more of the inside following your renovation.

[@Lady_Ferns]

I wish I had more photos to show you of that too. Sadly I lost most of the images/photos during that phase. But I do plan on doing a “tour” of the boler soon in another video. I will show all the inside as it currently is. Sorry the best I can do.

[@brent8213]

Nice work! i had the same issue with the door, as do many. the water comes in the little window. i ended up cutting a section out of the inside at about the bottom curve, removed the soaked wood then refibreglassed the repair section. i cut a template out of cardboard from the doorway then used ratchet straps to hold the shape while fibreglassing. it made the door seal like new and prevented any critters from moving in

[@Lady_Ferns]

Thank you so much 😄. I actually cut my door open as well, to removed the soaked wood. Lol only to find out my door never had any wood inside of it. Boler models can vary a little here and there depending on year and where they were manufactured. I have considered doing the ratchet method as well. And seen great results on other people’s bolers. I am so glad it worked for your boler

[@donaldconnolly220]

it couldnt have been much worse.... you got paterns......but......you pulled it off. your way......

[@Lady_Ferns]

Thank you so much

[@robestey5628]

Hi - I am currently putting my 72 Boler through a major refit and was wondering what size windows did you replace the Jalousie windows (crank ones) with. Thanks for sharing a great video - looks fabulous.

[@Lady_Ferns]

I had the replacement windows custom made from a company in Summerland, BC called Sunview Industries. They were quite familiar with making windows for the boler. I could take some measurements for you tomorrow if that would help. I do know the thickness of the frame for the door needed to be different for me than the dinette window. Something to make note of.

[@GenGenChilling]

🤟🏾🚀🔥

[@Lady_Ferns]

Thank you 😄

[@davidmaynard9462]

What was the final cost of the renovations? Good luck and God bless.

[@margiemudge6607]

GREAT job! So cute! Can I ask what it cost to have her painted?

[@Lady_Ferns]

Thank you so much. I can't recall any more...it was several thousand but there was also some body work and sanding that also had to be done first.

[@vickanid1862]

Hmmm So, is the bottom of the trailer plywood or metal (4:18)?

[@Lady_Ferns]

The frame of the boler is metal. The floor of the boler is 1 inch marine grade plywood if I recall correctly. (Maybe 3/4 inch)

[@JonthePhotographer]

where did you get the windows for the kitchenette and door? we are looking to replace ours

[@Lady_Ferns]

We had them made by Sun-View industries in Summerland, BC. They were really great to deal with. www.sunviewindustries.ca/

[@wallysgonzalez3451]

Did you add insulation in and out of the Boler? The bottom of it before you put back in the Boler, you could have add fiberglass and then put sub floor with insulation! Make sure that you have it secure to the trailer frame. Add also outside the bottom before painting protection to make sure no debris would Chip or hurt the bottom of Boler That you would be more happier! I wish you luck!

[@Lady_Ferns]

No we did not put in insulation on the boler. Looking back we wish we would have. Maybe some form of insulation we can still add, perhaps some refletix inside the cabinets along the walls. Or some sort of insulation under the boler. Thank you for the suggestion. There is some paint protection on the front of the boler and underneath.

[@wallysgonzalez3451]

@@Lady_Ferns Thank you! How about putting to the Boler Awning for shades at summer time?

[@Lady_Ferns]

We do have an awning on the boler that we use to help with shade 😄. It’s called the “Shady Boy” awning.

[@wallysgonzalez3451]

@@Lady_Ferns ok I didn't see it but enjoy your Life! God bless you and blessings for your family too 🙏

[@Lady_Ferns]

No worries. The awning is at the 9:50 timestamp mark. Thank you so much. I wish you all the best as well ❤️

[@gigmaresh8772]

If you still have those original jalousie windows. I would like to purchase them, please

[@Lady_Ferns]

Sorry I no longer have the original jalousie windows.

[@miguelanaya2246]

Hi and Thank you for sharing, I have the same year bowler and currently restoring it however I have not been able to locate an axel as the current one in the frame is bent. By any chance do you know of a place where I can get one. Arizona🙏🏼

[@Lady_Ferns]

We are so glad you enjoyed it. That is wonderful that you also have a 1972 boler! 😄. I had a guy who builds food trucks and also welds their frames build my new boler frame. He sourced out and ordered the frame for me. So I can’t honestly say where it was purchased from. But I’ll share some of the links to the information I provided him with. Maybe it will help your search or be able to use it to help someone source one for you. Good luck

[@Lady_Ferns]

www.boler.ca/2017/05/19/torsion-axle/

[@Lady_Ferns]

www.boler.ca/category/frame-axle-tires/

[@charlenekonshak9056]

Where did you purchase replacement windows? Having a hard time finding thin wall windows.

[@Lady_Ferns]

I had them custom made by Sunview Industries in Summerland, BC, Canada www.sunviewindustries.ca/

[@bikeman9419]

$1500 was to much. What you did was close to a miracle.

[@Lady_Ferns]

Thank you so much

[@rustyaxelrod]

So it’s a Boler?

[@Lady_Ferns]

Yes. They were created and manufactured in Canada starting in 1968, and later manufactured in both Canada and the USA until 1988. It’s called a “boler”

[@gigmaresh8772]

Hard to subscribe with no subscribe button 😮

[@Lady_Ferns]

No subscribe button? That’s weird 🤷‍♀️. Are you logged into your KZbin account?

[@philmarmanillo1354]

What is the dog's name?

[@Lady_Ferns]

The dog's name was Gracie. Sadly she has passed since this footage was taken.

[@marsmars9130]

I would have paid maybe 300 for that. too much wastd time nd effort, but still good job

[@Lady_Ferns]

Thank you for the compliment.

[@rogervoke5179]

u guys got so , so robbed paying 1500 for that garbage heap !!!

[@spikermike2843]

My biggest takeaway - you paid WHAT?? for that piece of junk? The farmer should have paid you to tow away the junk. You obviously did this for the video because, financially, practically, it makes no sense at all LoL.

[@DonHavjuan]

You overpaid by $1400

[@jasperedwards2713]

thats dreadfull

[@dustinfrost5214]

Awsome job looks amazing I really do hope you addressed the zip ties on your gas line .

[@Lady_Ferns]

Thank you so much. The zip ties are not structural. They are only there as a double layer of support to keep the hose/tubing that is wrapped around the copper propane pipe as extra layer of protection and cushion.

[@violetaghemulet3239]

Bravissima

[@Lady_Ferns]

Thank you 😊

[@obxarms7685]

1500 bucks??? Sounds kinda steep.

[@Lady_Ferns]

I’ve got no regrets :)