After the sticker shock of Part One: Basic Outfitting of the Trailer, it is hard to imagine there is anything more a trailer owner could buy. And yet we somehow managed to spend another $2,000 in the past year on trailer accessories. Gulp. We became very friendly with our UPS driver this year.

This is the list of items we probably could have lived without, but we have been glad to have. Of course, one man’s optional is another man’s necessary. As with all things trailer-related, your mileage may vary.

Optional Outfitting of the Trailer: Continue reading “What do I need to buy? (Part two)” →

Remember planning a camping road trip without the internet or a cell phone? It was not long ago that an atlas, a campground directory, guide books, and a sheaf of notebook paper were required for even a simple weekend away. If a trip was particularly complicated, we may swing by the local AAA office for an official TripTik. Never could we have imagined our 2018 selves – checking gas prices at upcoming exits, monitoring the number of available campsites at our destination, or talking to those ahead of us in traffic jams about the best strategy for avoiding delays.

The 20 hour drive back from our most recent camping trip seemed to be the ideal time to look at which apps we use most often. The following are the apps I have checked most frequently in recent trips and I would highly recommend checking them out.

1. Allstays

Hands down, I think the Camp & RV version of this is the best app out there for campers. Unless you are someone who only travels to local parks with which you are familiar, this is a must-buy. Sadly, it appears the app is only available for iPhone users. AllStays Pro is available for home computer or browser use for a $32.95 annual subscription. At that price, I may hesitate, but I have no doubt it is worth every penny of the $9.99 I paid for the app. Continue reading “5 Great Apps for Planning a Camping Trip” →

As we approach one year of trailer ownership, I finally decided to sit down and add up how much this purchase has actually cost us. I saved receipts for this purpose but couldn’t bring myself to face reality until now. I survived the process and decided to share the results. New or potential owners should know that the final price on their purchase contract is just the beginning of the financial hemorrhage that can come with a trailer or RV. We have managed to drop a small fortune at Camping World, Wal-mart, and Amazon in the past year. I have particular sympathy for our UPS driver who had to deliver a few 50+ pound packages.

If there is a camping supply store attached, to your dealership, you may be lucky enough to get a discount coupon for a shopping trip. Be aware that online prices may be better. Camping World offered a shopping guide who helped us decide which basics we needed, but she wasn’t nearly as knowledgable as the nice folks on the internet. Camping World prices also trend high, even with the Good Sam membership discount. However, we negotiated a gift card into the purchase of our trailer, making the sticker shock of our initial trip a little less.

My current spreadsheet of purchases is well over 100 items, so I have decided to break down what we spent in sections, starting with:

The Basic Outfitting of the Trailer

These are the things you will need to get started on trailering. Unfortunately, the most important items are some of the most expensive. A few of these items may not be necessary based on how you intend to camp and what is available at your campgrounds, but it is what I would suggest a newbie buy to have a happily functioning trailer. Continue reading “What do I need to buy? (Part one)” →