Neat Camper Bike

With the high rents in China, it was only a matter of time.

More info @ www.kevincyr.net

From Camping to Cabo

I am not usually one to schedule back to back trips. However, due to several conspiring events and a well timed Groupon offer for 4 nights at the Cabo Azul Resort at a very reasonable rate, I rolled with it.

The infinity pool was located right on the beach

Talk about a 180 degree change in environment! I can get used to mojitos by the pool and air conditioned luxury resorts! We got upgraded to a 2 bedroom/2 bathroom suite upon check in.

Loved the canopy ceiling in the bedroom

I did a lot of reading on my Kindle. The highly acclaimed Night Circus was meh. But a friend recommended The Descent and oh my God, I have been staying up until 1:00AM for the past two nights reading. BTW, this book is not the same as that dumb ass movie that came out a few years ago.

My favorite thing about the Hotel were these pods situated around the pool. Something about an egg shaped cocoon, made for a very comforting experience while lying inside.

The only thing was you had to take care to change positions once in a while as to not acquire odd tans lines.

It was a difficult decision each day to choose between lying in the pool or the pod. Second only to deciding between margaritas and mojitos during happy hour.

As Adam Carolla would say, "Champagne problems!" For the record, the mojito was the way to go.

Our new trailer is here!

I am beyond excited. I ordered it sans logo and artwork so that I can have it custom wrap later down the road. It's temporary name is Moby Dick because it sort of looks like a White Whale. By default, our car is named Captain Ahab.

We spent last week test driving SUVs and decided on the Audi Q7. Love this car so much. Comparing the 6 cylinder diesel in the Q7 to its 8 cylinder peers with the same towing capacity, (6,600 lbs) we had to go with the Audi based on torque and gas consumption. BTW, if you are in the market for an Audi, Rector Audi in Burlingame deserves a shout out. The pre and post sales experience has been nothing less than stellar.

Our first "official" trip planned is to Three Rivers in late September. However, we are hoping to take her out to Bodega Bay for a quick trip prior, if schedules permit. CAN NOT WAIT.

PS, La Palace was passed onto a very nice couple in San Francisco. He started a tradition of gifting things to his wife manufactured in '74 because that's her birth year. Last year, he purchased a piano produced in 1874.

How to Cook Twice and Get Four Meals

Since it was Memorial Day, I tried out a 5 hour slow bake ribs recipe.

Some of you have asked me about the cooking club referenced in the last post. Ok, it was only two people but in my mind, I imagine I have a legion of followers who marvel at my genius.

As a busy mom, I am always looking to maximize my time without compromising too much. The challenge was this : How do I serve my family homemade meals but cook as little as possible? The answer is getting other people to cook for you! So I solicited my neighbor to test out my little Cooking Club. I would cook on Monday and Wednesday and deliver the meals to her. In return, she cooks on Tuesday and Thursday and delivers to me. The result: Cook twice, get four meals. It's not that much extra work to add 2-3 more servings to a recipe if you are already cooking for your own family.

We're on week three and I am really enjoying it! I find myself stepping up my game because now I am cooking "for company" so I follow all the steps in a recipe instead of cutting corners. It's bearable because I know tomorrow, I get to relax and have a hot dinner delivered to me.

Here's some helpful tips if you'd like to start your own cooking club:

1) Keep it small, three members max is my suggestion. Since I am assuming your partner is taking you out at least one night a week (if he isn't, why not?!?) and/or you have other social plans - realistically only five meals are needed. Having too many members will make scheduling around "off" nights hard to manage. If you have three members, you can alternate who gets the coveted one night per week slot. IE: Member A = Monday/Wednesday, Member B = Tuesday/Thursday, Member C = Friday OR Sunday. The next week Member A gets the Friday OR Sunday duty and so on.

2) Be honest and give constructive feedback. We all have different taste. Some people love spicy, others love salty. It's OK to tell your friend to take it easy on the oil, spice, etc. BE NICE about it! (Part B of this is portion. Admittedly, I have a hard time judging this.)

