Strider
RVF Regular
- Joined
- Sep 28, 2023
- Messages
- 76
- Location
- White Mountains, AZ
- TOW/TOAD
- 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser, 1980 Toyota Land Cruiser HJ45 Longbed Pickup Truck
- Fulltimer
- No
Well, the time is almost here. The divorce is about done and the house will be appraised soon-so owill have to move out.
I am DONE with teaching in public schools. I don't want to rush into my next job: going for teaching at a college, will likely do some remote teaching and focus on my writing and photography.
As I have said before, my Casita is a great quality travel trailer, but it's just WAY too small. I tried a nice butcher board across the dinette area as a work station, but then I could barely get in and out of the folding chair I used to be able to work.
I need a station to have my computer, where I do illustration, photo/video editing, and animation.
For my leather projects, I can use a folding table outside or even the dinette.
I also want to be able to reload some ammo, but this would be just black powder for Cowboy Action shooting, so I can use a very simple setup.
The Casita, again, is just way too small for even one of those setups.
My towing cvapacity is 5000 pounds and my tongue weight limit is 500lbs.
I drive a 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser with a heavy Old Man Emu suspension. I am not selling the FJ Cruiser. Only exception would be selling it to get a Land Cruiser 100 series, but don't really have the time or money for that right now.
A dealer offered to give me 90 days free consignment and likely get 24-26,000 for the Casita. That still leaves me upside down, but not as bad as if I trade it in for about 16000 ). I owe about 30000, since it's a 2024.
I was going for a Class C, but that's more money and more debt that will put me under pressure to take any job.
SO...
Here's what I am thinking, and welcome input from those who know much more than I do...
1. Put the Casita on consignment and buy a larger travel trailer, like a Jayco J flight or RPod, hopefully used. The ones with bunk-beds would be perfect I think. I've seen some used trailers of this type from $10,000-18,000. When the Casita sells, I will at least have paid off more than if trading it in.
Risk is, what if it doesn't sell... now I have two trailers and the headache.
2. Trade in the Casita and take the loss. At the prices I saw, with the upside down factor I would still be paying regular price for the travel trailer, so not much difference overall.
3. Try to do the same with an older Class C or A, but:
Negatives of a Class C:
~I would have to put my FJC in storage, which equals more expense, and not being able to go somewhere off road. With a trailer, I can leave it at a temp storage and take off into rough country for a few days.
~I will either need a tow vehicle (can't tow the FJC) or be stuck walking/biking from wherever I can find parking space to town.
~Need a "toad".
~Total length of TT and vehicle at about 35 feet, but only the trailer area can be used to live and work from.
Positives of a Class C:
~Not needing to go outside to get in or out of my living space: I can just pull over and sleep/eat/etc. or get up and drive off.
~More space to live/work.
~More storage space.
~Larger water/black/gray tanks.
~Generator.
Negatives of a Travel Trailer:
~Less space/carrying capacity.
~Having to get in/out of living space to use.
~Wear and tear on my vehicle.
~Much less storage.
~No generator.
~Small water/black/gray tanks.
Positives of a Travel Trailer:
~I can have my off road vehicle with me and explore/visit friends and be able to get around easily.
~Less expense.
A larger travel trailer would allow me to convert the queen size bed area to a U-shaped work area, and I can sleep in the bottom bunk with the top one for storage of leather, clothing in vacuum bags...
I know these are still not large trailers, but the Casita is so small that even an RPod feels huge inside. It's too bad, because I really do like the Casita, but I just feel so cramped in there, especially with two dogs and not even being able to have a workspace or my art stuff.
An older Class C, like the ones from the 80s that are fiberglass futuristic looking ones, would be good too, but back to storing the FJC and will the RV be at the end of its lifespan?
I hope this made sense. I am not experienced in this, so maybe not seeing things clearly.
Your input is appreciated!
Thank you!
Joe
I am DONE with teaching in public schools. I don't want to rush into my next job: going for teaching at a college, will likely do some remote teaching and focus on my writing and photography.
As I have said before, my Casita is a great quality travel trailer, but it's just WAY too small. I tried a nice butcher board across the dinette area as a work station, but then I could barely get in and out of the folding chair I used to be able to work.
I need a station to have my computer, where I do illustration, photo/video editing, and animation.
For my leather projects, I can use a folding table outside or even the dinette.
I also want to be able to reload some ammo, but this would be just black powder for Cowboy Action shooting, so I can use a very simple setup.
The Casita, again, is just way too small for even one of those setups.
My towing cvapacity is 5000 pounds and my tongue weight limit is 500lbs.
I drive a 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser with a heavy Old Man Emu suspension. I am not selling the FJ Cruiser. Only exception would be selling it to get a Land Cruiser 100 series, but don't really have the time or money for that right now.
A dealer offered to give me 90 days free consignment and likely get 24-26,000 for the Casita. That still leaves me upside down, but not as bad as if I trade it in for about 16000 ). I owe about 30000, since it's a 2024.
I was going for a Class C, but that's more money and more debt that will put me under pressure to take any job.
SO...
Here's what I am thinking, and welcome input from those who know much more than I do...
1. Put the Casita on consignment and buy a larger travel trailer, like a Jayco J flight or RPod, hopefully used. The ones with bunk-beds would be perfect I think. I've seen some used trailers of this type from $10,000-18,000. When the Casita sells, I will at least have paid off more than if trading it in.
Risk is, what if it doesn't sell... now I have two trailers and the headache.
2. Trade in the Casita and take the loss. At the prices I saw, with the upside down factor I would still be paying regular price for the travel trailer, so not much difference overall.
3. Try to do the same with an older Class C or A, but:
Negatives of a Class C:
~I would have to put my FJC in storage, which equals more expense, and not being able to go somewhere off road. With a trailer, I can leave it at a temp storage and take off into rough country for a few days.
~I will either need a tow vehicle (can't tow the FJC) or be stuck walking/biking from wherever I can find parking space to town.
~Need a "toad".
~Total length of TT and vehicle at about 35 feet, but only the trailer area can be used to live and work from.
Positives of a Class C:
~Not needing to go outside to get in or out of my living space: I can just pull over and sleep/eat/etc. or get up and drive off.
~More space to live/work.
~More storage space.
~Larger water/black/gray tanks.
~Generator.
Negatives of a Travel Trailer:
~Less space/carrying capacity.
~Having to get in/out of living space to use.
~Wear and tear on my vehicle.
~Much less storage.
~No generator.
~Small water/black/gray tanks.
Positives of a Travel Trailer:
~I can have my off road vehicle with me and explore/visit friends and be able to get around easily.
~Less expense.
A larger travel trailer would allow me to convert the queen size bed area to a U-shaped work area, and I can sleep in the bottom bunk with the top one for storage of leather, clothing in vacuum bags...
I know these are still not large trailers, but the Casita is so small that even an RPod feels huge inside. It's too bad, because I really do like the Casita, but I just feel so cramped in there, especially with two dogs and not even being able to have a workspace or my art stuff.
An older Class C, like the ones from the 80s that are fiberglass futuristic looking ones, would be good too, but back to storing the FJC and will the RV be at the end of its lifespan?
I hope this made sense. I am not experienced in this, so maybe not seeing things clearly.
Your input is appreciated!
Thank you!
Joe
