I bought our used tent trailer last June (2008) and we love it. We found it on craigslist, and for us it was a good experience. We wanted a camping trailer that would fit in our garage, so a big travel trailer was not an option. Here's what I learned: - A good used tent trailer is clean, free of mold, and the wood around the sink area is not swollen with water damage. No smoke/dog/food odors whatsoever. Very clean and in good working order. - Have a trailer repair/service shop check out your trailer before you buy - they'll be able to tell you if everything works as it should. Worth the money. They'll also be able to show you how everything works. - It takes a few camping trips before you really get the hang of it. I was nervous about the propane furnace, how the 3-way (gas-elec-battery) fridge worked, and the leveling of the unit. But now that I have it figured out, I'm good to go! - The guy we bought it from kept it in a large clean shop/garage, so it was dry all winter. No mice. I wouldn't buy one that's been kept outside. - No toilet/potty in ours. We only camp in parks with showers and restrooms. I did buy an outdoor shower, though, for use at the campsite for private quick cleanups. - Be careful about the weight - the trailers with the extra storage are typically bigger and weigh more, especially by the time you add the rest of your camping gear (chairs, bikes, rafts, food, etc.). - I wish our camper had a bike rack on top; it's a difficult trick carrying bikes on the racks that go between truck and trailer. - Bear Country: check with the park to see what they say about tents and tent trailers. Food lockers are common in those areas. We survived a severe lightning storm in our tent trailer last summer at Lost Lake in Oregon (and my teenage boys thought it was awesome). - We don't have a generator. Just a good battery. Extended camping trips of 3 days or more might benefit from having a generator, but you'll add weight with that. An extra battery might be easier. - Find a good rv forum like TrailerLife to get a lot of your questions answered. - We have two large propane tanks, and that is more than adequate. The water tank under the trailer holds something like 30 gallons, and you shouldn't fill it until you get to the campground (weight, see?). - There is a bluebook for RV's. Check before you buy. - Our brand is a 10-year-old Jayco, and it's very good. - I bought one of those cabela outdoor kitchens to use since I like space and convenience when I'm cooking. The indoor sink is just used for quick cleanups. - The gas hot water and furnace is awesome; I wouldn't go camping without it again (think cleaning pots/pans, warm water for showering, etc.). - My husband is not mechanically inclined, so it's up to me to make sure it's set up properly and running right, and I do just fine thankyouverymuch. - Getting it level at the sight is SOOO important. There's a lot to learn about using one, but once you figure it out, you're ready to go camping any time. My greatest helper was the trailerlife forum. Really found the experts there extremely knowledgeable and eager to help. Hope this helps. Good luck, and happy camping!! (I can send you pictures of the trailer and the setup if you'd like.)

Thanks for the input everyone! I went out this week and test drove a number of cars, but I'm going to wait until the 2009 Honda Fit and Civic come out in September before I make my decision. As of now, here are my impressions: the Prius, I saw one but could not test drive one. The one I saw was being reconditioned to sell as certified used. If I want a new one, it could take 6 to 7 Months! Some parts come from China so production has been at a standstill since the earthquake. I won't be buying one anyway. The controls look like a rocket ship, and although the visibility from the front and sides are fabulous, it is almost impossible to see out the rear window. I'm sure my height does not help. I test drove the Matrix while I was there but I did not like it. The steering was not as responsive as on our Hondas, and the ride was rough. Next I tried out the Pontiac Vibe. I did like it a lot; it is very comparable to the CR-V but less expensive. It is a bit bigger than I wanted though. I drove the 2008 Fit (which I reaaally wanted to love) and although the steering was responsive, the ride was rough and the road noise was awful. The seat height can not be adjusted and I felt like I was sitting in a hole, I could barely see over the dash! It also looked like the interior was made of cheap plastic, I expected better after driving around in our CR-Vs. They are supposed to be fixing these issues on the 2009 model so I am keeping my fingers crossed. I also tried the Civic Sedan while at the Honda dealer, I really liked it. The ride was smooth, the steering responsive, the blind spots were minimal, it was very nice. When the 2009s come out I might try the coupe out. Unfortunately the hybrid version has a smaller trunk because of the battery. Next I test drove the MINI Cooper Clubman. Boy was that fun! I loved driving it around! Unfortunately it is not very practical here in Illinois as a main car. The first time it snowed I would be plowed in! It is really low to the ground. The last car I tried was the Scion xD. I really liked it! It was exactly what I was hoping the Fit would be (and almost exactly the same size). So now I have to wait until mid Sept. for the new Hondas to come out and I can make my decision and order my car. Depending on the dealer they said between 4 and 8 weeks for delivery (other than the Prius). If anyone else has a suggestion I will look into it. I do prefer a wagon over a car since I do haul stuff sometimes (furniture, wood, etc...). I agree about never buying a silver car again! We have a Silver CR-V and a mist blue (almost a silvery blue) CR-V. Where ever I park there are always several identical CR-Vs! I'm thinking of getting red or blue. There are not that many cars in our area in those colors. At least 75% of the cars in our area are silver, gray, white or black. Joanne

