Escapees September-October 2022

mark, my words

Three-Week Test Trip Q. I am a 63-year-old, single woman who roamed the world in my 20s and I’m ready for that again. In about 18 months, I plan to retire and hit the road. I am also an avid reader of Henry David Thoreau and Emerson and have been assiduously practicing “Simplify, Simplify” for the past year or so. My plan is this: I will drive to the west coast in my car. After arriving, I will sell my car and buy a 16– to 20– foot travel trailer and the vehicle that will safely and adequately pull it. I will then travel around and hopefully get work in the national parks for months at a time. I hope to keep this up for about three to fi ve years. I will have my cat as my co-pilot. Can you recommend some 16–20 foot travel trailers that would fi t my bill? Would second-hand units be chancy? Can you recommend some vehicles that will pull this safely through the West? What are the speci fi cations I should look for? Edie A. I understand the desire to simplify, but if your goal is to full-time RV, consider that you are going to be living in this thing. That means you will need more storage space than if you are just “out for the weekend.” Remember that there will be days (weeks?) when bad weather forces you to stay inside. Simple creature comforts like a comfortable chair to sit in or a couch to stretch out on become more important. Think about what you want to bring with you when you hit the road and try to estimate what kind of storage space you’ll need. I have met some folks out there full-time RVing in very small rigs, such as

20-foot class C motorhomes and 16-foot travel trailers, so it’s possible, but possibly not optimal. If you're considering hitting the road for good in a small travel trailer, my advice to you is to take a three-week trip in one and see if you can live in something that small. Second-hand RVs, especially trailers, can be a real bargain! Obviously, you’ll want something that is struc turally sound, and in good overall condition. In general, travel trailers are likely to be lightly used, and buying a pre-owned unit helps you avoid the hit you would take from depreciation on a brand-new one. Don’t buy your tow vehicle until you have picked out a rig. Then, make sure that the tow vehicle has adequate tow ratings to handle the trailer you’ll be towing. Bumper-pull trailers allow you the widest range of tow vehicles, so you can choose a van, SUV, car or truck, as long as it is adequate for the job. Check manufacturer’s weight and tow ratings on any prospective vehicle, and match them to your trailer’s gross weight rating. Leave some headroom, too. Chances are, if you are full-time RVing, your trailer will probably be pretty close to its rated capacity when loaded. Good luck in your search!

DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION FORMARK? Submissions must not contain commercial advertising or consumer advocacy issues. Due to the large volume of material and correspondence submitted, we may be unable to reply or acknowledge receipt of your material. Material will be edited. Questions and answers with the highest general interest may be repeated in subsequent issues. Questions can be sent by mail to “Mark, My Words” Column, 100 Rainbow Drive, Livingston, TX 77351-9300 or to techquestions@escapees.com.

September/October 2022 ESCAPEES Magazine 7