I spend much of my summer in a "76
Sovereign that is in good condition with ordinary wear and tear. I am thinking about going to Florida in August. I pull the
Sovereign with a Ford F250 diesel, 1986, 120,000 miles. It's the one with the big Radiator.
A friend suggested I look for a Safari of the same vintage and sell all the other camping vehicles I have been using for going on the road. (A 12' Coleman and a 20' Alpenlite fifth wheel.) He said it is lighter, easier to park in a campground because it is shorter. etc etc etc.
I need some seasoned advise from those of you who have hauled for a number of years. I bought the
Sovereign for $7500 and have used it for 5 years as a base camp at the beach. I have taken her camping, but while very comfortable and really steady on the road, she is hard to get into camping spaces. It is in very good shape, new tires, good running gear etc. But the truck needed to pull it is old.
Because of the length of the Sovereign and the shortness of parking spaces in camp grounds I like to use, I purchased an old, but very sound Alpenlite. Prior to this I had and still have a 12' Coleman Tent Trailer. Like everything else, it is in very good condition. I used it once two years ago for three weeks.
I realize these are all very different camping experiences and hauling experiences. But I have to make some choices since I am going at least to southern California and New Mexico and maybe to Florida.
I like camping. I don't mind eating on a picnic table and spend most of my time outside the trailer when the weather is good, but I hate wet canvas, putting the TT up and hauling it down and never being able to boondock. The TT is a reasonable choice with the exception that I live in the Pac. NW where it rains nine out of 12 months and isn't really comfortable for much of anything, in my mind, but warm weather, plus the up down hassle. But, it is a smooth hauler, takes less gas to haul, is cool in the south, carries my kayak on top, is an absolute joy in woodland settings and by any sort of water. I can park it in most cities by finding a double space and paying two meters.
The fifth wheel, because it is short is a problem to park as the turning ratio is too close, but it is light. I have to leave it behind to go into town. But it provides a cool or a warm place to stay no matter the weather. I don't have to reconfigure it every day, I can boondock in it. It is more expensive to haul.
The Sovereign is a known to everybody on this list. BTW if I buy a Safari I sell the sovereign and have to deal with 10 less feet for the rest of my time at the beach. I AM NOT GOING THROUGH THIS AGAIN.
So. WHADAIDO? All advise will be reverently considered as I am in a complete conundrum here.
Thanks. Joan