Boles Aero Trailers

Boles Aero History Boles Aero trailers are amongst the best built and most beautifully finished trailers ever produced due mainly to the continuity in the companies ownership and the unwavering commitment to quality. Like the Iconic Airstream they are all aluminum with aluminum frames and all riveted construction. During the great depression of the 1930’s President Roosevelt created the ‘New Deal’ a sequence of central economic programs with the aim of giving work to the unemployed, reform of business and financial practices, andrecovery of the economy. The enactment of New Deal policies lasted from 1933 through 1939. Under one of these initiatives, in 1939, Don Boles was chosen for a tool and die apprenticeship by the Department of Labor and assigned to work and study at the Lockheed Aircraft Company in Burbank, California. Boles was trained in all aspects of aircraft design and construction and tool making. He earned a number of awards designing and building tools to improve the ways in which aluminum components where fabricated and graduated from the apprenticeship program in 1943. After a brief assignment in Cleveland, Ohio, for General Electric Company, he enlisted in the US Navy for the duration of World War II. Following boot camp, he was stationed at a military base in Norman, Oklahoma. Unable to find available housing for his wife, Jeanette, and 3 children, he purchased a used 27-foot trailer RV as their home while he served his time in the Navy. After VJ Day Don was released from service and took his family and the RV on a road trip back to their home in Burbank California and his old civilian job. On arrival he parked the RV in his driveway with a ‘For Sale’ sign on it. He sold it to the first interested party but was so inundated with inquiries to purchase the RV that he realized there was a healthy demand for good quality trailers. Putting his aircraft training to good use, he began the design for an all aluminum riveted trailer aiming for high quality and lightweight design. With the help of his father he built the first trailer in his own single car garage while searching for a site to set up business. His residential garage limited the size of the first trailers to 9.5 feet. The father of a neighbor of Don’s was so impressed with the trailer that he ordered four to be built but he needed them to be 12 foot long so he had to wait until the completion of the new factory. Financial problems and the stress of a start up business caused Don’s friend to pull out of the partnership before the start of production, so Don took full control of the new company and changed the name to Boles Manufacturing renaming the trailer the Boles Aero. The rapid success of his business caused him to give up his day job and concentrate fully on his own business. The trailers where so popular that over 300 where built in 1946 the first year of production. They continued until the doors where finally closed in 1980. In the 30 plus years of production the models offered grew from the original 9 and 12 foot models to 35 footers and we believe that some specials where built that where even bigger. In total over 18,000 trailers of various types and configurations where built until Don and his wife finally retired. Boles trailers have always been highly regarded for their rugged aircraft style riveted construction and utilitarian beauty. Many believe the “Canned Ham” era (1946 to 1959) Boles Trailers are the most beautiful with the gleaming aluminum exterior and finely crafted birch wood interiors. Later trailers however, have their own unique beauty with gold anodized panels and chrome accessories. Don and Jeanette Boles are retired now and still live in Burbank, California. They are active with the members of the Boles Aero Trailer Club and consistently participate in the annual events. At over 80 years of age they are both still going strong!…..just like many of their beautiful trailers.