Could This 1950 Westcraft Trailer Be Better Than New Rigs?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

When you see relics like this it makes you wonder if things were really better in the past? Looking at this 1950 Westcraft Manufacturing Capistrano Park trailer, you wouldn’t mind living in it. This dual-axle trailer was Westcraft’s top-of-the-line model, and one of the best from the early 1950s. And it could be yours.

The Westcraft Capistrano was extensively restored outside, and completely updated underneath

1950 Westcraft Manufacturing Capistrano Park trailer | BAT

But it’s not cheap. The travel trailer has been extensively restored inside and out. Looking underneath, however, it is all modern. This was an 11-year project that included rebuilding both the body and insides. That included replacement of half of the aluminum body panels, repair or replacement of half of the birch wood panels inside, and upgrades to all of the wiring, plumbing, and appliances. 

Luxury features include a king-size bed, a retro-looking modern refrigerator, and an oven that matches the Capistrano’s interior. Two hidden TVs, and DuoTherm heating and air conditioning can be found hiding inside. The enlarged bathroom area now features a shower. Leather covers all of the seating. Found in the kitchen and bathroom are stainless steel countertop surfaces. 

The Westcraft Pullman roof gives over six-feet of standing room

1950 Westcraft Manufacturing Capistrano Park trailer interior
1950 Westcraft Manufacturing Capistrano Park trailer | BAT

A unique feature called a “Pullman roof” allows over six feet of standing room. Only the Capistrano model featured seven windows on each side of the roof. The restored tongue features two polished aluminum propane tanks with period fittings. Those old-growth knotty pine floors were removed, refinished, and reinstalled. 

Another nice touch is the green 1940s American Standard toilet that ties in with some of the other green appliances. New flushing mechanisms modernized it. And this also applies to the other equipment found throughout the restored trailer. Hidden behind cabinet doors are a microwave oven and water filtration system. 

The restoration took 11 years to complete

1950 Westcraft Manufacturing Capistrano Park trailer bed
1950 Westcraft Manufacturing Capistrano Park trailer | BAT

This owner purchased the Capistrano from a friend in 2008 in California. It had to have lived its life in a dry climate to have survived that long. Even though termites can wreak havoc on wood, the bones of this trailer were good for restoration. Trailer specialist Steven Butcher in Fillmore, California, performed the restoration. 

The current bid is $240,000 for the Westcraft Capistrano Park travel trailer on Bring-a-Trailer. As we said, it’s not cheap. Today, that amount would not be able to cover a restoration like this. With fewer and fewer artisans able to handle the different levels of restoration required, finished projects like this will become rarities in the future. 

Check out the video tour above to get a sense of the quality of the restoration and layout of the trailer. 

  • 1950 Westcraft Manufacturing Capistrano Park trailer
    1950 Westcraft Manufacturing Capistrano Park trailer | BAT
  • 1950 Westcraft Manufacturing Capistrano Park trailer interior
    1950 Westcraft Manufacturing Capistrano Park trailer | BAT
  • 1950 Westcraft Manufacturing Capistrano Park trailer interior
    1950 Westcraft Manufacturing Capistrano Park trailer | BAT

RELATED: This Retro Camper With a Boat for a Roof Is the American Dream

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General Motors Ranked Among the Best Companies for Worker Disability Accessibility

by Gabrielle DeSantis

There is a lot of talk in the news about equal access. However, few companies exemplify disability accessibility the way General Motors does. Making inclusion a part of the business model informed the design of the workplaces. Moreover, GM pays attention to possible adjustments before affected employee groups feel left out.

Disability accessibility for workers is critical for the employee to develop a healthy work-life balance. GM looks to improve vehicles with features such as hands-free driving software constantly. It is at the forefront of making improvements to its facilities. Not surprisingly, General Motors was just ranked as one of the best businesses for disability accessibility.

What disability accessibility looks like for GM

GM logo

GM Authority outlines the perfect score the manufacturer received, identifying it as one of the best places for a disabled employee to work. A 100% rating is not something easy to get. Some credit CEO Mary Barra for ushering in a working environment that puts workers first. With a mission of valuing everyone for who they are, it made sense to create an inclusive workplace accordingly.

GM adheres to standard disability inclusion practices. Disability:IN notes that there are multiple ways to focus on employee inclusion. It is interesting to note that scoring is about more than making physical adjustments to a specific workstation. Rather, its DEI index points to corporate culture, leadership, employment practices, supplier diversity, and community engagement as measurable achievements. Other companies that did not meet these standards have the option of working with the ranking organization to improve their adherence.

