Mike Up wrote:
Most home owners already have a full size truck or SUV to load large and heavy items to keep their homes up or to upgrade their homes. I could never have a small vehicle as they are not built to haul loads of dirt, stone, stepping stone, firewood, or anything. Even my midsize SUVs were a pain where I had to rely on someone else. So I got trucks that could do what I needed around the house.
So if you're a home owner, you'll already have a truck or large SUV making the capable tow vehicle a none issue. Most home owners I know, have one. Those that pay others to do the work they can't, may only have crossover vehicles. In that case, if you have that type of disposal money, then getting the best bang for your buck may not have the same meaning that it does to me and others I know.
What a load of balooey. In my neighborhood of 140 homes I can count the number of pickup trucks or 'full size' SUVs on my fingers. In the 10 years we've owned the house the only thing I've ever hired out was the brick patio install. The rest got done by me and the wife's minivan. Have I renovated? Nope, no need when you buy new. But there sure are a LOT of finishing projects and fixes to sloppy builder practices to do. Few of which required sheet goods or other pickup truck warrants. Yeah, I get mulch delivered instead of going to get it myself. $30 expense once every two years. They dump in the driveway, I shovel and wheelbarrow. With the seats down/out and a $5 tarp, I can carry more burlapped shrubs in the minivan than a Tahoe can.
Can't even think of another project for which a pickup would have been helpful. But if I do, they rent 'em for $20/75 minutes at Menards.
I'm not ragging on pickup guys. Enjoy 'em if you like 'em. But let's not pretend that they are a need for the regular homeowner. Once gas prices get back to $4 again, the proof will again show up in buying patterns. I'm no longer sure that popups will regain popularity though. Americans no longer seem much interested in getting away from it all. Nowadays they want to cart it all along with them...
Not sure I'd be interested in a truly minimal tent trailer though. Seems like worst of all worlds: limited to where the vehicle can go, but no real additional benefits over a good tent. That's why I still have my backpacking stuff: the best campsites are places vehicles can't get to!
You're certainly right that TTs have some advantages: wall between you and drunken neighbor/party, kitchen at rest stops, instant access to all storage areas at all times, vastly more tankage... But for some of us, the costs and downsides make them downright unattractive: where to store it, pulling it, fuel costs, TV costs, campsite limitations, shorter lifespan (assuming outside TT storage vs inside pup storage). These are real downsides that kill the appeal for many of us.
