Our Plan

After completing our home build, I was looking for a creative outlet. I suggested to Willie that I might find a vintage (old) camper and renovate it. Always rational, Willie gently reminded me that older trailers could be full of surprises (not all good) and renovation costs often add up so that we could ultimately spend more than buying a newer trailer. 

Then I spotted a cute little red Winnebago Micro-Minnie at the local gas station. I even asked the owners about their Micro-Minnie Winnie. I was enamored with the idea of camping and traveling in that little red trailer.

Then we went to an RV show and visited the Winnebago display. We climbed into the Micro-Minnie…and discovered how compact the trailer really is. My 6’3” husband couldn’t stand upright inside the trailer. Nothing against the Minnies (they are adorable) but it just wasn’t going to work for us. 

But now I had Willie seriously considering investing in a travel trailer. He had fond memories of his Air Force family traveling across the country in an RV when he was a kid. 

After doing his research online and watching many YouTube videos, Willie discovered the Winnebago Voyage line. I should add that this was 2020, during the Covid pandemic. Watching camping and RV videos filled our evenings while we were homebound. It kept us sane, dreaming about getting out and having adventures…

Together, we composed a list of criteria that we needed to meet if we were going to seriously invest in a trailer:· 

• Buy a travel trailer vs a Class A or Class C RV so flexibility – we could unhitch our truck at our destination and have a means of transportation to explore the area. We already had a Ford F-150 so we wouldn’t need to invest more money into a smaller towed vehicle.
• Stay within our budget, knowing that, in addition to the trailer itself, there’s the cost of insurance, upgrades, additional equipment and supplies, and winter covered storage.
• Not too small – enough room to be comfortable. A couples coach would be perfect because we don’t have children to accommodate with sleeping quarters. Our kids are grown and would much rather sleep in a tent or a cabin or even their SUVs when camping with us. 
• But not too big – we want to stay under 30’ so we could fit into state and national parks without any problems. Plus, we need to have the trailer fit into our driveway at home while we are loading/unloading it. 

• Choose Winnebago for its long-standing reputation for quality. · A decent-sized bathroom with a toilet and separate shower – no wet bath. This would eliminate the need to use campground facilities and allow us to boondock if need be. 
• A larger fridge so we wouldn’t need to bring a large cooler. We tend to eat at home more often than eating out – especially with two dogs along on the trip. Dogs are often welcome on outdoor patios but it’s sometimes challenging to take them out to eat with us during rainy, cold or extremely hot weather. 
• We prefer theater seating (recliners) rather than a dinette. We have a pair of comfy recliners at home and love relaxing in them. In the PNW, we have rainy days and it would be nice to be able to relax in the trailer. 
• King-size bed. There’s the two of us plus a 45 lb. Doodle who likes to hop up to join us.
• Finally, back to the issue that eliminated the Micro-Minnie: Willie had to be able to stand upright in the trailer. 

What would we do once we acquired our travel trailer? Explore our new location. The Pacific Northwest is rich with natural treasures: majestic mountains, stunning lakes and rivers, waterfalls everywhere, and a wild, rocky coastline within scenic areas, state parks, and national parks. There are festivals, wineries, breweries, and historical places to explore. Willie was still working full-time so we needed to limit our trips to long weekends closer to home in the PNW. 

But the deciding factor – what pushed us forward was watching the RVing videos from Marc & Trish Leach on Keep Your Daydream. They often remind their followers to just get out there. Don’t wait until you can afford the perfect rig or you’re fully retired. Make it work with what you have or what you can afford and with the time you have available. Taking their advice to heart, we moved forward with our own daydream.