Month: November 2020

10 Features to Consider: Buying a Trailer Part 3

Published on by Meaghan Elizabeth

Hello Friends! Welcome to part 3 of the Considerations for Buying a Trailer series. If you are new, I would recommend starting at the introduction post here, and be sure to check out parts 1 and 2 where we looked at why you want to purchase a trailer and the size of trailer that would be best suited to your needs.

This week I want you to think about the features that you want, and don’t want, included in your new trailer. Sort the list into non-negotiables, deal breakers, and maybes – both for things that you want and don’t want. For instance, if you can live without a multimedia system, but wouldn’t despise having it, this would go onto a list of maybes, or things that you are on the fence about. It wouldn’t stop you from buying a trailer, but if it wasn’t there you wouldn’t be upset.

The below list of features to consider is in no ways exhaustive, and it is in no particular order. These are the main things that I have come up with in terms of things that are worth considering, but I think that there are most likely things that would be important to you that I have not considered below.

1. Permanent vs non-permanent beds

The bigger the trailer, the less likely you are to have non-permanent beds. Conversely, you are more likely to have non-permanent beds, or convertible beds, in smaller trailers. One type of convertible bed is a gaucho bed.

A gaucho bed is like a sofa bed, but when you put the bed away, the bed itself becomes the couch. I wasn’t sure about this idea until I saw it in action and considered the benefits. If you don’t need the couch, or the extra space, you can easily leave this bed out permanently. But if it is cold or rainy out you can put fold up the bed and have a nice couch and sitting area inside your trailer. This can make a huge difference for smaller trailers without the disadvantage of your primary bed also being your primary table.

Other non-permanent bed options include tables that convert to beds, or cupboards that convert into bunks. Tables that convert into bunks may not be ideal for your regular camping experience if you plan on eating indoors regularly. But if this doesn’t bother you, or if you plan on eating outside of your trailer, they are a great option for adding extra beds to a small trailer, or to accommodate guests.

2. Fridge Size

The first question you should ask is if you want a fridge. While most large trailers will have a fridge by default, some smaller trailers may not, so the fridge question could dictate your trailer size to a certain extent.

In our case, the fridge was something we decided to up size. We’ll lose a small amount of cupboard space, but we’ll get a lot of fridge space, and a good sized freezer. After years of dealing with coolers, and a small fridge, we decided that the large fridge, and the ability to carry frozen foods, was important to us.

3. Storage Space

You may think “the more storage space the better,” but this is not necessarily true. The more storage space you have, the more likely you are to fill it, which adds extra weight to your trailer. You may also pack a lot of extra stuff that you don’t need. So make sure you balance these considerations when you think about how much storage space you need.

That being said, good storage solutions can make all the difference to your camping experience. Look for storage that will meet your needs without being cumbersome. And look for how the available space is used. Some things to consider – do you have at least one outdoor access for tools? Do you have/need somewhere that you can hang clothing or jackets? Do you have a drawer for cutlery, or a cupboard where you can add a pull out cutlery tray?

4. Winterization

This may not be applicable to you, but if you live somewhere with winter weather, it is very important. Not only do you need to make sure that you know how to winterize the plumbing, but you also need to know how many outside access areas or gaps you need to block up. The last thing you want is to open up your trailer in the spring to find that a family of squirrels has made it their winter home. Other things to consider are places where moisture might enter your trailer (you want to avoid mold), and whether you need to cover the trailer in the winter.

5. Indoor Cooking

Image by LUM3N from Pixabay

Do you plan to cook inside your trailer or are you going to exclusively cook outside? I would recommend you think about this with a long term eye. It can be a great advantage to have the ability to cook inside your trailer, even if you rarely use it. Consider those cold, rainy days or weeks and how nice it would be to be able to prepare a warm meal from the comfort of your warm, dry trailer.

You should also think about the type of cooking that you want to do. Do you need a stove only? What about a microwave or an oven? If you have the option to customize though, don’t just go with a bigger stove or oven because it seems like a good idea. If you aren’t going to use it, an oven will just be wasted space.

6. Power and Water

Do you want electricity and/or water in your trailer? If you are just looking for something to get you out of a tent, you may be fine with a trailer that doesn’t include water or hydro, but again, try to think long term. In terms of electricity – even if you don’t go with anything fancy, it can be very useful to have electric lights in your trailer. Your water consideration will be linked with whether you want washroom facilities, and whether you want the added maintenance of plumbing, but the advantages may be worth the extra work.

