Trading in the old PU

[dpomroy]

I am thinking of trading in the old PU for a hybrid. I was driving by the dealer the other day and stopped in to pickup a new tank cover for the PU. On my way in I ran into the salesmen who sold me the PU. He told me that he has been busy trying to make room for the 2007 line of hybrids they ordered. I asked him what kind of deals he had, and he took me to the back to look around. While in the back I seen a bunch of different models.

The one I really liked was a 2006 Starcraft TravelStar 21SB. It has (3) popout beds (2) queens and (1) double, a Domestic Refrig w/freezer about twice the size of our current one, a tub/shower combo, (2) 30gal propane tanks, skylight, A/C, 36gal fresh, 27gal grey, 25 gal black, and pretty much packed with options. After talking with him for a little while we got the price to around $16000 which is a great discount off of the original sales price of $22000.

But I am running into a few problems, first my driveway is only 22' long and the trailer is 24' long so I'll have to keep it in a storage lot at $87.00 a month  :yikes: .

Next, I am worried about pulling it with my current TV. The weight is not to bad at 3605 lbs dry, but it still worries me. I did the math my trucks GVWR is 5840, GCWR is 9600, Crub weight is 4349 leaving 5251 lbs for the GTWR. Yet I still think I am missing something there.

Next, is of course the financing.... I have several offers from different banks, but the terms seem long. They are offering term from 8 yrs (96 months) to 12 yrs (144 months) is this normal for financing an trailer?? My current terms are like a car 5yrs.

I guess what this thread is for is to hear a few opinions about the deal and the towing. Please feel free to reply with the good and bad.

[Recumbentman]

just my 2 cents  :U
If you can't afford a 5 year loan, you can't afford the hybrid  :-()
paying over a $1000.00 a year just to store it  :yikes:

and then there is the rolling billbord you are going to have when towing. man your gas milage is really going to take a hit.  :eyecrazy:

[dpomroy]

just my 2 cents  :U
If you can't afford a 5 year loan, you can't afford the hybrid  :-()
paying over a $1000.00 a year just to store it  :yikes:

and then there is the rolling billbord you are going to have when towing. man your gas milage is really going to take a hit.  :eyecrazy:

Thanks for your input.

It's not that I can't afford a 5yr loan, it's that all I am being offered is an 8, 10, or 12 year loan.

Storage cost are high, but it will leave my driveway open for both my current vehicles and the storage place does have 24 hour security. still don't know about this one though

The gas cost...ohhh the gas cost...I don't think any of us can get away from that  :mad:

[SheBantam]

Are you a member of a credit union. I got a 4 1/2 year loan when I bought the bantam, but I had to go personal loan as the CU did not make RV loans at the time.

Dee has a 21' Starcraft wit 2 beds but a huge PULLOUT.  I really like her set up, but they bought a Denali to pull it with.  The bantam weighs close to half of what you are talking and pulling it with a 2000 Ford F150. around 27,000actual miles on the truck, mostly towing, I get about 12 miles to the gallon...that is why I went smaller. We still ahve the Bantam for the closer, or family outtings.

It's your choice if you want to go up and out with the camper, debt and gas bills as well as the trailer parking.  We are blessed with a house that has a circular drive that goes behind the house from one street to the other, a double drive in the front, so I have room for (3 for a while) both campers, the Windstar, F150, Minivan and parking access for company.

[HersheyGirl]

Just my 0.2 cents, but this sound like an impluse idea.  You have not really thought about this AND you have a NEW camper to boot!  If it were me, I would think long and hard about making a change like this, esp since it is going to involve some very big time bucks over a long period of time.  You also sound like you are rationalizing an awful lot, like the 24 hour security.....your home is not secure?  And then there is the price of gas....that just keeps going up and up and up and up, where will it end? Do you really want to be stuck with a trailer that sucks up the gas and you can't afford to take it anywhere?  Just a thought.  I know several folks that have bigger trailers and they are  opting on just local trips as the price of gas is making their hobby more than they can or care to shell out.  You have a VERY nice trailer now, sit back and enjoy it.  Again, JMHO, but I do not understand that can not people ever be happy with what they already have, but always looking for something "better".  The grass is not always greener on the other side.  JMHO!

[tlhdoc]

What she said.  Did you want a bigger/different trailer before you bumped into this on?  If you truly want a hybrid trailer then go for it.  The fact that you are asking... :confused:

[copcarguy]

I know I am just speaking for me, but owning a hybrid simply sucked.  If you want details feel free to email me - I won't go into all of them here.  My signature below says it all...

[tlhdoc]

The camper of many campes has spoke!;)

[dpomroy]

Thanks everyone for your opinions.


Just to clear up a few things. My driveway is not long enough for the new trailer, that is the only reason I am considering a secure storage area. It has nothing to do with my home/neighborhood not being secure, it's just that if I am not able to have the trailer on my property I prefer a secure area to an unsecure area.

As for the financing....I always weigh my options with anything I purchase. I can afford to purchase the new trailer with all of the options that are being offered to me. I was just asking if the terms being offered are the normal for Rv/Trailer purchases.

The towing issue and gas prices, well the towing issue is handled because this past weekend I finally did something I have been wanting to do for a while. I purchased a new truck an F-150 with plenty of towing power, at a GREAT price. This to was something I put a lot of though to before I made the deal.


