Bob Wells - down sizing for FREE traveling

[Gr8ful]

Show us how great your no name POS (pc of sunshine) MH is. Pics of my ambo are on here so please convince the Van Living Forum. aka put up OR shut up!

 

[twomountainlions]

Im afraid of online crazies obsessed with my MH driving around looking for me.

Bob, the Moses of the Desert, had shown us the path now

 

[Gr8ful]

I don't believe you own own a MH. Moses wandered 40 years in 61,000 square kilometers in the Sinai Peninsula

 

[maki2]

So what do you think about Bob Wells changing out from a larger vehicle to a much smaller one? Of course buying a pull trailer he can stand up in makes a huge difference for the winter months that he will be spending in the Southern warmer areas versus traveling into mountains in northern areas such as Colorado, Wyoming, Montana as he indicated on his travel plans map in that video.

 

[Gr8ful]

I think Bob made a good move!

 

[DLTooley]

It’s curious how much attention this video is getting, here and on mainstream social media.

I didn’t watch the video long enough to catch the trailer, thanks for mentioning the make and model in this thread. I will look it up. Still, it seems like a slightly odd choice.

I am a big fan of smaller spaces, spending over a decade out of a Ford Ranger, but the Subaru just seems too small. And pooping inside? I think not.

I currently have a full size crew cab with a 6.25’ bed, just long enough to sleep in. I need to unpack to sleep but I can go anywhere, including many million dollar view camp’s you won’t get a bigger rig, or a trailer, into.

And I never poop inside!

I am however considering a trailer.

 

[WandringKnight]

I just watched this and I think he makes some good points as to why he is downsizing from the ambulance. It's a good video and brings in some good thoughts.

Much of it might be operating costs. I think Bob discovered the high costs of maintaining and repairing a large diesel vehicle. Fuel gets costly in a diesel as well as temperature complications.

I will be really interested in the trailer he picks. I am becoming weary myself, of not being able to stand upright in a minivan.

 

[Fork King]

Diesel is great if it is pre emissions. I brought a brand new 1999 Volvo 770, 13 speed, 3406 e cat engine.

Ran that truck for 23 years put 2.3 million miles on it.

Major repairs = 2 Turbos, 2 Transmission, 4 sets of injectors.

Sold it recently and the engine still purrs.

 

[rruff]

^Oh yes, it was sensors and stuff going wrong, and the mechanics never fixed it. Constant headache. Emissions on diesels become a nightmare. It was 2007 when this switch happened. I've heard that newer ones are better, but I still would touch them. There are a few pre-2007 diesels that are well liked.

It was mentioned that Bob got a Weeroll camper. Not a real cheap or aero option, and with aluminum framing the insulation won't be that great either. They look nice and well built though.

 

[bonvanroulez]

There's nothing in the video about a Weeroll trailer. He said he got a Runaway trailer, different company entirely. And that he can stand up in it; there's only one model Runaway with stand-up height, the Rouser.

link to: Runaway Rouser trailer

 

[tx2sturgis]

Everyones idea of their prefered method of travel, and camping, and dwelling will be different.

I've owned and camped in tents, pop-up tent trailer, motohome, SUV, converted van, travel trailer, pickup topper/camper, and DIY cargo/conversion trailer, and for me the best solution is the pickup with a topper pulling the DIY trailer because I have the flexibility of keeping the dwelling unit staionary when not needed and using only the powered unit for local errands, shopping, exploring, etc, and not having to 'break camp' when I do so.

Of course, the downside is, higher fuel burn going down the road and issues when parking the entire rig in crowded urban settings.

Other than that, its an ideal solution for me, and I think Bob has also tried everything, and simply coming back to what works for him.

I look forward to seeing the future videos.

 

[rruff]

Cool! I wouldn't be able to stand up in that, but it's a cute little trailer.

IME the sweet spot for a small space is being able to sit up straight and comfortably. That's at least 56" for me, and if I was pulling a small trailer I wouldn't want it higher. Frankly I don't understand the obsession with standing, since you can just go outside if you want to do that.

A trailer does make a lot of sense for sure. I guess the biggest downside is maneuvering in town and also switchbacks.

 

[bullfrog !]

Everyones idea of their prefered method of travel, and camping, and dwelling will be different.

I've owned and camped in tents, pop-up tent trailer, motohome, SUV, converted van, travel trailer, pickup topper/camper, and DIY cargo/conversion trailer, and for me the best solution is the pickup with a topper pulling the DIY trailer because I have the flexibility of keeping the dwelling unit staionary when not needed and using only the powered unit for local errands, shopping, exploring, etc, and not having to 'break camp' when I do so.

Of course, the downside is, higher fuel burn going down the road and issues when parking the entire rig in crowded urban settings.

Other than that, its an ideal solution for me, and I think Bob has also tried everything, and simply coming back to what works for him.

I look forward to seeing the future videos.