Hi Pipersville Carol (if you're still around), If, having dropped the coverage of $800.00 annually three years ago, you'd *really* self-insured, that is, hung on to the fee that you'd paid previously, you'd have had $2,400. in savings, plus a smidgeon extra, interest rates being what they've been, lately. As a financial advisor, I told lots of clients ... and others who'd listen ... that it would be well for them to build a financial cushion of three - six months' income, so that they wouldn't be sweating blood in about a month in case their current income disappeared. Even better, in the recent uncertain economic climate, to have nine months' to a year's income on hand. I don't always have it myself ... but I have a (rarely used) credit card to cover the current cost, and an (also rarely used) line of credit at the bank, fully secured by stock certificates for a lower rate of interest, which I draw on to pay off the credit card debt in full at the next billing date, to avoid that 18% or so interest rate (or something like 28% if you have to use a store-issued card). Then to pay down the line of credit as quickly as possible, especially as the interest is not deductible. I think that I wrote a post either here or in "Money Saving Tips" asking whether the readers had ever been in handcuffs. Some of the readers, knowing my rather quirky sense of humour, wondered whether they were in for some sexually-related story ... but ... many people are in financial handcuffs, lacking a financial cushion. And ... they've put them on themselves! And if they have major debts, e.g. credit card, they're in leg irons, as well. These are troubling times in our countries ... few have received substantial wage increases in years, and one can find almost no one to suggest that, for most of us, that's about to change any time soon. But the prices keep going up ... and the official rate of about 2% annual rate seems somewhat suspect, if you've visited a grocery store in recent times. Few figure that such is about to change, any time soon, either. So - we'd better get used to living on less. Less troublesome for me, to be 85 two days from now, than for you who are younger, with more years to plan for and (most likely) live. Good wishes for a great New Year. May it bring the fulfillment of some of your dreams ... and the envisioning of some worthwhile new ones. ole joyful

68 Bridgestone Dual Twin 175 (Original thighmaster) 72 Kawasaki 500 Mach III (The Widowmaker) 73 Honda CB500E 78 Kawasaki KE100 83 Yamaha YZ125 83 Yamaha YZ490 (The Boat) 84 Yamaha FJ600 85 Yamaha YZ250 The original thighmaster -- named such as it had a rotary 5 speed transmission. The engineers thought it would be a good idea coming off the highway on short ramps to not have to downshift through all those cogs, but rather upshift once more and volia you are back in first. This works great until you forget what gear you are in and grab 1st at 50mph. More than your thighs flex when that happens. The widowmaker put down nearly 60hp but handled like a chipmunk on crack being chased by a broom. Scary bike. The boat -- aptly named as the best 2 days of this bikes existance was the day I bought it and the day I sold it.