If you plan on doing off grid camping, it might be worth it to consider a solar panel system to allow you to still have electricity while on non-electric campsites.

7. Bathroom Facilities

If you don’t want to deal with plumbing, then you won’t be able to have bathroom facilities unless you use a porta-potty type situation. For us, a toilet was a non-negotiable in a new trailer. Even if we continue to use the park facilities, there is something to be said for not needing to leave your trailer first thing in the morning or last thing before bed… not to mention the middle of the night! For us, the extra work was worth it.

Also consider whether you want a shower. At first we didn’t want the extra hassle of a shower when we were content with the park showers. But the more we thought about it, not only can park showers be less than enjoyable, but with the current situation, there is a chance that shower facilities could be closed. Even if we rarely use it, opting for a shower gives us greater flexibility.

8. Heating and cooling

If it’s generally hot in the places where you plan to spend your time, then you may not even consider a heater, but you may consider an air conditioner to be essential. Even if you plan to camp in areas that can get cool, heat may not be high on your list if you don’t mind adding extra blankets, and plan to camp exclusively in the summer. Think about what will work best for your type of camping, and what will make you the most comfortable.

In our case, a heater was non-negotiable, but we weren’t fussed on an air conditioner as long as we had good ventilation. It can get cool in the evenings where we camp, and having a heater can make all the difference to our camping enjoyment, especially if it’s a whole week of damp and rain. We also wanted the option to be able to camp in more seasons.

9. Spending time indoors

vintage trailer interior
Image by S. Hermann & F. Richter from Pixabay

How much indoor space and seating do you need? We wanted to ensure that we had sufficient space and seating to be comfortable eating indoors or spending a few days indoors during inclement weather or at colder times of year. During good weather we spend quite a bit of time outdoors or in our dining tent. Because of this, we didn’t need as much indoor living space. If you plan to spend more time in your trailer, make sure that you have enough space to accommodate that.

Our trailer has a gaucho bed that will probably stay down most of the time and a table, that can convert to a bed, but will mostly stay in table position. Based on how we camp, we know that this will work for our needs and will give us the comfort of spending time indoors on those less than perfect days.

10. Multimedia and extras

Multimedia features are generally options or add-ons, so if you don’t want any of these features you should be able to avoid them, but consider them if they could add to your camping experience. Features include anything from integrated radios and sound systems to televisions with DVD or Blu—ray players. There are probably even more features that I haven’t considered.

Music is essential when we camp, so we opted into a built in sound system with a bluetooth radio, but elected not to get a television system. We also discovered a number of extras along the way (such as reading lights in the bed area) that will add to our camping experience but weren’t part of our initial research – so it is always good to be open to those.

These are just 10 features considerations that I considered while looking at trailers, and I think that they are worth considering for most people looking to purchase a trailer. Are there any features that you would add to this list? What features do you consider absolutely essential in a trailer? Let me know in the comments!

Until Next Time,

Meaghan Signature

To All the Books I’ve Loved Before Book Tag

Published on by Meaghan Elizabeth

Hello lovely readers! Today I am doing a type of post that I don’t think I’ve ever done before – a book tag! Not only am I doing a tag, but I was actually tagged to do it by another blogger. Thank you so much @whisperingstories for tagging me! I was very excited to receive my first tag.

As you have seen from the title, today I am doing the “To All the books I’ve Loved Before Book Tag.” I did a bit of research and it looks like this tag was initially created by a YouTuber whose channel is called Franky Days. The tag was created a few years ago now, and unfortunately it doesn’t look like she’s still creating videos, but you can check out her introduction to the tag video here.

To All the Boys I've Loved Before

This tag is based on the book “To all the Boys I’ve Loved Before” by Jenny Han, which was also made into a movie within the last couple years. Moment of truth? I have not yet read the book or seen the movie… I know! I know! It’s scandalous. I have been trying to read the book recently. The audiobook became available from my library recently, but I had so many other books come available at the same time that the loan expired… it is now back on hold and hopefully I’ll be able to read it by the end of the year *fingers crossed*.

Despite not yet having read the book, I still thought that this tag looked fun, and the prompts are general enough that I can answer them without any knowledge of the book. I had the most difficult time picking books for each category (how do you choose between all the books you’ve ever read?!) But I think I am satisfied with my choices.

1. Kenny from Camp – Your first book love

I have two answers for this question (look at me breaking rules right out of the gate). The first is one of the first novels that I remember loving as a very small child and that is Brown Ears at Sea by Stephen R. Lawhead. I absolutely loved it. I don’t think that many people have actually heard of this book, so let me know in the comments if you’ve read it.

