After a couple of years want to buy a camper and Hyundai Santa Cruz

[Mr. Ed]

The Hyundai Santa Cruz won't be available until 2022, It is not classified as a truck nor is it an automobile as it has a short truck like bed with a towing capacity of 5000 pounds, enough to tow a small trailer.

I am leasing a 2021 Kona Ultimate and so far I am pleased with its performance. Turbocharged 4 cylinder moves me where I want to go, however, starting off in cold temperatures can be sluggish.

There are lots of small travel trailers to choose from, it will just be the two of us using the camper and my wife's retirement hopefully she will be interested in camping and hereby approve of my expensive toys.

 

[Jules]

You are planning on discussing a trailer with your wife first, right?

That car/truck combo is something that my FIL had decades ago. Can’t remember the name.

 

[Bellbird]

I enjoy camping, whether it's in a tent,caravan or motorhome. There is so much camping equipment available these days there's no need to 'rough' it.

 

[ohioboy]

I am leasing a 2021 Kona Ultimate and so far I am pleased with its performance. Turbocharged 4 cylinder moves me where I want to go, however, starting off in cold temperatures can be sluggish.

I hope it's not like Archie Andrews Jalopy.

"A candy - apple honker with a cocoa brown vinyl top. Power disc brakes what it takes to make it stop. It's a high risin' hot cammed gas eatin' son-of-gun. It's got a four-eleven rear and it's lightened by a half a ton. It's got a new set of drag wheels, you know they're mad wheels, eleven inches wide".

 

[Knight]

If that's the plan then researching now federal lands & national parks available for free camping might serve you well. Trip planning to enjoy cool summer nights during the summer & warm weather during the winter months often overlooked. Toss in medical facilities, access to finances since traveling with a lot of cash isn't advisable not often considered by new open road enthusiasts.

Many government run free areas have tips, pics & comments by those that have stayed there.

 

[Manatee]

There is no way that I would buy a vehicle with a pickup bed. With a proper SUV everything is secure and out of the weather. If you want to carry a canoe/kayak or some lumber they can be tied on the roof rack. I very much liked the now discontinued Nissan Xterra. We have camped with different rigs from Nova Scotia, down the Baja, up to British Columbia and visited a lot of National Parks in the US and Canada along the way.
The trailer that we had that I liked best was a Casita 17'. If I were buying new today I would strongly consider an Escape 17B. Both are fiberglass which I much prefer over stick built, having owned both.
Nowdays there are a lot of "pretend" SUVs out there that are basically just tall cars.

 

[Mr. Ed]

I had a forest hill T12RB folding hard side A frame camper that required too much preparation to enjoy the camping experience. I want a small self-contained camper trailer less than 1500 pounds towing capacity.

The Hyundai Santa Cruz