I saw a Lil Guy trailer out on the road 2 years ago and knew that’s what I wanted: something light that I could mount on my hitch (and if I couldn’t figure out how to park it could pick it up and walk it into a spot), small enough to not feel lonely sleeping alone, and it had to be cute. I drive over 18,000 kilometres every summer along every road in Northern Canada and can be out on the road for up to 5 weeks at a time, and being a 61 year old female, travelling through isolated territory, I wanted something up off the ground, out of the bugs, that was safe and secure – and saved me money on hotels. Haven’t slept in a hotel since and it paid for itself the first summer! It has required absolutely no maintenance besides the good cleaning it gets after a stint on a gravel highway (such as The Dempster) and new tires. The additional use of gas by my car is negligible.
When I first started driving with it I was using RV Parks thinking I needed the amenities they provide such as showers and power, but after learning to fill a thermos of coffee from a gas station at night there was no futher need for power. Parking in wooded campgrounds is preferable where I can take advantage of the privacy of the trees, and the shower can wait until I reach civilization again. And besides, it looks pretty silly squished in between the behemoth motorhomes.
End of day routine: get parked, kick the chalks under the tires, put my alarm clock, computer (for movies), coffee pot (if I’m plugged in), nightie and clothes for the morning, inside. Set up a camp chair by the fire, and eat something out of my food box which I carry in the car but place on the shelf in the back hatch when I’m off the road. If I go for a drive away from the trailer I slip a tow-lock on the hitch knowing it’ll still be there when I get back! It never gets dark in the summer in the north so I rarely need the lights, and only occasionally turn on a heater when I’m attached to power.
It’s funny how people respond to seeing my Lil Rascal. People point and smile as I drive past. They want it to “do” something: pop up to something bigger, the hatch to open onto a kitchen, etc., but I laugh and say “It’s my bed. That’s all it needs to be.”. Kids want to play in it. And many women worry about how I get dressed or put on my makeup. Very creatively!
I can’t say enough about this little trailer and I especially reccommend it to women who are on their own but still want to go camping getting the extra comfort and security without all the fuss of a fully equipped camper. It’s my own “bedroom” when I am a guest. It’s cozy and comfortable, and there’s nothing better than stopping at a campground after a long driving day, opening the door and being able to simply hop into bed. I actually giggle like a kid every night when I’m all snuggled in to my “little treehouse on wheels”.
After the summer I roll it into the trees at my property, throw a tarp over it, then count the months until it’s roadtrip time again. No system to shut down, water to drain, propane tanks to store – easy easy. Thanks Little Guys. It’s a marvel!
Judy Nadon
The MILEPOST
www.themilepost.com
