Hoosier_Daddy
Explorer
Joined 11 years ago
User Profile
User Widgets
All Activity
Re: Considering Purchasing a Used Travel Trailer
Surprised there hasn't been more suggestion on buying from a private party instead of a dealer. When we decided to move up to a TT from our Pop-up, I watched Craigslist and the free Auto/RV Trader magazine for several months. We looked at a few but finally found ours (see my sig) for $4000. It was a one owner by an elderly couple and in excellent shape! So they are out there if you are patient. Then also consider all the "stuff" you'll need to go along with the initial purchase. I got a $300 cart waiting on Amazon and like I said I came from a Pop-up so already have a lot of camping acessories. Electric brake controler, Sewer hose and clean out, fresh water hose, weight distribution hitch, shore power surge protector, are "needs" then come the "wants" camp chairs, pie irons, dutch oven, fire tri-pod, etc. Also as far as "money pits", there will be maintenance. Not a matter of "if" but "when" it needs repair, new or used. I was an auto tech and if your husband can work on diesels, fix things around the house, a TT is a piece of cake.412Views0likes0CommentsRe: UGH....WINTER
DutchmenSport wrote: Kennedy64, why not pull that cover back from the TT, plug it in, fire up the furnace, warm it up, get the television going, pop some pop-corn on the stove and spend a couple nights in it. .... Why not use it! ^THIS! Friday after work it had warmed from a week of single digits to a balmy 30 deg F! DW has been out of town and I had Cabin Fever BAD. So I grabbed a sleeping bag and a pair of long johns, turned on the LP and went into the TT for the night. Little bit of heaven right here at Camp Driveway. :B428Views0likes0CommentsRe: Topper for Truck
Having owned trucks with toppers,and tonneau in the distant past. I am still getting used to the Monroe Aluminum Topper that came on my New-2-Me '13 F150. It was on it when I bought the truck and thought it a nice addition, but I am still depating on taking it off. I like being able to haul items protected from the elements and being able to lock it. I also like the opening side windows, I can reach items at the front without climbing in. I am not happy with the limited view out the rear window. Even with the side windows there is a big blind spot at both rear corners....and as previously mentioned with factory tinted rear glass on the cab and the rear window of the topper,night view is reduced even more. At night it's like backing into a dark tunnel! Being aluminum it's very solid and light weight, but with that comes straight corners and sides. The new tuck shapes are full of curves. Since it meets at the center of the front,sides, and back, it extends past at the corners giving a slight gap . I see fiberglass toppers are molded to fit the contours of todays trucks much better. I hated my old trucks tonneau. It was an early style vinyl one with velcro strips to attach it on the sides and tailgate. While easy to roll up and use the bed, it didn't last long and always came off the sides from the weight of snow, even after I intalled bows. But they have come a long way since then.515Views0likes0CommentsRe: Cool Mods - Thread restored 10/18/2012
After putting up a closet rod at the DD's new house I had an idea on a ladder for the Grand-kids to access the top bunk in the TT. While originally thinking of doing it all in PVC, I was using a length of vinyl coated wooden closet rod from Home Depot that looked about the same size.... Hmmmm. On the way home I picked up a single 1" PVC "T" from the local HWI to take home and test fit onto my scrap rod... sure enough, even though the Rod is 1-1/4" a 1" PVC "T" had nice snug fit! (stay with me here...PVC pipe is measured by it's ID while the closet rod is by it's OD.) Did the math and next time I was at Home Depot picked up enough of the closet Rod, two 1-1/4" rubber feet and two 1" PVC Caps and their 1" PVC "T"s to tackle my project. I cut everthing to size for 12" wide treads, and at a shorter 10" rise for the Tots little legs and started assembly. Here is where I ran into a snag. While the rod did have a snug fit it was a little too snug to put all the way into the "T" by hand so I used a mallet to fully seat it. While assembling the rungs I broke the "T"... I noticed the single test "T" that I had bought from HWI had molded in gussets in the corners and seemed to be better material. So back to HWI for their superior pieces. Having already commited myself to a bunch of cut up closet rod, I even took an extra precaution and warmed the PVC in hot water while putting it all together. That worked like a charm! The hot water bath expanded them and probably softened them just enough to make assembly much easier. I put the two rubber foot caps on the bottom to keep it from sliding and the PVC caps on the other to give it a finished look. Final outcome holds my weight with little flex so I think it's going to be fine for the Grand-Kids to get in and out ofthe top bunk on their own425Views0likes0CommentsRe: Hello, Looking to get into a TT
