McMansions On Wheels, Have We Gone To Far

I think as we grow older, the creature comforts are more welcomed. I personally have lost the desire to sleep on the hard ground in a sleeping bag. I did it quite regularly in my younger days, and have no regrets on that. But, I can afford to 'glamp', therefore, I do. But, I also think it would be equally nice to have a truck camper or a small TT that would be easier to boondock with. That might be a future purchase.

Mike

From what I've seen, most people with "McRVs" are those who are full-timing or doing extensive traveling - not those who are camping in the traditional sense. Those who are camping tend to top out at a TH so they can bring their outdoor toys or a 5er that will sleep the whole family.

Of course, I tend to camp at NF campgrounds in the mountains and have yet to see a class A at any of them. It might be different elsewhere.

I find my clipper to be the perfect size for providing a nice bed and bathroom while maintaining a traditional camping experience. When I read posts on camping forums about tent campers who are setting up a sleeping tent, bathroom tent, dining tent, etc., plus bringing a couple AGM batteries hooked up to provide power for lighting, music, electronics, and so on, plus bringing cots, mattresses, kitchen centers, etc., I figure they aren't any more "back to nature" than I am in my clipper with the basics. I just don't have to spend all that time setting up and taking down and I don't have to worry about storage space for all my gear.

I once knew a man and his favorite quote was "If you can't go First Class, borrow more money"

DutchmenSport wrote:


But, if you really want to go pitch that tent and toss a sleeping bag in it, eat pork n beans right from the can with a stick for a fork, and dig holes in the ground to use as a bathroom, nothing is stopping you. But, when you wake up in the morning with your arthritic joints aching so much you can barely move, and your back is all messed up from the cold ground penetrating, and now you have a horrid cold, and your blankets are wet from the moisture dripping from the roof of your tent, I have a feeling you'll be welcoming your McMansion again!

No I don't think I would go that far all the way down to a tent, but have also thought about a small cool off road RV trailer that can be pulled by my Jeep but yet also can carry a canoe or small boat.

The small RV would need a full bath and nice size bed however, but I wonder if I would miss my Bounder if I went for it ?

There is no rule of thumb that says anyone has to own or have access to a McMansion. We all have the option to keep things simple as a sleeping bag on the ground touring with a bicycle, to the multi million super coach complete with a chauffeur. It's all a matter of what anyone wants.

Comparing camping to the early 1960's (which my parents did ... see My Profile link on the left)... to what the way it's done today, well, really... it's not all that much different. The only difference is, today's campers are jam-packed with modern technology. But you know, that simple 1963 Phoenix Travel Trailer my Dad owned was jam packed full of 1960's technology too! In it's day, it was a pretty impressive camper. It had a gas light above the sink and stove, it had a 4 burner propane stove, a pressurized stainless steel water tank, a toilet, and a radiant propane heater. The refrigerator ran on gas and used no electricity at all, and a 12 volt system was not even thought of. Pretty sophisticated technology when you think about it!

Today's generation is born into the electronic, computerized, SmartPhone, Cable Television with a million stations, and the Internet at their fingertips age. This is all they knew. They never grew up with an outhouse, getting water from a hand pump, and storing food in a root cellar. Their camping style is just an extension of their daily life style. So RV manufacturers have to keep up with the demands of the "electronic generations" or no one would ever buy any RV.

So, it seems like folks own and operate McMansions now, but all they are doing is reflecting their personal life-styles. Today's generation is a spoiled generation. What was our "toys" when we were kids, are now their "necessities" (or so they think). It's only natural the demand for more sophisticated, luxurious, bigger, and more advanced types of RV are pulling into campgrounds these days.

But, if you really want to go pitch that tent and toss a sleeping bag in it, eat pork n beans right from the can with a stick for a fork, and dig holes in the ground to use as a bathroom, nothing is stopping you. But, when you wake up in the morning with your arthritic joints aching so much you can barely move, and your back is all messed up from the cold ground penetrating, and now you have a horrid cold, and your blankets are wet from the moisture dripping from the roof of your tent, I have a feeling you'll be welcoming your McMansion again!

We still have a tent that we camp with.

We use the RV as a recreational vehicle.

How big can we go..

Now this just looks silly, to each their own.

2oldman wrote:
Do you mean McMansion? (although maison does mean house)

Opps fixed it.

Do you mean McMansion? (although maison does mean house)