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Post by kto17 on Jun 21, 2016 10:57:00 GMT -8
First, I love the idea. If it weren't for the love of my life and the two most amazing kids I'd be back in the woods or on a beach living full time in a vintage trailer.
My advice.
First get a bigger tow vehicle.
If you like your current Mercury, find a Ford Explorer, V8, preferably with the towing package (that would have a hitch and probably a transmission cooler). DONT buy the all wheel drive model. It's not too much bigger than your current, should have similar features and controls, they made a million of them so parts are readily available. They are also the mid size SUV that became grocery getters, not that many were actually used for towing very often.
Then evaluate your remaining budget.
Reality check is you won't find many that need little to no work to be campable under $5k, and everyone else is looking for that unicorn! Be prepared to call and say: "I have cash in my hand and I'm getting in the car. What's your address?" You will find the good ones are usually only on Craigslist a few days and sometimes sell the first day.
Go drive around and keep your eyes open. Be ready to knock on a strangers door and ask them to sell what's not for sale. My wife thinks I'm crazy but I spot vintage trailers in the strangest places.
Like mentioned above, find something and try it out for a while. Don't go buying batteries and solar panels till you know you need them. A good battery can last days running lights and a fan. I think you will find your money is better spent on a small generator, lock, and chain, and it weighs much less than all the batteries you would need.
Also, if you find something and buy it, use it as-is, don't go changing everything right away. If you decide it's not the right one you want it intact to preserve the value to another vintage camper enthusiast.
Good Luck, message me when you are nearing the Atlanta area and I'll clear a spot in the driveway for you with power and water connections available.
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pheribee
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Post by pheribee on Jun 21, 2016 10:57:05 GMT -8
I'll offer my opinion(s). 1) Upgrade my car in someway to make it able to tow (IS THIS EVEN POSSIBLE???)Not really. Sorry. With a 1500 pound limit your car is for a very, very small pop up...maybe. 2) Trade in my car for a new vehicle.Most likely. 1. what tow capacity should I aim for? Is there certain engines/mileage/etc that I should have in mind?I would focus on finding the camper first. This way if you discover the (likely) compromises are too much for you, you haven't invested in a tow vehicle you don't need. Cars that can tow can be found within days. A Vintage camper can not. Mattress Sounds like I need to pay special attention to trailer width. The Shasta in the photo above is 12' long and has a bed that's 76"x48". A very common size. If you have a memory foam mattress you might be able to cut it down. That's what we did. Budget: My $10k includes everything--solar, upgrades, etc. Okay, a moment of truth. When my wife mentioned solar my answer was, "A tiny solar system is a granola toy that costs a lot and in shady areas provides very little for the investment." (I'm going to get beat-up for saying that here.)My goal is to pay cash for everything over the next several months so that when I'm "officially" on the road in JanuaryAmbitious. To be perfectly honest, many of us search for years to find the perfect camper. I've been searching for a solid, restorable 57 Shasta for 4 years. If you consider late 60s and early 70s toasters you will have more to choose from but not many fully restored the right way. Possible, but in a few months...not a sure thing. So your suggestion is that I hit the road ASAP with a unit "as-is" so I can learn what I want/need?That seems like your best bet. Define "customization"? Like buy it, changing the entire layout? Removing the kitchen, expanding the bed, removing the dinette and building a work station? In 6 months? If yes, you may have to stretch your timeline and budget to find an experienced restoration person to help. Mattress: Talked to the manufacturer and sadly they don't do custom. They said it is possible to cut mine down, but that it could get messy. I'll cross that bridge when I come to it, and won't make it a deal breaker. My measurements are 60x80. Solar: Because I plan to mostly boondock for weeks at a time, solar is imperative for me. I'm not interested in being dependent on a hook up or a generator, for both financial reasons and also because I want to reduce my footprint. Cause I'm granola like that. Timeline: I'm definitely open to late 60s and even 70s. I actually have seen some eggs from the 80s I would love. It's a less a quest for the perfect trailer, and more a quest for my first trailer. I'm more interested in getting out on the road, then the "restoration" process. Customization: Ideally, not changing the layout drastically. I don't plan on touching the kitchen (except to upgrade if necessary), but I would like to try to make the big bed work (not a deal breaker though) and I'll definitely convert dinette or similar into a workspace for me. I have experience in this, so I'm excited and confident about this part! (It's the real stuff--electric, water, structure, that I'm inexperienced at and don't want to worry about with my first camper.)