Brown Ears at Sea by Stephen R Lawhead

My second answer is Nancy Drew. I have gone back to this series over and over again since I read my first book and I think that I will always love it.

Nancy Drew and The Secret of the Old Clock

The other reason I want to put this one here is that Ned Nickerson was my first real book crush (at least the first one I can still remember). To this day I have refused to read any of the series’ where Ned and Nancy are not together. Because I am weird that way. (Don’t even ask me about my feelings regarding Nancy’s love life in the new CW show… I am a hot mess of contradictions about that)

2. John Ambrose McClaren – The book that got away
(a book that may not be your all time favourite now, but you’ll always love it)

I had a really difficult time with this answer (something that was a recurring theme for this list). I have a difficult time picking favourites at the best of times, and there are so many books that I wouldn’t consider to be my favourites but will still always have a special place in my heart.

I decided to go with the Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare. I have not read all of the books in this series, I haven’t even read most of the books in this series. But I did start the series (and read the first 3 or 4 I think) back when they initially came out. And I enjoyed reading them – they were such a roller coaster ride of emotions!

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

After my first initial wave of reading, I kind of just stopped and never went back. I have toyed with the idea of picking up the series again, especially when I hear some of the reviews for the more recent books, but I also worry that they won’t live up to my expectations. In some ways I would rather just enjoy the memory of that first experience.

An honourable mention for this category would be The Little House on the Prairie series. Though it is a series that I hope to revisit with my own children or nieces sometime in the future, I don’t think it’s a book series I would go back to on my own. Even though I loved it when I was young (and am toying with the idea of rewatching the show soon…)

3. Lucas from Homecoming – Your favourite LGBTQ+ character or book

I had a few choices for this category that I went back and forth between, but I ended up going with one of my more recent reads. I loved Calamity Jane from My Calamity Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton and Jodi Meadows. This is book 3 in the the Lady Janies series. I had so much fun reading it and I loved Jane as a character.

My Calamity Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows

An honorable mention for this category would be The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee. I thought Monty was such a great (and also at times terrible) character and I had lots of fun with that book, even though I have yet to pick up the later books in the series.

4. Josh Sanderson – the book book next door
(a book that you’ll love no matter how many times you read it)

Even just looking through this list here, there are so many books that I have read that could be put into this category, but in the end, there was only one that really called out to me, and that’s Going Postal by Terry Pratchett.

Going Postal by Terry Pratchett

This was the first Pratchett that I read, and I think it will always be my favourite. It doesn’t matter how many times I read it, it is always laugh out loud funny and it always makes me happy. I also just couldn’t go this whole list without including a Pratchett title somewhere.

4. Peter Kavinsky – your one true book love

Is it even fair to ask a book lover to name their one true book love? Isn’t that like asking a parent to choose between their children?

That being said, I picked The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. I can’t decide if it’s truly “my one true book love” but the Narnia series is probably the one I have re-read the most of all the books I’ve read in my lifetime, and it never fails to disappoint. I will forever wish to find a secret world in the back of a wardrobe… actually, let’s be real. I will forever hope to stumble upon Narnia itself in the back of a wardrobe. Even though I know that Tumnus couldn’t possibly be there to greet me.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

I want to include an honourable mention for this category as well since it seemed wrong to only include one… The other series I considered for this category was Anne of Green Gables. I will always have a soft spot for the Anne series, and it has had such an impact on my life. Also – Gilbert Blythe may be my one true love book boyfriend… just saying.

I completed a book tag! While I was working on it, I felt sure that I wouldn’t be able to come up with any books to fit into the categories, but I did it, and I had a lot of fun doing it. As much as I don’t like being forced to make choices about the books in my life, it is also good to stretch out of my comfort zone from time to time. I may just seek out some more tags to do in the upcoming months.

Now, onto the people I tag! I am still fairly new to the Book blogging world, but these are just a few of the blogs I’ve been enjoying lately.
1) Elaine Howlin
2) Cherelle the bibiophile
3) Soph’s Book World
4) You! If you are reading this post and think that it would be fun to participate, then consider yourself tagged! And let me know if you’ve done it in the comments so I can check out your picks!

Until Next Time,

Meaghan Signature

Size Matters: Buying a Trailer Part 2

Published on by Meaghan Elizabeth

Hello Friends! I am back with part 2 of the considerations for buying a trailer series. If you are new here today, welcome! I would recommend starting with the introduction post here, as it will provide some context for what we’re talking about today. Last week, I encouraged you to consider why you are looking to buy a trailer and how you are planning to use it. This week we are talking about some considerations related to trailer size.

