Do You Have a Roving Eye?

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by George Nagel

I'm with Brian, years of minimalist camping has left me in awe of my new Scamp, it's a great tent. The only concern is that I can't go where I used to and am confined to camp grounds, but age is catching up and one must adapt as best as one can.

I too come from a background of backpacking, ski touring, and canoeing. Even though I enjoy the luxury of my Escape, I still enjoy these other activities, spending a bunch of nights in the backcountry each year. I am still quite young at 55, but hope to keep doing some of these activities for many years to come.

I do not really lust over any other trailer, with perhaps an exception of Bigfoot. The problem is though that they are just too darn heavy for my liking, as I want to still with a smaller engine vehicle useful for more than just trailering.

[deryk]

Agreed, Im a man as well and I still look. I am totally happy with my ParkLiner for 1 person I still have 2 big cabinats with nothing in them lol. I have 20 years till I can think about early retirement and if by some scary chance I settle down (where is the cabana boy website ) I think I will be more then comfortable...lived in a 27 foot sailboat for several years so it was not much larger then my ParkLiner is.

At retirement I would love a ParkLiner 18, my vision lol. Same layout as the 15, but across from the galley is another galley with a fridge/freezer and some more kitchen storage and the side dinette is bumped 3 feet forward. Remove the smaller fridge and add a stove/oven. Would be perfect...plenty of room for cooking (counter top wise) a slightly longer tongue so plenty of room to mount a gas can for a generator, and on the backside a rear deck about 2 feet wide thats planned for storeing outside stuff (chairs, chocks, hoses, power cords, generator, etc) And obviosly the axle is back a little further for the additional load.

one could dream lol...Im sure if I waved enough money at Chandler he might consider it lol.

[Thomas G.]

Originally Posted by deryk

.........
one could dream lol...Im sure if I waved enough money at Chandler he might consider it lol.

There was a thread here awhile back where a very skilled person added a section to the middle of his FGRV. We are talking about money no object, right?

http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...oot-44623.html

[Robin G]

Originally Posted by David Tilston

What Donna said.

David, Cabana Boy! I didn't say escort!




But look what popped up on FB today Carol H! So ironic........

Beach Butler


Now if the campgrounds, national park system and all other places I like to camp would offer this service, I would definetly be a Happy Camper!

Can we say, Martini please?

[Carol H]

I also come from a backcountry background and still spend time out there. My SO favorite style of camping is still sleeping on the top of a mountain in a tent in the middle of January at sub zero temps. I still spend 55 or more days each winter on snow covered mountains but prefer to spend my evenings in a warm cabin with a nice glass of wine. ;-)

My Scamp gets used as a base camp for taking off with a tent and kayak to find a more private camping spot. It spends an equal amount of time in Provincial/State/National parks as it does in BML style spots as well. Its taken me to see some pretty amazing places I doubt I would have gone to and seen if I hadn't purchased it & remained a die hard backcountry tent camper only. At the other end of the spectrum, this summer its taking me to a Country Music Fest. - camping in a field with wall to wall campers - who know 6 years ago that owning a trailer could ever get me to do that

Have really enjoyed the past past five or so years with my Scamp but that time has also given me an opportunity to test out how it might be when in the not to distant future I have more time to travel. I want to be comfortable when I park it beside a beach in Mexico for a couple of months at a time with some of my other traveling friends! I know now that the trailer is comfortable for one person on longer stays in one spot not so comfortable for two people. I know what options I need & what options I would not likely use much - something I had no real idea of when I first bought it.

There are times when I admit I do look at some *much bigger* trailers and think that would be the nice to have but I know that in the long run I wouldn't be happy with them - all I really want/need is a few feet more and a slightly different layout and preferable fiberglass.... but you never know!

In the meantime I still very much love & enjoy my little trailer.

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by Robin G

But look what popped up on FB today Carol H! So ironic........

