Trillium Caravan - Gypsy Vardo

Jim Tolpin Vardo #6

This is an exceptional hand-built artisan Vardo/Caravan that is ready for your amazing adventures.  We have used it over the past six years, had wonderful times, and made many friends, but we are unable to travel like we used to in years past. The Caravan is far too wonderful to keep in storage and needs to be used and appreciated.

www.trilliumcaravan.com

Please let me know if you have any additional questions.

Thank you for your interest in this exceptional Caravan.

Hand-built by Jim Tolpin

This caravan was built in Port Townsend, WA in 2007, by master woodworker, Jim Tolpin. The undercarriage was custom-welded of steel channel by a local trailer shop, and fitted with standard heavy-duty utility-trailer running gear. The coach was designed and constructed by Mr. Tolpin and is based primarily on traditional gypsy caravans with structural modifications to withstand highway speeds under power-towing. The floor frame was constructed of Honduras mahogany, employing traditional pinned mortise and tenon joinery. Local Sitka spruce was chosen for the roof framing for high strength coupled with weight savings. Wall frames are also spruce, skinned with marine-grade plywood covered with custom milled cedar tongue-and-groove wainscot.  The interior cabinetry is a combination of spruce and mahogany and is all hand-joined. All surfaces were either hand-planed or smoothed with spokeshaves and then finished with tongue oil and shellac. The canvas roof is a coated, marine-grade Egyptian cotton, crafted by a local (Port Townsend, WA) sailmaker (Nora Petrich). The exterior paint is marine-grade enamel, with decorative work done by local artist Ingrid Adams. The stained glass work is also the product of a local artist, Diane Roberts. There are numerous delightful details and quirks to the caravan that are waiting for you to discover. Visit the link above to see some of them.

Answers to anticipated questions.

1. Bathroom - You can easily store a porta-pottie under the bed, set-up an outside tent bathroom (available online) or do what I did - tow the caravan with a truck camper that had a bathroom and shower onboard.

2. The wood stove works and was used safely many times. There are two fire extinguishers, one located inside the caravan and one outside.

3. The caravan can be insured and is currently insured for $85,000.

4. It can be delivered by professionals at your cost.  It was transported to me across the country for under $2,000 six years ago and arrived safely.

5. The caravan has electric brakes and it tows easily, but it does have a lot of wind resistance on the highway.

6. I have a hand dolly (included) and I can move it by myself on a flat concrete surface.

7. The towing bar can be removed and a matching porch step put into place.

8. You are welcome to come see the caravan or send an inspection agent.