I have a buddy that says we go "trailer" NOT "camping". I have no desire to start an arguement over what "camping" IS.However, after reading the post about needing bigger tow vehicles, bigger trailers, more gadgets, etc... I do think it would be interesting (it's -2 outside) to hear some comparisions between family travelling (rv style) today as compared to when many of us were kids. It does not need to get condesending, the comment can come to a conclusion, or be left open ended. Kinda like this---- I remember when-- families had 6 kids, and they all fit in a two door pickup, and pulled/slept in a 20' trailer.I remmber when-- batteries maintenence meant making sure all flashlights/radios, etc... all fit the same size battery so you only had to pack one size.I remember when-- awnings had poles and ropes to trip over.

I remember camping as a communal water spigot with in a 1/4 mile, communal latrines. Coleman gas lanterns, fire rings made of stones, you swam in a creek or at the beach that was your shower. Rarely a trailer over 20 ft long,w/3 way lights. Most used tents or school buses. Seems we had more fun that way, than today trying to show off the latest and the greatest. Albeit it is more comfortable to day.

Homer wrote:I remember camping as a communal water spigot with in a 1/4 mile, communal latrines. Coleman gas lanterns, fire rings made of stones, you swam in a creek or at the beach that was your shower. Rarely a trailer over 20 ft long,w/3 way lights. Most used tents or school buses. Seems we had more fun that way, than today trying to show off the latest and the greatest. Albeit it is more comfortable to day.And when I first took the DW "camping" in this fashion, she asked where she could plug in her blow dryer. The 2 room tent, sleeping bags, air mattress, 2 burner Coleman stove, stand-alone awning, plastic 5 gallon water bottles, sun shower, and basket full of picnic stuff have been in the basement for 20 years. The lanterns, and the portable grille come with us in the Sahara.

I remember when I got my first TT . It was 12 feet long and 6 feet high. It had a bed, a small dinette, a 2 burner stove ,a sink with cold water only, and the sink drain just drained onto the ground under the trailer. I thought it was heaven to have all that luxury .

Homer wrote:I remember camping as a communal water spigot with in a 1/4 mile, communal latrines. Coleman gas lanterns, fire rings made of stones, you swam in a creek or at the beach that was your shower. Rarely a trailer over 20 ft long,w/3 way lights. Most used tents or school buses. Seems we had more fun that way, than today trying to show off the latest and the greatest. Albeit it is more comfortable to day.Boy you can say that again! But I am not sure about it being more comfortable today. I think what we think of as comfortable has changed. Our Idea, our sense of CONTENTMENT has changed. We are not content any longer with out that big screen TV, the faux leather sofas and all the rest.

I remember when a 1959 Plymouth Station Wagon with those huge fins and 3 row seating was a popular choice for families (ours included) to go camping. The kids could spread out, there was room in the "far back" rear facing seat to enjoy the scenery from a different perspective. And CAMPING involved a very heavy canvas 3-room tent with the wooden poles holding it up and making the framework. The tent was ALWAYS carried on the roof rack of the Plymouth!

I remember when----???? (camping version). | Good Sam Community

jfkmk
Explorer
Feb 28, 2015
I remember our first big camping trip. We had a 10x10 Morsans (now Campmor) canvas cabin tent that had to be carried on the roof of the 68 Fury because it wouldn't fit in the trunk. We went cross country and back, loving every minute of it. Even when Dad woke us up at 3am because he heard thunder and wanted to pack the tent before it started to rain. Those were the days!
cbshoestring
Explorer II
Feb 28, 2015
This is quickly going from the comparison of today/yester-year that I envisioned, to a 1st camping trip story. That's ok...

The first picture of me camping, I was 6 months old (fourth child). Parents had a VW bus and a borrowed ARMY tent (that dad later bought). I don't remember any of it :? :h :S

I do remember many though... were we sat on the old hard suitcases when it rained (inside the tent), and quickly learned not to step in the puddles or touch the side of the tent.
Naio
Explorer II
Feb 28, 2015
jfkmk wrote:
the 68 Fury...

We had one of those too! We used to put sheep in the trunk, taking them to market or to mating.

My parents had awesome, incredibly warm sleeping bags -- heavy cotton canvas on the outside, red plaid cotton flannel on the inside... probably cotton batting, too. I have never found a modern sleeping bag as warm as those. Probably weighed 15lbs each -- and you would not want to get them wet! They had a distinctive odor that I remember to this day. DDT, no doubt.

Us kids got cheap nylon sleeping bags and were always freezing.
BB_TX
Nomad
Feb 28, 2015
When I was a kid it was cots under the stars, not even a tent. Coleman lanterns and stoves. If it rained a little, out came tarps. If too much rain or storm, pack up and go home as we were typically on dirt roads down to whatever creek we could get to. Parks with paved or rocked roads came much later.

Gradually graduated to tents in the late 60's. Never an RV until 2007. What a change.
jfkmk
Explorer
Feb 28, 2015
cbshoestring wrote:
This is quickly going from the comparison of today/yester-year that I envisioned, to a 1st camping trip story. That's ok...

Fair enough. After falling in love with camping, and reliving the "wilderness" type of camping during my Assistant Scoutmaster days, we've moved up to a small TT with all the luxuries we want. We love the outdoors, so leather chairs, indoor fireplaces, etc are meaningless to us. Yeah, we have a small TV, microwave and stove, but that's enough for us. The one and only thing my wife insisted on was our own bathroom. No problem, happy wife happy life!
mleekamp
Explorer
Feb 28, 2015
I remember when my parents bought a couple year old 1972 Buick Electra 4-door (last year for small tail fins), 455 cubic inch v8, and pulled a 24 foot "bunk house" with it. I had tons of torque, and the weight dist hitch made it all level....I'm not sure there are cars today that can pull even a 6 foot utility trailer to go to Menards' with.
rickeoni
Explorer
Feb 28, 2015
Then / Now

Then, propane lantern ( burnt finger tips)
Now, LED lantern (burnt retinas)

Then, telling stories around a camp-fire with free wood from camp-ground
Now, checking Facebook around a propane fireplace because wood is too expensive

Then, Slept 7 in a Bonair pop-up
Now, sleep 2 in a fifth wheel

Then, left on Friday and hoped to get your favourite spot
Now, make your reservations 9 months in advance

Then, Loved going camping
Now, Love going camping
colliehauler
Explorer III
Feb 28, 2015
I remember in line 6 cylinder trucks with very little horsepower, now we drive trucks that have more horsepower then semi's of yesteryear.
RoyB
Explorer II
Feb 28, 2015
We ere avid tent camper from back in the 60s and 70s when living in the Tempe AZ area.

Every chance we got we load up our Jeep trailer and head for the Arizona Highlands... Much like these google images..

Not much changed since then as we still tent camp alot here in the high country of Virginia... we also OFF-ROAD camp alot as well with OFF-ROAD Camper setup..

It is all in what you like to do...

we can camp off our batteries for a good 12-14 days and do just about the same style of camping we do at electric sites.

Roy ken
Homer1
Explorer
Feb 28, 2015
I am really glad there still some out there that remember camping and the great outdoors. I can't help wonder what the Newbies think of these recollections.