3) Make sure you pick members with similar taste (this will help with #2).

4) Go easy on spices until you get the hang of everyone's tolerance. My neighbor is on a special diet that is salt free so I have to be extra careful. Actually, they are on this crazy diet that restricts a lot of things (I have not been able to make any of my pasta or rice dishes.)

5) Agree ahead of time on some ground rules. I shop at Whole Foods for the majority of my groceries, so I expect the members of my group to adhere to a similar quality. Don't get me wrong, you don't have to shop at Whole Paycheck, I mean Whole Foods to start a club, just set some guidelines that work for your group so that everyone is on the same page. PS, this includes delivery time and disclosing your weaknesses.

6) Stick to a schedule, once you start trading nights because of a soccer game or that once a month bridge game, things will quickly unravel. Other members are depending on their delivered meals. As noted on my last post, I cooked a pot of chili on my "off" night since I knew I'd be too tired.

7) Have fun! If this becomes a hinder rather than a help, this is not right for you.

8) It may easier to adhere to a schedule if you start this during the school year rather than the Summer or the holidays.

9) For convenience, members should live close by so deliveries can be swift and painless. Co workers also make a good choice.

10) Email your meal plan on the Friday prior to the next week to prevent duplicate recipes.

I would love to hear from you if decide to give it a go.

What the Bone Song and Vintage Trailer Restoration Have in Common

a few of the vintage trailers in the yard

Upon arrival on the first day of my internship, I got a quick tour of the yard and warehouse. There were dozens of vintage trailers in various stages of restoration. From 14 ft all the way of the 42+ ft. (I must apologize for the subpar photos in this post taken with my iphone)

I was put to work immediately on a glorious 42ft trailer which was to become the new office. The task of the day was to remove some damaged wood panels. I was handed a cordless screw driver and some plastic putty knives to pry off the trim. I decided to do what I always do when faced with something I've never done before, dive in and figure it out along the way.

exterior of 42ft trailer I worked on today

You know that Bone Song they teach in elementary school to help you memorize your skeleton? The one that goes something like, the hip bone connected to the back bone, and the back bone connected to the neck bone and so on....

Well, removing wood panels reminded me of that. Because you start out thinking, "OK, this is gonna be straight forward", but then you quickly realize that everything is connected. In order you to remove one panel, you have to remove the seams, that are connected to the trims, and to the baseboard. Then there are screws and a million finishing nails. And just when you think, "Aha, this is the last nail", you find two more. Oh, and you can't just rip the panels off in frustration because they are needed intact to make templates.

As you can see by the wet ground, it was also cold and rainy. Altogether I removed seven panels.

Of course it crossed my mind that maybe I had bitten off too much. Why did I choose to drive 90 minutes to an unfamiliar town to do manual labor? Couldn't I have learned this by watching HGTV? All I know is that I was dead tired by time I pulled into my driveway. Thank goodness I had the fore sight to make a pot of chili the night before in anticipation that I would be too beat to cook dinner. Plus it was my night in our cooking club. More on this later.

Birthday Goals

Medal and Bib from 5K run

Last year, I decided to choose one thing I hate or was intimidated by and try to master it by my birthday in August. Well, maybe not so much master, but rather, set a modest goal and reach it. Last year it was running. Anyone who knows me know that I DO NOT like to run (except to a shoe sale at Neiman Marcus...and even then, it's a brisk skip). As a motivation, I registered for a 5K run benefiting Special Olympics and solicited sponsorship from friends and family. The last mile just about killed me but I did complete it.

I was struggling with what goal to set for myself this year, but then I randomly came across a local company that restored vintage trailers. The wheels in my head started to spin. I knew that it would be a matter of time before another repair would be needed on La Palace. After all, I've already spent ~$700 in resealing the seams and repairing the holes left from my awning mishap. If I didn't want to deplete my savings, I had better start acquiring some skills!

