Travel Trailers....such a broad term. Travel trailers in this post are pretty much inclusive for any pull behind trailer: travel trailers, 5th wheels, pop-up campers, and toy haulers. Are 4 are common type. For the most part I do not want a pull behind, however there are a couple exceptions that I will explain in a bit.
Overall I don't think pull behind trailers look very sturdy. You have everything you own rolling on 2-4 little bitty wheels. In my case, I would have to buy a heavy duty truck to go along with it (added expense). Would have to have insurance on both the trailer and the truck. Depending on what type of travel, new price ranges between $8,000 and $100,000. Another downside for me, is from something I read recently. Should there be trouble while you are camping, like storms or uninvited guests (as in humans looking to be malicious) you are kinda in a pinch for getting away easily. For example the article I read, a young lady was "boondocking" (camping out in the boonies away from anything and no or spotty cell service) and she had an instance with several people coming around in the wee early morning hours banging on her door, throwing her things around outside, etc. She wasn't sure who they were or why they were even there. She had little or no cell service and wasn't able to call for help. Once they left and she felt it safe to get out of there, she still had to leave the safety of he trailer and hook it to her vehicle and pull out of there.....in the middle of the night. No thank you. That is way too scary to even think about for me!
Now, for the 2 exceptions to my no travel trailer idea. I mentioned in a HHM post that we were trying to get my '74 super beetle back on the road. Wouldn't it be fun to travel in it some day? Think of all the "friends" you would meet if you pulled into a campground driving a vintage vehicle. Especially a "slug bug" (for those who are old enough to remember driving down the road and getting punched in the arm at the sight of them). :-)
The beetles have a very low tow rate, I'm guessing because the motor is in the back. The weight of an average light weight trailer would be way too much. I have found a few motorcycle "pop-up" campers that would work for my beetle.
But....if I could find something like this in good shape.....I'd be super excited. Watch the video below from YouTube that I've drooled over....
P.S. that beetle looks exactly like mine!!!!!!! Makes sense since it says 1974 in the video :-)
P.S. my Super Beetle is back on the road. I drive it around town all the time. It's super fun, kinda like driving a big go-cart.
Yes for real I’m a wannabe! It all started about 5 or so years ago when I stumbled on the idea of living full time in a vehicle of some sort. I have had a couple people tell me that I couldn't do it, or I wouldn't last very long. Those are "fighting words" and make me want to do it even more just to prove them wrong. Read my thoughts and ideas on the Nomadic Lifestyle tag.
I know I don't talk much about this but I do want to give it a try some day. I still watch YouTube videos of nomads and am on several Facebook groups for nomads. I try to not obsess so much but it's hard sometimes.
So Since we have to start somewhere, the first thing to decide is what kind of "rig" or "home on wheels" do I want?
I know positively for sure I do not want anything big like a bus or fancy class A. (link to luxury Motorhomes, no affiliation, just for reference)
Woo they are F.A.N.C.Y! So fancy they don't offer pricing. I'm pretty sure that's the manufacturer's page since it has a link to "find a dealer". Finding the closest dealer to me looks like they run about $258,000 and that's for a 2016 model. I don't have that kind of money. That is way fancier than my current home. That thing is HUGE! It's 40' in length! That's almost 8 of me long. It does have air horns though LOL!
I can't see myself driving that monster thing let alone living in it. My tastes aren't that refined I guess. I can imagine the insurance on it wouldn't be too cheap (I haven't researched insurance). I bet filling up with fuel isn't cheap either.
I feel uncomfortable going to visit people who have really nice houses, so I would probably feel uncomfortable in a Class A as well.
Nope, a Class A motorhome isn't for me. I plan on discussing other types of mobile dwellings, so don't to stop back by.
