Rex Mobile Homes built spacious travel trailers that delivered residential comfort, quality craftsmanship, and long-lasting durability for families.
In the 1950s, Oregon-based Rex Mobile Homes promoted its trailers with a simple promise: "True kingly living at a modest price." The company combined spacious residential-style interiors with the freedom to relocate whenever owners wanted, creating one of the era's most distinctive travel trailers.
The 1950s marked a period of rapid growth for the American RV industry. More families embraced life on the road, and manufacturers responded by building larger, more practical trailers that offered far more than basic camping accommodations. Travel trailers evolved from compact aluminum shells into full-time living spaces designed for extended stays.
Rex Mobile Homes became one of the companies leading that transformation. Founded in McMinnville, Oregon, during the mid-1950s, the manufacturer spent roughly 25 years producing mobile homes before shutting down following a merger and an unsuccessful restructuring effort. During its run, Rex earned a reputation for building durable trailers in a wide variety of sizes.
Among its best-known models were the 50-foot and 55-foot home trailers. Although they were marketed as travel trailers at the time, their size and purpose closely resemble what would now be considered destination or park trailers. A number of these trailers still exist today, and many remain roadworthy after careful restoration by vintage RV specialists.
Inspired by the iconic Spartan trailers, Rex models featured large panoramic front windows, a cantilevered front section, dual entry doors, fully equipped kitchens, and two separate bedrooms capable of sleeping up to four people, depending on the floor plan.
Even by modern standards, these trailers were substantial. Measuring either 50 or 55 feet long while maintaining an 8-foot width, they could be towed without oversized-load permits. Depending on the model, empty weight ranged from approximately 10,000 to 13,000 pounds.
Construction quality set Rex apart from many competitors. The trailers rode on heavy-duty frames covered with premium aluminum body panels. Inside, every cabinet was handcrafted from birch by Rex's own cabinetmakers, while matching birch paneling covered both the walls and ceiling.
Additional features included insulated floors with forced-air heating and a seamless metal roof designed to reduce the risk of water intrusion. With routine maintenance, many Rex trailers remained structurally sound for decades. One restored example, renovated by Justin Zerwekh of Oregon-based Vintage 55 Restorations, demonstrates just how well these trailers have held up over time.
The restored trailer follows a layout commonly found in Rex models of the period. A spacious front living room sits behind the panoramic windows, while the center of the trailer houses a residential-style kitchen and a full bathroom. Two bedrooms occupy the rear section.
Because of the trailer's length, the floor plan remains straightforward, with most rooms arranged in a single line. Aside from the front living room and rear bedroom, occupants pass through each area to reach the next.
The bathroom uses that same pass-through arrangement, but it makes efficient use of the available space. One side contains the tub and shower, a residential porcelain toilet, and a sink, while the opposite wall is dedicated to storage. The layout still leaves enough room to move around comfortably.
The smaller bedroom also serves as a passageway. Buyers could choose either a single bed or bunk beds, while an entire wall of built-in storage made the room practical for families living in the trailer year-round.
The primary bedroom at the rear typically included a queen- or king-size bed, additional cabinets, and a vanity that could also function as a desk.
Rex referred to these units as mobile home trailers because they were designed to deliver the comfort, layout, and construction quality of a traditional house. Company brochures even encouraged prospective buyers to inspect the walls, cabinetry, and furniture for themselves to experience the difference firsthand.
Finding a Rex Mobile Home Trailer today isn't easy, but surviving examples occasionally appear after careful restoration. This particular trailer has already found a new owner, though it remains an impressive example of the craftsmanship that helped define America's early mobile home industry.