Trailers, Yes or No?

[Chancebond]

So, as I'm slowly getting ready to hit the road in the summer of 2018, one thing that is really becoming apparent to me, is my material possessions. Now, I have a lot of stuff (12,500 books, 1000+ movies, comics, etc.), and I have begun the slow process of getting rid of it by selling it. I am doing so so right now. When I said in an earlier post that I now work at Kohl's, I meant to say that I'm doing a sort of internship there (I didn't know they offered them). Anywho, I have to make money, however there are some things that I have sentimental attachment to, such as Albums (will not convert to digital on this), Teddy Bear/s, some baby stuff, etc. I don't have much, but I was thinking if I should or should not have a tow behind trailer, and if I should, any recommendations? I'm fairly new to the whole tow behind concept, and wanted to get your opinion/s.

 

[myke]

It's up to you, but I wouldn't. Too cumbersome and restricting in my opinion. Keep the albums, but put them in storage... what are you going to do, bring a turn table with you? That would be a bit over the top

 

[gcal]

There's a mindset you need to successfully live in any limited space. One of the most important things you need to do is get over letting your stuff own you. See if you can store various special treasures with friends or relatives for a year or two. Actually living minimalist in your van, dealing with both the freedoms and the inconveniences, will clarify your priorities. It really will. When the trial time is up, you will either find that these things are important and you need to adjust your lifestyle to keep them, or that they have lost their importance to you and you will feel fine with getting rid of them.

 

[KMAG YOYO]

Pros:
-Carry more stuff
-In an accident, heavy stuff isn't flying around the cab
-Leave trailer parked when you leave camp
-More living space
-Separate "bedrooms", one in tow van and one in trailer. Good idea for families so one kid doesn't wake up whole family.

Cons:
-20%-30% reduction in fuel economy, which also leads to more frequent refueling
-Many states restrict towing speed (CA is 55 MPH...putt putt)
-Increased driving fatigue. All trailers sway, bounce, and tug to some degree. Braking distances are longer. Even on a long straight highway, you have to work harder to keep in your lane. Add some high wind and it can get scary.
-Parking is difficult. No more pulling right up the front door of the supermarket or bank, you'll be parking in the less crowded back of the lot.
-Urban driving is tricky. Backing up is really tricky.
-Forget a trailer is behind you for even a moment and you could hit a curb or have a serious accident.
-Increased wear and tear on your tow vehicle. Count on more frequent oil and lube changes, and shorter lifespan of powertrain.

My recommendation is to put the stuff you can't bear to give away in a friend's attic, even for a month. It will probably be 6 months before you miss it, and by that point you will be able to live without it for another 6 months. I love my albums too, but when you can fit 200 lbs of albums on your smart phone, it's pretty hard to justify dragging them along.

 

[flying kurbmaster]

Enclosed trailers make great storage pods, so if you can fill a trailer with the stuff you can't throw out then getting a trailer and storing it somewhere makes sense. I would think it is cheaper to pay for a parked trailer then it is to pay for a storage container. Trailers are always handy, they do have a initial cost, as well as ongoing fees n maintenance, that said if you can get rid of most of that stuff end up with a couple of wooden crates stored in someone's basement that is likely the better way to go, it just depends how much stuff you have to keep, towing trailers all the time can get old.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

I find myself in respectful disagreement with Flying Kurbmaster.

 Enclosed trailers are inherently highly desirable targets for thieves.  Any lock you put on one can be easily defeated by a battery powered saw with a diamond blade, and then the trailer can be just towed away.  The trailer itself can be easily sold for hundreds of dollars, and they sometimes contain thousands of dollars in contractor's tools, which are also easily fenced.

If you are going to tow the trailer with you, that's one thing.  If you are just going to park it somewhere as a storage unit, I frankly think you would be better off renting a storage unit, it's probably a lot safer.

Regards
John

 

[Wanderer]

So, as I'm slowly getting ready to hit the road in the summer of 2018, one thing that is really becoming apparent to me, is my material possessions.  Now, I have a lot of stuff (12,500 books, 1000+ movies, comics, etc.), and I have begun the slow process of getting rid of it by selling it.  I am doing so so right now.  When I said in an earlier post that I now work at Kohl's, I meant to say that I'm doing a sort of internship there (I didn't know they offered them).  Anywho, I have to make money, however there are some things that I have sentimental attachment to, such as Albums (will not convert to digital on this), Teddy Bear/s, some baby stuff, etc.  I don't have much, but I was thinking if I should or should not have a tow behind trailer, and if I should, any recommendations?  I'm fairly new to the whole tow behind concept, and wanted to get your opinion/s.

I held onto stuff for awhile, but like others have said "Let it go"

I had a pic of my Fathers ship when he served in the Korean War, gave to my sister, Donated his stetson hat. got rid of many things I "Thought" were dear to me. But in the end, they were simply holding me down and back with bad memories and the truth of "I really didn't need that after all"

What do I have? What I NEED to survive. I gave up all dvds, cds, I can buy used, watch them and then give them away. Or save the really good movies for watching again, but that's pretty rare.