GAS PRICES .....well there is nothing any of us can do about this    


copcarguy....I would like to here why you are happier with a PU over a hybrid.


By the way ...I did not yet buy a new trailer, I always take my time when my money is involed and ONLY buy when I feel it is right for me.

[copcarguy]

OK - since you asked for my opinion:  just a few reasons I disliked my hybrid off the top of my head at almost 1:30 in the morning:

4 tires, 4 brakes, 4 bearings = more $
higher tolls for the additional axles = more $
going from 16mpg towing a PU to 4 to 9mpg towing the hybrid = more $
using 4 twenty pound propane bottles in 1 weekend to run the furnace, and it was still cold in the hybrid = more $
buying a whole new weight distribution hitch = more $
dealing with above hitch = more aggrivation
having this big thing parked in the backyard = more aggrivation
not fitting into some of my favorite remote campsites = more aggrivation
having the hybrid take up the entire campsite, and no room for you = more aggrivation
not seeing out the back window of the TV while towing = more aggrivation
dealing with black and gray tanks and sewer hoses = more aggrivation
frozen black tank = LOTS of aggrivation
looking out small, metal framed windows and not feeling like camping = disappointment
not taking the long trips you thought you would now that you had a hybrid because you had to deal with all the crap above = disappointment
 
and above all else - it ain't campin' unless you're surrounded by 360 degrees of tenting - the metal walls made it RV-ing, which was not fun.
 
"official disclaimer" - he asked for my opinion, and this thread is in NO WAY meant to bash, degrade, belittle, etc people that choose to own a hybrid.  It just wasn't for me, and owning the hybrid made me begin to dread going camping.  I am sure that people I am close with can remember even more reasons why I disliked the hybrid - but the above reasons were all I could remember at this time in the morning.  However, PLEASE do what is right for YOU!

[tlhdoc]

Thanks everyone for your opinions.

I hope you don't feel like everyone is dumping on you.  You did ask for our opinions.  I am still in a PU after 10 years, because I like PU camping.  The biggest drawback I see in you getting a bigger trailer is that you will not have easy access to it.  Good luck on what you decide to do and let us know.

[dpomroy]

Rick, thanks for your extra input. There are a few things in there I really didn't think about (until now).

tlhdoc, I don't feel as though anyone is dumping on me ...lol you are correct I did ask for everyones opinion (good and bad) and I do value the opinions I received.

Again thank you to everyone and I will let you know what we decide.

         

[dee106]

ok, well as a happy hybrid owner!
     
      we enjoy our hybrid,
       we like:
 being able to stop at rest areas and hopping into the back to use the bathroom, making a sandwich, resting on a couch, getting a cold soda from the fridge.
     
      like being able to load the fridge without having to pop up!
     
      like being able to store things in closets and draws and not containers,
     
      like not having to cranking it up and down in the rain.
     
      like having a oven, and a mirco wave
     
      like being able to turtle or open the wings with the car attached to do a quick over night on the road.
     
      like having large holding tanks
     
      like having a pantry, and counter space!
     
      like having windows not plastic
     
 like the room we have in ours to move around, even when closed, we can go inside and sit out the rain, then open the ends to sleep. or if its only the two of you, you can sleep turtled, one on the couch, other on the table bed!
     
      the newer models have cables and sewn bunkend covers so easier and faster to set up in the rain
     
 since we live in the city and can not store our hybrid at home, we got a seasonal site, and we have it on site, so when we don't want to tow, we still can enjoy camping! the cost is only a bit more the storage fees, and you can camp anytime you want! so you are saving even more gas and tolls and since you pay one fee you don't have the added expense of the campground fees! and the hassel of finding a campground at the last minute or on holiday weekends! you have your own spot.
     
 we empty our tanks at the end of our stay, so we have never had a tank freeze, and in the cold months we flush into the blue tote tank, and we have a pint of antifreeze in that, never had a problem. and if you get a campsite with sewer, not a problem at all!
     
 as far as heating we insulated the bunkends in the cold months, and camped were we had electric hookups and brought a electric ceramic heater and face them at the bunk ends at night, and we got a carpet runner for the floor. so the furance didn't kick in that much.
   
   we normal don't use anymore gas then when we had our PU, in fact we use less. since the walls block the weather better.
     
 gas milage is less we get 11 miles to the gal. ours is 5000 lbs, loaded, and we can tow 6600, but when you look at hotel and motel prices still cheaper to tow the hybrid!
     
      tolls are a bit more for the added axle if you have a double like us. so a 1.00 toll is a 1.50
      ( you also learn which roads to use that don't have tolls or steep grades)
     
     like everything else you adjust!
     
      ezpass helps discount
     
     everything has its good and bad, the give and takes,
     we enjoy our hybrid, and we learn to ask for larger sites to accomodate the bigger box.
     
 another good thing about the hybrid is the awning! so much bigger and easier to put out and in! takes three minutes to do by yourself!
     
      thats my three cents!

[tlhdoc]

What is this about a new trailer?  Why didn't you tell us Dee?

[dpomroy]

Well everyone, after going over the pros and cons we decided not to purchase the hybrid this year. We like the hybrid models but thought it just wasn't the time. We also decided to look at the upgrade again after next season and see if it's something we want to do. But for now we are keeping the good old PU. Thanks for your input it was quiet helpful.