86scotty
Cynic
OK, I'm sort of at my wit's end. I have this 95 SMB which is in need of a little love, but I'm presently clearing my slate to get started on it. Love the floor plan, love the van except it's an RB. I know I won't be able to afford or probably even find one with this few miles again. It isn't perfect but I have an idea to keep the family of 4 traveling in style. It's a 460 so my fuel mileage isn't going to suffer if I put a couple thousand pounds behind it.
She wants a shower. A real one. I kind of do too, not gonna happen with 4 seats in an RB. We are ONLY ever tied to paid lodging because of showers. Laundry is never really a problem for us on long trips.
I also like the idea of having my bikes, supplies, etc. secure for long road trips that will hopefully involve some light off-roading. Living in Tn. I'm not going to be taking my SMB up Engineer Pass most likely, but if I did I could park a trailer somewhere if exploring for a few hours or a day.
I'm thinking of getting a 6x10ish covered trailer with a side door to pull behind the van. I would put a small counter and sink in the front with a small shower in the corner (just a Lowe's/Home Depot fiberglass single shower, 3x3 I guess). I would find a decent water tank from an RV salvage place probably and put a hot water heater in the trailer as well, and permanently house my generator there. I would use a 20 lb barbq tank to run the hot water.
This gives me lots of room to keep 4 bikes, tools, groceries and lots of other things I probably wouldn't bring along with just the van. I could attatch a small awning to the trailer and probably not bother with one on the van. Also, I could take a dual-sport bike along sometimes.
So, upsides: space, a shower, a place to wash dishes with hot water
downsides: I'm reversing the reason I bought a van, and pulling a trailer again, which will inevitably get in the way sometimes, but can go more places than a big camping trailer.
My biggest questions: Will I destroy a covered trailer if I try to pull it anywhere off road? How tough are they? What tires etc. would I need and would it be worth it to lift it.
Also, how to do a shower drain. Straight through the floor and carry a blue boy (portable RV tank waste tank) to catch the gray water when I need to? I hate the idea of a permanent black/gray tank.
Thoughts? Ideas?
She wants a shower. A real one. I kind of do too, not gonna happen with 4 seats in an RB. We are ONLY ever tied to paid lodging because of showers. Laundry is never really a problem for us on long trips.
I also like the idea of having my bikes, supplies, etc. secure for long road trips that will hopefully involve some light off-roading. Living in Tn. I'm not going to be taking my SMB up Engineer Pass most likely, but if I did I could park a trailer somewhere if exploring for a few hours or a day.
I'm thinking of getting a 6x10ish covered trailer with a side door to pull behind the van. I would put a small counter and sink in the front with a small shower in the corner (just a Lowe's/Home Depot fiberglass single shower, 3x3 I guess). I would find a decent water tank from an RV salvage place probably and put a hot water heater in the trailer as well, and permanently house my generator there. I would use a 20 lb barbq tank to run the hot water.
This gives me lots of room to keep 4 bikes, tools, groceries and lots of other things I probably wouldn't bring along with just the van. I could attatch a small awning to the trailer and probably not bother with one on the van. Also, I could take a dual-sport bike along sometimes.
So, upsides: space, a shower, a place to wash dishes with hot water
downsides: I'm reversing the reason I bought a van, and pulling a trailer again, which will inevitably get in the way sometimes, but can go more places than a big camping trailer.
My biggest questions: Will I destroy a covered trailer if I try to pull it anywhere off road? How tough are they? What tires etc. would I need and would it be worth it to lift it.
Also, how to do a shower drain. Straight through the floor and carry a blue boy (portable RV tank waste tank) to catch the gray water when I need to? I hate the idea of a permanent black/gray tank.
Thoughts? Ideas?
