Hello from Oklahoma

[carlkeigley]

Hello all. I have to say you are a great bunch of people.
I've been lurking for months if not a year or so. I have a
hard time calculating the past........... You know, old age
and all that.

I'm a transplant of 10+ years from NW Arkansas to NE Oklahoma.
20 miles to be exact. Big move for this Arkie who became an Okie.

I don't have a trailer yet. Not a camping trailer anyway.
I've fallen in love with so many. Many I really like I find
to be discontinued. Or way, way up in Canada or way, way
over in Australia.

I saw a 13' Casita going down the road the other day while
coming home from the VA and wanted to make a U-turn and
chase it down to look at it. I'm almost sure they were coming
from Texas after getting one. It sparkled like a brand new one.
Traffic was too heavy to turn around.

I like the tear drops, but with wife and 20 year old daughter that
will always be with us, that isn't practical. I went to an RV show
this summer and really liked the R-pod. But it still doesn't suit
my need (desire).

Airstream.........too expensive for this okie. Pop-ups are nice but
I'm physically challenged so that's out. Jump from Scamp to Casita
and then I read up on Parkliner coming out. Closer to what I want.

My wife kinda laughs when I say I've made up my mind. Scamp
was it, no, Scamp fifth wheel would be it. No, I find I have a plastic
bed in my 2010 Tacoma. Parkliner packs extra beds in the funniest
places. Yeah, that's it. No, Casita. I'll go to Texas and check it out.

Hmmmmm. Then this "Lil Snoozy" comes on the scene. Seems kinda
odd at first. But the more I look into it, the more it grows on me.

All the while I'm reading the various forums. I rate this one #1. I keep
coming back to it. So, I finally join and got my go ahead today. So, this
is my first post. I promise. I never make long posts. haha. Except this
time.

I've been up 3 and 4 hours after wife goes to bed reading up on the new
Snoozy's members are buying. I love the pics. I've printed off the mfg.
pictures and specs. I'm making a list of all the ideas you members are
coming up with. I've even managed to save up a down payment when the
time comes. That time will be when I have the full payment. LOL.

Anyway, seems I've got the molded fiberglass syndrome. Hope to have
a stash of cash for a purchase next year. I don't know how Snoozy keeps
improving theirs but they do. I did run across something I hadn't seen yet.
The Honda 2000 generator, but running on propane. Seems like a viable
option?

By the time I do find myself pulling a TT, perhaps I will already be a veteran
of the road from reading all these fine posts.

[Donna D.]

Hi Carl, welcome to FiberglassRV... I live in the other "O" state... Oregon. I'm sure you'll find the perfect trailer for you... it will just take time and planning. If you find a gathering of eggs happening in your area, just remember NOTHING beats physically seeing a brand with your own eyes. And the more the better, so you can compare fit 'n finish, layout, etc.

[carlkeigley]

Thanks Donna for the welcome.
I've been "through" Oregon. I used to drive OTR when
I was much younger. Five years of 4 season driving.
That's about my RV experience. lol.

I've noticed there is a rally at Springhill Park in Sept.
That's less than 2 hours from here I think. I think I'll try pretty
hard to make it there. I know there will probably be every
type and brand there. I see some are even doubling up on
the camp sites.

It's amazing how many scamps, casitas, big foot, etc. there are
out there. I spent hours looking at the "my rig" posts. I really
like the one's being pulled by a tacoma. No matter what the
rig I copy it and tell the wife, "That's what our truck would look
like with that brand behind it."

The lil snoozy is growing on her too, so that's 9 tenths the battle. lol.
The other tenth is the finances.

Again, thanks for the welcome. You guys are tops in my book.

[Mike Magee]

Glad you joined up, Carl. Good to see another Okie, who was probably coming from Muskogee (the VA) that one day. By all means, come and see Herschel's Snoozy at Springhill, and bring your wife too. Nothing can take the place of actually standing and sitting in a trailer, to see what it's really like.

[Pomfritz]

A plastic bed in a truck? That's news to me. Haven't looked at a truck bed closely other than mine for some time.

The escapes look like a fine TT and have read nothing but praise about them and the owners.

Welcome and you never know when serendipity comes knocking. Always be ready to answer.

[carlkeigley]

Thanks for the welcome Mike.
I was actually coming from the Fayetteville, ARK. VA.
The Casita was heading East on 412. So I figured they
were coming up from Texas via OK. Sure was a pretty
site. lol.

I was up 3 or 4 hours drooling over all the posts on here
last night...........[again].

