Buy a trailer (instead of a pickup truck)

[slowmover]

Originally Posted by hat_man

Slowmover.....just the wife of 33 years and me at this point. Her sedan is a smooth ride for the long trips together and has room enough for dinner friends. But with a 120 mile round trip for work 5-6 days a week a little diesel pick-up would be ideal. Not that I would give up my Ranger at this point. 33 mpg in that is pretty darn good. But at something closer to 55-60 mpg would mean only filling up half as often. It would give me more money to spend on my beautiful wife.

Then why there are two vehicles versus one is what’s to be examined. Abandoning one in crisis is the money that could have gone to what’s needed for a new start. Or to live long enough that’s possible. And it’s more than money gone missing for no value received.

We can say the that larger societal forces pushed us into what we have today, but that’s not an excuse that holds water.

Whether or not you agree/disagree I’d bet it comes down to wives making threats. That others would agree with her only means how close we now are to full-on collapse as a society. Wives thinking themselves their husbands peers; a canard. And, enemy action backed by family law court.

ONE vehicle required (itself based on lack of alternatives; not preferences). That’s the start. The unexamined enormous lifetime expense.

What’s needed to solve it — make it unnecessary— hasn’t anything to do with cars themselves. How does one get rid of the commute and still lower all other costs while simultaneously improving life’s qualities?

Impossible, isn’t. It’s political will that’s lacking.

But, not to worry. Western Man is being written out of history as fast as possible. Doesn’t look as though he’ll reassert inborn primacy until it’s too late. Too great a parasite load. Real, and acknowledged.


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[freebeard]

Linked not embedded because #@$!! language

AvE: BRAKES LOCKED UP! | Never Trust a Trailer

Entertaining and informative as per usual.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Yesterday I saw a Renault Kwid with a hitch-mounted bicycle rack. Maybe it wouldn't be so hard to repurpose it to carry something else...

[freebeard]

I just looked out my window and this big pickup with a ramp trailer was passing down the lane. He got to the corner, and got out with a hand-held remote, lowered a wheel inserted between the tandem axles and rolled the tail of the trailer sideways.

No pix because it was all over in seconds.

edit:
Actually, he was moving a neighbors shed, so I got to ask. It's a Pine Hill Shed trailer with this feature:

[aardvarcus]

That's awesome. Even used, those shed trailer command $$$$.

[oil pan 4]

I do something like that with my small trailer.
When it's empty I pick it up and move it.

[freebeard]

The Brooks Walker Fifth Wheel

[Prii]

I am currently brainstorming ideas for an aerodynamically clean cargo trailer to pull behind my Prius for a cross-country move. I have a basic 4'x8' flatbed utility trailer (which knocks 10-15 mpg off the Prius even when unloaded), a longer converted boat trailer and a narrower jet ski trailer. My thought is to try to keep the trailer's frontal area well within the frontal area of the Prius. I need to protect the contents from weather so am toying with building a very lightweight "poor man's fiberglass" shell. I also am thinking the bottom should be sheathed to cut down friction from the road surface. Anyone have any ideas/experience along these lines?

[freebeard]

Welcome to Ecomodder.

...an aerodynamically clean cargo trailer to pull behind my Prius for a cross-country move

Can you expand on the use case? Cross-country, but strictly cargo or camping as well? Rear or side loading? Single use or family heirloom?

Have you used the Search function? There're lots of examples here and then you have sites like Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers • Index page

How would you describe 'poor-man's fiberglass'?

[slowmover]

Originally Posted by Prii

I am currently brainstorming ideas for an aerodynamically clean cargo trailer to pull behind my Prius for a cross-country move. I have a basic 4'x8' flatbed utility trailer (which knocks 10-15 mpg off the Prius even when unloaded), a longer converted boat trailer and a narrower jet ski trailer. My thought is to try to keep the trailer's frontal area well within the frontal area of the Prius. I need to protect the contents from weather so am toying with building a very lightweight "poor man's fiberglass" shell. I also am thinking the bottom should be sheathed to cut down friction from the road surface. Anyone have any ideas/experience along these lines?

Time, effort, energy. A Penske straight truck with the Prius on a trailer is the better option.

The problem is the inefficient design of the Prius. When you need it most, it’s unavailable. It’s naught but a one-trick pony.

Assuming your belongings are actually worth the cost of transportation (most persons possessions aren’t; same problem with paying long-term storage) then security from the elements AND theft both rate as highest considerations.

Thus the straight-truck/trailer combo. Insurance coverage.

Can the idea proposed rate full-replacement cost insurance?

Get that question answered. In writing.

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