Once you’ve determined why you’re buying a trailer and what you hope to use it for, size is the next important question to consider. This is one of the most important, if not the most important questions to consider, as it will affect and influence almost every other decision you make about the trailer. Before we get to the considerations, let’s define a couple terms.

Dry Weight: This is the weight of your trailer with nothing else in it. When you consider whether your vehicle can tow the trailer of your choice, the vehicle tow capacity must exceed the dry weight of your trailer. Remember that your supplies and equipment will add to this weight.

Tow Capacity: This is the weight of trailer that your vehicle can pull. This weight includes anything that you pack into your trailer, so make sure that the tow capacity includes a cushion for all your supplies.

Tongue Weight: This is the weight that your trailer will put on the tongue. It is equally important to make sure that your vehicle and your trailer tongue weight are in the proper range.

What is your vehicle situation?

VW Bug pulling a small trailer
Wouldn’t it be nice if all trailes could be pulled with a VW Bug?
Image by junki72 from Pixabay

Before we consider the size of trailer that will work for you, we need to talk about vehicles. I think that this is something people often overlook when thinking about buying a trailer, especially in the early stages, but it is extremely important.

Unless you plan to park your trailer and then never move it, you need a vehicle that can pull it. I recently helped my parents research a new vehicle that would work for them daily, and also be able to pull the trailer. We are getting an extremely light trailer. It is lighter than most, if not all, other trailers I researched in it’s size category. Because of this, my parents were able to get a smaller/mid sized SUV with a tow package and not a truck.

Some smaller trailers can be pulled with smaller vehicles and vehicles with a lower tow capacity. But don’t assume that because you are getting a small trailer that it will also be light – do your research! This is especially important if you are specifically in the market for a light trailer. I discovered that many small trailers are still very heavy. Just because a trailer is labelled as “ultra light,” it might not mean the same think you think it means.

We wanted a trailer that was as light as possible. We didn’t want a large SUV or a truck, and we wanted a trailer that was as light as possible for driving. To that end, I was often disappointed when I looked at the dry weights on the “ultra light” trailers only to discover that they were still over 3,500 pounds to start. Because I knew the weight that we were looking for, I was able to eliminate many trailers right off the bat. This can be helpful when you’re in those initial stages, but it can also become discouraging.

I would highly recommend you look into the specs of your vehicle before you start researching trailers. Once you have figured out what your current vehicle can pull, you can figure out if the size of trailer you want will require a new vehicle. Even if you already plan on getting a new vehicle prior to buying your trailer, you’ll still need to know your trailer weight to ensure you pick out a vehicle with sufficient tow capacity.

And remember – at the end of the day it is better to have “too much” tow capacity than not enough. Pulling a trailer that is too heavy for your vehicle is not only extremely unsafe, but it will also destroy your transmission over time. And if you break your transmission because you towed over capacity, you better believe your warranty is not going to cover that. You are going to have your trailer and your vehicle for many years so do yourself a favour and make sure you consider everything related to the size and weight.

Are you looking to park it or travel with it?

Vehicle pulling a small trailer

I’m not going to spend too much time here since we discussed it last week. You should already have an idea about whether you want to park the trailer or travel with it, and you should have already considered some of the size implications related to both options.

If you are looking to park your trailer and then leave it, you may be able to go for a bigger trailer than if you were planning on travelling around with it. You may also want to go slightly bigger if you are going to spend more time there, or treat it like your cottage.

One thing to consider is that if you plan to park the trailer, you may be able to go with a bigger trailer without needing a bigger vehicle. You will need to find a bigger vehicle to tow the trailer to the place where you are going to park it, but you may be able to find a friend to assist with this.

If you plan to travel with your trailer, smaller can be a better option. This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to go for a tiny trailer. This could mean that you do a bit of extra research and pick the 18’ trailer instead of the 25’ trailer. You may be able to find all the features you want in a slightly smaller trailer, and that might make all of the difference in your enjoyment of towing.

How many people will you be travelling with?

Image by Pexels from Pixabay

This may seem like an obvious consideration, but make sure that it is something you think about early on. How many people will you be travelling with regularly? You may have more or less people that you travel with depending on the circumstances, but as a general rule, how many people will be the norm?

You want to make sure that you have enough space for all of you. This doesn’t mean you need a huge space, but you should make sure that at the very least you have enough space to comfortably sleep everyone.