So.....how does one go about convincing a company to hire an unskilled and inexperience laborer? (Read the About Me page to better appreciate this) Lots of begging. I think the owner finally decided it was easier to give me an internship than face my harassment.

Getting around the campsite

I pulled out my electric bike from hibernation this weekend and attached a Burley trailer to it and took City Camper Boy on fantastic bike ride. It just made me remember how much I love my bike!!

I stumbled upon Velo Electric in San Carlos accidentally and I highly recommend anyone in the market for an electric bike to talk to them. This father and son shop has the best customer service. You will feel like you've been transformed to the 1950's when shop keepers greet you with a smile, remembers your name and returns calls promptly. I had so many questions that visited the shop three times before making a purchase. They made me feel welcome each time.

But back to how this post pertains to camping. My Eco Bike folds compactly, so if you don't have room for a bike rack on your trailer, you can easily pack this in the trunk of your car or even store it inside the trailer itself.

Velo Electric also carries the Brompton Folding Bike hand made from London and oh my gosh people, it is SUPER cute. Folds down to 21" and is super light at 29 lbs.

Comes in as many colors as a bag of Skittles. I like the hot pink and tangerine! If I didn't already have an Eco Bike, I would totally get one of these. Great for camping and getting around university. For those of you who commute on the train, this is perfect.

Their new store in the Town and Country mall in Palo Alto, CA will be open soon.

A reminder that I do not get compensation of any kind from vendors mentioned on this blog.

Sunset Beach State Park

This trip did not start off well. As I was pulling away from the curb, I forgot that La Palace added width and height to my Subaru Outback and um...hit a tree on the sidewalk which tore off the awning.

Since there was no real structural damage to the trailer itself (my ego was badly bruised though), I removed what was left of the awning rig and continued on the trip.

We arrived in plenty of time to set up the site before sunset and took a hike to the beach. It was pretty cool to have the entire beach to ourselves!

Dinner was ribs and mac n cheese.

The beach at Sunset Park was just as nice as New Brighton, albeit a bit more windy. But the wind meant we got our kite up!

Since it was closer to the water (so close that you can hear the waves crashing at night), the temperature was colder than it was at New Brighton. This gave me a good excuse to break out these fingerless gloves. How cute are the hearts?

Hobo Fire Pit

I bought this hobo firepit years ago off of Craig's List for $35 but never got around to using it. It is basically a 55 gallon steel drum cut in half with the edge dulled.

When we were packing for the trip, I decided to bring this along at the last minute in case there wasn't a fire ring available at the campsite. Even filled with wood, moving it was a cinch with the attached handles.

With holes drilled about 2 inches from the bottom for circulation, we had a roaring fire going in no time. Although there was a fire ring at the campsite, this was useful adjacent to our trailer where we had our chairs and portable table set up.

Tip: Bring your own fire wood. Chances are, wood will cost a small fortune on site and the quality may be sub par. We only bought enough wood for the first night (we use seasoned Almond wood at home which burns nicely) and had to buy a bundle from the ranger the second night. We noticed a sizable difference in the quality of the fire.

I also recommend bringing 3 bricks to put underneath the pit to prevent scorching the ground beneath.

Pre Trip Check List - 2 Weeks Till Take Off

Two weeks prior to your trip,

1) Check all of your appliances, propane tanks, battery, water pump, toilet.

2) Flush your clean water tank out with bleach tablets.

3) Check tire pressure. We have a portable air compressor so that you don't have to bring your trailer into a gas station. The compressor also has an adaptor for inflating rafts and other toys.

If this is your first trip, do a dry run of your set up routine, complete with leveling and unroll your awning. I recommend 2 weeks in advance in case you have to repair anything or order parts.

We did our first dry run yesterday in the front yard and it's a good thing we did because we discovered a tear in our awning (off to West Marine today for Kevlar tape). Another reason I should have tested everything during the inspection phase.

