Flying Blind
I just sold my farm on the Brazos River west of Fort Worth, Texas. I've been here since 1985. I telecommute for my job as the sales department for a small company that makes heavy-duty hand cleaner for printers and mechanics as well as a holding tank treatment for RVs and boats, oddly enough, which perhaps I'll get a chance to try now.
I can do my job from anywhere, so I figured why not do it from everywhere? My job will end on 1 April 2017. So until then, I'm just trading my current bills for road expenses. After that, I don't know what I'll do, but I figure I'll just buy another farm somewhere.
I have a friend who lives in a toy hauler in Arkansas. I went to school with him in Dallas in the late 70s. He's got that and a sailboat in the Sea of Cortez. He insists that I should get a toy hauler for what I want to do.
So let me lay out what I want to do. I'm asking for suggestions. I grew up camping with my family in a tent, but I'm about to be living in an RV.
What I'm looking for is something that will accommodate myself and my two dogs and maybe the occasional guest. I don't have toys, but I do have a large library and record collection. I'd like to find something with a porcelain toilet separate from the shower. I'd like a large kitchen area. I'd like sleeping and living right behind that and then the office in back with a ramp. I'd like an outdoor kitchen and shower as well, and maybe even a deck. I'd like screen over the back, so I can work in open air in Jackson Hole without being consumed. I'd like the ability to put a generator and add solar to it. I'd like large water capacity and storage.
So what do I do? Do I find a bare-bones toy hauler for ten grand and find some shop to customize it for me? I'd really like to have something decent for under twenty grand, and I think that's more than doable. I've got a 2005 Chevy 3500 diesel 4wd, so I can pull enough.
My friend says that pull-outs always leak and canvas is always living in a tent, and I can see that. I'm not opposed to pull outs, however. I'm just a fan of fewer moving parts. I don't need to sleep more than a couple of folks.
So do I just get a cheap trailer and find a shop, or is there a production model on the market that might work for me? I'm an absolute neophyte here, but I'm about to be living in one of these things, and I'm thinking I should perhaps network pretty hard in the next few days.
Anyway, any thoughts would be appreciated.
I can do my job from anywhere, so I figured why not do it from everywhere? My job will end on 1 April 2017. So until then, I'm just trading my current bills for road expenses. After that, I don't know what I'll do, but I figure I'll just buy another farm somewhere.
I have a friend who lives in a toy hauler in Arkansas. I went to school with him in Dallas in the late 70s. He's got that and a sailboat in the Sea of Cortez. He insists that I should get a toy hauler for what I want to do.
So let me lay out what I want to do. I'm asking for suggestions. I grew up camping with my family in a tent, but I'm about to be living in an RV.
What I'm looking for is something that will accommodate myself and my two dogs and maybe the occasional guest. I don't have toys, but I do have a large library and record collection. I'd like to find something with a porcelain toilet separate from the shower. I'd like a large kitchen area. I'd like sleeping and living right behind that and then the office in back with a ramp. I'd like an outdoor kitchen and shower as well, and maybe even a deck. I'd like screen over the back, so I can work in open air in Jackson Hole without being consumed. I'd like the ability to put a generator and add solar to it. I'd like large water capacity and storage.
So what do I do? Do I find a bare-bones toy hauler for ten grand and find some shop to customize it for me? I'd really like to have something decent for under twenty grand, and I think that's more than doable. I've got a 2005 Chevy 3500 diesel 4wd, so I can pull enough.
My friend says that pull-outs always leak and canvas is always living in a tent, and I can see that. I'm not opposed to pull outs, however. I'm just a fan of fewer moving parts. I don't need to sleep more than a couple of folks.
So do I just get a cheap trailer and find a shop, or is there a production model on the market that might work for me? I'm an absolute neophyte here, but I'm about to be living in one of these things, and I'm thinking I should perhaps network pretty hard in the next few days.
Anyway, any thoughts would be appreciated.
