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Beginning the RV Life - The BroncoBago

7/25/2016

by Richard Rowell, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff

We searched for a great RV for several months to make our big summer trip from Denver to the East Coast to visit friends and family. The search was focused on travel trailers for about two months. But finding one that our Toyota 4Runner could tow was a real challenge. Almost every time we found a great deal on Craigslist, we couldn't tow it without first acquiring a new vehicle.

Eventually, we found a couple great deals on Craigslist, but one turned out to be a scam and the other was a major project. I was not going to shell out thousands of dollars for a salvage project, nor was I going to pay over retail value out of desperation. Just to see what was possible at dealers, we checked out a few places, traveling all over the Denver metro area. But the prices were sky high. There was absolutely no way we would shell out the 20 grand for a brand new travel trailer.

We decided to shift the search to motor homes. But the cheapest motor homes we found from dealers, even really used, started at over $20,000. After becoming discouraged after looking at so many dealers, I simply thought that it wasn't going to happen. We checked Craigslist, and while there were decent ones for about $4000 to $5000, they all had issues that would cost at least another $1000 or so before we could even drive them away. Sure, we could negotiate. But the good listings were at least 2 hours from us. It wasn't working out.

Then, a miracle happened. We found this beauty.

Yes, it’s totally Denver Bronco’d out. That was the best part of it. The price was very reasonable. It looked like there were only minor things that we could easily fix. When we checked it out, not only were the issues relatively minor, but it turned out to drive beautifully. It seemed too good to be true.

Fortunately, it was for real. The guy was super nice and extremely honest about everything. He'd gotten it from someone for a good deal, and it was already mechanically sound. He put all the cosmetic work into it. The only thing that didn't work was the fridge. While inconvenient, we can always repair or replace it. It also needed new tires. But considering how old it is, it was worth replacing them, especially with most of the major components having being rebuilt beforehand.

After negotiating down the price due to the necessary repairs to the fridge (which can be pricey) and the tires, we got a great deal that worked for both of us. The guy made a fair profit and got cash in hand. We get to fulfill a live dream for both myself and my partner Lyn. The hardest part was the waiting to get the registration tag and getting back over to where it was parked to drive it away.

So, the BroncoBago (as it’s come to be called) is a 1977 Winnebago 23 footer with a rear bathroom. It sleeps 5 to 6, which is perfect for us. Most of the original stuff is still in it and outside of that fridge, still works. It's totally decked out in blue and orange. Really, pictures don't do it justice.

Sure, it's 40 years old. Of course, there are risks involved with an older vehicle, even one that works fine now. But for something so vintage, so well-maintained, and with so much character, this is a deal that no one should have passed up. The idea that only two other parties even came to look at it (and only one with a serious offer) blows my mind. It's unique, vintage, and fits our needs. And yes, we will tailgate with it. That is kind of the point after all. But we can do whatever we want with it.

I want to thank Ryan, the guy who sold it to us, for rescuing a piece of history. He helped make a dream come true, and that's priceless. We'll be making so many memories, and plenty of content about the RV Life in the months and years to come.

The BroncoBago is ours now. She's my baby and I hope my baby girl Nova will inherit it someday.

More photos coming soon!

How to Plan a Wedding on Short Notice

7/3/2016

by Tara Bard, Contributing Writer

When I won my wedding in 2009, I was relieved. At the time, my husband-to-be was unemployed and we had no idea how we were going to plan or afford a wedding. On a whim, I entered a contest and received a call from the contest organizer, explaining that I had won.

Following the sense of relief, I realized something: we had less than a month to plan the wedding. How did we pull it off?

Decide what's important. When you have a limited time to plan, you need to decide what's important and what isn't. Since my husband-to-be was unemployed, I simply gave him a list of things to take care of. I was working full time and had no way to do everything that needed to be done. My notes looked like this:

Get flowers. 3 bridesmaids. I want hydrangeas. No preference on other flowers.
Order cake. 75 guests. Colors: navy blue and white. No fondant.

When it came to other items, however, I was fully involved. Although I didn't have much time to select a dress and have it altered, I crammed as much dress shopping as I could into two days. My matron of honor graciously accompanied me on this quest and kept me on task.

Trust others. When you're short on time, you need to trust others with the details. Two of my bridesmaids flew across the country on short notice for my wedding. I didn't want to burden them with the additional expense of a dress. Instead, I showed them a photo of my dress, which included a navy blue trim, and asked them to match the navy. I just had to trust them and didn't even see their dresses until the big day. They coordinated on their own and all picked something similar. Their outfits also cost under $50 each, and they were able to select dresses they'd wear again.

A friend also offered to design our wedding website. She updated it with details as they were added, which was seriously important considering it was all so last minute. My mom (a very organized person) also stepped in and managed the RSVPs for me. I just sent her my list and handed everything over to her. My matron of honor hand made chocolate favors for me as well. I loved what they did on everything even though I didn't have a huge role in each aspect. (Those chocolates helped with lingering wedding stress, too.)

Use the Internet. Etsy became my best friend when I planned my wedding. I was able to find simple, affordable, handmade personal touches that really made our reception sing. I searched using our theme (nautical) and colors (navy blue, white and yellow). In some instances, I just sent the designer samples of our wedding invitations and clips of things I liked along with the money and let them design it. They all did a great job.

DIY last minute items. There were a few last minute touches and decorations I wanted, but didn't have time to order them. Armed with $30, I hit the local craft store and purchased some supplies such as ribbon and cardstock. Using my existing scrapbooking equipment including a papercrafting machine, I personalized my reception in the last 48 hours before my wedding.

Patronize local businesses. When my husband had a list of things to take care of in a limited time, he went to local businesses to tackle the list. He was able to accomplish multiple details in each trip. We were also able to check on the progress in person. This eliminated a lot of stress from our wedding planning.

Despite the fact that the wedding was last minute, people really enjoyed it. I was really worried about ordering food from a place I'd never even patronized, but it turned out to be a highlight of the reception - all because I went on a friend's recommendation.

This post was originally published on Examiner.com.

Beginning the RV Life - The BroncoBago

How to Plan a Wedding on Short Notice

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