Beach Butler

Oh gosh Robin, when you can get away let me know - I know a few other females who would be very pleased to join us and enjoy such services!

[Robin G]

Originally Posted by Carol H

Oh gosh Robin, when you can get away let me know - I know a few other females who would be very pleased to join us and enjoy such services!

LOL................... Sounds good to me! It's the getting away that is the issue! But that will change soon, so lets set a date, place and time and make it happen!

We just got to find a campground that offers this service.

[deryk]

Originally Posted by Thomas G.

There was a thread here awhile back where a very skilled person added a section to the middle of his FGRV. We are talking about money no object, right?

http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...oot-44623.html

NO! lol too much work... Im sure its all a matter of time till he makes a 2nd model lol

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by deryk

NO! lol too much work... Im sure its all a matter of time till he makes a 2nd model lol

Actually the one being extended is his second major!

[Brian M. in NY]

Originally Posted by deryk

At retirement I would love a ParkLiner 18, my vision lol. Same layout as the 15, but across from the galley is another galley with a fridge/freezer and some more kitchen storage and the side dinette is bumped 3 feet forward. Remove the smaller fridge and add a stove/oven. Would be perfect...plenty of room for cooking (counter top wise) a slightly longer tongue so plenty of room to mount a gas can for a generator, and on the backside a rear deck about 2 feet wide thats planned for storeing outside stuff (chairs, chocks, hoses, power cords, generator, etc) And obviosly the axle is back a little further for the additional load.

one could dream lol...Im sure if I waved enough money at Chandler he might consider it lol.

Deryk,
Sometimes, less is more. Friends of ours came home a month ago with (to us) a 24' stickie behemoth with two slide outs, center island double bowl sink, house sized refrig/freezer, basement storage under the walk around queen size bed and a total height of 10 1/2 feet. So far it hasn't moved from their driveway. This (almost) 6000 LB monster requires a sway control WDH behind their V-8 full size pick-up. We've invited them on any of the trips we have planned over the next few weeks but they can't fit it into their schedule. So far, they haven't even slept in it yet in their own driveway. Maybe their schedule is that tight, but they've brought friends over to look at our ParkLiner. Buyer's remorse???

[Bobbie Mayer]

Originally Posted by Carol H

- all I really want/need is a few feet more and a slightly different layout and preferable fiberglass.... but you never know!

In the meantime I still very much love & enjoy my little trailer.

That's kind of how I feel. I'd like a Lil-er Snoozy or maybe a BigToe... I don't need the whole foot. I'd like more floor space so I don't have to step over a dog and a visitor could pass me in the "hall"; I'd like a little more room to sit, too. I'd like a nice built-in awning. But I don't want to tow something bigger or heavier, at least, not by much.

Bobbie

[deryk]

Oh I understand that one Brian, I bought and briefly owned a 34' sailboat and sold it...was a pita to easily take out on my own...if itwas too windy it was hard to get it out of its slip, more windage.

But if I was fulltiming I would like a small fridge with a freezer and an oven... forget the slideouts lol just a little bit more. Most of my ParkLiner trips are long weekends... going for months on end it would be nice to be able to keep a few ice cream sandwiches in the freezer... or ice cubes for a drink. I see Chandler is offering a larger fridge...would love to see how he is doing it.

[David Tilston]

Originally Posted by deryk

Oh I understand that one Brian, I bought and briefly owned a 34' sailboat and sold it...was a pita to easily take out on my own...if itwas too windy it was hard to get it out of its slip, more windage.

When I was 11 my family lived on a 45' mahogany on oak sail boat:
Niels Helleberg Yacht Design - Designers of Fine Yachts

For dad, it was a good excuse for a party, to take it out on Lake Ontario. One time the engine did not start and we had to sail it back to the pier in Port Credit.

[Francesca Knowles]

How cute is that picture?

If that's you, David: I vote that pic for your Avatar!

Francesca

[accrete]

Carol...since we're just dreaming and scheming...

