Traveling south from Michigan in a Land Trawler!

[skyhawk]

"Mixing boating concepts with RV discussions is dizzying."

Perhaps, but the owners goals are usually similar and a guess would be 500 or 1000 RV are made for every 35-50 ft boat .

This large customer group advances design and equipment far faster than usually older and more cautious boaters.

I'm not so sure I've recognized the faster advance you write of....
As an RV'er for a long while now, from what I've seen these things are pretty bare bones basic, simple, cheaply built, and are riddled with issues that constantly make a lot of RV owners just shake their head, wondering if the folks that design and build them have ever even tried to use their products once. Except for the recent addition of things like solar and inverters, for the most part the systems haven't changed much in many years from what I can tell.

 

[psneeld]

The RV advances in systems seemed to be a consensus years ago...not so much lately.


Many companies started to market their products to both communities and boaters saw that many items were RV grade but marketed for boaters....but cheaper and thus became popular. Thus many boaters are complaining that items don't last as long as "the good ole days".

 

[BandB]

Wifey B: One thing I've concluded is that we are slower to see the advances made in something we're very familiar with or when we own something that has some years on it. The owner of a 20 year old trawler isn't seeing advances in boating, nor is the owner of a 20 year old RV seeing RV advances. While we don't own a true RV in just using a Mercedes Sprinter conversion, I was amazed at some of the "advancements" as I'd never spent days and nights in any form of RV. I imagine if I spent my first lengthy time on a boat, I'd be impressed similarly.

It's a bit like being around someone every day and you don't notice them aging, but see someone you haven't seen for 20 years and you sure do.

 

[psneeld]

If you do the maintenance on boats and RVs , tyou might keep up with advancements a bit more.

When fixing or replacing items some of us tend to research whether an upgrade to a newer system makes sense.

Also if it is truly a hobby,it seems to me publications in the old days (internet now) tends to update an owner as is going to shows and just plain old hanging out in marinas or parks and seeing all the different rigs.

Cost of rigs is also a consideration. My RV is only 2 years old but because I went small, simple and inexpensive.....much past LED lighting....it is not much different in in many ways less "modern` than the 5th wheel I had nearly 20 years ago.

 

[FF]

Depending on the builder RV go from "sticks & staples" to custom built chassis or bus conversions. Just as hull builders vary in boat quality .

Much of the equipment tho has changed for the better. One example might be hot water heaters.

The old style was a 6+ gal box of water with a propane burner and perhaps a 120v electric element. The home style wall mounted were tried and failed to please as the water temp varied too much when showering.

The newest units have no water tank & can maintain temperature at high or low flows.

Water pumps ,air cond, heaters , reefers , ranges, waste grinders and 12v TV are much improved .

The old Head Hunter , Galley Maid equipment is too expensive for most recreational boaters.

The days of the $1,000 water pump are gone except in the big boat charter fleet.

 

[Knot Salted]

The Land Trawler Made it to Cedar Key last night.
A very cool place.
Will stay tonight, and part of tomorrow, then plan to head south along the gulf.
Fresh oysters on the grill tonight, and maybe a toadfish if I can get one.[emoji16]

 

[jimfrens]

Late to the discussion, but my marina here in Edenton NC has one camper semi-permanently parked near a pedestal and another in the parking lot.

 

[sum escape]

You're a few steps ahead of us. We are selling Beachcomber and are looking for a 35'-38' diesel pusher. I'm not anxious to do a ton of work on it so I am looking for something that's 2007 or newer and road ready.

Then we're going to be land cruising.

After we PMd last Winter regarding a PNW boat, COVID changed our minds and we changed gears to a 35' DP motorcoach. We now spend 6 months aboard Sum Escape in FL and 6 months traveliing the US in the RV (12,000 miles last summer).
We got the Tifffin Allegro RED 33AA which has the short wheelbase allowing good manueverability for smaller campgrounds.
PM me if you want to pick our brains.

 

[Knot Salted]

The Land Trawler Made it to Cedar Key last night.
A very cool place.
Will stay tonight, and part of tomorrow, then plan to head south along the gulf.
Fresh oysters on the grill tonight, and maybe a toadfish if I can get one.[emoji16]

Ended up with a nice Speckled Trout. Delicious.

Homosassa tomorrow, on to Bradenton or thereabouts, hoping to find a place to slip for a day or two.

 

[FF]

"hoping to find a place to slip for a day or two."


The Canadians usually lock up FL state park campsites a year in advance , 2 weeks move, 2 weeks move to fill up their winter, but this year they seem to be locked up in the snow , so call ahead and find a state or county park, cheap and spacious sites.

 

[Knot Salted]

"hoping to find a place to slip for a day or two."


The Canadians usually lock up FL state park campsites a year in advance , 2 weeks move, 2 weeks move to fill up their winter, but this year they seem to be locked up in the snow , so call ahead and find a state or county park, cheap and spacious sites.

We are trying. No luck so far....

