I'm working on getting a hybrid!

[Camping Coxes]

The other night I was passing time (aka wasting time) and checked RVtrader.com for trailers, which I do from time to time.  Lo and behold, there was a 21' Bantam hybrid for sale just down the road from me.  I mean, literally, this neighborhood is walking distance from my house!  I called last night and got the lowdown.  The price is good -- she's asking $8K, which means she'll take $7,500, which is right in the NADA price range.  I took Paul by the house today and he said it looks nice, but he doesn't want two trailers in the driveway.  I asked if we could have two just for a month or two while I sell our pop-up (mind you we have a four car driveway, double wide and double deep, but we have three vehicles and the trailer currently).  He just gave me "the look" and then asked if we NEEDED it or just WANTED it.  I hate it when he gets all logical on me!
 
Anyway, keep me in your prayers, that I can figure out how to make this work.  I'm going to call her Friday morning and see if we can go look at it, since tonight, the day before Thanksgiving, she and I probably both have a lot to take care of and there won't be time.
 
One concern Paul had is the difference in towing since the hybrid will be a lot taller.  Dee, Brian, what is your experience as far as a harder load on the vehicles?  My theory is this:  We don't go on long extended trips except once a year where it will be a big factor, we have the manly-man diesel turbo Suburban, and the ease on his back in setting up will be worth the trade in gas mileage.  
 
 
The first two things Emily said about it was, "Ooh, an oven.  We can make cookies!"  And, "Ah, our own toilet."  It's the little things that count.  :p

[TheViking]

The other night I was passing time (aka wasting time) and checked RVtrader.com for trailers, which I do from time to time. Lo and behold, there was a 21' Bantam hybrid for sale just down the road from me. I mean, literally, this neighborhood is walking distance from my house! I called last night and got the lowdown. The price is good -- she's asking $8K, which means she'll take $7,500, which is right in the NADA price range. I took Paul by the house today and he said it looks nice, but he doesn't want two trailers in the driveway. I asked if we could have two just for a month or two while I sell our pop-up (mind you we have a four car driveway, double wide and double deep, but we have three vehicles and the trailer currently). He just gave me "the look" and then asked if we NEEDED it or just WANTED it. I hate it when he gets all logical on me!
 
Anyway, keep me in your prayers, that I can figure out how to make this work. I'm going to call her Friday morning and see if we can go look at it, since tonight, the day before Thanksgiving, she and I probably both have a lot to take care of and there won't be time.
 
One concern Paul had is the difference in towing since the hybrid will be a lot taller. Dee, Brian, what is your experience as far as a harder load on the vehicles? My theory is this: We don't go on long extended trips except once a year where it will be a big factor, we have the manly-man diesel turbo Suburban, and the ease on his back in setting up will be worth the trade in gas mileage.
 
 
The first two things Emily said about it was, "Ooh, an oven. We can make cookies!" And, "Ah, our own toilet." It's the little things that count. :p

Tell him to remember Pismo, and the fact that the Hybrid HAS a bathroom!
LOL

[DK&3kids]

The other night I was passing time (aka wasting time) and checked RVtrader.com for trailers, which I do from time to time. Lo and behold, there was a 21' Bantam hybrid for sale just down the road from me. I mean, literally, this neighborhood is walking distance from my house! I called last night and got the lowdown. The price is good -- she's asking $8K, which means she'll take $7,500, which is right in the NADA price range. I took Paul by the house today and he said it looks nice, but he doesn't want two trailers in the driveway. I asked if we could have two just for a month or two while I sell our pop-up (mind you we have a four car driveway, double wide and double deep, but we have three vehicles and the trailer currently). He just gave me "the look" and then asked if we NEEDED it or just WANTED it. I hate it when he gets all logical on me!
 
 Anyway, keep me in your prayers, that I can figure out how to make this work. I'm going to call her Friday morning and see if we can go look at it, since tonight, the day before Thanksgiving, she and I probably both have a lot to take care of and there won't be time.
 
 One concern Paul had is the difference in towing since the hybrid will be a lot taller. Dee, Brian, what is your experience as far as a harder load on the vehicles? My theory is this: We don't go on long extended trips except once a year where it will be a big factor, we have the manly-man diesel turbo Suburban, and the ease on his back in setting up will be worth the trade in gas mileage.
 
 
 The first two things Emily said about it was, "Ooh, an oven. We can make cookies!" And, "Ah, our own toilet." It's the little things that count. :p

Trina,
 
 Since we had to buy a new tow vehicle to tow our newly used hybrid, we have THREE vehicles and 2 trailers in our drive.  It's only temporary and SO WORTH IT!  
 
 Towing it, you def. feel it vs. the ease of towing a pu, it's a bit harder on the mileage, and it's takes us longer to get places, but again...wouldn't trade my bathroom and kitchen for anything and the set up is awesome!  (once you practice...don't listen to Brian, he likes to bring up our "learning experiences!:p)
 
 Good luck!  We'll be saying prayers for you and hope it works out!  It could be a "family" X-mas present!!
 
  Kristi

[Dee4j]

the extra gas is soooooooo worth it...my own shower, the  toilet which I need (PRW)  and the fact you have access to EVERYTHING. since ours is in the driveway it comes in handy when you run out of paper towels at 11 PM and thought you had more.  no more big $$$ at fast food, pull over at a rest stop and eat and no more dirty gas station bathrooms :eyecrazy: ..


doesn't Paul have a bad back?? well let me tell ya the hybris is a cake walk.

