Hybrid Foamie: Wild Wanderer in Foam-now with sketches

[Ned B]

Lori and I went out to brunch on Sunday, and while we were out we stopped at a car rental/sales lot & talked over a few vehicles. Current likely replacements for our Rendezvous are either a Honda crv, a ford escape (v6, not the hybrid) or a Camry hybrid.

I'm leaning toward the Escape , but I'm not going to push hard for it if she likes the Honda better. Stay tuned, I hope to have this resolved by Labor Day.

[atahoekid]

Not sure what the towing capacity of a hybrid is, but I'd check it out first. As for the Escape I had a 2002 that had a leaky gasket in the engine. About a 20 buck part but $600 in labor. I have a coworker with the same issue. I used mine as a trade in about a year ago, my coworker is gonna drive his till its junk. It's a small leak but annoying anyway and I can't stand oil spots in the driveway The wife likes the CRV and wants one for the next vehicle. We own a Honda Pilot and are real pleased with reliability and operating costs

[GPW]

My mechanic buddy swears the Honda’s are the better cars...

[Wolffarmer]

Hondas. I would not have one. Nor Toyota.
As I only buy used I have found that the used price is to high, They may be good cars but not that much better than the other.
Oh, and Subaru's are even worse.

The Honda CRV. I have followed them on the highways and for my use they will not work. The have to many things hanging down low on the rear suspension. Hangs you up in snow and rough roads. Might work for you but I will pass.

Randy

[Ned B]

Well guys, this will be 'her' vehicle... I've selected our last three vehicles and have yet to hear the end of it. So: I'm paying for it, she gets final yeah/nay on it & domestic tranquility will be maintained.

Oh, & add to the mix a VW Jetta sport wagon TDI ... Broker thinks he can find one of those for me.. Which is something we both agree on!

[Ned B]

As for the trailer, I am going with a Northern tool 5 x 8. My son the mechanic will help me beef up the tongue, as well as extend the frame to 10 foot. I'd have him build a whole new trailer, but think for this first build I'll go with the pre-packaged trailer.

For awhile though it will be as delivered, so I can pull the materials home on it.

[GPW]

Quote: “ domestic tranquility will be maintained. " ... That’s a Must eh ?


Just thinking , you may want to add a foot in the front and a foot in the back so you don’t upset the wheel/axle placement /balance (easier too )... 5’ wide will be Plenty as you can always make the floor wider if you want ... (the FS only has a 58” wide trailer frame ) Sounds like a great plan Ned !!!

And yes, if you don’t have a truck or van , a bare trailer is Wonderful for hauling things like plywood, lumber, steel, etc. etc. ... all that stuff that won’t fit in or on top the car ... A trailer when you aren’t using it to haul things ,is a great place to store those same things ... off the ground and safe ..

[aggie79]

Well guys, this will be 'her' vehicle... I've selected our last three vehicles and have yet to hear the end of it. So: I'm paying for it, she gets final yeah/nay on it & domestic tranquility will be maintained.

Sounds like a good plan...maybe. Make sure you don't influence, rush or affect the decision in any way. Set the budget below what you're willing to spend, and then when she's finds something she wants "for a little bit more", you'll be the hero if you raise the budget.

Quote: “ domestic tranquility will be maintained. " ... That’s a Must eh ?

For me, its like searching for the Holy Grail, mermaids, and pots of gold at the end of rainbows. I have been trying but I haven't yet found tranquility or any of the other three. I'd probably have a better shot of reaching Tranquility Base than tranquility. (For the young ones out there, Tranquility Base is the site of the first lunar landing.)

[GPW]

... sometimes it’s more like trying to reach Tranquility Base on a bicycle ... towing a trailer ...

[Ned B]

I long ago learned the 'magic words'














Yes dear...

[Wobbly Wheels]

Make sure you don't influence, rush or affect the decision in any way. Set the budget below what you're willing to spend, and then when she's finds something she wants "for a little bit more", you'll be the hero if you raise the budget.

Great idea Tom

Until she reads the forum over Ned's shoulder...

[kudzu]

I long ago learned the 'magic words'

Yes dear...

[eaglesdare]

Too funny you guys!
My hubby just made a comment yesterday about how high maintenance I am.
I overheard him talking to someone about how he wants to start working on the RV "IF" he can ever get away from working on the stuff I want him to do for the horses and dogs.
Gotta love the men that takes care of her, huh!

[Zipline65]

My mechanic buddy swears the Honda’s are the better cars...

We are in our second CRV and I love it. The only drawback that I have found is that the rear seats are not removable. The towing weight is max 1500 which is why I started investigating teardrops a few years ago.

[GPW]

Zip, Foamies’ do seem Perfect for small cars .... no other trailers (that we know of ) are as light for the space... Gazing into my Crystal ball (actually a crystal Beer mug ) ... One day , the big heavy cars, trucks , SUVs will be gone ... Only affordable by the 1 % who by then will own Everything .. The rest of us will be in little efficient cars , towing light foamie trailers .... The Future !!! ...