NationStates Jolt Archive

Trailer. Caravan. RV. Wohnwagen. Campingvogn. La Roulotte. Корован. Kampadveturilo. Ruldomo.
Whatever you call it, you know what it is. The horror clotting the tiny British roads, and an unnoticeable speck on the American freeways.

While you do know what it is, that doesn't mean you have ever used it. If you haven't, which probably is the case, you can't help much, except for refraining from attacking the caravaners. But if you have, you actually can help me.

Yes, yes. But no. And sort of yes again. I'm planning a prolonged vacation next year. Since I was... well, a kid, ten maybe, I have been infected with a very classic pipe dream. Were I a bit better vaccinated, I'd settle for the modern diluted edition that calls for a home and a job with benefits. Sadly, no vaccine was available, so I caught the oldskool virus of riding the open road across the country, visiting all scenic byways and great cities. And now, 20 years later, I find out it's actually well within my reach.

This is all great, but I'm not 10 anymore. I'm now aware that I have the other end too, and that I'm too tall to sleep on the rear seat, and that as sub-zero the idea of spending half a year with the foot down is, I'll get bored much sooner than that.
And that leads me to the not so complicated concept of dialing the egoism down a notch and taking a trip with friends of both kinds, rather than a 'one with the road' adventure I thought of as a kid.


Here's the thing, though: I'm no longer a redneck. No more trucks. I plan on driving a proper open-top car with two proper seats, which doesn't leave any space for friends. Which is where they come in: with the gas prices way down, there's no need to cramp into a single car. And which is where I got a suggestion I couldn't possibly ever think of myself. It is, as you guess from the topic name, about taking a trailer with us.

I'm not really bought on the idea, though. It looks nice on paper. You buy a used trailer for 20-40 grand, use it as you wish, saving a load on motels, then sell it for pretty much the same price, getting the money back. On the other hand... these things slow you down. Of course, I don't plan to tow it with the car, but, even behind a F350, it's slow. The concept of having to wait for the trailer scares me, threatening to kill the whole idea.
I have no idea whether it's going to matter. Will I be going fast enough to care, or will I get back to the trailer anyway? Is the trailer going to be better than switching a hundred motels, or not? I have no experience with these things.


Have any of you ever taken a trailer vacation? If so, I hope to get some advice out here. Not as much specialist advice as just general. What trailer would you recommend to take, should a small one be fine, or does a large one pay off? How much does it slow down the car; should I consider engine replacement for the towing truck, or is it irrelevant? And, generally, is it worth the trouble, or will I be better served by just taking motels?

Any advice will be appreciated. From whether it's worth it altogether, to the detail on specifics. I'd really love advice from people who have experience with this sort of thing, but, barring that, all useful comments are welcome.

Wouldn't it be possible to just get a normal car, and pack a big tent inside it which you can use if you end up somewhere with no place like a bed and breakfast or whatever to sleep in?

depends on where you want to go eh?

if you are big on the national parks, the lakeside state parks, the semi-wilderness, its not a bad idea.

i have relatives who have them. i think its better to have one that attaches to a truck rather than a selfcontained unit.

if you are "OLD" and like the security of having your own stuff with you and having it be the same every day then the RV is for you.

i wouldnt suggest a moutain trip in one. they are horribly slow uphill.

I prefer non-trailer RVs. I've done three trips in one, including a cross-country one from Seattle to Florida.

if you get an airstream you become part of an exclusive rv culture.

Wouldn't it be possible to just get a normal car, and pack a big tent inside it which you can use if you end up somewhere with no place like a bed and breakfast or whatever to sleep in?
The trunk on the Turbo is like enough for a suitcase, but that's it. And I'm not going to take Quattroporte just for the cargo space. When I have kids, yes, I'll have to, but right now I really don't want to make compromises on the car. And other good cars are even more Spartan.

It's not a problem though if I have friend drive the truck. There are extra bonuses too, I'll probably be able to take the watercraft along, which calls for truckloads of fun. The only issue is the speed difference.


depends on where you want to go eh?
The whole package. I want to go everywhere, every place of interest. Grand Tour, as it used to be called a few centuries ago. Not much for staying long in one place, not on this tour at least.


if you are "OLD" and like the security of having your own stuff with you and having it be the same every day then the RV is for you.
30. So not old in any sense. My own stuff... well, I can use the laptop anywhere anyway. And I have served, so don't bother much on personal bedding and all that.
The idea is mostly about whether the trailer can beat the motels. Not having to unload the things, not having to pack them into the tiny 997 trunk, not paying for the stay, not bothering about their locations.

i dont think id want to take an rv into the city. at least not more than absolutely necessary.

