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.