From start to finish, it took about an hour. 25 minutes were dedicated to the awning (this took two 6' 2" men) - obviously, we didn't know what we were doing (that's why we did a dry run!) The rest of the time was spent figuring out how to pull the trailer 20 feet on a relatively level driveway towards the street with a trailer dolly and then leveling it. Again, so glad we did this because imagine pulling up just before sunset and trying to figure all this out in near darkness on an unpaved plot.

My son and I decided to go all out and sleep in La Palace. I used regular house bedding and it started out a bit chilly but bearable and continued to get colder towards dawn. I think with my sleeping bag zipped to keep more body heat in, I will be fine in a real world situation.

While I was emailing and surfing the net on my iPad just before bed (roughing it, I know) I received an email from my friend who informed me that part of Hwy 1 leading to Big Sur (my intended maiden voyage in 2 weeks) was closed due to a landslide. Which leads me to the last tip: Check road conditions! You just never know whether nature (or construction) will derail your trip. We have adjusted our plans accordingly and will now be going to Capitola.

ECT (Extra Comfort Tip):

For those who don't like to wake up at the crack of dawn (moi), pack an eye mask to block out the sunlight which I have discovered is abundant out in nature (duh!)

The Transformation of La Palace

I researched several options for covering up the wood paneling.

1) Paint, the easiest and cheapest

2) Contact or Wall Paper which I thought could be totally cool if I were able to locate a retro or mod print. However, my lack of confidence in the DIY department discouraged me from this option pretty quickly. My other reason for not going with wall paper is the level difficulty for future change (with paint, all you need is more paint)

3) Veneer or Skins. These are very thin panels of wood that you adhere with glue and finishing nails. I've used some of these for the pantry in my (home) kitchen with success in the past. But again, a professional would be required for the installation, so at the end I went with good old fashion paint.

I was quoted $275 - $500 from two different professional painters, but I ended up doing it myself. I think it turned out great!

PS, the kitchen cabinets (bottom) look much lighter than the bathroom and closet doors (top) but they are actually the same color in person. The latter photo was taken with a point and shoot camera, and as you can see....the color representation just wasn't there. As a photographer, I just couldn't let it go. So I trekked back to the studio to get my DLSR and wide angle lens.

Old Walls and Cabinet Doors

Don't forget to prep your paint area with a good washing and Kilz primer. I used premixed TSP in a spray bottle (the no rinse formula) Although approximately 50% more expensive than the concentrated powder version, I saved time by not having to go back and rinse the entire area after initial application. I also used the anti mold Kilz Primer formula because of the propensity for moisture in a trailer. Am I paranoid, you bet!

I definitely wanted to get rid of the linoleum counter top and dining table but without any construction or carpentry skills, I had limited options. To cover my basis, I called a few kitchen remodel places to get a quote on replacing the counter. I couldn't get anyone interested because it was such a small job. Plus most only dealt with granite or marble, due to weight consideration, I wanted to stick with Formica or something similar.

While at Home Depot buying paint for the walls, I happened to come across a special paint by Rustoleum that was specifically made for linoleum counter tops that boasted no priming needed. I had my doubts but for $20, I was willing to give it a try as I had finished the cabinets and walls without much frustration. I went with a "Puddy" color. From afar, it almost looks like slate. I am very happy with the result.

Pictured above is an over the sink cutting board with strainer and stove top cover. Easy way to instantly double your counter space.

Old linoleum table top

PS. Notice the water stain on the wood? Read "Things to Look for at the Site Inspection" post for important info!

For the backsplash, I found aluminum stick on tiles for $10/24 pcs that went right over the existing tiles. So amazingly easy! Originally, I was going to cover the entire area. But decided that covering every other one was enough to distract from the ugliness, while still retaining a little bit of the 70's charm. What do you think? Should I have gotten rid of it all?