"camping" puts you closer to the lake or the mountaintop than a motel usually does. unless you are willing to take a tent instead of course.

they are far slower than just taking a car.

they are more reliably luxurious than a motel.

rv-ers are very friendly people and will likely chat you up wherever you stop for the night.

a car is much easier for spontaneous side trips.

would you be going on your own or do you have a family? if you are going alone, go by car.

i dont think id want to take an rv into the city. at least not more than absolutely necessary.
Yeah. Presumably not fun in the city.

"camping" puts you closer to the lake or the mountaintop than a motel usually does. unless you are willing to take a tent instead of course.
I'm OK with sleeping even without a tent - done that many times. Well, as long as it is warm. I'm also going to get an adjustable suspension and maybe even a proper gearbox for the car, so it should be able to go anywhere (after all, its close relative holds the all-time record in Paris-Dakar). More "any"where than a trailer can, at least.
I'm concerned though that in a month or two I'll get tired of sleeping in a tent. I'll need motels, one way or another.


they are far slower than just taking a car.
Should an engine replacement fix that? There's a lot of big V8s on the market these days that can fit into the truck, all the way up to 750hp (that's insane, but lots of less powerful ones). With that power, gas being cheap today, torque will be no issue. Or is it rather handling problems that slow the trailers down? Any way around that?


would you be going on your own or do you have a family? if you are going alone, go by car.
Me and my significant other for the first month, just me for the rest of the time. That's what I was planning. What I'm considering is making it rather me and friends for the whole time, in several cars. That would be great per se, but I'm afraid I might be stuck waiting for them most of the time.

they are unsafe to haul at excessive highway speeds. its crazy to go 75 mph hauling an rv.

does the SO need nicer accomodations that one might find by chance along the highway?

they are unsafe to haul at excessive highway speeds. its crazy to go 75 mph hauling an rv.
That sucks, was afraid so.
What about fifth-wheelers, Airstreams? Maybe stiffen up the suspension for better stability, it's not intended to be occupied on the move. Could a moderate-sized fifth-wheeler go behind a Ford F350 at full highway speed?


does the SO need nicer accomodations that one might find by chance along the highway?
She's in favor of the party trailer idea. The plan isn't to stay in any place for long anyway, just have somewhere to crash for the night. A RV probably isn't going to suck as much as some motels, plus save the worry of not finding one.

Anyone had a chance to compare?

rv'ing can be a viable lifestyle, if and only if, it is full time live aboard. the trailer, motor home, or as the brits call them, caravan, being their occupants perminent, full time, and only home.

otherwise the wastefulness is a robbery of the means of survival of others. of course as long as they are propelled by combustion in any form, they entail the same problem and disadvantages for humanity as do all personal vehicules simularly propelled.

might i suggest as an alternative, private railway carrages?

rv'ing can be a viable lifestyle, if and only if, it is full time live aboard. the trailer, motor home, or as the brits call them, caravan, being their occupants perminent, full time, and only home.
Please take this lifestyle test (http://www.fuali.com/test.aspx?id=35205d9c-5462-4324-926d-bc2d7ca95e98) to confirm or disprove whether you actually practice what you preach.


otherwise the wastefulness is a robbery of the means of survival of others. of course as long as they are propelled by combustion in any form, they entail the same problem and disadvantages for humanity as do all personal vehicules simularly propelled.
might i suggest as an alternative, private railway carrages?
Please don't start weeping about the environment just yet.

I've calculated that with a party of five people on the average, driving two cars and three trucks, towing a RV and a PWC, we will consume a gallon of fuel each 2 miles. For a 25,000 mile trip, that will burn down 12,500 gallons of diesel fuel and premium gasoline for no other reason than pleasure. This figure doesn't include the fuel wasted by the PWC and the RV's generator.
If this fuel was used responsibly in VW Lupos, seating five, it could power 220 cars for the same four months, providing daily transportation for more than 1,000 people.

You may start weeping about the environment now.

weaping? its the suicide of YOUR species. even if i do also occupy temporarily the same life form.

and there's absolutely no reason transportation cannot be propelled by noncombustion means, and no damd excuse for emotional attatchment for continuing to kiss the ass of the robber barrons of oil and pavement.