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pheribee
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Post by pheribee on Jun 21, 2016 11:06:05 GMT -8
I love that you are here, enthusiastic, but still listening. I follow a lot of tiny house and homestead forums and so many seem a strange mix is stubborn and naive. I can't add much to what the experts here have, but I wonder if a few months in just the car might help you understand your needs a bit more. My coworker's son built a sleeping platform in his escape, with a pullout kitchen and storage drawer. Its a bit like a tow vehicle and teardrop in one, and he does well traveling for weeks at a time. Another advantage to being mobile is you can follow the trailers for sale wherever they are. I was travel restricted, so ended up with a trailer that had more problems than I had planned. That's so cool! And a really good point about following the trailers for sale. Unfortunately, because of my job (I run a handmade shop online, among other things) I need more space than just what my car provides. The good news is that I'll have plenty of time living in my trailer before I truly hit the road so hopefully can learn the space and what I want to change about it. I also bet I will buy a new trailer in a year or so after my first one because I'll love it so much!
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Post by pheribee on Jun 21, 2016 11:10:42 GMT -8
I guess I get to be the one to buck-the-tide here, but also after reading your wish list several times I think maybe a solution might be looking at new or lightly used retro campers. I just did a google image search and there were scads of pretty cool, ready to go, much more full time livable trailers than I thought. Some of the new retros are tough but light weight composite built rigs that could even work with your current Mercury if you had a brake controller. The best part is that they are "ready to go". If time is such an important factor, try the Google search, eh? This is a really good idea. In fact, I did much googling after reading your post. I do love the new retros--and you're right, they have everything I want. Unfortunately, because I'll need to invest in a tow vehicle, I can't afford one of these hip newbies (even at the used prices). Plus, since I want to make modifications (for example, I want a light/white interior and create a significant work station) it seems backwards to get something so new and fancy and then undo it. Haha.
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pheribee
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Post by pheribee on Jun 21, 2016 11:12:06 GMT -8
Good Luck Pheribee! It looks like the bug has hit you and you don't own a trailer yet. Its going to be quite an adventure. It'd be great for you to get a lot of your wishlist there, but it seems a little unreasonable to get everything for 10k. I'd take the suggestion to buy something that is livable and tow-able now and see what you like/dislike about it before putting out a lot of money for customization and whatnot. You can always upgrade down the road, or customize the one you buy 1st. Thanks! Yes, I plan to customize as I learn this fall. I'll move into it as soon as I own it! I can't wait.
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pheribee
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Post by pheribee on Jun 21, 2016 11:35:23 GMT -8
First, I love the idea. If it weren't for the love of my life and the two most amazing kids I'd be back in the woods or on a beach living full time in a vintage trailer. My advice. First get a bigger tow vehicle. If you like your current Mercury, find a Ford Explorer, V8, preferably with the towing package (that would have a hitch and probably a transmission cooler). DONT buy the all wheel drive model. It's not too much bigger than your current, should have similar features and controls, they made a million of them so parts are readily available. They are also the mid size SUV that became grocery getters, not that many were actually used for towing very often. Then evaluate your remaining budget. Reality check is you won't find many that need little to no work to be campable under $5k, and everyone else is looking for that unicorn! Be prepared to call and say: "I have cash in my hand and I'm getting in the car. What's your address?" You will find the good ones are usually only on Craigslist a few days and sometimes sell the first day. Go drive around and keep your eyes open. Be ready to knock on a strangers door and ask them to sell what's not for sale. My wife thinks I'm crazy but I spot vintage trailers in the strangest places. Like mentioned above, find something and try it out for a while. Don't go buying batteries and solar panels till you know you need them. A good battery can last days running lights and a fan. I think you will find your money is better spent on a small generator, lock, and chain, and it weighs much less than all the batteries you would need. Also, if you find something and buy it, use it as-is, don't go changing everything right away. If you decide it's not the right one you want it intact to preserve the value to another vintage camper enthusiast. Good Luck, message me when you are nearing the Atlanta area and I'll clear a spot in the driveway for you with power and water connections available. Thank you!! My last car was a 96 Ford Explorer and I loved it. I would love to have another one, and it sounds like I will!! I'm planning to move into the trailer as soon as I have it (with it parked at my friend's) and then begin learning so I won't be making any modifications right away. Especially since I gotta make money to pay for the modifications. Haha. I definitely want a small generator as a back up, but I hate the sound of generators and would much prefer to be as eco-dependent as possible and keep my footprint low. (As I told nccamper, I'm crunchy, loud and proud.) Good idea to drive around!! There's some shady lots near my place, I should drive by real slow and see what they've got there. Unfortunately, because I'm in a high urbanized area everyone knows the value of these things. It's hard to even find good stuff at garage sales anymore cause everyone knows they can just sell it on eBay.
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65callie
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Post by 65callie on Jun 21, 2016 12:17:37 GMT -8
If you are buying and registering a trailer in Cali, it's imperative that you get one that has a title and is currently registered. California is brutal when it comes to trying to register an untitled camper, and any unpaid/overdue registration will be on you too. Gets very expensive.
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Post by kto17 on Jun 21, 2016 13:23:27 GMT -8
Pheribee, Crunchy is not bad. Generators can be a big investment. If you go with Honda, expect to pay around $1,000. So wait on that. Their 2,000 watt is super reliable, 47 lbs (and that's considered light) and very quiet. I was lucky and got a used one from family. There are cheaper alternatives. Look at Kawasaki and other brand names.