The biggest eye sore by far were the cushions. After a relatively easy time with painting and "retiling" the backsplash, I did not want to test my abilities or patience by taking on this enormous project. So I took it to a local upholstery shop. This was the most expensive part of the refurbishing process @ $450. Totally worth it because I would have been too distracted by the loud floral print to enjoy the rest of the improvements otherwise.

Although it costed a little more, I went with a Sunbrella material. I figured anything less robust would not stand up to the wear and tear needed in a camping environment.

Old Cushions

These are the cute curtains that I made and the extent of sewing I am able to muster. Take care to double side the material so your trailer will look adorable inside and out!

The rest of the tour....

Media Center.

Note: I replaced the plastic outlet and light covers with nickel plated ones for a modern look.

Dining table converted to lower sleeping area

Upper Bunk Bed opened. It's hard to tell from this angle, but there's a bunk bed that lowers. See the horizontal wood bar about 1/3 the ways down the top of image?

Here's the same area with the bunk bed hidden.

Clever right? I told you camping was neat!

Another sitting area

Same wall before painting

I saved the best for last. I had this decal made for her. So cute right? You can get your own custom decal at www.etsy.com (search custom vinyl signs) For $10, this really tied everything together.

I spent approximately $700 and roughly 15 hrs on this project. I am so glad that other deal fell through - see "How La Palace Came into My Life". Not only did I end up saving money and a trip to LA, I appreciate her so much more because of the time and labor I invested.

I hope you enjoyed her transformation. We have reservations for Mount Shasta and Pismo Beach in April. Check back to read about those adventures. And please email me if you have any tips for my maiden voyage!

La Palace - Before the Make Over

For a 37 year old trailer, La Palace is in excellent condition. Her former owners took great care of her. All that was needed was a little sprucing up on the inside.

As you can see, she still had the original 70's wood paneling.

And the original linoleum counter top

And some of the ugliest cushions I've ever seen!

But she was solid and I knew that with a fresh coat of paint and some creative camouflaging, she'd be adorable in no time.

Things to Look for During the Site Inspection

1. Always schedule your appointment during daylight hours. This is especially important if you are buying a used trailer. You need to see all of its flaws.
2. Before arriving, ask the seller to have everything charged, propane tank filled, etc. Make it clear you will want to test everything. Upon your arrival, if the seller has not prepped the trailer for showing (IE: have propane, battery charged, this can be a red flag)
3. If possible, take someone with you. A second pair of eyes is invaluable. Plus you will probably be carrying a hefty sum of cash if you are buying from a private party. At a minimum, let someone know where you are going and make sure they have the seller's name, address and phone number. If possible, only take a portion of the cash with you, leaving the rest some place close by. This will also prevent impulse buying.
4. When you first enter the trailer, what do you smell? The answer should be nothing...or at least....nothing offensive. Is it musty? This can be a sign of mildew = leak. Does it smell of tobacco smoke (when it was advertised as a non smoking unit?) Alternatively, is the unit overly perfumey? Are they trying to cover up a mildew smell? Do not ignore the smell test.
5. Ask the seller to demonstrate all the features. Consider taking pictures or video during a demo so you can remember the steps correctly.
6. If there is an awning, unroll it and check for tears and mildew.
7. Ask the same questions you asked over the phone and email AGAIN. Are there any leaks, are there any repairs on the horizon? The answers should match what was previously stated. LOOK in the person's eyes when asking them these questions. Make a mental note if the answers don't jive. Do not be afraid to press on a subject until you are 100% comfortable with the answer.
8. Make sure to climb onto the roof to look for rust and leaks.
9. Lift up all the cushions and inspect underneath. Had I paid closer attention to the wood underneath, I would have noticed the water stain (ding, ding, ding...yup, there was leak. See It's Raining, It's Leaking) See photo at bottom of post.
10. You might go as far as to borrow a hose so you can spray around the windows, vent and roof to see if there are any leaks; this is where it is extra helpful to have a friend along. One person can stand inside while the other is spraying. NOTE: I did not do either #6 or #7, but I wished I had. Because then I wouldn't have had the surprise expense of $430. It's not the money, it was the time wasted in repainting part of the interior that I hated most.
11. Be prepared to walk away if you're just not feeling it. A deal lost is not as bad as a BAD deal.
12. What is the overall condition of the unit? Even if something is old (like my dear La Palace) it can still be in good shape. Look at the stovetop, is there grease? Has the floors been vacuumed and mopped recently? Pride of ownership is a window into how people take care of their belongings. Ultimately, you should feel like the unit has been in good hands.
13. Be respectful! If you have a firm price in mind and it's clearly not even close to the asking price, let the seller know before you meet them. Do not waste their time and do not disrespect them by making a low ball offer after they've spent an hour showing you the trailer.