When we were in the market for our second generation TV and TT, after two seasons with a Tacoma + A-Liner, we wanted to go a bit bigger with a twist...and it has been good so far:

1) in 2010 we purchased a regular body full sized chevy all-wheel-drive van (9 feet of floor space behind the front two seats) with the intent that my wife and i could/would do the interior upfit. this would include a bed platform with storage under and a bathroom. This would also be my wife's daily driver. It has worked out great so far.

2) we purchased the above believing there would be a day that we'd once again tow something behind it...but now since we had a wonderful bedroom, the trailer could be of reasonable size and not necessarily have to include a bed. The trailer would be used for relaxation and dinning.

With our purchase of the Parkliner we now have our Bed & Breakfast on wheels. My point to all this is, if you are considering a new tow vehicle, maybe take into consideration a commercial van and do some of the work yourself. If we can do it anyone can! Then down the road you can have a professional do some sprucing up?..we just had a major interior uplift two years later, and it looks great. We picked up the van new for ~27K in 2010...not a whole lot more than some other tow vehicles i suppose?

Bottom line on this sort of a concept is one does not have to put such a burden on the trailer...you can spread the floorplan/needs out between van & trailer.

cheers,
Thom

PS, as for your original question; "Do You Have a Roving Eye?" hey i'm a guy...i've been eyeing the 2014 full size ford transit van OR the 2014 Dodge ProMaster Van ...It's one thing to read the "articles" and totally different game if you bring one home!

[David Tilston]

Originally Posted by Francesca Knowles

How cute is that picture?

If that's you, David: I vote that pic for your Avatar!

Francesca

It's me.

Or, it was me. I have put on some weight since then.

I think the boat in the link is actually the one I lived on as well. 711 is kinda a unique design. I don't imagine they made more then one.

[Francesca Knowles]

Originally Posted by David Tilston

It's me.

Well, I thought it must be- and it sure personifies the spirit evident in your posts about this (other) avocation.

"Cap'n Dave of the Good Ship Trillium"- or should I say "Admiral of the Fleet", given the number of rigs in your avatar?

Francesca

[David Tilston]

Originally Posted by accrete

Bottom line on this sort of a concept is one does not have to put such a burden on the trailer...you can spread the floorplan/needs out between van & trailer.

This is precisely what we did. I think of our rig as an articulated, separable motor home.
I purchased the van first. No work was required, other then mechanical maintenance, (it is a 1997). It is not configured as a motor home, more a travel van. By itself, we refer to it as the Limo. It has seats for seven, and the back bench converts to a bed. The TV in the raised roof keeps the kids occupied when we are traveling. I consider it the living room of our RV. The trailer makes up kitchen, and bed room. Four of the kids sleep in the trailer, my wife and I, and the youngest child, sleep in the van.
This is how the seven of us can use a 15' trailer. The only down side in comparison to an actual motor home is that we can't access the kitchen, or bedroom while we are moving.
The perfect trailer for this configuration would be a front dinette 4500 with the pull down bunk over the dinette. That way all the kids could sleep in the trailer, and we could seat most of the family for meals in the trailer.

[deryk]

Originally Posted by David Tilston

When I was 11 my family lived on a 45' mahogany on oak sail boat:
Niels Helleberg Yacht Design - Designers of Fine Yachts

For dad, it was a good excuse for a party, to take it out on Lake Ontario. One time the engine did not start and we had to sail it back to the pier in Port Credit.

Beautifal Boat David! Im sure was an awesome experience as a kid!

[David Tilston]

Originally Posted by deryk

Beautifal Boat David! Im sure was an awesome experience as a kid!

It had its' ups and downs.
Notice the bears head at the top of the sail.
The guy in yellow is, (was) also me.
My dad sold the boat years ago. He thinks it's sunk by now. They guy he sold it to asked him if he knew it had a rotten keel. No surprise I guess. It was built in the fifties.