Yep there are lots of problem areas I would need addressed. First as mentioned many people like me are 5’10 1/2” and it takes 6’ or a few inches to make comfortable standing height. My DIY trailer is 6’ and I still can hit my head if I stand on a thick rug with my hiking boots on and stand on my tip toes which occasionally happens if I get in a hurry. Quality 13” tires are hard to come by and wear out quickly not only because of their smaller diameter but if overloaded wear super fast in my experience. Which is why mine has heavier axles and 16” wheels. This alone usually rules out towing with a smaller vehicle but weight of water, solar, and propane adds also. My 7’ wide by 7’ long by 6’ tall 800 pound trailer weighed enough and had enough wind resistance a 2013 Toyota Tacoma with a 2.7 liter 4 cylinder with manual transmission 4 wheel drive had trouble towing it on the Interstate and up grades above 55 to 60 MPH once loaded with 700 pounds of gear. Fuel mileage went from 23 MPG to 15MPG. I would have actually gotten better fuel efficiency with a V6 automatic Tacoma towing. I since have mounted it on a larger trailer I now pull with a Suburban. In my opinion a smaller trailer like Maki2 has with a expandable top towed by V6 Tacoma 4 x 4 with an electric bike under the topper would probably be ideal for a single person with a pet or maybe two without pets. A van as a tow vehicle for a Casita works as well like RV Sue and her Canine Crew used to use.

 

[maki2]

Woops sorry, I read one brand and was thinking another when I opens a browser to enter the name
It makes more sense that he would buy a trailer with a finished interior as he can’t easily do build work with a bad arm.

There's nothing in the video about a Weeroll trailer. He said he got a Runaway trailer, different company entirely.

 

[maki2]

Yep there are lots of problem areas I would need addressed. First as mentioned many people like me are 5’10 1/2” and it takes 6’ or a few inches to make comfortable standing height. My DIY trailer is 6’ and I still can hit my head if I stand on a thick rug with my hiking boots on and stand on my tip toes which occasionally happens if I get in a hurry. Quality 13” tires are hard to come by and wear out quickly not only because of their smaller diameter but if overloaded wear super fast in my experience. Which is why mine has heavier axles and 16” wheels. This alone usually rules out towing with a smaller vehicle but weight of water, solar, and propane adds also. My 7’ wide by 7’ long by 6’ tall 800 pound trailer weighed enough and had enough wind resistance a 2013 Toyota Tacoma with a 2.7 liter 4 cylinder with manual transmission 4 wheel drive had trouble towing it on the Interstate and up grades above 55 to 60 MPH once loaded with 700 pounds of gear. Fuel mileage went from 23 MPG to 15MPG. I would have actually gotten better fuel efficiency with a V6 automatic Tacoma towing. I since have mounted it on a larger trailer I now pull with a Suburban. In my opinion a smaller trailer like Maki2 has with a expandable top towed by V6 Tacoma 4 x 4 with an electric bike under the topper would probably be ideal for a single person with a pet or maybe two without pets. A van as a tow vehicle for a Casita works as well like RV Sue and her Canine Crew used to use.

The issue with towing a trailer with a popup top like mine is finding one in good shape. Mine is 54 years old and needed a total renovation. Basically I bought a derelict fiberglass shell that needed a massive amount of repairs and upgrades repairs for $1,500. Then I started putting in way more than $1,500. Plus a huge amount of labor hours.

 

[twomountainlions]

By the way, all these ambulances seem to have ptlretty small ground clearance. Going by the look they got less clearance than my MH. The official standard is 6" min clearance for chassis mounted components.

 

[maki2]

There is an 1,180 empty weight fiberglass trailer with a popup roof section still being made it is called the Meerkat. A few years back the new price was 32k+. I do not know the current new price or the used matket price.But this is the dealer link.
https://www.littleguytrailers.com/product-meerkat-trailers/meerkat-travel-trailer

But remember having a popup roof limits your space for roof mounted solar panels.

 

[onethoughtatatime]

Bob was talking about following your heart. I agree.

A number of years ago I had a smaller car than the one mentioned as his Alaska car and it was a great getaway sleepover vehicle. Got great mileage and everything. Easy to park. I removed the seats and installed a sleeping platform and would restore the passenger seat as and when needed. I only sold it because over the 50000kms I drove on top of the 200000kms it originally had it needed a new engine. It got put on a trailer by a kid and his dad for a bonding/learning project. So reliability is key.

However, where I live, rain is a big deal so smaller vehicles get damp and that gets old quickly. This past winter I had two dogs with me constantly. Afterwards, I couldn't believe how long it took to dry out my medium sized car. Different horses for different courses (dry environments and wet/humid environments need different solutions).

After years of many vans, a converted bus, tiny campers, I agree with Bob, a small towable hard sided camper and a medium sided car is a great compromise.

 

[bullfrog !]

Bob was talking about following your heart. I agree.

A number of years ago I had a smaller car than the one mentioned as his Alaska car and it was a great getaway sleepover vehicle. Got great mileage and everything. Easy to park. I removed the seats and installed a sleeping platform and would restore the passenger seat as and when needed. I only sold it because over the 50000kms I drove on top of the 200000kms it originally had it needed a new engine. It got put on a trailer by a kid and his dad for a bonding/learning project. So reliability is key.

However, where I live, rain is a big deal so smaller vehicles get damp and that gets old quickly. This past winter I had two dogs with me constantly. Afterwards, I couldn't believe how long it took to dry out my medium sized car. Different horses for different courses (dry environments and wet/humid environments need different solutions).

After years of many vans, a converted bus, tiny campers, a small towable hard sided camper and a medium sided car is a great compromise.

lol!!! I had a Hondabago according to my son. A 1986 Honda Civic Hatchback we could easily take out the driver and rear seats and set outside to sleep inside the car at night. 44 MPG in town and 54 MPG on the highway pretty important when you are counting pennies for gasoline to travel!

 

[abnorm]