During the process of re-uphosltering the cushions. I noticed there were some water stains on the wood panels underneath the cushions. I didn't think anything of it at the time. Until a day later after a rain storm, I found a puddle of water on the dining room table and the bench. Look for these types of stains on wood during your inspection process.

Ask the right questions

While aesthetics are important, it's relatively easy to have cushions re-upholstered or throw a couple coats of paint on the walls.

What you should focus on is the foundation. Before you even make a trip to see the trailer in person, ask lots of questions and request additional photos.

Sample questions include:

Is this a smoking or non smoking unit?

Has this unit been lived in or used for camping only? Generally speaking, lived in trailers will be more worn than trails used for occasional trips.

Are there leaks or rust? While leaks and rust are common on older trailers, you need to know what you're getting into.

Are you the original owner? If not, when/who did you buy it from?

What repairs are on the horizon?

Has this ever been in an accident?

If you're unsure about the amenities (stove, heater, fridge, etc...ASK, don't assume)

What comes with the trailer (IE : jacks? leveling blocks?)

Does the trailer have working electric brakes and brake lights? It's illegal to tow something without working brake lights. And you definitely don't want to be going down a hill if what you're towing doesn't have independent brakes!

Lastly, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Never agree to wire money or buy something site unseen.

Assuming your phone and email conversations have gone well and you're ready for a site visit. Here are some things you should look for.

Determining the right trailer for you

The first thing you need to determine is how many people it needs to sleep. Then think about where you'll be taking it and what you'll be using it primarily for. Make a list of the amenities you want. This will determine the type of trailer that best suits your needs. Lastly, how much weight can your vehicle tow? This last factor will likely play the biggest factor after budget.

Below is my list and how I came to the conclusion that a tow able trailer was right for me.

Budget: $5,000

Occupancy: 4
Purpose: Mostly Campgrounds, Day trip to the beach, Guest Cottage

List of Amenities: Min. 2 sleeping areas, ideally 3, Storage, Food prep/counter area (stove top optional = I can always use a portable camping stove or BBQ), dining area/card playing area, height clearance of at least 5' 10" (technically, my husband is 6' 1" but I was betting he would tolerate bending over a little over short periods of time)

But Robyn, how can a self professed City Girl not have bathroom on top of the list? While it is true that at home, I have my own bathroom (I refuse to share with the husband. BTW, he has the Master bathroom. It was a trade off for occupying 90% of the closet) But back to the trailer.....I decided against it because 1) Cost 2) Maintenance 3)Space 4) Do you really want to drive around with shit splashing around in close quarters?

1) Cost ; For a fully running toilet (not just a port O potty type) cost can rise quickly

2) Maintenance ; I wasn't thrilled about having to dispose of the grey water. I also wanted to avoid camping spots with Full Hook Ups (vs. just water and electricity) because they are more congested and noisy with humming generators and 30' + campers.

3) For storage and towing purposes, I wanted to keep the trailer under 19'. This meant cutting out all non essentials.

4) I start to gag just thinking about port o potties or toilets on airplanes. I could not imagine sleeping or eating within a few feet of one. Thus, no bathroom until I could afford a nice one that flushed!

