Decision Time

[Echo]

Still mulling the ideas around. Where there's a will, there's a way.

It all works out in the end. It's just the waiting that about does ya in.

As to crying towels???? Oh my goodness! Mine has been wrung out and hung up to dry more time than I can count! And only just wrung out a couple of times without missing a tear.

[Nasoosie]

YAY, Sue! Just having step one, the job decision, done is a big one! It makes so much more sense than commuting all that distance each day if you don't have to. You can still visit your other friends at that distant campground on your days off, too.

As for the TT and truck decision, it sounds as if you have narrowed those possibilities down a bit as well. You still hve plenty of time to take that step later on when your equity in the truck improves, of course. It's the agony of making the decisions that is so much more stressful than the actual decision! CONGRATS!

[longdog2]

Are you really sure you want to get rid of your truck and trailer for a new vehicle that gets 14/17 mpg? I'd be looking at the fact that your biggest loss on both the truck and trailer already occurred--when you drove them off the lot (especially the trailer). You have fixed up your trailer to fit you and it is in great condition. Your truck also seems to be in good condition. Lighter weight trailers sound great but lighter weight often means less durable and less insulation (needed up north for cooler weather AND southwest for warmer weather). You won't be driving as far for work so you won't be saving much on mileage. You'll be able to do some camping too and you never sound happier on the forum than when you are planning or doing a camping trip.

[Colliemom]

Yeah, going back to the other park will work out better. As is, I may be starting early this year. Usuallly we go back around the end of April, but boss is talking beginning of April this year. Course it's weather dependent too. Got to wait out what snow is here.

Truck and trailer decision is on hold. Will just bide my time for awhile. Just for fun, I have been going through the website of the different manufactuers and to tell tthe truth, there really aren't that many lightweight trailers out there below 4,000 lbs for the most part. They say that they can be towed with todays smaller vehicles and crossovers, but lets face it. Most of them have 3.6 engines if even that and although some may be reated to tow say 4500 or 5200 pounds, you know darn well that it's going to be straining to do it. And a lot of people don't factor in the fact that you really should have cooling equipment on your engine/transmission etc. I towed my trailer which weighs about 4600 when fully loaded with water, propane, and whatever else I have in it, plus what my truck is carrying. I travel light. I don't pack stuff that i know I am not going to use. When I bought the trailer, I have a Chevy pickup with a 5.7 V8. It plled the trailer fine except it took almost the entire entrance ramp getting on the freeway to get up to mergine speed and sometimes on steep hils, it need to downshift. So they can't tell me that those smaller engines can tow that rig. My big 6.2 although it loves gas, will tow that trailer like it wasn't even back there. It's actually an overkill for this trailer I have at the moment.

One of the things that is driving my decision as to whether or not to keep truck and trailer or let them go, is that I plan to retire in 2014 and take a summer long trip out west to the same places that Kelpie has been asking for advince on. I don't know at this point if I want to pull at TT or drive a small MH. The TT is nice cause I can park it and use the truck to sightsee. With the MH, I need a toad and that doesn't turn me on at all (sorry ladies who drive MH's). So I need to do some thinking along that line. Lots of procs and cons.

[Sandersmr]

Sue - there are actually quite a few trailers under 4200 pounds - the thing is they are going to be single axle and under 20 feet. Even some of the small double axles are under that.

I was at the RV show last weekend and I was amazed at how many trailers were advertised as 1/2 ton towable - and the fully loaded weights. I have a 10 year old F-150 and I know that the older 1/2 tons can only realistically pull 1/2 to 2/3 the weight they are advertising.

And as lightweight as my trailer is, I still feel it back there, especially in the wallet. It's the frontal area that drags through the air, causing a sail effect.

[Colliemom]

Yep, I agree that there are quite a few trailers under 4200 pounds. Mine is. But when you start loading them up, then that 4200 pounds or less, becomes anywhere from 4500 to as much as 6,000 pretty quick.

And I also agree about the older trucks not having the power. But the engine size is the trick. And many of todays trucks have pretty much the same size engines as they older ones with a few tweaks made. As long as there is a "sail effect" as you say, you will always notice it back there tugging along, although I have to admit, with this engine I have right now, I really don't notice it back there. But one must never get too comfty with that, cause that's when accidents happen.

[Colliemom]

Actually Colleen, the vehicle that I am looking at to replace the truck for now is a Chevy Traverse and they are rated at 17 city and 24 highway. Quite a difference from 14 city and 18 highway on my curren truck. When the ol budget gets tight, sometimes one has to do what one doesn't want to do. I miss my little day trips to different places and spots in Northern Michigan that I loved to go to. Just costs too much in gas to run this truck around like that. I'm not a "homebody", I want to be out exploring and having fun.