Interesting conversation last night

[CrossCountryGal]

Stayed overnight in a campground overflow area, which really meant where the campground volunteers hang out. &nbsp;Enjoyed it a lot and a conversation we had has stuck with me. &nbsp;Mind you, I'm in my converted shuttle bus and they're in huge 5th wheelers.<br><br>Both couples greeted me warmly and offered me a drink once I'd set up camp. &nbsp;I chuckled that "setting up" meant plugging my extension cord in and that was that - I'd take that drink now They were amazed that it was as simple as that.<br><br>Although I had a moment of drooling over their fancy rigs, the Keep It Simple Stupid simplicity of my humble abode was what they were drooling over. &nbsp;Throughout the evenings conversation they shared multiple repairs and headaches with various equipment on their rigs, &nbsp;I looked at my simple green bus and smiled to myself.&nbsp;<br><br>

 

[bk2valve]

Excellent...excellent...<br>Bri

 

[ShesJustJodi]

YES!! This what I want!&nbsp;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Now- how do i get it??

 

[highdesertranger]

those behemoths are nice to look at, but it ends there.&nbsp; keep it simple.&nbsp; highdesertranger

 

[owl]

&nbsp;&nbsp; Some of us live in RVs. I haven't had any expensive repairs or particularly bad experiences with any of the rigs I have owned. Just like anything, regular maintenance is the key.

 

[ShesJustJodi]

Just re-read my reply. I hope it was obvious I meant that I want your simple life of plugging in and being DONE. LOL Oh, and the sipping part.

 

[CrossCountryGal]

Another thing I'm realizing the benefit of is the ability to take advantage of "overflow parking" when traditional sites are full. &nbsp;That came in handy above, and I just got off of the phone making reservations for a site when my son graduates from Marines boot camp next week. &nbsp;They were full already, and when I asked about overflow parking w/no hookups he cut the rate in half and gave me a military discount. &nbsp;<br><br>Owl - I meant no disrespect for those in traditional RV's. &nbsp;If I had the pennies I'd have one myself. &nbsp;As it is, I don't, so I make do to make the dream a reality, and was remarking more on the others laments about the gizmos and gadgets that have given them problems. &nbsp;I'm finding it hard to go wrong with one plug, a coleman stove, and a kitty litter bucket, but there's room and pros/cons to everyone choices&nbsp;<img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img">

 

[Les H]

I know what you mean CCG. I pull up , open my coleman stove inside, put my 6 gal tank above the sink, pull out a folding chair, and im camping. Thats it, not even an extension cord ( thanks to solar). Even simpler than my Shasta 14' travel trailer, though the tt has a bit more room.

 

[rokguy]

I agree,<BR>&nbsp;Open the door and put deck chair out on tray. done.<BR>Also found here in Oz if you want power then your usually stuck in with the rest huddled around the power boxes like the wagon trains.<BR>On solar they say Oh go where you want, usually the best spots and views.<BR>In this place (attached Pic) everyone was down on slabs around the ugly toilet block there was no one up here on the grassy island.

 

[LowTech]

rokguy - Nice rig! Would like to see more of that one. <br>&nbsp;I've got a Deuce cargo bed that I'm thinking of doing the sleeper type thing on. Same deal, door to the back so that the rest of the bed is a "porch", stretch the canvas, put out a chair, . . . <img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I would just be doing it a lot more "Low Tech"

 

[Les H]

Rocguy, nice rig! I can see it with a fifth wheel hitch, pulling campers or livestock trailers for extra cash. Nice ride!

 

[rokguy]

Hi Lowtech and les H,<BR>Posted a picture build of my little truck on the conversions thread.<BR>It does have a&nbsp;gooseneck hitch for hauling a flatbed with stone I sometimes need extra. The tray does make a great porch up off the ground with good views.<BR>Geoff

 

[rich heritage]

I love reading posts like this one, CCG.&nbsp; <br><br>My wife and I are in the "discovery" phase of our journey and it's so tempting to be lured by the mansions on wheels.&nbsp; I'm sure they are wonderful, but I don't think it's where we want to be.<br><br>My wife and I have slightly different ideas right now about what we want to travel in.&nbsp; We have some parameters, but the other day she mentioned that she doesn't want a bus.&nbsp; I told her a short bus would be perfect for me.&nbsp; ;-)&nbsp; <br><br>Simplicity is the key.&nbsp; My life has been complicated until now and it's time to "set up camp by plugging in".&nbsp; Isn't it awesome that they were drooling over your rig because of its simplicity?

 

[VanTrekker]

That post bolstered my mood a bit!<br><br>Sometimes I'm a little sheepish about my little setup (Express Van) compared to those big rigs.&nbsp; But when some of the other campers (and even two sheriff's deputees) have seen inside my little living space they thought it was cool.&nbsp; What's funny is that I tend to oooh and ahhh over the larger setups!<br><br>The fun part is we all have the same amount of fun no matter what we live / plan in.<br><br>V.T.

 

[Kimbopolo]

Love it!&nbsp; <img class="emoticon bbc_img" src="/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif"><br><br>I get pretty smug when I'm in a campground and by the time that massive fifth-wheel has struggled to back into&nbsp;a site, I'm on my second Manhattan!&nbsp; <br><br>By the time they finish getting set up, I'm finished with dinner and working on desert.&nbsp; <br><br>KISS is the way to go!&nbsp;

 

[rokguy]

Those folding tent trailer things which&nbsp;have popped up everwhere&nbsp;here in OZ seem to take forever to set up.&nbsp;You've usually had desert, watched some TV and&nbsp;gone to sleep by&nbsp;the time these are&nbsp;ready to use. &nbsp;With all the added canvas bits n pieces they are as big as you average small cottage. Usually&nbsp;cost more than nice used RV. <BR><BR>Yes there's a trailer under there somewhere.<BR><IMG class=bbc_img src="http://giccampertrailers.com.au/assets/18ft-campertent-feature.jpg" rel="lightbox"><BR>Geoff

 

[AltTransBikes]

And with oil hovering around $100@bbl, fuel MPG is gonna be a stake to the heart of large RVs....unless $250-300 fill-ups don't bother ya.

 

[rokguy]

$1.50-$1.60 litre in Oz (about $5 a gallon) the RV's are getting bigger here. go figure!!

 

[BamaDuke]

I worry a little about fuel prices, but only a little.&nbsp; I could take a trip around the country, and it would probably be under 8000 miles. My Class C gets 9 mpg at 65, and 10 at 55.&nbsp; $3000 in fuel costs would be significant, but&nbsp;probably&nbsp;less than half the total costs.&nbsp; A 30 mpg car would cost around $1000 in fuel, and I would have motel and food costs as well.&nbsp;<br><br>Most RVers don't put that many miles on the unit each year, so fuel costs are only a small part of their expenses.&nbsp; For vandwellers,&nbsp;fuel prices are probably a larger portion of the monthly expenses. <br><br>But I do agree the KISS principle is our best strategy for a happy life <img class="emoticon bbc_img" src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif"><br><br>Bama<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>&nbsp;