Recently Hubby and I took a couple of days and just drove around. No overnight stays as the van isn't ready for that yet. We slept in each day and came home each evening. AH it was amazing. We shopped a few flea markets and found a few new ones. Something we like doing. If we don't find any treasures it sure is fun to look and talk about things. Things we had a kids, or we have used, etc. Not to mention it's exercise walking around some of them. We found one that is an entire city block big. Takes us 3 hours to see everything.
Oh and here's a funny......Our last day off we actually did go do a job before leaving town. It's for our mechanic friend, who also happens to be a part timer (he and his wife are camp hosts at the local lake every summer). Anyway, his employee came back and said "so and so is at Good Sam's and needs a tire change." I could see the confusion on his face (since it's camping season). I popped up and said the nursing home out by the church. Finally it clicked and he got it. Good Samaritan Nursing Home, not the Good Sam's RV Club. He said he was wondering why Good Sam's was calling him for a tire change. LOL! I too thought the same thing at first. LOL! Must have camping on the brain.
Yes for real I'm a wannabe! It all started about 4 or so years ago when I stumbled on the idea of living full time in a vehicle of some sort. I researched it a lot back then, but nothing like now. It's almost like I can't stop researching and learning and shopping and planning. Maybe some day it will all pay off. For now it won't happen on purpose. I'm still going to plan and learn and share those things here so when/if it happens I will have my plans and ideas in one spot instead of here and there.
Now every time I get in the van my brain goes into "pretend" mode. Dreaming I'm somewhere where the sun is shining and the temperature is near 80°. It's not always that here, yet, but summer time is nearly here. Unfortunately I think it's going to be hot and dry. Our winter was pretty mild, so ya, hot, hot, hot.
Travel Trailers....such a broad term. Travel trailers in this post are pretty much inclusive for any pull behind trailer: travel trailers, 5th wheels, pop-up campers, and toy haulers. Are 4 are common type. For the most part I do not want a pull behind, however there are a couple exceptions that I will explain in a bit.
Overall I don't think pull behind trailers look very sturdy. You have everything you own rolling on 2-4 little bitty wheels. In my case, I would have to buy a heavy duty truck to go along with it (added expense). Would have to have insurance on both the trailer and the truck. Depending on what type of travel, new price ranges between $8,000 and $100,000. Another downside for me, is from something I read recently. Should there be trouble while you are camping, like storms or uninvited guests (as in humans looking to be malicious) you are kinda in a pinch for getting away easily. For example the article I read, a young lady was "boondocking" (camping out in the boonies away from anything and no or spotty cell service) and she had an instance with several people coming around in the wee early morning hours banging on her door, throwing her things around outside, etc. She wasn't sure who they were or why they were even there. She had little or no cell service and wasn't able to call for help. Once they left and she felt it safe to get out of there, she still had to leave the safety of he trailer and hook it to her vehicle and pull out of there.....in the middle of the night. No thank you. That is way too scary to even think about for me!
Now, for the 2 exceptions to my no travel trailer idea. I mentioned in a HHM post that we were trying to get my '74 super beetle back on the road. Wouldn't it be fun to travel in it some day? Think of all the "friends" you would meet if you pulled into a campground driving a vintage vehicle. Especially a "slug bug" (for those who are old enough to remember driving down the road and getting punched in the arm at the sight of them). :-)
The beetles have a very low tow rate, I'm guessing because the motor is in the back. The weight of an average light weight trailer would be way too much. I have found a few motorcycle "pop-up" campers that would work for my beetle.
But....if I could find something like this in good shape.....I'd be super excited. Watch the video below from YouTube that I've drooled over....
P.S. that beetle looks exactly like mine!!!!!!! Makes sense since it says 1974 in the video :-)
I know I don't talk much about this but I do want to give it a try some day. I still watch YouTube videos of nomads and am on several Facebook groups for nomads. I try to not obsess so much but it's hard sometimes.
So Since we have to start somewhere, the first thing to decide is what kind of "rig" or "home on wheels" do I want?
I know positively for sure I do not want anything big like a bus or