You can get a Habor Freight generator cheap but it's loud, not as good of quality, not as efficient, and the power is not a clean wave pattern. That only matters if you use it to power sensitive electronics, like a computer.
This is where trying out your camper helps. Make a list of all your wants as far as comforts and things that use power. Fans, lights, phone chargers, air conditioner, coffee maker, hot plate, curling iron (that's a joke). As you make it your home scratch off what you really don't need. Then you need to figure out how to power what you do need.
Don't hesitate to ask questions. They are never dumb if you learn from them.
I would recommend seeing what you can power from 2 batteries or less. I say that for weight reasons. Avoid a 12v to 110v inverter for now. EDIT: modern inverters are fairly efficient, but you won't be able to run a refrigerator, or a microwave, or air-conditioner off it very long unless you have a bunch of batteries and that brings us back to the batteries=weight problem.
See what you can find that will work on 12v power. You can add solar panels later if you go that route. Keep in mind your batteries can charge off the tow vehicle while towing if it's wired on a 7 pin trailer plug.
I chose to convert to 12v lights. They make LED bulbs that are just as bright and same color as incandescent but use very little power, and best of all screw into a A19 or standard household size light socket. So a little rewire and screw a bulb in and your lighting is straight off the battery.
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pheribee
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Post by pheribee on Jun 21, 2016 19:12:40 GMT -8
If you are buying and registering a trailer in Cali, it's imperative that you get one that has a title and is currently registered. California is brutal when it comes to trying to register an untitled camper, and any unpaid/overdue registration will be on you too. Gets very expensive. Yikes!! Thanks for the heads up. If I'm buying out of state, but registering in CA does that change things?
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Post by danrhodes on Jun 21, 2016 20:01:25 GMT -8
If you are buying and registering a trailer in Cali, it's imperative that you get one that has a title and is currently registered. California is brutal when it comes to trying to register an untitled camper, and any unpaid/overdue registration will be on you too. Gets very expensive. Yikes!! Thanks for the heads up. If I'm buying out of state, but registering in CA does that change things? I assume you live in CA and understand what happens when a state government is "granola"... The DMV doesn't even know it's own laws, much less those of other states. In CA, a current title is like $1000 bill because that's how much it will cost you to register whether you pay it to the previous owner or the State.
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Post by bigbill on Jun 21, 2016 20:34:47 GMT -8
After reading your above post I would like to offer a word of caution. Most trailers thirty plus years old have hidden structural rot that needs repaired to make it safe to use. also when you think about tearing out a dinning area you will usually discover the seats hide water tanks, electrical systems, and other things. I would suggest that you spend a lot time researching thing before you spend a cent. If you only have ten grand and need to trade vehicle plus buy a trailer then repair/remodel it you might/most likely run out of money before you have a livable unit that meets your needs. when you have a short deadline for moving in and can't do it yourself I have seen these projects take years. This is why you see gutted trailer for sale, either the people ran out of time/money or they discovered they bought a major repair job instead of a shine and repaint. Another caution is watch out for the "restored" trailer that has all new paint and thing visible unless they have pictures showing the structure repairs in detail. Not trying to be a wet blanket but it sounds like you can't afford to be cheated out of your money. It is very easy to fall in love with new paint and be very sorry later. We call it Lipstick on a pig.
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Post by vikx on Jun 21, 2016 20:35:26 GMT -8
Ford Explorers have had some towing issues in the past. In our State, U-haul will not rent trailers to anyone with an Explorer. Just a heads up.
Pick something with at least a 5000lb tow capcity with a Factory Tow Package. (not after market hitch) The tow package includes a tranny cooler, hitch that is made for the vehicle and proper 7 way wiring.
I think you need to go new Retro (NOT a 2015 Shasta) or buy something totally rebuilt with photo proof. There are so many cuties out there that haven't had structural repairs. BEWARE.
We are all here to help.
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pheribee
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Post by pheribee on Jun 29, 2016 9:17:16 GMT -8
Yikes!! Thanks for the heads up. If I'm buying out of state, but registering in CA does that change things? I assume you live in CA and understand what happens when a state government is "granola"... The DMV doesn't even know it's own laws, much less those of other states. In CA, a current title is like $1000 bill because that's how much it will cost you to register whether you pay it to the previous owner or the State. danrhodes and 65callie:
I am looking at a trailer today in WA. It has a clean title, but is not currently registered (maybe last registered 1-2 years ago). Is this going to be a problem registering it in CA?
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pheribee
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Post by pheribee on Jun 29, 2016 9:17:55 GMT -8
Just wanted to let you all know that I'm looking at a trailer with Vikx today! Fingers crossed.
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Post by danrhodes on Jun 29, 2016 10:13:20 GMT -8
I assume Vikx knows how to get it registered in WA which I would hope would transfer to CA. My only experience is reading others like mobiltec trying to register CA trailers without titles and it's not fun or cheap
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