Most trailers have at least one table that can turn into a bed if necessary. But before you count that as your primary bed for one of your travellers, consider whether you need it to be a table. If you are only going to use that table in the event of rain or inclement weather, then you might not mind putting the bed away in that instance. But if you are going to use the table every day, or even most days, are going to want to put that bed away every morning? This may not bother you at all, but make sure you have thought it through.

If all of you go camping, will your trailer work? Is there someone willing and able to sleep in a tent if necessary? Or does that defeat the purpose of getting a trailer for you. It’s better to think through all of the scenarios and possibilities (or as many as you can) now, instead of realizing a year after you purchase your trailer that it’s not enough space, too much space, or you strongly dislike putting away a bed every day.

Bigger isn’t always Better.

You may have gathered by now that I prefer smaller trailers. I have nothing against bigger trailers, but I am just not drawn to them, and they just don’t feel like camping to me. But this point is not about my personal preference for small trailers.

I want you to consider that bigger isn’t always better. If you are newer to trailers, you may think that the bigger the trailer the more features, or the better the experience that you will get. But this is not necessarily true. I have seen many big trailers that are laid out so poorly that you can actually get more usable space in a slightly smaller, better planned out, trailer.

Before you just jump into a bigger trailer, think about whether you actually need all of that extra space. Sure you may have cabinets coming out of your ears, and that may seem great at first, but do you need to bring all of that stuff with you while travelling? And remember, more stuff means more weight for you to tow. You may find that a smaller trailer, with well thought out storage solutions, and thoughtfully laid out, actually provides you with more than enough storage space for your needs and wants along with providing the right amount of living space.

Will you be happy in that size of trailer (Smaller isn’t always better)

Happy Camper image
This is a Happy Camper. A more modern trailer based on the original boler design
Image by Michelle Churchman from Pixabay

For most of this post, I have stressed the benefits of a smaller trailer, but I don’t want to neglect the important consideration that smaller also isn’t always better. Though I prefer a smaller trailer, this is still something that I fully believe. We are getting a 16’ trailer. This is smaller than many of the trailers out there, but it’s also not a “small” trailer by the definition of some.

When I first started looking into trailers, I was fascinated with Bolers and Trilliums. If you are not familiar, these are older, compact, fiberglass trailers. And they are small. They are about 13’ in length, and they are not overly tall. I love the look of these trailers, and if I were to suddenly find myself with gobs of extra money, I would love to own one. But after fully considering our options, we decided that this type of trailer wasn’t going to be practical for us.

They are just that wee bit too small. We didn’t want to run into a situation where our trailer was too small, or too claustrophobic. There were also a number of features that we wanted in our new trailer that would not have worked in a Boler, even if we fully renovated the interior. There is such a thing as too small for you.

It can be tempting to look at the tiny trailers and see nothing but the advantages. But if you are going with something small, you need to be fully committed to that size of trailer. If you are thinking that you can learn to live with the disadvantages, take some extra time to consider whether you want to learn to live with them. Do the positives that you associate with a smaller trailer outweigh the negatives? Because if they don’t, or if even one of those negatives has the potential to turn into a deal breaker, then you won’t be happy in the long run. Don’t regret your trailer choice because you decided to go with something too small for you.

Our new trailer is small, but it is laid out well and it has enough space for all of the features that we want. Many people will look at our trailer and think that it is too small, and I’m sure there are many that think it’s too big. But because we knew exactly what we wanted, and had a good idea of the general size and weight we wanted, we were able to find something that I think is going to work perfectly for us.

It can seem like there are endless options when it comes to trailer size. It can feel overwhelming to figure out the size of trailer that you need, especially in a time where people are buying giant luxury trailers. These size options have expanded the trailer world to include more people. Even though they might not be for me, these big, apartment style trailers, have opened the doors to people who may not have been interested in smaller options.

Now that you have considered these questions related to the size of your new trailer, where do you see yourself? Are you looking at a small trailer to fit your needs, or do you lean towards something bigger? Do you have any considerations related to size that you would like to add to this list? Which of the items on this list did you find the most helpful in your considerations for a trailer? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

Next week we are getting into some of the fun elements of researching trailers – the features!

Until Next Time,

Meaghan Signature

October 2020 Reading Wrap Up

Published on by Meaghan Elizabeth

Hello Lovely Readers! It is that time of month again already. The time when we look at all the books I managed to read in October.