GM’s commitment to growth and workforce development

You are most like used to headlines talking about GM recalls and similar issues. However, the award GM won is of similar importance. It underscores that the face of corporate America changes. Consider, for example, the automaker’s decision to join the Gender and Diversity KPI Alliance.

Another group General Motors engaged with is the OneTen Initiative. GM now has an inclusion advisory board. This commitment to diversity is rare and obviously makes this a great place to work. Beyond that, it shows that the automaker pays attention to the needs of today’s consumers, whether they are employees or buyers.

Who else ranked high on the 2021 Disability Equality Index?

The DEI awards a score from zero to 100. Names of companies that rate below 80 are kept confidential. However, the perfect scores go on the organization’s website, which displays complete with corporate logo and font presentation. In addition to GM, other examples include 3M, Chevron, DuPont, Ford, and Walmart. These firms have found ways to champion diversity that benefits workers and fosters this attitude from the top down.

Another category of companies falls into the businesses with a score of 90. Some of the names you are sure to recognize are Airbus, Amazon, Exelon, and Shelter Insurance. The next group focuses on businesses with a rating of 80. You might recognize AMC, State Farm, and United States Steel.

While it is a disappointment not to rank with the top, consider that these businesses make serious attempts at creating workplaces that focus on inclusion. There is room for growth, and these companies are on the right track.

It is important to remember that the ratings apply for one year only. There will be similar rating criteria for the next year, although these do occasionally change in keeping with necessary updates. GM and other top-rated companies will not have time to rest. For them, the call of the hour is to find new ways to practice inclusion.

RELATED: A Cheat Sheet of Disability-Friendly Vehicles

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A Ford Truck Like Jason Momoa’s Can Be Yours for $750,000

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Jason Momoa is one of the hottest celebrities right now, and his car collection is as intriguing as he is. From custom motorcycles to pink Cadillacs, Momoa’s collection reflects his taste for the eclectic and nostalgic. One of his many vehicles is a Ford truck/RV. He apparently loves it so much that he took it to the 2018 Aquaman premiere. Once you see what’s inside, you’ll know exactly why he brought it.

Jason Momoa rolled up to the Hollywood ‘Aquaman’ premiere in an epic Ford truck/RV

Jason Momoa at the Hollywood premiere of ‘Aquaman’ in 2018 | Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Momoa’s Ford truck is a custom EarthRoamer RV, the EarthRoamer company explains. It seems perfectly in character for the actor to show up in a rugged RV because his love for the outdoors is well-known. He enjoys rock climbing and is said to spend most of his time outdoors. So it makes sense he would enjoy an RV.

But it’s not just any RV. EarthRoamer vehicles are as sturdy and strong as Momoa himself.

What’s in a 2021 EarthRoamer RV?

With a wall-mounted coffee maker/espresso machine and an induction cooktop, the EarthRoamer has all the creature comforts you’d want for a long cruise or camping trip. 

A used EarthRoamer XV-LTi 026 like Momoa’s retails for $750,000 on EarthRoamer’s site. This 2021 model has less than 2,000 miles on it, according to their EarthRoamer. The RV has many of the same features as other 2021 models, whether new or used. 

In addition to the previously mentioned features, they include an added outdoor kitchen complete with a Traeger smoker. The XV-LTi 026 even has a wine rack. Eating well after a beautiful day outdoors is no problem for this EarthRoamer. 

The basis for XV-LTi 026 is a Ford F-550 Crew Cab. It boasts an impressively powerful drivetrain featuring a 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel engine. It can tow whatever toys are needed for the best outdoor adventure, plus it has bike racks and outdoor storage. 

This truck is also four-wheel drive, so the EarthRoamer is not limited to the pavement. This vehicle can go almost anywhere and has the rugged looks to match.

Inside, the EarthRoamer XV-LTi 026 features cedar-lined closets, dinettes, and reclining seats that turn into additional sleeping areas. It has a hidden safe and extra storage. This RV also takes advantage of every bit of space. For example, the back of the passenger seat becomes additional counter space, and the pantry pulls out for access. 

With teak accents in the fully enclosed bathroom, the EarthRoamer XV-LTi 026 is as refined as rugged. Jason Momoa has exquisite taste in RVs.