Yeah, my Tacoma has a "composite" bed. I call it plastic.
I was also searching the 5er possibilities last night. I thought
it had a factory coating until I read the drawbacks on the RV
sites a few months ago. Then I checked mine out and sure
enough. . .a plastic truck bed. I'm okay with it.

I have two TV's I can use. A 2002 Astro Van AWD and a 2010
Tacoma 2WD with tow package. My wife claims our 2012 Scion
Xb. I was wanting to use the Xb for a TV but realize the basic
limitations. I'll still put a hitch on it when the warranties run out.
I'm still the 16 year old I was 47 years ago. Don't try to figure it
out. I turned 63 last July.

A friend of mine is on vacation (no RV) and is sending me pics of
the parks in California. Makes me want to get in on that myself.
May not be able to hike the trails, but can do a lot of visiting.
May even sand the rust off my guitar strings.

[Pomfritz]

We sprayed line-x in our bed. the installers said it was being used in buildings to help protect against explosions. This was about 10 years ago. If its that tough maybe it lends enough support or strength for your needs.

[carlkeigley]

I got this from a discussion on some Toyota board......
I cannot verify if they know what they are talking about....
or, even if I understand what they said....
=====================================
the ultimate tensile strength of a carbon composite is like 500 ksi,
and 125 ksi for 4130 chromo... thats 4 times stronger...
Then when one factors in the density, a composite part has a strength
to weight ratio 24 times that of 4130.
Plus composites have an infinite fatigue life, as long as they arnt pushed
to the ultimate load.
The latest resins are much more UV resistant, even to the point that an aluminum part would fail from fatigue before the composite failed from
UV degradation.

[Donna D.]

We've got a number of members who are towing 5th wheels using Toyota trucks and "plastic" beds. Lots of good stuff in the archives about how to mount the hitch in the bed, etc. Doesn't seem to stop members here from owning a good truck and towing a 5th wheel that suites their needs. When the time comes, if you need the information, let us know.

[theresa p]

welcome, carl. with all of the terrible natural tragedies that oklahoma has seen recently, i sure can empathize with your desire to get away in a delightful little egg and escape from the day-to-day routine.

happy hunting!

[RogerDat]

Good luck finding your dream camper. With all the research your doing I'm sure by the time you purchase you will know what brand/model will work best for you.

[carlkeigley]

Thanks Donna,
I will definitely let you know if I decide to go the 5er route.
It would probably be between the Scamp 5 or Escape 5.
Both seem to be the acceptable weight.

Thanks Theresa,
Oklahoma has sure had their trials the last few years.
My little burg went through a terrible tornado a few years
back. Wiped out most of the little burg. Which sometimes
is for the best if you know what I mean. I'm a praying man
and that night I was praying pretty heavy......LOL. My house
made it on the news showing it was untouched while the
buildings around me were being heavily damaged if not wiped
out. This year it's been bad heat wise and a bad drought. My
garden was a complete disaster. If the squash don't produce,
you know it's bad.

Thanks Roger,
I am making a big pile on my desk with TV information and TT
information. It's mind boggling to see what all is out there.
I remember the days of the local market and today we have so
many SUPER markets. Choices, choices, choices. Kinda overwhelming
some times. One of my pantries is pretty much filled with the
different kind of canned "beans." LOL. But I love beans. I would
have made a great saddle tramp in them olden days. The horse might
get tired of the weight of the canned beans.

There are a lot of campers in the running, but I guess everyone usually
has one in particular leaning. Unless one can find that special used one,
it seems any target is around 20 grand. For an old geezer who sees milk
as 89 cents a gallon, that seems an astronomical amount. But it's all in
perspective. When milk was 89 cents, wages were $1.25 an hour. Milk
pushes $4.00 a gallon in some stores and wages are $8 to $12 an hour.
So in some sense milk is cheaper today? LOL.

But like that one commercial adds things up.
Bottom line: experiences = priceless.

[RogerDat]

Originally Posted by carlkeigley

...

Thanks Roger,
I am making a big pile on my desk with TV information and TT
information. It's mind boggling to see what all is out there....

There are a lot of campers in the running, but I guess everyone usually
has one in particular leaning. Unless one can find that special used one,
it seems any target is around 20 grand....

I think that is where the research pays off. Those good deals on used ones go fast! You will know what is a good price for what you purchase, and can jump on a used one knowing that it is a good deal and will meet your need to haul the required cans of beans along on wonderful experiences.

I guess price is relative to use as much as wages. If you are able to get 20 grand worth of use out of it then that is a good price. If you can pick it up used for 15 grand and still get 20 grand worth of use... Bonus.

Good Hunting.