Can I tell you a secret? I had this entire post written and ready to be edited and then my computer crashed. And somehow I lost the entire thing… So now I am going to attempt to recreate what I had written in time to still go live on Thursday. If you’re seeing this, you’ll know if I succeeded, and I hope the future is treating you well.

Overall, October was a mediocre reading month for me. I managed to make progress on my fall goals, and I read a number of Halloween themed books, but even though I enjoyed most of what I read, and nothing was really terrible (with the possible exception of one DNF), the whole month just felt a bit “meh.” I’ll have to see if there’s anything I can change up to make November feel more successful.

Speaking of changes… When I started these posts back in the spring, I mentioned that I wasn’t sure how long I would continue with this format of posts. In that time, I have found that, while I enjoy writing wrap ups, I also am not completely sure if I love the format for me.

Personally, I enjoy reading and watching other people’s wrap ups. But while I enjoy traditional wrap ups from some of my favourite creators, I also love ones that twist up the format. Some of my favourite wrap ups are the “Balancing the Books” videos Emma from @drinkingbymyshelf. Just the slight twist of needing to see how many books went on and off her TBR makes the videos unique and interesting, even if she doesn’t do a full wrap up for each book. I am also a fan of other TBRs or Wrap ups that incorporate some form of game.

All that to say that I am considering a change. And while I am thinking about what I want to do going forward, I am curious about what types of posts you prefer. Do you enjoy reading wrap up posts – either traditional or with a twist? Or would you prefer more in depth book talks instead of the short blurbs I give in wrap ups? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

Now, on to this month’s books! I read a total of 6 books in October, I got part way through one other, and I DNF’d 1. I read 3 audiobooks and 3 e-books. The DNF was the only physical book I picked up. My favourite read of the month was Dead Beat and my least favourite was Candy Corn Murder. Now on to the blurbs.

1. Serious Moonlight by Jenn Bennett – 3.5 stars

This is a YA contemporary, and it is the second Jenn Bennett novel that I have read. Though I didn’t enjoy it quite as much as Alex, Approximately, I did have a lot of fun reading it. In particular, I enjoyed the mystery aspect of the story. I liked how the main character was a mystery aficionado, and how her love interest worked with that to spend time with her. As someone who also loves mysteries, I thought it added a fun twist to the typical romance plot line.

2. Dead Beat by Jim Butcher – 4 stars

This was the next book in line as I work my way through the Dresden Files series, and I could not have planned the timing better if I tried. This book took place at Halloween, and the main case involved necromancers and Zombies. It was the perfect read at this time of month and I think that the atmosphere added to my enjoyment of the story. That and all the parts that made me literally laugh out loud.

3. The Spook in the Stacks by Eva Gates 3.5 stars

This is the first book I have read in the Lighthouse Library series, though it is not the first book in the series. Though there is a good amount of suspended disbelief required for the premise (there is no way that you can fit a library, a rare book room, and a small apartment into a library), I really loved it and am excited to read more in this series. I know that it’s not possible, but I want a small apartment in a lighthouse library, doesn’t that sound perfect? I Will definitely be picking up more in this series.

4. Proven Guilty by Jim Butcher 4 stars

Since I enjoyed reading Dead Beat so much this month, I jumped right into the next book in the series, so it was a two Dresden Files month. This book also ended up being perfect for October, as it featured supernatural monsters disguised as horror movie monsters. I didn’t enjoy this one quite as much as Dead Beat but I still had a lot of fun reading it. I especially liked how this book integrated a number of the recurring characters from previous books and I am excited to see how some of the new developments unfold in the upcoming books.

5. Made for Us by Samantha Chase 3.5 stars

This is the first book in The Shaughnessy Brothers contemporary romance series. This wasn’t my favourite book by Samantha Chase, but it was a solid and enjoyable read. I really liked both the main characters as well as the side characters, who I know will get their own books as the series progresses. This book was exactly what I was looking for when I picked it up. One of the things that I love about Chase’s romances is how she develops the relationship between the main characters and how there’s the perfect amount of tension and steaminess for me. Not too hot, not too cold.

6. Candy Corn Murder by Leslie Meier – 3 stars

I think that this completes my reading of Meier’s Halloween themed Lucy Stone novels. Chronologically, this one falls between the previous two that I read, and I would say that my overall enjoyment of it fits right in between those two as well. Particularly my enjoyment of Lucy. This book supports my theory that Lucy gets less irritating as the series goes on. My main complaint was that there was too much lead up to the murder and then not enough tension or intricacy between the discovery of the body and the revelation of the murderer. The way that Meiers went back and forth between the past and the present had such potential, but in my opinion it didn’t tie together as well as it could have. Will I continue reading this series? Probably. But if you know of another author that writes seasonally themed mysteries, I would love to check out your recommendations.

