How did you begin this hobby?

Living on our sailboat six months a year, cruising the Caribbean spoiled us for travel - everywhere we go we take our own home (and bed). Then we decided we wanted to explore the US National Parks, but the sailboat has a tough time in desert & mountains. So we bought a travel trailer and solved the problem. Now we spend several months a year cruising & a few months a year traveling in our Lance 1685 travel trailer.

Grew up tent camping with the folks, then a pop-up then college back to the tent for 10 years, married tented for 9 more years all over. Rockies, Canada, different states. One very cold tent camping night with the family the wife said its time to get a camper. That was 5 years ago, year 1 16BH, years 2-4 27BH, this year Laredo 303TG at 36'. We are thrilled and thanks guys for all the great advice found here.

rockhillmanor wrote:
Sporting event where I saw a line of MH's parked along the breakfront of Lake Michigan. No motels for them! They competed and went back to their MH and had a nice BBQ dinner on the lake front.

I on the other hand had to pack up every night and head to the motel and then repeat that process in the morning for each day.

I vowed someday that would be me parked on the breakfront of Lake Michigan. Took me over 10 years and a couple of different TT's and finally a MH, but the day I closed on my house to go full time RV'ing Lake Michigan was the first place I parked for the night.Dream come true.:C

I like your story!

Sporting event where I saw a line of MH's parked along the breakfront of Lake Michigan. No motels for them! They competed and went back to their MH and had a nice BBQ dinner on the lake front.

I on the other hand had to pack up every night and head to the motel and then repeat that process in the morning for each day.

I vowed someday that would be me parked on the breakfront of Lake Michigan. Took me over 10 years and a couple of different TT's and finally a MH, but the day I closed on my house to go full time RV'ing Lake Michigan was the first place I parked for the night.Dream come true.:C

I enjoyed reading your story.

I really do not remember my 1st camping trip, but I have seen the pictures. Dad's VW bus in the background, and six month old ME next to the ol' Army tent...taken June of '64 (Christmas eve Baby) at Pymatuming (sp) state Park. Ohio side, we always crossed over into Ohio from Pennsylvania. Guess my parents felt like they went somewhere by crossing the border.

Tent then pop-up. Pop-up placed on a permanent site in 72-73, Trailer bought, then another. The lot in that CG is still occupied by my brother. Dad moved there year round (bought a B&M just outside CG---can take his golf cart to see brother).

As for us, we like to travel, so no permanent site for us. Same story...tent, pop-up and now a TT. Make at least one trip a year into that CG I grew up in.

OH, and the story about the truck...

Had my 99 Dodge in 2013 when we bought our TT. Pulled good for that 1st year, but she could have used a bit more power. In January of 2014 the Doctor said my ol' friend should be put to sleep. My wallet screamed bloody murder, my heart knew I would miss her.. had her for 15 years.

There was a smile on my face when I came off that lot in my new RAM. My wallet is still feeling the sting.

We're from MD, but lived in Huntington Beach, CA for a little over a year. After we left we wanted to see more of the country, but had a 90lb lab and didn't want to search for and pay for pet friendly hotels every night. Tent camping at times was an option, but certainly wasn't going to be an every night thing, especially since we were planning on spending a couple months on the road. We bought our first trailer, spent 3 months driving around the country and have been hooked ever since. My original plan was to sell my trailer when we got back to MD after our trip, since it was a 2008 trailer and it was still 2007. I had gotten a solid deal and figured I'd could take a minimal loss compared to the cost of hotels over 3 months. In the end, we figured we enjoyed it so much, we might as well keep it. 7 years later, we just upgraded to a 2015 trailer and plan on keeping rolling for years to come.

I wouldn't trade the experiences we had on that trip for anything in the world. I can't wait to be able to take another trip just like it. We'd be out there right now if my girlfriend wasn't tied to an office.