I guess I must be a cheapskate... Why would you be looking at a new TT if you don't even know if you would like the camping lifestyle? I can't imagine dropping $13,000 on an new TT just to see if I like it... and that's just the initial investment. There are a lot of "accessories" needed to go along with it. My wife and I had talked for years about getting a camper and we found a nice clean used P-up for $3000. While a P-up isn't for everyone, a LOT more work to set-up / tear-down, that got our feet wet. We acquired a bit of camping gear during that time and learned a huge amount. We got tired of the bathhouse routine, always needing to reserve a spot close for showers / potty. We knew we wanted to continue camping so began watching for a larger one with a bathroom we could afford. Looked at a couple of used ones in the $6000 range. When we went to look at a used Hybrid that wasn't so good at a dealer, That's when we found our current one. Over in the corner was a Lightly used TT, a 2005 25 footer.... CLEAN, nice floor plan, one owner, everything worked and got it for $4500 at the end of the season. My point is, there are a lot of nice used units out there to start out with. Let the other guy buy a new unit and take the big hit on depreciation. When he wants to sell it, that same $13K TT you are looking at would be $8000 used in the next year or two. When / if I sell my unit, I will ask darn close to what I paid. Hang out here, learn what to look for, and shop around on Craigslist. It is full of used TT's that someone thought they would enjoy but the romance was lost once they grew tired of it. As far as boating goes, in my personal experience no thanks I want to relieve stress, not add to it. Where I live are tons of lakes, boating is huge here. Step-Dad had a Ski-Nautic and then a Hydrodine when he and Mom were dating and I had free use 24-7. The adage "A boat is a hole in the water you poor money into" has deep roots. Maintenance costs are insane compared to a TT. There are more jack-holes on a lake than ANY campground, drunk or sober. Forget the Holidays, everybody and their brother is out on the water and most are the later trying to prove their boat is the fastest. I would get up at the butt-crack of dawn just to get out on the lake when it was enjoyable and be docked up before Noon. How many times can you go counter-clockwise around the same circle over and over before it gets boring? (Sure the same could be said about setting around a campfire I guess) Now if you live on a Great Lake or one of the Coasts, then it's a whole different story, but now you're talking BIG MONEY! But that is just MHO... Good luck to you and strongly suggest you try both before jumping into either one.300Views0likes0CommentsRe: HEY we need a sticky for our TT pics!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Holey Cow... can't believe I have been a member this long and not posted a pic of our new-2-us TT here! 2005 Coachmen 248tbg Spirit of America. one owner and so far, seems to be in nice condition. This is the day we brought her home. ... and put her to bed until spring. :(493Views0likes0CommentsRe: Newbie seller need help please!!
Do you haggle when you buy a new (to you) car and trade in your old? Or do you pay full window sticker price? I am not trying to be a smartalic here... so people do / some don't. I always have on vehicles but that was about it. Then I had a Boss who haggled on EVERYTHING he taught me well... jewelry, chain saws, mowers, I even got 10% off the Weber Grill I bought for the camper because I asked! All have wiggle room and most people nowadays look at the price tag and just fork over the money without even trying. I blame the big box stores mentality. Clerks can't budge there, but if you go to a local retailer he sets his price and profit margin so he can decide to take a little less. I would not take the first offer... work him, I would even suggest to low-ball him... He will come back with a counter offer. If not, at least you tried.361Views0likes0Comments
Groups
Pet Owners
Notes from the road with the best travel companions around.Dec 29, 20242,081 Posts RV Families
Activities, advice, and destinations for those traveling with kids!Oct 09, 2024501 Posts RV Newbies
We all start out new. Share lessons learned or first-time questions!Jun 15, 20174,026 Posts Travel Trailer Group
Prefer to camp in a travel trailer? You're not alone.Jan 20, 202544,030 Posts