Do as you please though, but the added expense means you have less to spend when you may want to.

 

[SaltySeaWitch]

I have been going through all of my family photos and giving them to my adult children.

I have many sentimental things my children made me, especially Christmas ornaments and such. I gave them to my now grown children (who made them as kids) to enjoy on their Christmas tree with their family.

I gave most of my household stuff like towels, sheets, toaster, etc....to my youngest son because he needed it for his new place.

Everything else is being given to women and children at a battered women's shelter.

I have approximately 2 or 3 boxes to store and those are books and training videos I may need later. Giving up my books was the hardest. I love books. Some are very old. I felt better once I did it though.

I am practicing living without all my "stuff" while waiting to hit the road. It is an adjustment but not that bad. My house is so clean without all the stuff in here!!! LOL

I would not want to store or tow "stuff" I didn't really need but that's just me. Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[flying kurbmaster]

I find myself in respectful disagreement with Flying Kurbmaster.

 Enclosed trailers are inherently highly desirable targets for thieves.  Any lock you put on one can be easily defeated by a battery powered saw with a diamond blade, and then the trailer can be just towed away.  The trailer itself can be easily sold for hundreds of dollars, and they sometimes contain thousands of dollars in contractor's tools, which are also easily fenced.

If you are going to tow the trailer with you, that's one thing.  If you are just going to park it somewhere as a storage unit, I frankly think you would be better off renting a storage unit, it's probably a lot safer.

Regards
John

well yes John you are right, but that said the so called thieves can also unlock your van door easier then cutting a chain or padlock, stick a screw driver in the ignition drive it to a shed take all you stuff, dismantle the van sell the transmission to Grantrobinson for 1300 dollars, the swivel chair to another dweller and all the firearms to you . If you are going to live in a van that's one thing but getting out of it for a few minutes to go for groceries that is not safe,  frankly I think you would be better moving into the locked storage container with your guns loaded, just saying 

 

[buckwilk]

OP, do you have a vehicle? A lot depends on what you are living in (if that's the plan).

 

[eDJ_]

I own a small flat bed trailer now that is 4 x 8.   If I were to sell it I'd use the money to help purchase something more like this one.  (as light in weight as possible)

I'd want something with a floor measuring 4 X10 ft and height of 6.5 ft.   I don't plan to use it to haul a bunch of junk around.   Granted there may be some tools stowed aboard but this would be like a "power shed" containing the various utilities that would take off where the Van leaves off.   If I were to unhitch and take off in the Van, then the Van could sustain my needs for a couple days or so.  I want the trailers total weight to be no more than 1400 lbs. (with 55 gallon plastic water tank empty)  I'd fill the water tank when near a site where I'm going to spend some time.

This is why I'm saying yes to a trailer.  The Van and Trailer will be a system where long term stays will be accomplished with both units working together,  and for traveling around in an area from the base camp
the Van portion could be detached and sustain the short term traveling.


As for selling the home and going for total liquidity,   most of us will have some heirloom things that we never want to get rid of.   Only possibly in very late years when we could have photos of it to look at and savor the memories.  But having things of our ancestors is somehow comforting beyond what words can describe.

Something that can possibly fill in for those few precious possessions could come from services such as Pod's
Storage Containers.   They offer Containers in 8 ft high by 7 X 7,  up to 7 X 16.   There are others in this business besides Pods, but I'm just using them as an example.   They will bring a container to your home
and you pay monthly for it.  You have the lock to it and it can set on your property or they offer indoor
warehouses where you can store it.  It can also be shipped to any of their other facilities around the country.
So if one finds an area he or she would like to live in they could have their container shipped to a warehouse
in that general area.  There will of course be some expense to this but the idea is that it IS possible to have this service/convenience. 

http://www.pods.com/Storage/Benefits-of-Storage-Containers.aspx

 

[Chancebond]

OP, do you have a vehicle? A lot depends on what you are living in (if that's the plan).

Not currently, but I am looking into one on Cr.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

stick a screw driver in the ignition drive it to a shed

Oh, nobody is going to be driving my vehicle away by just sticking a screw driver in the ignition.  Just sayin

Regards
John

 

[Cammalu]

If you need to have a trailer for your stuff why not just buy something a bit bigger than a van? A class C?

 

[dhawktx]

I have been going through all of my family photos and giving them to my adult children. <snip>

When my little brother died and we had his 'remembering party' (we don't do funerals), my sister bought a photo scanner and had everyone bring whatever family photos they wanted to share. After scanning them all she downloaded all the photos to thumbdrives she'd had everyone bring. Now those photos are in no danger of being lost or forgotten, though we did have to send out a few emails explaining who was in some of them!