5) Most established campgrounds have running toilets and showers. PS, if are concerned about toddlers, bring along a training potty for emergencies. Also, most campgrounds will honor your request for a spot close to the facilities if you have children.

Types of trailers and the pros and cons

Teardrop

These are cute little trailers that are tear-shaped (hence, the name!) designed to be aerodynamic. They consist of a sleeping compartment and a rear hutch that opens up to a galley. Many lines available, the two that impressed me most were Camp-Inn (Aluminium) and Little Guy (Fiberglass). **A reminder that I do not accept payment for mentioning brand names. All mentions come from my personal research and/or experience.

Pro: Light weight (can be towed with 4 cylinder car), Low cost, even for a new unit (starting at $3500)

Con: No indoor lounging area (the Camp Inn 560 Ultra model does have a small reading area; emphasis on SMALL), most are built for 2 average sized adults - with my family of 4, it just wouldn't work. PS, even if you are a party of 2, still think about how important INDOOR dining, lounging space is to you. Teardrops are strictly for sleeping only, you will not be able to stand up in one.

Pop Up Trailers

These are also compact and easy to tow. They literally Pop Up when you get to your destination and kind of unfold to a combo soft/hard sided deluxe tent. Usually includes a full kitchen.

Pros: Most have 2-3 separate sleeping areas. Light and easy to tow and store, cheaper than traditional trailers, sleeps more # of people than traditional trailers, even though when folded, they are smaller.

Cons: Not hard sided....I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving it unattended for long periods of time, not ideal for guest cottage, I worried about hot/cold due to soft sides (this may not be a real problem, I must admit, I've never actually been in one)

Motorhome

These do not require a separate vehicle to tow.

Pros: These are usually decked out with bells and whistles. You will definitely travel like a rock star.

Cons: Probably the most expensive of the various types. Because it is all one unit, it can be tough to maneuver for newbies. You can't unhitch and take your vehicle and explore surrounding area. if your engine blows, your trailer is essentially home bound.

Tow able trailer

Taking into consideration all the factors (cost, amenities, maintenance, storage) I felt I could get the best bang the buck with a hard sided, tow able hitch.. I like that you can un-hitch and drive your vehicle into town for dinner or exploring. I also like that since an engine is not involved, I only have maintain the trailer. This is the main reason I don't buy TV/VCR combos. I like to keep major moving parts separate!

Thinking About Investing in a Camping Trailer?

Are you handy, rich or both? If you are neither of the aforementioned, you will want to think long and hard before proceeding.

Otherwise, before long, you will become highly frustrated when faced with the never ending To-Do list. You know how there is always something to repair, clean, maintain or replace at home? Well, it's exactly like that and I came close to tears within the first week of bringing La Palace home. (See It's Raining, It's Leaking) PS, I am neither Rich nor Handy and I went ahead with it anyway, so it is not completely hopeless.

Storage. Do you have a place to park this bad boy? If you don't have room on your property, factor in the monthly storage fee to your budget.

Access. The spot you have in mind, is it fairly level? It is easy to access from the road? And remember that trailers and RVs do NOT HAVE TIGHT TURNING RADIUS. We have a long drive way on the side of our house. By all accounts, this is an ideal spot, but we still had a lot of trouble backing that sucker in (See "Bringing Baby Home") so, think this one through.

City Ordinance. Some cities do not allow RVs or trailers parked in driveways (I'm looking at you Menlo Park, CA) so make sure to check this. Even if there are no city ordinance, feel out your neighbors. Are they going to freak out? Trust, there are people who think they have the right to tell you what you can and can not have on YOUR property.

Research and Budget. What type of trailer is right for you? No matter what your budget is, be prepared to add 3-5% for some essential accessories and unexpected repairs.

Be realistic. You're not going to get a late model anything in excellent shape for pennies. If you want a bargain, be prepared to do a some work. If you want a turn key unit, be prepared to pay for it. With that said, there's no reason that with patient and persistency, you can't get a trailer that meets your needs and in your (reasonably set) budget.