[Camping Coxes]

the extra gas is soooooooo worth it...my own shower, the toilet which I need (PRW) and the fact you have access to EVERYTHING. since ours is in the driveway it comes in handy when you run out of paper towels at 11 PM and thought you had more. no more big $$$ at fast food, pull over at a rest stop and eat and no more dirty gas station bathrooms :eyecrazy: ..
 
 
doesn't Paul have a bad back?? well let me tell ya the hybris is a cake walk.

Yep, Paul has a bad back.  I cited that to him, as well as how we can get into it at anytime to restock, get ready, etc.; that the loss in mileage is worth the gained set-up time and not risking him hurting himself; that when we go to the rest stop to go to the bathroom and they're #1, filthy, #2, full of people who just got off that bus that has the foreign language writing on it, we can just go to our own potty and use it, and we can make sandwiches and eat inthe trailer rather than stopping at In N' Out and fighting to find a parking space big enough.  I wanted to go look at it this AM, but he had to go to my sister's bright and early to help my BIL with a car.  I'm going to call in a few minutes and see if Emily and I can go over.  I wish I had a digital camera so I could take pics!!! (Another sore point between us -- he's not open to change quickly!)
 
Viking -- Pismo bathrooms were in great shape, but I started ticking off the names of the campgrounds we've stayed at with nasty bathrooms and saying we wouldn't have to deal with that, but if the bathrooms are clean, we'll use them as much as possible to keep him from having to empty tanks unnecessarily.  
 
I'm still working it!  I feel like listing our trailer and seeing if I can get a bite right away to prove to him it won't be a big deal to sell our trailer (after Christmas anyway -- don't expect many calls during the Christmas season).

[Camping Coxes]

Tell him to remember Pismo, and the fact that the Hybrid HAS a bathroom!
LOL

We were NOT in the bathroom -- we were in our own trailer!

[Dee4j]

We were NOT in the bathroom -- we were in our own trailer!

so you say :rolleyes: hmmm David couldn't seem to find you :J

[Camping Coxes]

We went and looked at the hybrid tonight.  It's in good condition and won't take a considerably bigger space in the driveway once you consider we have to leave a big space behind the pop-up for opening the bunk, where we can park the hybrid nearly up to the garage.

The only problem I see is the passageway between the small dinette (it has two dinettes) and the bathroom to the back bunk is very narrow.  It doesn't have nearly the floor space or open area of the pop-up.  And Paul hates to climb over a dinette to get to bed (me being 5'4" and shrinking don't mind at all) and the bigger bed is over the dinette area.  So while I wasn't totally thrilled, partly because I keep comparing it to the one I REALLY want, it would be doable.  And Paul says he's willing to climb over a dinette to save several thousand $.  
 
However, on a good note, Paul had me pull out the brochures I've amassed to compare floorplans and I showed him the virtual tour of the one we really liked at the 2004 RV show (Cub 23TT), and he then remembered and commented on how open it was and how much storage it had, etc., etc.  Maybe I can get him to go out to look at one in real life this weekend (doubt it).  Maybe if I threaten to drag him to Brea Mall the first weekend of Christmas shopping, or he can go trailer window-shopping, he'll gladly take the trailer shopping!!!!

[griffsmom]

I've been out of circulation for a while, so maybe I just missed it, but did you get a hybrid, Trina??

 
(And I'm also calling baloney on the "we were in our own trailer" comment)  :p :yikes:

[Camping Coxes]

I've been out of circulation for a while, so maybe I just missed it, but did you get a hybrid, Trina??
 
 
(And I'm also calling baloney on the "we were in our own trailer" comment) :p :yikes:

No, we didn't.   Paul's wallet squeaks when he opens it and he freaks about making any new purchases (my minivan literally had to be pronounced DOA by our mechanic before I could talk him into getting a new car).  Also, we didn't actually see if with the bunks opened, which probably would have made it feel bigger, but with Emily and David being as big as they are, we didn't think the sleeping arrangements would be big enough for us unless we were willing to have Emily or David on the dinette right next to our bed.  Might be okay when you have little ones, but with big'uns, I want some distance between us!  
 
It would be perfect for you guys, Lori.  It has a full bunk up front, a smaller bunk in back (for Grandma), and the small dinette in the back makes into a bed also, perfect for Griffin.  It was very clean and I still think it would be workable, but with Paul's reluctance, I decided to let it go.  I haven't checked if she still has it, but the ad ran out and she didn't relist it last I checked.
 
No baloney here!  He's a typical guy -- he looks, but he doesn't see!

[Dee4j]

there's always the showers :yikes:  :J


good luck..maybe you should plan a multi-destination trip where Paul has to set-up a bunch...that will change his mind

[DK&3kids]

there's always the showers :yikes:  :J
 
 
 good luck..maybe you should plan a multi-destination trip where Paul has to set-up a bunch...that will change his mind

Dee's theory worked for us!!!!!:p  15 times in 5 weeks will do the trick - almost guaranteed!

[OC Campers]

Dee's theory worked for us!!!!!:p 15 times in 5 weeks will do the trick - almost guaranteed!

Ok does this mean doing "IT" 15 times in the shower or setting up the popup 15 times? :yikes: (adding in blushing icon here).
 
Jacqui

[Dee4j]

Ok does this mean doing "IT" 15 times in the shower or setting up the popup 15 times? :yikes: (adding in blushing icon here).
 
Jacqui

 :yikes:   ROTFLMAO...you're killing me....eh-eh ..eh-eh :J

[DK&3kids]

Ok does this mean doing "IT" 15 times in the shower or setting up the popup 15 times? :yikes: (adding in blushing icon here).
 
 Jacqui

That's for me to know you and you to figure out!;)  (Dan's going to die if he reads this thread!)