Fun experience today...
Like many families, we started off tenting, then owned 4 different tent-trailers over the years (3 Jaycos and a Dutchman), then bought our first TT (a K-Z Jag) and finally our current TT (listed below in my sig).
Our kids, who are mostly grown and married, are now following in our footsteps and LOVE camping. They've all in the tenting stage, but our oldest daughter and her husband having been looking for their first tent-trailer after celebrating 11 years of marriage. They've been scouring Craigslist and shooting their finds my way to get my thoughts and opinions. Well, JUST TODAY they found the perfect unit. A couple in their city (Meridian, Idaho) was selling a 2003 Coleman Mesa. Owners were original and listed it for $3250. Anyone who knows tent trailers knows that's a super price.
My wife actually found this one about an hour after it was listed. Told my daughter who called on it immediately. There were 3 full-price offers in front them, but it had been promised to no one yet and no one had slapped their money on the table yet. So my daughter offered them $100 over their asking price and told them to consider it SOLD!
Here's the problem: they were out of town. My son-in-law is a physical therapist and they were a couple hours away working for the weekend. So she called dear old dad (me) and asked if I would go complete the deal. I was more than happy even though Meridian is about 45 minute drive from Ontario.
The tent-trailer was WAY better than I expected. These folks took IMMACULATE care of this unit and it showed. It was spotless!! Plus they threw in a NICE roof-mounted bike rack, leveling blocks, wheel chocks, an RV water hose and some other misc stuff. They had kept all owners manuals and they were still in the plastic. It was a pleasure to pull it home and hear how excited my daughter was as I explained what a good deal they got. :)
Our kids, who are mostly grown and married, are now following in our footsteps and LOVE camping. They've all in the tenting stage, but our oldest daughter and her husband having been looking for their first tent-trailer after celebrating 11 years of marriage. They've been scouring Craigslist and shooting their finds my way to get my thoughts and opinions. Well, JUST TODAY they found the perfect unit. A couple in their city (Meridian, Idaho) was selling a 2003 Coleman Mesa. Owners were original and listed it for $3250. Anyone who knows tent trailers knows that's a super price.
My wife actually found this one about an hour after it was listed. Told my daughter who called on it immediately. There were 3 full-price offers in front them, but it had been promised to no one yet and no one had slapped their money on the table yet. So my daughter offered them $100 over their asking price and told them to consider it SOLD!
Here's the problem: they were out of town. My son-in-law is a physical therapist and they were a couple hours away working for the weekend. So she called dear old dad (me) and asked if I would go complete the deal. I was more than happy even though Meridian is about 45 minute drive from Ontario.
The tent-trailer was WAY better than I expected. These folks took IMMACULATE care of this unit and it showed. It was spotless!! Plus they threw in a NICE roof-mounted bike rack, leveling blocks, wheel chocks, an RV water hose and some other misc stuff. They had kept all owners manuals and they were still in the plastic. It was a pleasure to pull it home and hear how excited my daughter was as I explained what a good deal they got. :)