 

[Knot Salted]

Consider joining "Harvest hosts" and "Boondockers welcome".



It costs to join but it's minimal and those are stay for free sites, and definitely an upgrade from Walmart or Cracker barrel.



We've stayed at a couple of Harvest host sites and plan on doing some of the others as well.

At our First Harvest Host tonight in Seminole. A decent, quiet place to sleep. Thanks for the suggestion!
On with the quest for salt water to fish in, and be able to park the Land Trawler nearby.

 

[Knot Salted]

https://www.allstays.com/
great little database of places to stay, dump stations, LP refills, etc...
you can find which walmarts etc. allow parking, etc...
and I've used it to find wonderful little places good for an overnight....not only parking lots but state forests, etc...
very useful I've found.

there is a pro level fee based that I find worthwhile. I can't recall what's available for free.
It used to be a smartphone app, but on android at least he had some issue with Google charging for map use so the android app went away. I think it might still be available on IOS.
Regardless I just use the online version.

yes, in the last dozen years or so we've seen it get very much more difficult to find places at state parks, etc.... at least weekend and holiday times

We did get the AllStays app.
Thank you!!

 

[Knot Salted]

Traveling south from Michgan in a Land Trawler!

Late to the discussion, but my marina here in Edenton NC has one camper semi-permanently parked near a pedestal and another in the parking lot.

Suggesting that some are accommodating RV stopovers?

 

[FF]

When entering a state always stop at the welcome center.

Tell the desk you are planning to stay for a month or two..

Instead of a tiny brochure you may get a thick book that locates state parks , and includes town and county camping sites.

 

[Knot Salted]

When entering a state always stop at the welcome center.

Tell the desk you are planning to stay for a month or two..

Instead of a tiny brochure you may get a thick book that locates state parks , and includes town and county camping sites.

A very good thought. Thank you.

We have lucked-out and got 10 days at Fort Desoto County Park. Very Lucky, but feel down-hearted too, as this likely came about due to the misfortune of a fellow camper with a winter disaster on their hands.

Luck: “When preparedness meets opportunity”
—something my Dad coined, but author not known to me.
Just might add that to my profile/avatar.

 

[BandB]

A very good thought. Thank you.

We have lucked-out and got 10 days at Fort Desoto County Park. Very Lucky, but feel down-hearted too, as this likely came about due to the misfortune of a fellow camper with a winter disaster on their hands.

Luck: “When preparedness meets opportunity”
—something my Dad coined, but author not known to me.
Just might add that to my profile/avatar.

It's a sad irony that so much of our opportunity comes from the misfortune of others. People switch companies to take jobs replacing someone. I hate that aspect of sports, you become a manager when one is fired, you get to play when someone is injured. Sometimes you even get Wally Pipped. We just did some major hiring and were happy with how many great candidates applied but sad with what that represented in terms of their current or prirot jobs.

 

[FF]

"It's a sad irony that so much of our opportunity comes from the misfortune of others. People switch companies to take jobs replacing someone."

How could a company compete if it kept all the the deadwood ?

When competition forces a change the company must change or die a slow death.

Excellence is everything to business , "barely good enough " is for government.

 

[Knot Salted]

Traveling south from Michgan in a Land Trawler!

It has been a great trip.
Did not get to the east coast as planned, but had a good time at the gulf side.
Back to Cedar Key, and headed out in am. May go north, or may go to Orlando to look at a used motorhome—-diesel. Can go gasser if a great set-up and deal.
Been shopping a lot, as we realize that we like this mode of trans for winters, and we are aboard a very comfy but temporary-for-us unit..
My number is 616-340-6383 if you know of a good one for sale.

 

[BandB]

"It's a sad irony that so much of our opportunity comes from the misfortune of others. People switch companies to take jobs replacing someone."

How could a company compete if it kept all the the deadwood ?

When competition forces a change the company must change or die a slow death.

Excellence is everything to business , "barely good enough " is for government.

I'm not saying companies should do differently, just that a lot of opportunity comes from the misfortune of others. Even if the person fired was underperforming there's still a family hurting while another is celebrating. You win a raffle and many others lost.

 

[Knot Salted]

Not what I had in mind.

 

[Knot Salted]

Update:

The Land Trawler is really comfy when ever parked or at camp. She is however, a real witch to drive in wind, or when being passed by semis or other land trawlers. Watching your wake does not apply to the Dry-Ways.

We dropped back south to Tampa to look at a more attractive, slimmer, little RV - a 2002 30 ft Land Yacht by Airstream.
The AS sits a foot lower, and is much better built. We bought her.
Now, the admiral and I each have one to drive back to Michigan. We’re in Dalton, GA tonight.
When we get back, the old gal will go on the block.
I might sell the old motorhome too.

 

[Knot Salted]

...a little humor after navigating I-75 Atlanta early on a Friday night.
Three miserable hours in two RVs, got separated by 15 miles by the time we got out of there -exhausted.