DNF The Beautiful by Renee Ahdieh

I wanted so badly to enjoy this book, but I just couldn’t get into it. On the surface, it had everything I was looking for. Vampires. Murder. Atmosphere. Romance (I’m assuming?). But it was so boring. I read about the first 130 pages and I just kept wondering when I would get drawn in, and that’s not because there was no action. There were 2 or maybe 3 murders in that time, and we were introduced to what I am fairly certain is a secret society of supernatural or magic beings. All of this should be highly engaging! And yet, I had no problem returning the book to the library when my loan expired. So what I would like to know from you is this. If I am feeling this way 130 pages in, is it worth it for me to borrow it again and push through? Does it get better? If you have read this book, let me know your opinions – either yes it’s worth it, or no let it go – in the comments.

And now for a new feature… the November Preview!

You might have noticed that I don’t post TBRS unless it’s for a specific read-a-thon or challenge. I am the worst at sticking to them, and I don’t see the point in posting something that is at best a rough guideline of what I think I might read that month. BUT I am tossing around the idea of including a preview of what I’m thinking of reading in the next month. So, here we go.

In November I am continuing to try and make progress on my fall reading goals since it is the last month to accomplish them. I want to continue to read thriller and/or spooky books but I am also feeling that Fantasy feeling and would love to pick up one of the big fantasy novels I talked about last week. Add to that a non-fiction book for “Non-fiction November”… and it looks like I need to read like it’s my full time job this month. Obviously that’s not going to happen, but it will be fun to see where I end up. Perhaps I’ll abandon it all and read nothing but romance. But you will need to come back next month to see 🙂

What kind of a reading month was October for you? Did you read everything that you were hoping to read? What was your favourite book of the month? What are you looking forward to reading most in November? Let me know in the comments!

Until Next Time,

Meaghan Signature

How Are You Going to Use it? Buying a Trailer Series Part 1

Published on by Meaghan Elizabeth

Hello and welcome back! If you missed last week’s post introducing this new series where I’m going to look at some of the things I think you should consider if you’re looking to purchase a trailer, you can check it out here. This week I want you to consider why you are buying a trailer and how you are going to use it. And I’m looking for more than “because I want one” or “to camp…” How you answer this question will greatly impact the type of trailer you decide to get, and many of the things we’re going to discuss in the next few weeks hinge on the answers you give to this question.

Question 1: What do you like and dislike about your current setup?

Woman enjoying a cup of coffee camping
Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay

How you begin to answer this question will depend on whether or not you are currently a camper. Before you start looking into trailer options, I suggest that you think about the way you currently camp. If you haven’t camped for awhile then consider the way you have camped in the past. If you are not currently a camper, then I want you to think about why you would like to start camping, and why you want to start with trailer camping specifically.

If you are currently a camper, then I want you to think about and list the things that you love about your current setup and the way that you currently camp. Even if you want to change how you camp, you still want to pick out a trailer that fits your camping style. For example, if you love everything about tenting but are tired of sleeping in a tent, you may find that a 20’ luxury camper would be too drastic a change and would take all the joy out of camping. Your equipment shouldn’t take away from what you love about camping.

Once you have completed this list, think about all the things you don’t like about camping or your current setup. Is your current set up too big or too small for your needs or wants? Do you really wish that you didn’t need to walk to the washroom first thing every morning? Do you despise cooking in the rain? Write everything down.

In this stage you’re not considering features that you want in depth, that will come later. You just want to identify your likes and dislikes to give you a baseline for the type and size of trailer that you will be looking for. You don’t want your new trailer to ruin camping for you, but you also want to try and eliminate some of the things you don’t like about your current setup.

If you aren’t a camper, I still want you to go through this likes/dislikes exercise. I want you to consider what you think you will like and dislike about trailer camping. What are the things you look forward to and dream about when you picture yourself with your new trailer? What are the things that have kept you from camping up to this point?

There are many objections to camping that you can overcome by picking the right trailer. But there are many that you won’t be able to overcome. So pay attention to any of the “big things” that appear on this list. I don’t want to turn you away from camping, but I also don’t want you to buy a trailer on a whim and then regret it.

