You can see a little bit of everything in RV Parks. For example, here are two extremes of RV trailers. The owners of both appear to be doing the full time lifestyle and I would tell you both enjoy the attention their “rigs” bring them. They are both conversation starters.
First there’s the small vintage set-up…
A nice 1959 Chevrolet El Camino pulling a Vintage 1960 Shasta Trailer. Complete with Jimmy Buffet style lighted palm tree and cabana lights.
Another view of the 1959 Chevrolet El Camino pulling a Vintage 1960 Shasta Trailer. Complete with Jimmy Buffet style lighted palm tree and cabana lights.
Custom painted Volvo 780 hauler with matching 45′ custom Continental Coach 5th Wheel trailer plus fully dressed color coordinated Honda GoldWing motorcycle with motorcycle trailer, and a seperate Harley Davidson motorcycle.
Another view of custom painted Volvo 780 hauler with matching 45′ custom Continental Coach 5th Wheel trailer plus fully dressed color coordinated Honda GoldWing motorcycle with motorcycle trailer, and a seperate Harley Davidson motorcycle. I had to back way up to get everything in the shot. They have some long RV sites here. :-)
…and then, just across the park street, and certainly on the other end of the RV trailer spectrum, you have the modern “wide open” approach.
I would definitely lean towards the vintage version but I saw one of those big rigs once which had a car stowed away underneath. A section of the trailer would lower itself to the ground, a side flap would open and there was a small convertible ready to be driven. Quite impressive, and totally over the top :)
For me happiness lies in between. I wouldn’t care to transport or live full time in either of these rigs but they sure are interesting to see. Yes, I’ve seen photos of that “toy hauler” your talking of, Cedric — amazing feat of design and engineering, James Bond’ish. But, I’m not sure how practical any of that would be. There’s just so much space in any of them so again it’s about compromise, personal preferences and balance. Kinda a truism of life in general, isn’t it? :-)
I guess that’s further proof that it’s possible to go overboard with RVs, too! Like Cedric, I’m partial to the El Camino with the Shasta trailer.
Yelp, only limited by money. I was looking at the Continental Coach 5th wheel trailers on-line and they’re mostly custom build by order and for one this size they start around $250k. Can’t even think what the whole collection of “toys” cost. But perhaps cost was the least of their concerns…just never been there. :-)
I’m sure you run the risk of “escalation” with RVs like you do with boats, houses, etc. I once had a customer who bought a boat, realized their truck wouldn’t tow it, so they bought a new truck then decided, “as long as I have a bigger truck I might as well buy a bigger boat!” It looks and sounds like you and Bonnie have “right sized” in terms of the amount of space and stuff you are hauling around, and I commend you for that. There’s only so much stuff we actually need, and the rest just weighs us down. Whether we have the money for one of those “big rigs” or not!
I love the Shasta trailer, also. It fits more my lifestyle. I’ve seen the rigs where the Harley is underneath. He would ride it up on a pullout bed then the bed slide in under the flooring. He also had a jet black Escalade behind his rig. The palm tree is the only thing the big guy is missing.
When my parents were snow birding I was able to see the verity of rigs (homes) people have. I followed the blog of young lady in her early 20’s with a small pickup pulling a 13 foot Casita trailer. It’s all about what works for us.
While I also find the vintage trailer appealing on some level I’ve done this long enough now I know I personally don’t want to live in 12′ of space with no or limited plumbing…even if I was along, which the guy with the trailer is. A laser light show might be more fitting to the big rig then a palm tree. ;-) Your absolutely correct my friend…it’s what works for each of us.
Well, we’re finally back in Webster, NY Brooks and I can honestly say (with all the appropriate apologies to you and Bonnie) that I’ve seen all the RV’s on the road that I care to see for a while. Between the RV’s – of all sizes – and the semi’s, life on an interstate can be just a bit difficult!
Hope you enjoy your stay back “home”!
No apologies required, Paul. To be honest those trucks and other RV’s on the road get on my nerves too when driving. But there’s also more then a few car drivers that seem to be in such a rush to get somewhere they take stupid dangerous chances endangering us all. It’s a real pleasure when we find a good secondary road with little traffic of any kind and few stops. Glad you made it back safely and I look forward to seeing selected photos from the trip as you work through them. :-)
Yes, a careless omission on my part, Brooks. There’s no question that there are an awful lot of not-so-bright car drivers out there. Actually, with all the traveling we do I should be taking notes. I think I could write a book about those folks………