EarthRoamer RVs are made in Colorado

EarthRoamer is proud of its Colorado roots. According to EarthRoamer, its mission is to create luxury, off-grid vehicles that can go anywhere in comfort and confidence. 

Founder Bill Swails built his first off-grid luxury vehicle when he couldn’t find what he wanted anywhere else. In 1998, he began building his Dodge Ram to go remote places in comfort. As a wildlife photographer, he needed to stay off-grid for extended periods and wanted to be comfortable doing it. 

The first production unit rolled off the line in 2003. It was called the XV-LT. “XV” stood for “expedition vehicle,” and “LT” was “luxury terrain.” Everything that Swails wanted was right there in the name. 

The company built its biggest model yet in 2017 and released the LTi in 2019. The LTi upgraded the previous model with a carbon fiber body, an increased ceiling height, and lithium-ion batteries.

The company continues to upgrade and innovate, and it wants to continue building all-terrain luxury vehicles. With Jason Momoa as a customer, EarthRoamer could become a household name.

RELATED: ‘Shark Tank’ Billionaire Mark Cuban Set a Guinness World Record for Buying a $40 Million Jet Online

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How Reliable is the Coyote Engine?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

When Ford debuted the Coyote engine in 2011, it was a breath of fresh air. The previous Mustang engine had a single overhead camshaft and two valves per cylinder. At the end of its tenure, the 4.6 modular V8 made 300 horsepower. The Coyote engine when it first came onto the scene made 412 horsepower, thanks to high flow heads and variable valve timing. The block also switched from iron to aluminum, and as of 2018 it makes 460 horsepower. While all of this is a massive improvement, just how reliable has it been since Ford released it?

Engine ticking sounds

2011 Ford Mustang GT Coupe | Getty Images

Several owners of 2011 Mustang GTs complained about their Coyote engine making ticking, and sometimes grinding noises. One owner’s pistons blew up at just 44,000 miles, according to Car Complaints. Apparently, this has been a problem with all Ford engines but exhibits little to no impact on reliability. Some mechanics attribute the noise to piston slap, which is when the piston impacts repeatedly against the cylinder wall. The ticking sound became more prominent for the Coyote engine in 2018 when they got direct injection. 

Fuel pressure sensor

2012 ford mustang gt at a show
2012 Ford Mustang GT Coupe | Kathryn Scott Osler, The Denver Post/Getty Images

A common symptom of a faulty Coyote engine can be an abrupt RPM drop after a few years. It can best be described as an RPM surge, where it’ll dip down and then come back up. A likely culprit is the fuel pressure sensor, according to George Lawson Gallery. Luckily, the process to replace the fuel pressure sensor is quick and easy and can be done in the comfort of the owner’s garage. A new sensor will run $114 from Advance Auto Parts. 

Engine stalling

2013 ford mustang gt at international auto show
2013 Ford Mustang GT at the international auto show | Roberto Machado Noa/LightRocket via Getty Images

Several F-150 and Mustang owners complained about their Coyote engine stalling with both automatic and manual transmissions. It’s an epidemic that Ford has yet to acknowledge, where the car will suddenly sputter and then die while driving. One possible cause is a dirty throttle body, which is again easy to find and clean. 

Another possible culprit is the mass airflow (MAF) sensor, which is also easy to find and clean. NHTSA fielded several complaints as well, where the timing chain tensioner broke off. Since the Coyote is an interference engine, this is a bad problem. 

Automatic transmission woes

2014 ford mustang gt at a show
2014 Ford Mustang GT | Raymond Boyd/Getty Images

As less of a problem with the engine and more with the transmission, the automatic transmissions paired with the Coyote don’t perform all that well. The transmission exhibits clunking sounds, lurching, missing gears, and inconsistent shifts. Opting for a manual transmission solves this issue, however, they are known to have weak gear linkage. A short shifter kit can solve this problem.

The Coyote engine is widely considered to be a rock-solid reliable engine. It uses forged rods and a forged crankshaft, and it uses traditional fuel injection. For all of its minor quirks, the Coyote-equipped generation is one of the best used Mustangs available. The early Coyote isn’t a complicated engine, which helps its reliability, and it makes tons of power to boot.

Keeping up with oil changes, like any other engine, helps preserve its reliability. While some owners may have experienced detrimental defects, the engine as a whole is one of the best, most reliable on the market. However the jury is still out on the 2018 Mustang’s future.

RELATED: The 2017 Ford Mustang Has Proved Its Dependability Over the Years

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