I don’t want to discourage you from taking up trailer camping, or suggest that you shouldn’t purchase a trailer. But I do want to make sure that you’ve thought it through. Trailer camping isn’t for everyone and it may be a good idea to dip your toes in the water of camping prior to making such a big purchase. Many parks have roofed accommodation options that fall somewhere between a tent or trailer and cabins, have you considered staying in one of these? Depending on where you go these accommodations provide more or less equipment, but there are options available to rent the necessary equipment so that you don’t need to purchase everything right away.

oTentik Picture
An oTentik at Thousand Islands National Park

These options aren’t going to give you the same experience as trailer camping, but I think they can help you get an idea of whether or not you will enjoy camping. Another option to consider would be renting a trailer for one or two trips, though I don’t know much about the logistics of this option.

Question 2: What is your time line?

This may seem like an odd consideration, but I have learned that it is a valuable one. Are you looking to purchase your new trailer immediately, or do you have some wiggle room? What would happen if you were told that you needed to wait 6 months? What about 1 year or 2 years? Would that turn you off the trailer completely?

You might be tempted to skip this question – because of course, you want the trailer as soon as possible. But I encourage you to take the time to think past that. I spent years thinking about and researching trailers to figure out what I wanted. I know that many people aren’t going to do this, but it’s important to note that I could take my time because I didn’t need the trailer right away.

We had a couple trips planned that we didn’t need a trailer for, so we could take things slow to get an idea of what we wanted. We also still owned our old trailer for most of that time so it was there if we needed it. Once we made the final decision to switch to a new trailer, we sold the old one in the spring, and then had picked out our new trailer by September of that same year.

And then we were told that there was a 2 year wait list for the trailer we wanted. Most trailers don’t have this length of wait list, but our trailer is being custom built at a small, family owned company and they can only produce so many trailers a year. We could have changed our minds and decided to look for something else similar, but we knew what we wanted, and we knew our time line. And because of that we were able to go ahead with it.

You may still think that this doesn’t apply to you because you aren’t looking to buy a custom trailer. But don’t brush it off. There are many smaller trailer companies that may also have waiting periods. Not to mention that many companies saw a surge in interest this year and sold through more inventory than in a typical year. In addition to high demand, there were closures that led to lumber and parts shortages. And these are sure to cause production schedule delays. If you find the perfect trailer but the supply is low and you need to wait for it, is that something you are willing to do? It’s okay if your answer is no, but you should know going in.

You should also know your time line if you are looking to buy used. The used trailer hunt can be short and sweet, or it can be tedious, time consuming and lengthy. There are often a lot of people selling trailers but they won’t necessarily meet your needs or you’ll find that the perfect ones seem to be scooped up before they even come across your screen. Even trailer companies that sell used trailers can only sell you what’s on the lot, and if none of those trailers match your needs, then you’ll need to keep looking, or change what you’re looking for.

Question 3: How do you plan to use it?

Image by Mike Goad from Pixabay

Yes, I know. You’re planning on using it for camping. What I mean is, in general, are you looking to park it our travel with it? Many trailers can be parked or traveled with, but there are some better suited to each type of use. This question will come up again next week when we talk about size, but it is useful to consider in this step as well. It also may not be something you have considered before this point.

There are many people who buy trailers to park and leave in one place. For people who can’t afford or don’t want the additional expenses and responsibilities of a cottage, a trailer in a nice park can be a great alternative. If this is how you intend to use your trailer, you might want to consider something a bit bigger and you also won’t need to be as concerned about the trailer weight. I’m not saying that you need to go crazy or that you can’t park a small trailer. But if you’re going to spend a lot of time at the trailer you may want a bit more space or a few more creature comforts. If this is your plan, it is also worth considering trailers that are already located at your chosen park.

On the other hand, it is easier to travel with a smaller trailer. It is possible to travel with a giant trailer, and I am sure you have seen any number of them traveling down the highway. But the bigger the trailer the more unwieldy it will become to drive and park. Not to mention you’ll use more gas, need a bigger vehicle, and put more wear and tear on that vehicle the bigger you go. I’m not saying that you need to buy one of those little tear drop trailers if you plan on taking road trips. But I am saying that you should take some time to think about what size of trailer will best meet your specific needs. Because, as we’re going to see next week, bigger doesn’t necessarily mean better.

I hope that you have found these considerations helpful. There are so many different styles and sizes of trailers available in the market that it can be overwhelming if you don’t have some idea of what you are looking for and what you need. The more you can know about your wants and needs going into the search, the better prepared you will be to quickly eliminate the ones that don’t meet those needs. Do you know your camping style? Let me know one thing that you can’t live without from your current setup in the comments below!

Until Next Time,

Meaghan Signature